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NBD: Dan Lakin JO

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#41
Stranger Danger said:
For this price you can get a US Made G&L. Are these better than US made G&L's?
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This. Or a Carvin, or MIA Fender? I'm really perplexed by this phenomenon, apparently started by Lakland and now continued by Lakin, of instruments "designed in" Wherever, USA, built by cheap labor in Asia, and selling for $1300 and up. Without a freaking case/bag!!! What??? I acknowledge that they are made with alder, ash, maple, rosewood (real "tonewoods" vs. soft maple, agathis, etc. as in the Squiers), and "US electronics", but come on. G&L does the same thing with the Tributes at about $800. Bag included. I can't see where the extra $500 "value" is here. I know, I know - don't buy one. And I won't. I'm just baffled as to why/how these basses are selling at those prices.

As far as the wear marks go - completely unacceptable, but if they're not through the color they can probably be buffed out. If it's a nitrocellulose lacquer (for $1300, it had better be!) the wear marks could be lightly sprayed with another thin coat of clear and then buffed. I love Fiesta Red, especially with a matching headstock. And having number 1 is cool.
 
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#42
Will he be able to make your replacement bass #001? You should get to keep this one and get a new one, either way, considering that this is a special case. Serious about this. Mistakes happen and usually can be fixed. However, I'd keep #1 before I'd get a replacement if he won't just outright provide you with a perfectly finished bass in addition to this one. Ordinarily a swap would do but this is a special case.
 
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#43
Solarmist said:
I'm really unimpressed with those wear spots ... sorry, but I'd need it replaced.
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Yeah, I totally agree! Man oh man! No plastic cover put on the bass for shipping! Unreal! A styrofoam sheet is used on many basses for shipping and is best. To put all that time and effort into making such a nice bass and then to neglect proper packing! Geeezzzzsssss!
 
#44
InLeoWeTrust said:
This. Or a Carvin, or MIA Fender? I'm really perplexed by this phenomenon, apparently started by Lakland and now continued by Lakin, of instruments "designed in" Wherever, USA, built by cheap labor in Asia, and selling for $1300 and up. Without a freaking case/bag!!! What??? I acknowledge that they are made with alder, ash, maple, rosewood (real "tonewoods" vs. soft maple, agathis, etc. as in the Squiers), and "US electronics", but come on. G&L does the same thing with the Tributes at about $800. Bag included. I can't see where the extra $500 "value" is here. I know, I know - don't buy one. And I won't. I'm just baffled as to why/how these basses are selling at those prices.

As far as the wear marks go - completely unacceptable, but if they're not through the color they can probably be buffed out. If it's a nitrocellulose lacquer (for $1300, it had better be!) the wear marks could be lightly sprayed with another thin coat of clear and then buffed. I love Fiesta Red, especially with a matching headstock. And having number 1 is cool.
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They are thin poly not lacquer according to Dan Lakin.

I guess the point I was trying to make is that Asian made instruments are attractive to many because of the low price for a relatively good product. I have a MIC Ibanez ATK that is an incredible bass but it was less than $400. I really am not trying to troll this thread so I'll leave it at that.
 
#46
I know it's hard to separate the history of Dan Lakin and Lakland the company, but I'm disappointed with the crossover.

From what I understand, Lakland was sold to the Pirruccello's because frankly, Dan was bad at running the business. Dan was truly in a "started on third" situation and it STILL wasn't profitable for nearly 10 years.... He had good ideas (the xx-94 series is a modern classic) that even by his own admission were "Leo Fender's greatest hits" and the pickup switching from a Warwick Dolphin, and surrounded himself with great talent to execute those ideas; but in the end the company we all love and respect was far more than the man. I know we'd all like this to be a 21st century version of a Leo/CBS drama, giving us the "real deal" like Musicman and G&L but it's not.

I think the issues with 001 are indicative of that. Good ideas (bone nuts, oil finish neck, USA hardware on offshore instruments) but without the great talent he had previously, poor execution and follow through that probably won't get much better.

To extend the Dan/Leo analogy further, Leo expanded on his ideas when he founded Musicman... His first instruments weren't replicas of what he did previously, he implemented brand new ideas in the Stingray guitar and bass (not to mention early hybrid tube/solid state amplifiers). Dan's ideas for D. Lakin seem more like obvious, easy refinements and swag.

If you want to buy a D. Lakin for what it is, that's cool, but please don't buy one because you're a Lakland fan.
 
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#47
I get the animosity towards what the OP got. First bass out of the chute w/ issues that should not have happened. Also the "no case or gig-bag" thing, that's sort of odd to me. With a $1300 "street" price, at the very least it should include-something. Being in the MI biz I can attest that both bags and cases are available to OEM's for not a lot; and it seems odd that a $225 USA-made HSC is offered on an offshore instrument.
There are lots of options, including some decent soft-side cases that Mr. Lakin could probably purchase himself for around $25.00.

I'm not big on offshore built basses for any number of reasons- I had a Skyline Scheff, it was pretty damn good, but no way IMO equal to the USA Lakland, and yes, I am aware of the price differential.

I would not order a G&L Tribute or a MM Sterling BY, even tho I know they both get props. I prefer the feel of my US-Built versions of both-
(M2000 / Bongo) Call me a snob. (Please don't!)

The OP wanted a D. Lakin bass- I can appreciate that. The main thing is whether it sounds great and he likes it. That's it.
It's a tough and crowded market. I remember the thread when these were 1st announced, many posters thought "So what?"

