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My Day at D. Lakin basses

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#141
hover said:
^^^ Bing-O Tunaman!

Man, there are countless people here who relentlessly bash Fender, daily.
But say ONE THING negative about "their brand", and we're naysayers, xenophobic, armchair bassists, unwilling to accept choices in market, think Lakin is a shiester, etc. etc. when for the vast majority taking even an inkling of exception or apathy re: these "new" basses these things were never the issue... it's so tired, cyclical nonsense.

As I've said already: I have no dog in this fight, I just think the whole thing is boring. BORING. OBVIOUS. Coattail riding for a buck. And it's my opinion. You don't like it? Fine by me.
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It doesn't sound like it's actually fine by you.:D

Re: Fender: C'mon, man. They get plenty of bashing, yes, but also tons of love from fanboys--both extremes. Personally, I like Fenders in general, and I own one. I'm planning on selling it, but I may own one again sooner rather than later. But good grief, at least the people criticizing Fenders have usually PLAYED the damn things first. Clearly, that is not the case here.
 
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#142
As per the weight of the G&L's goes I have no dog in this hunt..... well I've been looking at an LB-100 so this made me curious. Bass Central list weights so I took a look at their G&L stock page and there are a few 10lbs er's on there in but they also have bass that's 7.5lbs and most of them seem to fall between 8.5 to 9.5lbs. The weight seems to range within about a 1/2 lbs per given model with a some exceptions. Obviously that's just one dealers stock.
 
#143
GregC said:
Re: Fender: C'mon, man. They get plenty of bashing, yes, but also tons of love from fanboys--both extremes. Personally, I like Fenders in general, and I own one. I'm planning on selling it, but I may own one again sooner rather than later. But good grief, at least the people criticizing Fenders have usually PLAYED the damn things first. Clearly, that is not the case here.
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I appreciate every word of this, but just the same, in my case why do I have to play it to think this venture is boring and obvious? ;)
It may play like greased spit from God's skillet with pups wound by Zeus and Buffed to high gloss by Aphrodite, and each one used to smite a demon lying in wait at the gates of Valhalla before being intonated for all I know...then again I made no digs at the quality / potential quality of these basses. I'll still think it's boring and obvious. ;)
 
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#144
To look at it from another angle, I think electric bass has been around long enough that a few bass voices have become extremely common and ubiquitous, and their body shapes and overall design strongly associated with their respective voice (or range of voices). They are tried and true and a lot of very familiar music has been made and absorbed by millions with these instruments, and the music and other instruments used to make it have grown together in symbiosis over the last 6 decades.

The P, J, and Stingray are three examples, and the Thunderbird, Rick, Danelectro, Hofner, etc. are others, to various and debatable degrees.

Similar to the world of classical and other acoustic instrument worlds these forms have become expected and commonplace, and unless a manufacturer is aiming at a niche market or trying to create a new voice to alter the paradigm, it is in their best interest to at least offer a version of one or more of these classics, whether alongside newer designs or instead of. It's what most people want or they wouldn't keep selling and appearing in various iterations, usually cyclically according to fashion.
 
#145
Just ran across this thread and I do own a D. Lakin JO, I did a quick review a week or so ago.
I agree with the OP, before everyone forms opinions on how bad the bass must be, or its value because it is an import, try one.
It is funny, not too long ago it seemed everyone was on the Skyline band wagon when that was a similar business model.
 
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#146
I haven't read the thread---just snippets---and I'm not a Jazz or P guy either. Haven't played Dan's basses either. We ran into each other in the store and he was telling me about the basses.

In talking to other uber high end custom bass makers, it seems that the paradigm that we associate with Korean made stuff might need some rethinking. One guy that I won't mention used all of the most expensive, high end pickups out there in his basses. He heard about a great Korean pickup manufacturer out there gave them specs and the pickups they made were much better in sound and quality than the uber expensive US and European pickups. And for a lot less money. I think that Korea is where Japan was in the 70's. It was viewed as "cheap" but evolved into the highest quality production in the world.

