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NBD: Dan Lakin JO
- Thread starter ModuMan
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Fixed it for you. Nothing wrong with that, mind you, but you have to understand that his reviews aren't completely independent.
You have to take his reviews for what they are. They are great for hearing the tone of a bass. They are not, however, objective. But hey, he's one of the few reviewers who doesn't just slap on the dang things for 5 minutes.
Pretty much this. I enjoy his reviews, but I am also aware that e.g. if he reviews a Squier bass, he might get a preselected one…
I'd be very interested to know, too. And yes, you can buy US Fenders, EBMMs, G&Ls, Carvins, assemble a Warmoth to your own specs, etc., etc. all day long, with very nice cases for similar money. Heck, recently you could buy a USA Fender nitro satin Precision with a gig bag for $800! That hits a nerve with me, and obviously a lot of others.
I realize that not everyone needs/wants/can afford an instrument costing in excess of $1000, which seems to be the usual price floor of USA made basses. Companies compete at price points, and if a J bass has to be made of agathis and "crafted in Indonesia" in order to sell it at $299, or assembled in Mexico to sell it at $699, then so be it. But when the tag says $1300, the headstock says Made in Korea, the kid at GC says "Do you wanna buy a case or bag to put it in?" - and it's hanging next to a Fender, same price, same or better quality, made by American workers, comes in a heavy-duty case. . . ??? To me that's a business model that says one of two things: They think I'm a sucker and they're about to rip me off; or they have put together a wasteful and extremely inefficient supply/assembly/shipping chain in which a bunch of middle men between here and Korea (and back again) are driving up the price. Or both. Probably both.
I listened to the previews and yep, they sound like a P and a J. I have an '08 American Standard Jazz that sounds just as good as the JO Signature. $1050 new, with case. I have a '12 American Standard Precision that sounds a lot like the BG Signature. $1200 new, with case. The headstocks aren't matching (and I do like matching headstocks), but they are top quality, sound and play beautifully, and the serial numbers start with "US." Thanks Lakland and Mr. Lakin, but I'll pass.
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One clue for me is the recent video reviews/previews published by Ed Friedland. To me the Lakins sound is lacking compared to the LB100.
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What he said. I saw a video review of the L2500 and M2500 and was interested in the M but then looked for a dealer and decided against it.
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Hey, MMBongo. Re: Carvin. I just bought a Bongo HH but in the running was Carvin. It was a no brainer to pick the Bongo. I happened to be in SD in April and went to the Carvin factory. I played a Carvin once in the 90's and never considered them again until recently. They've come a long way. I'm a sucker for nice wood-grain finishes so I hoped and prayed that Carvin would be my next bass. However, I played a billion basses there and the SB5000 was the only one that I thought was a good bass, with a good B punch and good-looking bass (I did rule out some the really pointy horned basses without even trying them). I even plotted out an SB5000 on 5/28 after I bought my Bongo and then they pulled the line and replaced it with yet another J clone. Who needs it, especially if you can't play it first- and you can't simply return a highly-customized bass, even to Carvin.
In defense of all manufacturers- I played almost a dozen Musicmans the other day and 2 were night and day better sounding than the rest. And I'm no bass snob. In a band, it's really hard to distinguish an awesome bass from a good bass. Fingers/attack/eq make up the majority of any difference. But for home practice, it's nice to hear what you want to hear.
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While I understand the sentiment and don't necessarily disagree, why is it that many people automatically think U.S. made basses are better than any other foreign made (especially Asian) basses?
Many people just dont care where the bass is made, me included, what I look in a bass is basically: Sound, feel and building quality. I don't care for a hard case neither, they are damn bulky, I use my trusty bag for transportation. The OP had $1,300 and he decided to spend his money in a Korean made bass that is probably same quality than other mass produced American bass and even better if we think about all the horror stories about RIckenbacker and Gibson.
There is not excuse with the bad packing Dan did but this can be easily fixed, I am sure that nobody else will suffer this issue again. By the way, seems like the only problem with this bass was the packing , I dont consider sting/pole alignment an issue at all, I just checked my Stingray and the G is way off from the center of the pole.
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You do not care about value?
I like to know where my money is going.
I have no problem paying for a expensive bass when I feel I am getting what I am paying for.
I want to know what makes his basses worth the money.
There are a lot of fine basses made in Asia and they sell for half the price.
What is the resale going to be on these? Around here Skylines sell used for what a MIM Fender does if you want to sell it.
I have played a lot of Skylines and never thought they were worth the price. Nice basses but not worth the price.
If I can I prefer to have U.S. made basses strictly for quality because I know that in most cases better attention to detail will be paid.
As for the hard case, I never use them for transportation. With my crutches I can't really carry them so I use a gig bag, but I still prefer to have them for long term storage and if anything, for transportation if it's a bass that got shipped.
As for the hard case, I never use them for transportation. With my crutches I can't really carry them so I use a gig bag, but I still prefer to have them for long term storage and if anything, for transportation if it's a bass that got shipped.
Because history and experience shows us that.
Regarding Ed's reviews and videos, he recently stated here on TB that his reviews are positive because he only accepts instruments he considers well-made for his videos. Therefore, it follows suit that when a new bass to review appears, he's going to be positive.
Now the only thing I see slanted about his reviews are his CHOPS! He picks up any bass that is intonated, and BOOM! Fantastic sounds.
I listened to a bit of the DL, and frankly other than Ed's groove, I didn't hear anything that would make me want this bass, just Ed's chops.
I'll practice more!
I wanted to sound off on G&L in the respect that I've had (4) currently own 1, an M2K- awesome.
