My Day at D. Lakin basses

[leroy diamond]

I wonder if more people will be happier if Dan instead of manufacturing his basses in Korea decided to buy parts from warmoth , USAG or any other parts supplier, paid somebody to paint the bodies, do the assembly in his office and charge $ 2,500 for a ''boutique'' bass, just like many other builders do, I am sure that at the end of the day Dan will deliver the same quality but people will feel they got a better bass just because the price they paid.

Care to mention the builders who follow this line of building basses?.

 

[fourstringdrums]

Couple points here.
*With the D. Lakin Glaub, there's a choice of 1.5" or 1.75" nut width. At G&L, there's a $50 upcharge for the other neck options.
*Blocks and binding are an option. (Currently no charge, although this may change.) Not so with G&L, correct?
*The wide range of color options is worth it for some folks, even if it isn't for others.
*All but one of the Lakins I picked up this past Sunday were clearly under 9 lbs. by my reckoning. A sub-9 lb. G&L is the proverbial needle in a haystack. Again, maybe not a big deal for some players, but a pretty big deal for others.
*The Lakin basses have graphite rods in the neck--I know some vintage purists balk at that, but they do provide added stability. Not sure if G&L has that.

No they don't but they have the option of a quartersawn neck. Carvin does offer graphite rods.

But even with the upgrades that you pay for through either G&L and Carvin, you still come up cheaper. I suppose it depends what you want. For me, radius choice is more important than nut width. For some others the choice in nut width is more important than choosing different frets, woods etc.. But at the end of the day, he's still offering a limited amount of options for more than the competition for a non-U.S. made instrument.

 

[_jojo_bass]

Yea but what are the 'facts'?. These are your opinions but the likelihood is that a U.S. built Fender will be worth more on the used market than a Korean Lakin bass imo and that is crucial. These Lakin basses just give me nothing to get excited about. Yet another Fender clone from what I can see.

"Looks gorgeous. Not a nick or scratch on it (I really don't mind that kinda stuff, nor should anybody). Good clean poly gloss around the body and headstock. Oil finish behind the neck that's not overdone to the point where it's sticky. All USA hardware. Vintage reverse tuners (a little surprising, but I got use to it in a minute or so). Truss-rod wheel (best invention in the world). The P also has a 1.5" nut option. All basses are going to be strung with Pyramid Nickels (fantastic strings if you've never tried them). String through body. All of this is standard on all of Dans basses. What else do you want?!? Because it's Korean made should deter you whatsoever.

Bodies are alder on all the basses, possible soon to have an ash option. 5 string possible to come in addition to an active bass.

The colors that these basses come in are astounding.... There's almost too many. No up charge for different colors, no up charge for block inlays, no up charge for matching headstocks, and the only think you might owe him is a smile from a happy buyer."

I call these Facts with flair.

 

[fourstringdrums]

Care to mention the builders who follow this line of building basses?.

Unless things have changed, Valenti builds using Warmoth parts.

 

[pedroims]

Care to mention the builders who follow this line of building basses?.

Many, most of them in fact.

 

[leroy diamond]

Unless things have changed, Valenti builds using Warmoth parts.

Well if that's the case anyone paying big dollar for a Valenti needs to reconsider.

 

[leroy diamond]

Many, most of them in fact.

Valenti may be guilty according to forstringdrums. Who else then?. They need to be named and if they want these builders can defend themselves on here.

 

[hover]

Not a nick or scratch on it (I really don't mind that kinda stuff, nor should anybody).

Wrong. I'm sorry, are you serious with this? You can't possibly think no one should mind on a new bass.

Because it's Korean made should deter you whatsoever.

Ok, you convinced me. It can (should?) deter me? I didn't used to think it would...but now...you say it should....hmmm

The colors that these basses come in are astounding.... There's almost too many. ...and the only think you might owe him is a smile from a happy buyer.

Man, you really sound like a fanboy here, it's kind of embarassing...makes me not want to consider the rest of your post as anything but fluff. If I bat my eyes too, can I keep my 1200 bucks? Do you take smiles in lieu of tips at your restaurant?

 

[leroy diamond]

"Looks gorgeous. Not a nick or scratch on it (I really don't mind that kinda stuff, nor should anybody). Good clean poly gloss around the body and headstock. Oil finish behind the neck that's not overdone to the point where it's sticky. All USA hardware. Vintage reverse tuners (a little surprising, but I got use to it in a minute or so). Truss-rod wheel (best invention in the world). The P also has a 1.5" nut option. All basses are going to be strung with Pyramid Nickels (fantastic strings if you've never tried them). String through body. All of this is standard on all of Dans basses. What else do you want?!? Because it's Korean made should deter you whatsoever.

Bodies are alder on all the basses, possible soon to have an ash option. 5 string possible to come in addition to an active bass.

The colors that these basses come in are astounding.... There's almost too many. No up charge for different colors, no up charge for block inlays, no up charge for matching headstocks, and the only think you might owe him is a smile from a happy buyer."

