New basses coming from Lakland

[ishouldbeking]

Not to rub it in, but I should mention that I tried the slab '51 at the Lakland GTG (when this clip was recorded) for a few minutes and I really loved it. I hope to take it for another test drive soon.

I'd love to play one of those... always wondered if the 'slab' style body would work for me in a real life situation or if I'd end up missing the contours. I mean, my Ric has that hard, bound top and that doesn't bother me, but it's considerably thinner than a Fender style body. Guess I'll have to try one!

 

[GregC]

I know it's not as "true" to the original, but I'd probably prefer one to have the slab "look", but still have the contours, and also still have the pickup look like the single coil (tho actually be a split or stack instead.) IMHO, it kinda' breaks the fantasy for me if it's an older style P but with that newer style pickup, and those slab bodies kinda' cut into my forearm a bit. I'm sure it sounds amazing tho.

Partial +1. I want one with the contours, too, and the newer-style P pup with the traditional pickguard looks a bit off to me. I generally haven't cared for the old-style single-coil P pickups that much (in the '51 RI and the Squier CV), but in my brief tryout, the one Lakland built for this bass just roared!

 

[Bassman7PM]

That 55-94D Cherry burst he's holding is Drop Dead Gorgeous!!! We return to our regularly scheduled program.

 

[ishouldbeking]

Partial +1. I want one with the contours, too, and the newer-style P pup with the traditional pickguard looks a bit off to me. I generally haven't cared for the old-style single-coil P pickups that much (in the '51 RI and the Squier CV), but in my brief tryout, the one Lakland built for this bass just roared!

never thought I liked the sound of a single-coil Precision pickup myself, having only tried the CIJ Fender '51 Reissue a couple of times. And then I played a Nash '51, which probably had a Lollar pup or something similarly high-end... sounded incredibly full, rich, bright, thick... everything i'd want. It hummed like a mother too, but that's par for course w/ these. I'd imagine a Lakland would sound pretty similar if its got a Hanson pickup.

 

[Vic]

i know but i hear so much that laklands are way better than fenders

and i realise its all a matter of personal prefrences but i just dont see what the fuss is about

You just answered your own question. My point was, we just (hopefully) got off one bad derail, I was hoping to avoid another.

 

[Vic]

Partial +1. I want one with the contours, too, and the newer-style P pup with the traditional pickguard looks a bit off to me. I generally haven't cared for the old-style single-coil P pickups that much (in the '51 RI and the Squier CV), but in my brief tryout, the one Lakland built for this bass just roared!

I totally agree... I actually also do like the sound of those newer pickups better, BUT, then I'd just go for the full '57 style. My thinking is, if you want the vintage thing, kinda' stick more to it, even if you have to "cheat a little" to avoid hum and make it a little more comfy to play. I guess it just gets down to your pain thresholds for certain features.

 

[GregC]

never thought I liked the sound of a single-coil Precision pickup myself, having only tried the CIJ Fender '51 Reissue a couple of times. And then I played a Nash '51, which probably had a Lollar pup or something similarly high-end... sounded incredibly full, rich, bright, thick... everything i'd want. It hummed like a mother too, but that's par for course w/ these. I'd imagine a Lakland would sound pretty similar if its got a Hanson pickup.

That was my impression of the Hanson pickup. I can't say the hum was really noteworthy, but it was in the middle of the GTG so there was a lot of noise around me.

A couple pics of the '51 taken by other LOGers. In the second shot, John Stirratt of Wilco (very nice guy) is checking it out.

 

[Vic]

never thought I liked the sound of a single-coil Precision pickup myself, having only tried the CIJ Fender '51 Reissue a couple of times. And then I played a Nash '51, which probably had a Lollar pup or something similarly high-end... sounded incredibly full, rich, bright, thick... everything i'd want. It hummed like a mother too, but that's par for course w/ these. I'd imagine a Lakland would sound pretty similar if its got a Hanson pickup.

Yeah, these pickups, especially the true single coil versions, don't "growl" like the newer "z style" pickups, but they do sound huge, which is part of that vintage vibe, too. I just sorta' dig that, tho I'm still mainly a J style bass guy for the most part.