I've never tried one at a shop, I ordered them through their Dealers, and of course you can spec one out and usually get it within 3-4 months. And yes, there have been lemons, but I haven't had one, and I bet they're at about 99% perfection with their builds. Very cool company, very good basses. I would choose their USA built JB over the DL 7 days a week, but that is for me (and You) to decide, same w/Carvins J-Bass models.
I don't want to veer too much into the offshore thing, but based on comparisons with my Ibanez Prestige Japan, vs. the Indonesian model, and the Tributes and EBMM offshores I've played- There is to me a WORLD of difference; price being a factor for budget purposes, but the build on the USA or Japanese versions is miles higher and the basses sound and feel better to me. Same to the max with Elricks, MTD/s, Zon and those other builders that offer a choice between "home-grown" and offshore.
I think the DL looks good, and probably feels, sounds, and plays well too. OF COURSE tone and sound is in the fingers, that's not even a dispute.
I know I could gig a DL or a Squire or a Sterling by MM or a Tribute; nobody would know, or care. But ME- and when it comes to my basses, it's about me. I would feel and hear a difference between a USA Lakland and this DL offering, or a Tribute and my USA M2000. Please don't tell me I wouldn't.
(Unless you feel the need to!
)
The packing mishap and the lack of a case for the price are just "logistics"; one has been solved already I'll bet, the other- We'll see what DL comes up with for carrying the bass around.
I wish Dan well, I think it's great that there is another entry that a consumer can consider and make their own if they want- But- like many others here- Knowing what's out there and what they cost-
I would pass on this one.
Now the only thing I see slanted about his reviews are his CHOPS! He picks up any bass that is intonated, and BOOM! Fantastic sounds.
I listened to a bit of the DL, and frankly other than Ed's groove, I didn't hear anything that would make me want this bass, just Ed's chops.
I'll practice more!
I wanted to sound off on G&L in the respect that I've had (4) currently own 1, an M2K- awesome.
I've never tried one at a shop, I ordered them through their Dealers, and of course you can spec one out and usually get it within 3-4 months. And yes, there have been lemons, but I haven't had one, and I bet they're at about 99% perfection with their builds. Very cool company, very good basses. I would choose their USA built JB over the DL 7 days a week, but that is for me (and You) to decide, same w/Carvins J-Bass models.
I don't want to veer too much into the offshore thing, but based on comparisons with my Ibanez Prestige Japan, vs. the Indonesian model, and the Tributes and EBMM offshores I've played- There is to me a WORLD of difference; price being a factor for budget purposes, but the build on the USA or Japanese versions is miles higher and the basses sound and feel better to me. Same to the max with Elricks, MTD/s, Zon and those other builders that offer a choice between "home-grown" and offshore.
I think the DL looks good, and probably feels, sounds, and plays well too. OF COURSE tone and sound is in the fingers, that's not even a dispute.
I know I could gig a DL or a Squire or a Sterling by MM or a Tribute; nobody would know, or care. But ME- and when it comes to my basses, it's about me. I would feel and hear a difference between a USA Lakland and this DL offering, or a Tribute and my USA M2000. Please don't tell me I wouldn't.
(Unless you feel the need to!
)The packing mishap and the lack of a case for the price are just "logistics"; one has been solved already I'll bet, the other- We'll see what DL comes up with for carrying the bass around.
I wish Dan well, I think it's great that there is another entry that a consumer can consider and make their own if they want- But- like many others here- Knowing what's out there and what they cost-
I would pass on this one.
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+1 on the USA built part, and a Bass could be shipped successfully w/out a case or big; It would simply need a a LOT of bubble wrap, covering, etc.
Really? Because Asian countries HAVEN'T been making quality / enduring musical instruments for hundreds of years?
My gripe has never been the origin of manufacture.
My gripe was that they're just fancy clones.
The customer service and support issues are very important, but in this case falls squarely on Dan. Hope he makes it right.
But this discussion has become so cyclical as to bore me to tears.
To the OP, I truly hope you get an awesome resolve to this situation, and end up with an instrument to bring you much expressive joy and creativity.
That's not what's being stated.
What is being compared is the superior quality that goes into the fit and assembly between a higher-priced USA or Japan built model ve. a lower priced more mass-produced Indonesian, Korean, or Chinese bass.
Wouldn't you think the Builders themselves are aware of this???
An offshore Zon might be around $2K for example, while the real deal from Zon in NoCal will cost about 2x that.
G&L Tribbies are about half the price of their Fullerton counterparts; do you not think that G&L thinks their US-built models are the better product?
You get a good bass and a great value from the offshore builders, nobody should really dispute that (unless they want to!
)Point is, the higher-$$ basses from Domestic or Japanese high-end shops are better instruments.
That's the point I think.
Because they are.
The point is for the same money, WHY ON EARTH would you rather have your bass built by someone in a foreign country, being paid a pittance while foreign factory managers and middlemen take a nice cut - rather than by someone in your own damn country - maybe your neighbor, who is probably skilled and may need a job???
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What if you live in Korea or Indonesia or Vietnam or wherever and strive for the same values and have the same national pride being placed on US instruments? You know, not stuff necessarily being bean-counted for outside companies to meet a price point for US market?
I mean, who even knows what Dan is paying for these instruments?
I'm not trying to start any flame wars, I'm just asking...do you not think Korean neighbors appreciate their jobs? Do you not think they do said jobs purposefully, and with pride?
I mean, who even knows what Dan is paying for these instruments?
I'm not trying to start any flame wars, I'm just asking...do you not think Korean neighbors appreciate their jobs? Do you not think they do said jobs purposefully, and with pride?
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