Ray35CA or Lakland 55-01

[awilkie84]

New Ray35's are $800 US. That's $1022 CAD. Sounds like you're getting hosed by some hosers up there.

That was exactly my point.

 

[ODDBALL]

Fretboard radius is the curvature of the fretboard... a compound radius means the radius at the nut is more curved than at the other end of the fretboard. This is meant to allow for low, consistent and comfortable action on the entire neck.

Here is an article: Invalid Link Removed

Ok, so the Lakland neck gets a little wider up going up towards the 12th Fret.

Shaun

 

[ODDBALL]

Ok, so I just sold a '96 Warwick Corvette 5. I sold it because of the ergonomics of the neck was hurting my fretting hand. You really have to reach for the first three frets. The corvette is 24 frets and the neck is bolted on the edge of the body. Will a 55-02 give me issues being a 35 scale?

Thanks

Shaun

 

[metermech]

OP I had both of these basses and found that for my needs the RAY35 needed some taming so I used flatwound Chromes on it and it helped. The 55-01 seemed to be more versatile for me. I sold the Ray35 locally since I liked the 55-01 over all for the ease of the neck for me. The optimal test would be to try and use both in a band situation as mentioned earlier in the thread. Both as mentioned do different things. Good luck in your search...YMMV...

 

[Double E]

Ok, so the Lakland neck gets a little wider up going up towards the 12th Fret.

Shaun

It is wider than the SBMM on account of the wider string spacing, but the part that's relevant to it being a compound radius is that the fretboard is flatter as you go up to the 12th fret.

Ok, so I just sold a '96 Warwick Corvette 5. I sold it because of the ergonomics of the neck was hurting my fretting hand. You really have to reach for the first three frets. The corvette is 24 frets and the neck is bolted on the edge of the body. Will a 55-02 give me issues being a 35 scale?

Thanks

Shaun

It could give you issues I suppose, although the key reference for the reach to the first position is where the strap attaches. On the Corvette, it appears to be at about the 14th fret where the Lakland is closer to the 12th fret. Even after you factor in the scale length difference the first position is a little closer on the Lakland. However, I'm gonna have to fall back on the adage that your just going to have to try it to be sure and it may take more than a showroom test drive to determine this.

 

[jlepre]

Here...

Go to Guitarcenter.com and buy either or BOTH to compare. Return either or both when you're finished.

END of thread...

 

[ODDBALL]

It is wider than the SBMM on account of the wider string spacing, but the part that's relevant to it being a compound radius is that the fretboard is flatter as you go up to the 12th fret.


It could give you issues I suppose, although the key reference for the reach to the first position is where the strap attaches. On the Corvette, it appears to be at about the 14th fret where the Lakland is closer to the 12th fret. Even after you factor in the scale length difference the first position is a little closer on the Lakland. However, I'm gonna have to fall back on the adage that your just going to have to try it to be sure and it may take more than a showroom test drive to determine this.

Thanks this makes sense.

Shaun

 

[ODDBALL]

What year was the first year Lakland started Pleking the 55-01's?

Shaun

 

[Double E]

I think that they got their plek machine around 2010. But don't let that keep you from buying a bass prior to that. Before the plek process was standard, Lakland did the fretwork on the Skylines Impeccably by hand in Chicago.

Correction:

Actually, the Plek machine arrived in late 2008, basically coinciding with the move of Skyline production to Indonesia when Cort shut down its Korean factory. Before that, Lakland's crew did final touchups on Skyline fretwork. I don't know for sure, but I believe Dan's thinking was that with the move to the Indo factory, the Skylines' fretwork might need more fine tuning in Chicago, so it was best to make that process somewhat more automated.

 

[alack]

If you want that Musicman sound there is only one way to get it.

 

[Kitz]

Easy choice for me. I currently own 5 Laklands, including a 55-01. You can't go wrong with Lakland.

I know this is an older thread, but I just stumbled across this. I have to disagree with you on that bit about you can't go wrong with a Lakland. I got one a couple of years ago as a Christmas gift, and the thing has been a headache. The input jack stopped working within a month, I was having issues with the pickup blend knob. The more I'd increase the neck pup, the less volume the bass was getting, the neck joint has a pretty large gap in the side of it, so the neck isn't sitting flush like it should, and you can easily see daylight down that entire side of the joint. Granted, some of this like the output jack is minor, and easy to fix, but at the same time, this is all on a bass that is less than 2 years old. That is unacceptable, and has me completely turned off of the 55-01, as being a quality bass, and why I'm saying you can go wrong with a Lakland. Now for full disclosure, this was a gift that someone bought off Musician's Friend for me. Had he and I, actually went out and played them, I likely wouldn't at least have the neck gap issue.