 

[BassesForTheWin]

they need a 5-string '51 P-Bass

 

[GregC]

I totally agree... I actually also do like the sound of those newer pickups better, BUT, then I'd just go for the full '57 style. My thinking is, if you want the vintage thing, kinda' stick more to it, even if you have to "cheat a little" to avoid hum and make it a little more comfy to play. I guess it just gets down to your pain thresholds for certain features.

Yep, I hear ya. My only reservation with a hum-cancelling single-coil P pickup is that I haven't heard one yet, and I haven't cared for hum-cancelling J pups.

 

[Vic]

That was my impression of the Hanson pickup. I can't say the hum was really noteworthy, but it was in the middle of the GTG so there was a lot of noise around me.

It also depends GREATLY on where you are and what's going on nearby with various electrical conditions. I've played solo'd single coils in lots of places with barely any noise at all, but then other places... oh my... can't do it.

 

[capnsandwich]

The 55-94 second from the right with the spalted maple top and maple FB, I'd give a kidney for.

 

[Vic]

Yep, I hear ya. My only reservation with a hum-cancelling single-coil P pickup is that I haven't heard one yet, and I haven't cared for hum-cancelling J pups.

I totally get that, and yeah, it would sound different no matter what the builder did. So I guess it just boils down to if Norstrand, Seymour Duncan, or whomever, could make one that sounded good enough.

Interesting thing is, in theory, someone should be able to do a split coil series wired config in that form factor, which may sound more like the "z pickup", but at least look like the older style... that might be pretty darn cool.

Bottom line is, to have Lakland quality with this vintage style, would just be way cool.

 

[lookiel]

Hmmm, I can't really explain it but something about the tone in that video and the emphasis on the direction that Lakland is taking makes me wonder how well the company is doing financially.
I really respect what they did earlier
and think they're a great "big" boutique bass company however they seem to straddle between being a small USA builder and an overseas cheap labour factory builder (although the older korean skylines were pretty incredible).
Their US basses are VERY nice,
the newer Indonesian skylines though...sort of meh (shrug).

 

[rayzak]

someone explain to me why laklands are better than fenders. ive tryed laklands and i just didnt care for them. its like a fender + but the truth is fender offer meny options if your into that kind of bass.

tbh i dont like active electronics so i tryed there passive "p" and yet again i just wished i was playing a p-bass. thats just me tho

I think many times people say "better" when they really mean "more consistent". There are some GREAT Fenders out there, but, generally speaking of course, you have to search for them a little harder than, say, a Lakland, Sadowsky, Lull, Nordstrand, etc.... which, unless the bass needs a setup, is almost guaranteed to be a "gem".

I'm mainly speaking about US Laklands. Not sure about the consistency of Skyline's, although i've heard they are consistently well built, but I have only played a few(two of which I used to own).

 

[mccartneyman]

Sign me up for that '51 P modern! I wonder when the Skyline versions will be out?

Late in the video he says sometime late in 2011 for Skyline versions.

 

[esa372]

someone explain to me why laklands are better than fenders.

They're not.

 

[mccartneyman]

Come back Dan Lakin.
Now lakland just want to do big money.
Where's the news? 51P + flamed top JB ! What a creativity guys, wow!!

I believe this is called "making what they think will sell." Business is still business. Music Man has been pretty creative over the last 10 years but I don't see a lot of people playing the Big Al or the other "breaking the mold" bases they have produced. Nor so I See a lot of other companies, large or small, making things that are that out of the norm. What has Gibson done creatively with bass lately? There's a reason why, if you go see a major band, 90% of the time you'll see P-, J- or MM- inspired basses being used.

I'd rather buy a Lakland '51 P or active Jazz than the Fender versions, especially when the Skylines come out. Of the 10 or so basses Leo had at Summer NAMM, all of them sounded excellent just by plugging them in and playing.

 

[onionpuzzle]

Is that a DECADE 5-string with Maple Fretboard ?

OOOOH.

 

[flyingfinbar]

Late in the video he says sometime late in 2011 for Skyline versions.

Ahhh...I knew I should have hung in 'til the end! Thanks for the heads up.