I don't know if Dan intends to sell direct as policy. If not, his success would then depend on establishing a good Dealer Network.
That isn't easy & I speak from experience. The mighty Fender has some muscle, and there are a lot of ways for a Shop to go.
If the object is to sell direct, he's got to offer value, quality, and CS to sell products.

Maybe he wants only to have a niche biz, selling only "X" amount of basses, enough to assure him a good living, provided the build and import stuff is in place, and he gets a sufficient amount of orders annually to make a decent living (after taxes!)

Nothing wrong with another entry into the P-J-PJ market. Not for me, but if Dan's name, history & rep are intriguing enough for some players to try-
I hope everyone is happy in the end.
 
#48
tonemachine said:
Will he be able to make your replacement bass #001? You should get to keep this one and get a new one, either way, considering that this is a special case. Serious about this. Mistakes happen and usually can be fixed. However, I'd keep #1 before I'd get a replacement if he won't just outright provide you with a perfectly finished bass in addition to this one. Ordinarily a swap would do but this is a special case.
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As if #001 of a Korean made knock off will ever be worth anything????
 
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#50
I will agree that the shipping issue has to he taken care of and I am sure he will "make it right" one way or another.

I have known dan for many years and that is one thing he does really well....

There are a few issues but to he honest that can be expected in the first production run of ANYTHING....think of the first model year of most automobiles....

I am sure the issues will he fixed..both with the OP and in future runs.

As for the whole "_foreign build" issue....these are priced very similar to Lakland Skylines and those have a huge following.

I cannot wait to play one of these.....and see for myself....

He is not new to the business BUT this is the first run from a new supplier. .... To me the truth is in future runs.

Just my $2
 
#51
basspraiser said:
I will agree that the shipping issue has to he taken care of and I am sure he will "make it right" one way or another.

I have known dan for many years and that is one thing he does really well....

There are a few issues but to he honest that can be expected in the first production run of ANYTHING....think of the first model year of most automobiles....
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This isn't like first year of a car model. Cars are incredibly complicated products. A bolt-on parts bass is...a bolt-on parts bass.

Shipping "naked" in a box has no excuse. As in zero. If his supplier shipped it from Korea that way and it was damaged in-transit, then it should have been fixed here in the US before sending to the customer. And it certainly should have been properly repacked. The only excuse I could see is if in fact it was sent from Korea this way, was damaged, and Lakin contacted the customer, showed pictures of the damage, and asked if he still wanted this instrument or wanted to wait for a new one. And even if that happened, it still should have been properly packed for shipping.

I've bought/sold a couple dozen basses. I've *never* shipped one like this. Ever. Neither has anyone I've purchased from. The fact that he had the time to spec "certificate of authenticity" and branded tools but not a gig bag or at least packing material is indicative of something.

The whole off-shoring is another discussion/argument.
 
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#54
nostatic said:
This isn't like first year of a car model. Cars are incredibly complicated products. A bolt-on parts bass is...a bolt-on parts bass.

Shipping "naked" in a box has no excuse. As in zero. If his supplier shipped it from Korea that way and it was damaged in-transit, then it should have been fixed here in the US before sending to the customer. And it certainly should have been properly repacked. The only excuse I could see is if in fact it was sent from Korea this way, was damaged, and Lakin contacted the customer, showed pictures of the damage, and asked if he still wanted this instrument or wanted to wait for a new one. And even if that happened, it still should have been properly packed for shipping.

I've bought/sold a couple dozen basses. I've *never* shipped one like this. Ever. Neither has anyone I've purchased from. The fact that he had the time to spec "certificate of authenticity" and branded tools but not a gig bag or at least packing material is indicative of something.

The whole off-shoring is another discussion/argument.
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"certificate of authenticity" and branded tools

Don't forget the T-Shirt!
 
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#55
Nostatic.....Dan just knows how to treat his clientele and IF issues arise he fixes them.....

There were over 30 basses and we are hearing about ONE.

The shipping issues DOES need to be addressed and I am sure it will be.

If the rash was that bad I assume it came without packaging from Korea. I don't know though.

I also believe the car analogy fits.....this is new tooling and new patterns for the manufacturer.

Hickups do happen.

I do agree that if Dan noticed the rash etc he should have taken action immediately.

I am awaiting judgement until I play one or more and hear about more of them.

I don't know why these do not have cases.....I agree those should come with the basses....

Respectfully submitted
The Doude
 
#57
RedHotFuzz said:
But it does come with a "Certificate of Authenticity" to assure you you're not getting an Asian knockoff of your Asian knockoff...
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Don't forget the T-Shirt!

Kidding! Sadowsky sends a T-shirt. polish. and stand pads, also a "free" choice of case, but you're payin' for it contained in the package cost.

I think the OP's bass looks awesome; if it plays well and he digs it- The shipping scuff is cosmetic, and I'm sure Dan Lakin will compensate.

The OP WANTED a new D. Lakin bass. He got it, and ModuMan I hope you're playing it as we speak. ANY Fiesta Red J-Bass High or low $$ is good in my book.
 
#59
hdracer said:
As if #001 of a Korean made knock off will ever be worth anything????
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Maybe it will be.

The big question you should ask yourself is "what weakness in my constitution made me feel the need to post such triteness and how can I fix that?" And that goes for all of the people who jumped on making fun of the guy who bought this bass. And, no, I don't own a Lakland or a Lakin so the value or general opinion of his basses impacts me in no way.
 
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