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New Lakland Ownership

#21
Eilif said:
OK, I've been out of the loop for a while. Someone fill me in.

When did the change happen?
Any reasons given for why?
Why did all the names of the sig basses change?
What's Dan up to now?
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Hey Karl,

Here's some quick answers:
*The change happened about 6 weeks to 2 months ago.
*No specific reasons given why. I think it's fair to say the company was struggling financially.
*The names changed due to licensing issues, it wasn't really an intentional move by JP and Bo.
*Figuring out his next move, AFAIK.

Sign up for the LOG (we have a free basic membership) and I'll point you to lots more info. And feel free to PM me.

Greg
 
#23
JAUQO III-X said:
Hey Greg, you coming out to the bass event next Tuesday(June 22) at the Darkroom?

7:PM - Midnight
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Hey Jauqo,

I saw your post about that, thanks for the reminder! I'm going to try to make it. Next week's really busy at work, but Tuesday night may be the only night next week I don't have to get to bed early.:)
 
#27
stflbn said:
Of course... any new owner is definitely not going to tell you the company is screwed and new ownership are idiots either.

I tend to fall more along the line of 'prove to me things are the same or better'.


.
Click to expand...

For what its worth, I was at the summer NAMM in Nashville, and met Leo and the Hanson guys. I was really impressed with everybody, and impressed as hell with the basses. I played a 44-94 with Chisonics that just blew me away-seriously one of the best necks, and best tones I have come across in a while. I also played a BG that I loved, and Tom Bowlus couldn't stop raving about a JO that he said was one of the best he had ever played although I didn't get to play that one-I couldn't put the 44-94 down! Of course they only bring the best stuff to NAMM, but man was I impressed. Makes me thing that my next bass will be a Lakkie and not a Sadowsky, I don't care if it is post Hanson or pre! Also, the Hanson guys are really nice, and really know what they are talking about, I had a good chat with the main Hanson guy about the pickups in the BG. A class act all around.
 
#28
engedi1 said:
For what its worth, I was at the summer NAMM in Nashville, and met Leo and the Hanson guys. I was really impressed with everybody, and impressed as hell with the basses. I played a 44-94 with Chisonics that just blew me away-seriously one of the best necks, and best tones I have come across in a while. I also played a BG that I loved, and Tom Bowlus couldn't stop raving about a JO that he said was one of the best he had ever played although I didn't get to play that one-I couldn't put the 44-94 down! Of course they only bring the best stuff to NAMM, but man was I impressed. Makes me thing that my next bass will be a Lakkie and not a Sadowsky, I don't care if it is post Hanson or pre! Also, the Hanson guys are really nice, and really know what they are talking about, I had a good chat with the main Hanson guy about the pickups in the BG. A class act all around.
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+1 I really do think that this is going to be a great thing for Lakland in the long run. I don't know anything about why Dan wanted out, or what he's doing, but John and Leo and the rest of the crew are all super fired up, and I am highly confident that they are going to take Lakland basses to even greater heights!

And yes, that blue JO, er... 44-60... was to die for! :eek: :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: :cool:
 
#29
tombowlus said:
+1 I really do think that this is going to be a great thing for Lakland in the long run. I don't know anything about why Dan wanted out, or what he's doing, but John and Leo and the rest of the crew are all super fired up, and I am highly confident that they are going to take Lakland basses to even greater heights!

And yes, that blue JO, er... 44-60... was to die for! :eek: :bassist: :bassist: :bassist: :cool:
Click to expand...

I'm really curious about what Dan's doing now. I had NO idea that he has had such a rough time making a buck since day one. Hell, Lakland goes to all the NAMM shows, has a huge list of high profile players and even brought out the Skylines like many of the other mfrs have done to compete in the entry-level market - basses that street under $1000. At a glance, you'd think the company was doing great! My guess is that he's been really stressed out for a long time about money. You gotta give him credit for trying. You know how they say it's really important to do what you love - and maybe that's what kept him going all these years. I just read that Forbes mag article - wow, what an eye-opener - as mentioned, very honest indeed. You'd think that Dan would stay in the game and continue to work for the company - like Jeff with Genz. Maybe he's just taking a break and playing in a band again or something? From what I'm reading so far, it looks like the Hanson-Lakland thing is going to be great.
 