I call these Facts with flair.

i
I guess at that price point it will have to be a U.S. build. Other than the Truss rod wheel, nothing gets me too excited here from the regular Fender knock off. I will never buy a bass on the basis of what strings are on the instrument. Glad their is not a scratch on it, but surely that is hardly a compliment with regard to a new bass

 

[_jojo_bass]

No they don't but they have the option of a quartersawn neck. Carvin does offer graphite rods.

But even with the upgrades that you pay for through either G&L and Carvin, you still come up cheaper. I suppose it depends what you want. For me, radius choice is more important than nut width. For some others the choice in nut width is more important than choosing different frets, woods etc.. But at the end of the day, he's still offering a limited amount of options for more than the competition for a non-U.S. made instrument.

It's limited, but it's more than enough for a lot of people. The options can only expand. He's barely on his first year of putting out instruments and he has a ton of plans for the future.

He makes a freaking great bass. It could be unfinished with little kittens as inlays and have a million year old strings because no matter the options, it doesn't change the fact that the bass is awesome.

 

[hover]

Yeah. Buy my bass! It ain't got no scratches! Put that in the ad copy.

 

[fourstringdrums]

Well if that's the case anyone paying big dollar for a Valenti needs to reconsider.

Actually I want to clarify that while he gets his bodies made from warmoth, and the necks made I believe he routes for the pickups himself, gets a "blank" headstock that he cuts into the shape he uses.. So it's not as if they do all of the work. He still does at least half of it I'd say. But again, I could be wrong since I haven't checked up on him in years, but that's what I remember.

 

[fourstringdrums]

It's limited, but it's more than enough for a lot of people. The options can only expand. He's barely on his first year of putting out instruments and he has a ton of plans for the future.

He makes a freaking great bass. It could be unfinished with little kittens as inlays and have a million year old strings because no matter the options, it doesn't change the fact that the bass is awesome.

I never said that it wasn't probably awesome. I'm sure it's a great bass. But you can still get basses made equally as well for less that aren't farmed out to a factory in Asia. HE doesn't make anything. He's a salesman, not a craftsman in this case.

 

[_jojo_bass]

Wrong. I'm sorry, are you serious with this? You can't possibly think no one should mind on a new bass.


Ok, you convinced me. It can (should?) deter me? I didn't used to think it would...but now...you say it should....hmmm


Man, you really sound like a fanboy here, it's kind of embarassing...makes me not want to consider the rest of your post as anything but fluff. If I bat my eyes too, can I keep my 1200 bucks? Do you take smiles in lieu of tips at your restaurant?

I don't know what the problem is man. I'm telling y'all what I think of them. If you don't care, that cool. I like them. I'm exited about them. Sorry.

 

[GregC]

Yea but what are the 'facts'?. These are your opinions but the likelihood is that a U.S. built Fender will be worth more on the used market than a Korean Lakin bass imo and that is crucial. These Lakin basses just give me nothing to get excited about. Yet another Fender clone from what I can see.

I'm sure people said that when Lakland Skylines came out, too--but that hasn't been the case. Not saying the same will be true of the D. Lakins, but I certainly wouldn't assume MIA Fenders will have better resale value.

 

[_jojo_bass]

I never said that it wasn't probably awesome. I'm sure it's a great bass. But you can still get basses made equally as well for less that aren't farmed out to a factory in Asia. HE doesn't make anything. He's a salesman, not a craftsman in this case.

Isn't that the same with a lot of companies??? I know all of the companies you're talking about and I get why they're priced the way they are, but I'm saying from first hand experiance and being able to take apart one of his basses, I think it's worth every penny.

 

[GregC]

No they don't but they have the option of a quartersawn neck. Carvin does offer graphite rods.

But even with the upgrades that you pay for through either G&L and Carvin, you still come up cheaper. I suppose it depends what you want. For me, radius choice is more important than nut width. For some others the choice in nut width is more important than choosing different frets, woods etc.. But at the end of the day, he's still offering a limited amount of options for more than the competition for a non-U.S. made instrument.

I don't get the "limited options" part. I think he's offering an above-average number of options compared to most basses in this price range, Carvin notwithstanding.

 

[GregC]

I never said that it wasn't probably awesome. I'm sure it's a great bass. But you can still get basses made equally as well for less that aren't farmed out to a factory in Asia. HE doesn't make anything. He's a salesman, not a craftsman in this case.

I don't see how anyone can reasonably say those others are made equally as well without having tried the Lakins.

 

[awilkie84]

I don't get it. I understand that the quality of import instruments has come a LONG way, and these probably are on par quality-wise with US made basses...but why would I buy one of these over an amazing American Special P or J, for less? OR, why wouldn't I buy a Classic Series mexican Fender P or J & get an import Fender with similar specs for hundreds less?

 

[GregC]

Actually I want to clarify that while he gets his bodies made from warmoth, and the necks made I believe he routes for the pickups himself, gets a "blank" headstock that he cuts into the shape he uses.. So it's not as if they do all of the work. He still does at least half of it I'd say. But again, I could be wrong since I haven't checked up on him in years, but that's what I remember.

I thought Nino switched to USACG some years ago. Not sure if that's still the case.