I'll make it down to Dan's to try them. I remember when Dan called me to come over when the first Skyline prototype arrived. He opened the door and was shaking his head. I said "that bad?" and he said "no, that good".

And I think that production in Korea has improved a lot since then.
 
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#147
mikeluch said:
Just ran across this thread and I do own a D. Lakin JO, I did a quick review a week or so ago.
I agree with the OP, before everyone forms opinions on how bad the bass must be, or its value because it is an import, try one.
It is funny, not too long ago it seemed everyone was on the Skyline band wagon when that was a similar business model.
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At least the skylines are assembled, have the electronics installed, are pleked and q.c'd in Chicago.


Musicman Bongo club #175
 
#150
If Dan is in the bass business again it's good for everyone who plays bass. I'm not blown away by the look or thought or the price of these. I am stoked that Dan is back. I'm sure they play and sound fantastic.
 
#151
hover said:
I appreciate every word of this, but just the same, in my case why do I have to play it to think this venture is boring and obvious? ;)
It may play like greased spit from God's skillet with pups wound by Zeus and Buffed to high gloss by Aphrodite, and each one used to smite a demon lying in wait at the gates of Valhalla before being intonated for all I know...then again I made no digs at the quality / potential quality of these basses. I'll still think it's boring and obvious. ;)
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That's fine (and I like the imagery, lol), but your post that I responded to seemed to cover/defend all the criticism, not just that one. Some of the fascinating things I've learned in the multiple threads on D. Lakin basses--all from posters who have not played them--include:

*G&L makes better instruments. How does the poster know? Because he heard Ed F's clip of the Lakin and didn't like the sound as much as Ed's clip where he plays a G&L. Never mind that the Lakin clip was less than a minute long--and I believe Ed was using a different amp, too.;)
*There is apparently a maximum price for Fender "knockoffs."
*Similar to the above, "import basses" can be compared on price without having to consider whether there are differences in quality. Unless they come from a country or company that the poster deems acceptable.;)
*If basses have "similar specs", the one with a lower price is the better choice. Except for the models that are cheaper than the poster's favorites.;)

I mean, sheesh.
 
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#154
GregC said:
I made nothing up. If you bothered to go back and read my first response to you, you'd see I was referring to "sellers" in the TB classifieds. And that "guy" I quoted is Greg from Rocket Music, a G&L dealer.
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Of course I read it. How do you think this debate started?

Here is your first response to me, and where you sailed off into fantasy land...

"That has not been my experience. I haven't tried many G&Ls (because they're so damn hard to find), but when a G&L shows up in the classifieds and the subject of weight comes up, it's almost a lock that it's 9.5 lbs or more. Perhaps they make very few alder-bodied basses."

So, you don't have any first-hand experience with G&L basses (your words). And whenever one shows up in the classifieds, it's almost a "lock" that it's going to weigh 9.5 lbs or "more", with no other specific info about body wood, five string, or old 80's model, right? You must be joking.

As it's germane to this thread about Lakin 4 string alder basses, I'll say it again......alder body G&L 4 string basses are not typically heavy, and do not average 9.5 lbs. Not even close.

And yes, G&L makes, and has made, many alder body basses. Mostly any bass with a solid finish (and many bursts) have been alder, as ash is typically a Premier Finish upgrade that includes an ash body.

This whole "G&L basses are heavy" stigma stems from the fact that 80's models tended to be on the heavy side. The days of the heavy ash, poplar, maple, and mahogany G&L basses are long gone.
 
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#157
awilkie84 said:
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?
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Because if you play a Lakland, and probably D. Lakin, you may prefer it over any Fender.

It's not about "similar specs," it's about how the bass feels in your hands, and a Lakland Skyline feels much better to me than even the most expensive Fender.
 
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