NBD fail

[Bald-N-Bassy]

I was looking forward to receiving this Lakland 55-02 sweetwater exclusive. Until it arrived…..right of out the box I noticed some scratches and dings. Upon closer inspection the bass had more than what I'd consider acceptable wear for a new bass.
Bubbles in the clear coat, scratch on pickup, and to top it off the B string was significantly lower output than the rest.
The previous Laklands Ive owned were excellent basses and the B string sounded great. This one was very dead sounding and had no resonance. thankfully sweetwater has an easy return process.
Just disappointing to spend $1740 on a bass and it arrive in this condition.
I hear so many good things about sweetwater, this was the 2nd time they sent me a bass with issues. Im not going to write them off completely. Bc they were pleasant to deal with on the phone. Just wish they were a little more thorough on the inspection part.

Any recommendations on a 35" scale 5 string under $2k?

 

[Goatrope]

Dang. Sorry to hear this. Im not a 5ver player anymore, but always liked the EBMM offerings, if you're into that StingRay thing. Maybe something from the classifieds instead?

I share your recent disappointment with SW. I was a big fan. I've probably bought 8-9 basses through them, until I started getting visibly flawed product. 55- point inspection my a$$.

Then their ability to obtain product I wanted fell way off. (Pre-pandemic). I was able to source easier through GC, which blew me away. I just stopped using SW all together. Maybe I'll try again some day.

 

[bholder]

The Sire M7 is a great value, the newer M5 is even cheaper, has all the good stuff just not the fancy top veneer.

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

The Sire M7 is a great value, the newer M5 is even cheaper, has all the good stuff just not the fancy top veneer.

I was heavily considering a sire bass before I decided to purchase the Lakeland. What made me choose the Lakeland let the fact that it had been plekd and 35" scale.

cost isn't a factor really. Just want a nice 35" scale bass.

@Goatrope i agree though. The blemishes were fairly obvious.
I do like ebmm 4 strings, the 5s not so much. I also want a 35" scale.

 

[bholder]

I was heavily considering a sire bass before I decided to purchase the Lakeland. What made me choose the Lakeland let the fact that it had been plekd and 35" scale.

cost isn't a factor really. Just want a nice 35" scale bass.

@Goatrope i agree though. The blemishes were fairly obvious.
I do like ebmm 4 strings, the 5s not so much. I also want a 35" scale.

The Sire M7 5er is 35" scale, fwiw. (Just checked, true for the M5 as well.) Not pleked, though, but I hear the gen 2 necks are finished near perfection with the rolled edges. I'll find out soon, my D5 arrives next week.

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

@bholder cool good to hear. Are they heavy basses? I've already have a 10.8lbs jazz v. Im hoping to find something under ~9

 

[eccles77]

I had a M5 four stringer and it was an all round exc bass, can`t comment on the 5 stringers. The new Sire`s I own are a good bit lighter than the original V7 I had which was 10.5 lb`s. The 2 newer one`s I own are in the 8.5 to 9 lb`s range.

The 5 string will be a bit heavier of course but they are worth a look.

 

[bholder]

@bholder cool good to hear. Are they heavy basses? I've already have a 10.8lbs jazz v. Im hoping to find something under ~9

My M7 5er fretless comes in at 8.6 pounds. Much sleeker and lighter body than the Jazz bodies of the V series.

Of course, I'm sure a lot of weight saving is not having all those frets!

 

[gg22]

I was heavily considering a sire bass before I decided to purchase the Lakeland. What made me choose the Lakeland let the fact that it had been plekd and 35" scale.

cost isn't a factor really. Just want a nice 35" scale bass.

@Goatrope i agree though. The blemishes were fairly obvious.
I do like ebmm 4 strings, the 5s not so much. I also want a 35" scale.

Maybe MTD Kingston?
I own both a Lakland 55-02 and Sire M7. The Lakland has a more solid construction and the most stable neck I've ever seen. Maybe try another Lakland?

 

[mmbongo]

I was heavily considering a sire bass before I decided to purchase the Lakeland. What made me choose the Lakeland let the fact that it had been plekd and 35" scale.

cost isn't a factor really. Just want a nice 35" scale bass.

@Goatrope i agree though. The blemishes were fairly obvious.
I do like ebmm 4 strings, the 5s not so much. I also want a 35" scale.

Roscoe. Also 35", also Plekked. Made in the USA. About as good as you can get.

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

Roscoe. Also 35", also Plekked. Made in the USA. About as good as you can get.

I've considered Roscoe. They're made not far from me actually. The ones I've seen online were out of my price range at that time.

