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NBD - Holy Hollowbody !!

#106
InnerBass said:
That's true Smooth - but if a company/luthier builds a great solid body bass, it doesn't necessarily mean they always make a great HB..... or one at all.
But you're right, Lakland brought MTD's HB vision to life - and nailed it.
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I actually emailed Tobias about the design when I got mine to ask about the pickup placement. Here’s what he wrote back:

“Thanks for writing. I am glad you like the bass. they wanted a bass similar to the Guild Starfire or Gibson and that is where the neck pick up was on those basses. some of them did not have bridge pick ups early on.”
 
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#107
deepestend said:
I actually emailed Tobias about the design when I got mine to ask about the pickup placement. Here’s what he wrote back:

“Thanks for writing. I am glad you like the bass. they wanted a bass similar to the Guild Starfire or Gibson and that is where the neck pick up was on those basses. some of them did not have bridge pick ups early on.”
Click to expand...

Wow! So Lakland went to MT and asked him to design a HB for them? That’s pretty cool.
I wonder if he had made any HB’s before? Maybe he made some prototypes?
Just completely smitten with this bass - and the Glaub ;)
 
#108
InnerBass said:
Hey TB'ers -

I've been looking for a killer Hollowbody bass to gig in a regularly working old school outfit I just joined. Like most of us, I learn, compare and research basses online quite a bit and I play as many different basses as I can get my hands on. But when it comes to Hollowbody basses, most shops have a limited selection and some shops don't carry any at all. Most of my friends and bass peers don't have one either. So I've been relying on input from national pros, local luthiers and online reviews/articles.

IMHO, Hollowbodys are a totally different animal from traditional, passive solid body basses. When I first played one, what I noticed immediately was the airy resonance and the lively low-mid "whump" a hollowbody bass provides. After sitting with one for awhile, I noticed that in the process of finding "my tone", my fingers and the instrument became one with each other. What I mean by that is, the input my fingers had on my tone / sound felt immediate, absolute and, after time and practice, sounded articulate.

I bought a 1973 Yamaha SA-75 after seeing/hearing Josh Homme play one in the movie Soundcity and it is a really cool instrument, but kinda one dimensional. Plus, a short scale bass is not my thing for a long gig. Soooooo, after a bit of research and playing quite a few of them, I took a flyer on this online gem - and I'm so glad I did.

Ladies and Gents - an immaculate 2007 Lakland Skyline Hollowbody with Barts and TI Flats.
The manifestation and perfection of old school articulation and "tone-ification".


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It's Really, Really, Really got that old school articulation/vibe, and it's Really, Really, Really tonally versatile. Pardon my blather, but it's Really, Really, Really hard to "Curb My Enthusiasm" :D

BTW - It looks quite at home next to Bob's old bass, don't you think?
Thanks for looking and Happy Thumpn' !!

IB
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Glad to hear you’ve found Kismet. My experience with a hollow body bass ended over 45 years ago playing an EB-2 that was all mud all the time. Haven’t picked one up since. Just might have to try one out one of these days. Thanks for the post.
 
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#110
dbsfgyd1 said:
Glad to hear you’ve found Kismet. My experience with a hollow body bass ended over 45 years ago playing an EB-2 that was all mud all the time. Haven’t picked one up since. Just might have to try one out one of these days. Thanks for the post.
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Hey dbs -

I would definitely give one a try. Seems to me the vintage HB’s are more show pieces that practical players? Maybe it’s the pickups that are lacking vs the build?
 
#112
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#116
deepestend said:
That’s mine. I replaced all of the electronics and the switch (first with a preamp but decided that with this one i liked it passive better), new pickups, rolled the edges of the fretboard, and probably more. Great bass and I love playing it!
Click to expand...
deepestend said:
That’s mine. I replaced all of the electronics and the switch (first with a preamp but decided that with this one i liked it passive better), new pickups, rolled the edges of the fretboard, and probably more. Great bass and I love playing it!
Click to expand...

Rolling the edges! I was informed by a well versed TB’er that rolled edges is one of the reasons I am drawn to certain basses. What a great idea. Is that pricey?
 
#119
InnerBass said:
Rolling the edges! I was informed by a well versed TB’er that rolled edges is one of the reasons I am drawn to certain basses. What a great idea. Is that pricey?
Click to expand...

I did it myself when I started at Sadowsky...started working on my own stuff to learn! It shouldn’t be too much. It’s fairly easy. On a simple level it just requires a razor blade.
 
#120
InnerBass said:
I’ll bet that bass sounds amazing - looks incredible!!
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He did a good job. The single coil him is gone and the tone is fat but defined. Hints of a P in the bridge and not too farty in the neck.

I still have the Lakland pickups if anyone is looking for some. I put them back in at some point for comparison and they just weren’t for me...though many swear by them, so what do I know!
 
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