#32
As a player/fan/dealer of Lakland since around '99.... after having dozens of USA Laklands myself.... I recently received my first post-Dan bass.... And it was every bit as perfect as anything I ever received in the past. Obviously they didn't forget how to build great basses. I'm convinced that the new ownership is on track to continue what they've been doing all these years, build fantastic quality instruments, and provide amazing customer service. Dan was always very helpful to me, and I wish him the best, whatever he's doing. I will remain a Lakland Fan.
Ed Hornung
Boise Bass Co
 
#34
boisebassco said:
As a player/fan/dealer of Lakland since around '99.... after having dozens of USA Laklands myself.... I recently received my first post-Dan bass.... And it was every bit as perfect as anything I ever received in the past. Obviously they didn't forget how to build great basses. I'm convinced that the new ownership is on track to continue what they've been doing all these years, build fantastic quality instruments, and provide amazing customer service. Dan was always very helpful to me, and I wish him the best, whatever he's doing. I will remain a Lakland Fan.
Ed Hornung
Boise Bass Co
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Great to hear, Ed. I too, am a huge Lakland "believer". My BG is the best P i've ever played and my favorite bass i've ever owned, for that matter. My JO is every bit as good. Dan must have handed over his "secret sauce" recipe that he rubs all over those necks, because they truly are special. If I were a rich man, my home would look like a shrine to Lakland:cool:
 
#35
Without Dan, there can be no real Lakland. He was the heart and sould of the company. Now all we have left is the brand name. All the passion of the new owners will never amount to 1/2 of what Dan had for the company. I can remember in the early days of Lakland when was the new kid. People bought Dan and the bass came with it. They don't write 'em like that anymore.
 
#36
GM60466 said:
Without Dan, there can be no real Lakland. He was the heart and sould of the company. Now all we have left is the brand name. All the passion of the new owners will never amount to 1/2 of what Dan had for the company. I can remember in the early days of Lakland when was the new kid. People bought Dan and the bass came with it. They don't write 'em like that anymore.
Click to expand...


Yes Dan was extremely passionate about Lakland and loved the company, but I can say with fact and first hand experience that the Pirruccello brothers are just as serious and passionate about every thing involving Lakland basses and the brand. I have been around Bo and John on more occasions than I can count and they are the best for Lakland to stay relevant in this struggling business. I feel that if any one else had taken over ownership of the brand it then would cease to represent what Lakland has become so well known for the world over. I have expressed to Dan Lakin that he couldn't have gotten two better people than Bo and John to take over a top notch brand and take it to higher levels.


And for the record for those who may not know, John Pirruccello and Dan are childhood friends. And John is one of the reasons Lakland bass guitars are what they are and why the brand is what it is(a very respected brand). John knows exactly what it takes to keep Lakland relevant and respected.













I'm a Lakland endorser.
 
#38
I was skeptical at first, but thus far I think the changes I've seen from my very limited vantage point have been great. I never cared for having basses named after artists simply because it causes confusion. The newer naming conventions make much better sense to me, and it provides stability over the long term.

I also really like the small but very effective changes on the Lakland website. The homepage used to be a cluttered mess such that it was hard to see what was new on a quick glance. The homepage is now much more organized effective to me.
 
#39
I don't really want to say too much about my case, but I'd like to say that my personal experience with Lākland has been way less frustrating since the ownership switch. I even took the electrical tape off the headstock of my 55-02, and may, just *may* buy another Lakkie in the future.

Before the Hanson boys took over and made me happy about an issue I'd been having, I had electrical tape over the name on my 55-02's headstock because I was so pi55ed at Lakland.

Now, I'm back to being a happy Lakkie owner. Ergo, new ownership = massive win.

Also, I like how the new model numbers bring some sort of order to the model name scheme.
 
#40
JAUQO III-X said:
I feel that if any one else had taken over ownership of the brand it then would cease to represent what Lakland has become so well known for the world over. I have expressed to Dan Lakin that he couldn't have gotten two better people than Bo and John to take over a top notch brand and take it to higher levels.
Click to expand...

+1 After speaking to them at Summer NAMM, I have to say that I am thrilled that Bo and John have taken over. If you take it as a given that Dan would no longer be at the helm, IMHO, the Pirruccello are a best case scenario from any angle.

Obviously, the proof is in the pudding, but I totally expect Lakland to continue to deliver the goods. I am hoping to delve into this story a bit deeper in a future issue... :cool:
 

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