 

[JSandbloom]

I was looking forward to receiving this Lakland 55-02 sweetwater exclusive. Until it arrived…..right of out the box I noticed some scratches and dings. Upon closer inspection the bass had more than what I'd consider acceptable wear for a new bass.
Bubbles in the clear coat, scratch on pickup, and to top it off the B string was significantly lower output than the rest.
The previous Laklands Ive owned were excellent basses and the B string sounded great. This one was very dead sounding and had no resonance. thankfully sweetwater has an easy return process.
Just disappointing to spend $1740 on a bass and it arrive in this condition.
I hear so many good things about sweetwater, this was the 2nd time they sent me a bass with issues.

Any recommendations on a 35" scale 5 string under $2k?

A used 55-14. You're welcome.

 

[Bone]

Look at the G and L . They may have and offering you'd like.

 

[Clark W]

I was looking forward to receiving this Lakland 55-02 sweetwater exclusive. Until it arrived…..right of out the box I noticed some scratches and dings. Upon closer inspection the bass had more than what I'd consider acceptable wear for a new bass.
Bubbles in the clear coat, scratch on pickup, and to top it off the B string was significantly lower output than the rest.
The previous Laklands Ive owned were excellent basses and the B string sounded great. This one was very dead sounding and had no resonance. thankfully sweetwater has an easy return process.
Just disappointing to spend $1740 on a bass and it arrive in this condition.
I hear so many good things about sweetwater, this was the 2nd time they sent me a bass with issues.

Any recommendations on a 35" scale 5 string under $2k?

Makes you wonder about the 55 point inspection process.

I've only bought one bass from them, back in 2018. Could never gel with it. Eventually traded it for a bass that I traded for another bass, that I still have.

I buy other stuff, amps, cabs, soundboards, pedals, mics, etc... online, and from Sweetwater.

But when it comes to basses I'm better off if I can see it and put my hands on it first. I've bought 10 basses since that one from Sweetwater in 2018. Some were just to flip, and some to keep. But all of them have been hands on purchases only.

 

[TheReceder]

Curious what was sweetwaters response when you talked them.

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

Makes you wonder about the 55 point inspection process.

I've only bought one bass from them, back in 2018. Could never gel with it. Eventually traded it for a bass that I traded for another bass, that I still have.

I buy other stuff, amps, cabs, soundboards, pedals, mics, etc... online, and from Sweetwater.

But when it comes to basses I'm better off if I can see it and put my hands on it first. I've bought 10 basses since that one from Sweetwater in 2018. Some were just to flip, and some to keep. But all of them have been hands on purchases only.

I wish we had enough music stores in my area to put hands on the basses before I buy. Unfortunately unless I'm in the market for a beginner or intermediate level bass. The local stores don't offer much selection outside of that. My closest guitar center is 2 hrs. Even the selection there is hit or miss.
I buy a lot of basses from a fellow talkbass users store.

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

Curious what was sweetwaters response when you talked them.

they were apologetic about the discrepancies. Offered a discount or replacement, said they would make sure it was 100% perfect before shipping it. They handled it professionally. just unfortunately none of the others in stock were the weight I wanted to be at. So I opted to just send it back for a refund. Since the selection for 5 strings were pretty slim.

I'm keeping an eye out for a used Lakland for the time being. It was a bummer that one didn't work out.

 

[TheReceder]

they were apologetic about the discrepancies. Offered a discount or replacement, said they would make sure it was 100% perfect before shipping it. They handled it professionally. just unfortunately none of the others in stock were the weight I wanted to be at. So I opted to just send it back for a refund. Since the selection for 5 strings were pretty slim.

I'm keeping an eye out for a used Lakland for the time being. It was a bummer that one didn't work out.

Funny how 2 minutes after I ordered ( an out of stock) pedal from them I read your post..... I'm in no rush so it's not an issue, but it'll be interesting to see if the estimate is correct. I've had good customer service from them, but this post-apocalyptic time of covid seems to have hurt everyone's level of customer service.

 

[Jefus]

Just since I hadn't seen this suggestion yet, would you consider a Sandberg? They get a lot of love around here. I'm considering one next time I need something new for a particular band; it seems like they have a little bit of everything.

Also G.Gould could be worth your attention. I've got a broadneck 5 from him and it's awesome! I get that carbon fiber necks aren't everyone's thing, but they are built to survive re-entry!

 

[Clark W]

I wish we had enough music stores in my area to put hands on the basses before I buy. Unfortunately unless I'm in the market for a beginner or intermediate level bass. The local stores don't offer much selection outside of that. My closest guitar center is 2 hrs. Even the selection there is hit or miss.
I buy a lot of basses from a fellow talkbass users store.

I understand about music stores being a round. I do have a GC 12 miles from me. Every time I've bought a bass there, 3x so far, it was never planned. Got lucky and they had something that I didn't know I wanted

Where I would really like to buy basses at is a locally owned mom and pop shop, but they specialize in guitars, very few basses there, though I have bought 2 used basses from them. And they currently have an Adam Clayton Jazz that is to drool over.