 

[Double E]

I know this is an older thread, but I just stumbled across this. I have to disagree with you on that bit about you can't go wrong with a Lakland. I got one a couple of years ago as a Christmas gift, and the thing has been a headache. The input jack stopped working within a month, I was having issues with the pickup blend knob. The more I'd increase the neck pup, the less volume the bass was getting, the neck joint has a pretty large gap in the side of it, so the neck isn't sitting flush like it should, and you can easily see daylight down that entire side of the joint. Granted, some of this like the output jack is minor, and easy to fix, but at the same time, this is all on a bass that is less than 2 years old. That is unacceptable, and has me completely turned off of the 55-01, as being a quality bass, and why I'm saying you can go wrong with a Lakland. Now for full disclosure, this was a gift that someone bought off Musician's Friend for me. Had he and I, actually went out and played them, I likely wouldn't at least have the neck gap issue.

Did you return the bass or have these items addressed under warranty? One of the reasons that many believe Lakland is unbeatable is their customer service, who regularly steps and even when the retailer fails to help.

 

[Gougedeye]

I know this is an older thread, but I just stumbled across this. I have to disagree with you on that bit about you can't go wrong with a Lakland. I got one a couple of years ago as a Christmas gift, and the thing has been a headache. The input jack stopped working within a month, I was having issues with the pickup blend knob. The more I'd increase the neck pup, the less volume the bass was getting, the neck joint has a pretty large gap in the side of it, so the neck isn't sitting flush like it should, and you can easily see daylight down that entire side of the joint. Granted, some of this like the output jack is minor, and easy to fix, but at the same time, this is all on a bass that is less than 2 years old. That is unacceptable, and has me completely turned off of the 55-01, as being a quality bass, and why I'm saying you can go wrong with a Lakland. Now for full disclosure, this was a gift that someone bought off Musician's Friend for me. Had he and I, actually went out and played them, I likely wouldn't at least have the neck gap issue.

I guess I can only speak from my own experience. My basses have been flawless! To echo what Double E said, if you were to make Lakland aware of these issues, I feel confident they would address them for you, to your satisfaction. Good luck with your bass.

 

[Kitz]

Did you return the bass or have these items addressed under warranty? One of the reasons that many believe Lakland is unbeatable is their customer service, who regularly steps and even when the retailer fails to help.

Yeah I did, and their cust. svc. is second to none, but that's not the point here. I am talking about quality of build, and for this I have to give the 55-01 a thumbs down, and tell others I think they should be avoided.

 

[jlepre]

Yeah I did, and their cust. svc. is second to none, but that's not the point here. I am talking about quality of build, and for this I have to give the 55-01 a thumbs down, and tell others I think they should be avoided.

Because of your one bad experience. I guess you can have your opinion, but I would take it with a grain of salt. Seems to me that the majority have had more positive experiences with 55-01. Me included.

 

[draygriff]

I owned a great sounding Lakland fiver. Unfortunately I had to sell it to get a four string bass due to arthritis in my left thumb. I've seen some great imported basses in my day. I worked in a music store for over 10 years. But IMHO the USA made instruments are my choice. This statement definitely doesn't include overseas based companies (Warwick, Yamaha etc.). I think the fit and finish on USA made instruments are better, in some cases not all, than their offshore counterparts. Sorry if this wandered off topic.

Get the Lakland.

 

[Kitz]

Because of your one bad experience. I guess you can have your opinion, but I would take it with a grain of salt. Seems to me that the majority have had more positive experiences with 55-01. Me included.

You can take it with a grain of salt if you want, but that still wouldn't be too good of an idea. It doesn't change the fact that mine was poorly crafted, and if mine is, I'm sure there are others out there that are too. This one should never have slipped past QC in Chicago after they assembled it. Also, and I think this is important, if I didn't receive this one as a gift, and was able to play a few, I wouldn't be having these problems, and would have a more positive outlook on this particular model. Now, in spite of all the negative, I will insert some positives as well. The neck itself is wonderful to play. In fact, it's one of the most comfortable I've ever had in my hands. The bass is perfectly balanced as well, and the body just feels right to me when pressed to my body playing it. Very comfy, nothing is a chore to get etc, etc. Tone subjective, so I'll just say, for it being MK1's, it isn't the worst sounding bass out there, though I would recommend to anyone wanting one, to ditch the MK1 preamp, for something better sounding. From the tech's I've talked to, they all agree that the MK1 is also poorly designed pre.