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NBD: Dan Lakin JO

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#321
Templar said:
Actually it was a loaded comment. All I did was read your exact words. If you're now saying that you don't say what you mean, and don't mean what you say...then fair enough.

Yet again...
"I simply meant that if the first few had been inspected with extra care - which would be sensible for a new product launch - this wouldn't have happened."

How does anyone know how much "extra care" was given to these basses? We don't know anything of the sort, only that the foam bag was mistakenly left out on Bass #1. Is there something else? I fail to see the massive neglect that is being implied by many posters in this thread.

If the Lakin basses continue to have issues, then we can all jump on the band wagon and assume that Dan Lakin has mysteriously morphed from his former competent self, into a thoughtless boob. But for now, we're looking at a sample of one.
Click to expand...

Calm down - I'm not a Lakin hater.

My comment is reasonable based on info from the OP.
 
#323
Classic69 said:
Here in Los Angeles,they once busted a "sweatshop", an apartment building where (20) ladies from Thailand worked 7 days a week, 18 hours a day sewing.
When at Immigration, being told they would have to be deported; their reaction was:

"What? You mean we don't have our jobs anymore??"

Not being funny, but it is a matter of perspective. Believe me- China IS a different culture and a different world. I don't condone anything, but the 3rd World operates on a different set of standards than the West.

I worked with a fellow from Cambodia, e.g. and he told me they worked doing whatever for however long-or starved.
We forget when we get P.O'd about not getting a raise, or promotion etc. It's all different.

There may be sweatshops, they may be unfair. It's a cruel world, that I've come to understand I can't change. Much.
A person can Not buy Nikes, or smart-phones, or many many other things, if they so choose.

I'm not a humanitarian or politician; just a lowly MI guy and performance-level bassist.

I like US/Japan/Western basses because IMO/IME they are a better instrument.
Click to expand...
I couldn't have said it better.
 
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#327
I do not own the proto, but I wish I did. I thought the quality was on par with any of the 4 Lakeland Skylines I've owned.
Speaking unto the thought of being a failure....
My launch of Cody Electric basses, now there is failure! I'm proud to say I failed, because that means I actually tried to do something, its far easy to judge success and failure when you've never tried!
Dan is a friend has been since we traded basses in the trading times.
Was he successful as he would have hoped? No.
That puts him in the same company as Leo Fender, Jeff Gould, Stuart Spector and many others.
I suspect if the quality of the proto I have been allowed to borrow he will succeed.
 
#328
RickC said:
Hey ModuMan, you should contact Taras and see if he's got your box

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/tar...kin-w-richard-thompson.1084120/#post-16039818
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Ha! No, Dan said that he still had it.

mikeluch said:
I am eagerly waiting for my JO this week, but to be honest I now have more concerns than excitement
I hope that I am wrong
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I'd like to think that if Dan took my advice about packing and QC then your bass should be awesome!

After that it just comes down to whether the instrument speaks to you. I agree with the description of the sound in the Taras thread, it summed it up better than I did.
 
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#334
RedHotFuzz said:
Did you pack it in foam for the return journey? ;)
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Ha! Yes, I certainly did. I didn't have a wrap bag (I should learn to hold onto those) BUT I was able to find all sorts of similar good packing material.

I wish I had thought to take a picture but rest assured it was sent back well-protected. My hope is that the finish can be restored so I didn't want to make it any worse on the way back.
 
#335
Years ago I got USA 4-94 from Steve "Dude" Barr.
He was a Lakland dealer but it was a used bass. He did not order for inventory and was just selling it.
Probably got it as a trade in.
Got the bass and the truss rod was completely stripped out.
I called Steve told him what was going on and asked if he didn't check his inventory BEFORE SHIPPING? He said he would call Lakland.
I replied and said this is a used bass what will Lakland do? Way, way out of warranty.
Well the next day Carl or Dan from Lakland called me and wanted to look at the bass.
I shipped it. When Lakland got it they called back and said yeah the TR is stripped.
Dan PUT A NEW USA NECK ON THIS BASS FOR FREE yeah FREE. No CHARGE !!!!
He stands behind his products. Do you think Sadowsky, Lull ETC. would put a new neck on a 5 year old bass for free
that has a stripped TR? I don't think so.
Everybody should lighten up and give Dan a shot.
 
#336
Type-55 said:
Years ago I got USA 4-94 from Steve "Dude" Barr.
He was a Lakland dealer but it was a used bass. He did not order for inventory and was just selling it.
Probably got it as a trade in.
Got the bass and the truss rod was completely stripped out.
I called Steve told him what was going on and asked if he didn't check his inventory BEFORE SHIPPING? He said he would call Lakland.
I replied and said this is a used bass what will Lakland do? Way, way out of warranty.
Well the next day Carl or Dan from Lakland called me and wanted to look at the bass.
I shipped it. When Lakland got it they called back and said yeah the TR is stripped.
Dan PUT A NEW USA NECK ON THIS BASS FOR FREE yeah FREE. No CHARGE !!!!
He stands behind his products. Do you think Sadowsky, Lull ETC. would put a new neck on a 5 year old bass for free
that has a stripped TR? I don't think so.
Everybody should lighten up and give Dan a shot.
Click to expand...


Amen to that! Dan has a history of outstanding service. When I played in Chicago a few years back Dan did some work to my 494 for free. I hope I get a chance to check out a D. Lakin bass sometime!
 
#337
Type-55 said:
Do you think Sadowsky, Lull ETC. would put a new neck on a 5 year old bass for free
that has a stripped TR? I don't think so.
Click to expand...

Hard to say. If smart about PR, they certainly would. Should jump at the chance, in fact. Write it off on the taxes and gain exponentially more in goodwill via the inevitable word-of-mouth and forum posting than they'd get spending a similar amount as the neck costs on advertising.

That said, kudos to him. Doesn't even begin to excuse what went down with the OP's bass however.
 
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#339
Type-55 said:
Years ago I got USA 4-94 from Steve "Dude" Barr.
He was a Lakland dealer but it was a used bass. He did not order for inventory and was just selling it.
Probably got it as a trade in.
Got the bass and the truss rod was completely stripped out.
I called Steve told him what was going on and asked if he didn't check his inventory BEFORE SHIPPING? He said he would call Lakland.
I replied and said this is a used bass what will Lakland do? Way, way out of warranty.
Well the next day Carl or Dan from Lakland called me and wanted to look at the bass.
I shipped it. When Lakland got it they called back and said yeah the TR is stripped.
Dan PUT A NEW USA NECK ON THIS BASS FOR FREE yeah FREE. No CHARGE !!!!
He stands behind his products. Do you think Sadowsky, Lull ETC. would put a new neck on a 5 year old bass for free
that has a stripped TR? I don't think so.
Everybody should lighten up and give Dan a shot.
Click to expand...

I had a similar experience with a Lakland Skyline several years ago. Dan did right by me, and I'm sure his effort pushed him into the red on my particular order, after shipment and parts were all paid.

To be honest with you, when he sold the business a few years ago, I wondered if his attitude wasn't in part the reason he needed to sell. When you ship out new necks for people based on a two minute phone conversation, and do this often enough, your margins are going to take a hit, write-off or not. There are times when good customer service and good business acumen can run counter to one another.
 
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#340
Regardless of a good or bad business decision Dan made it right.
Too much what if, I wonder, why did he stuff in this thread.
He stood behind his product.
Launching a new business is very stressful regardless of past experience.
 
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