Some pretty mismatched grain on a Lakland

[Alder P Ashman]

A few months back, I started a thread regarding a Fender Jaco bass & whether or not the neck was grossly misaligned, or it was just deception due to a slightly off kilter photo. Coincidentally, the bass in question disappeared in a matter of hours.

Coincidence? I think not!

I'm convinced there's a Sweetwater representative lurking among us...

Nope, I bought it. I'm just a gigging sideman, no Sweetwater rep here. There were three available the day I bought mine. I snagged the lightest one. A few days later, someone bought a 10.5 + pounder, which also had some strange grain.

 

[Kukulkan61]

No, a $300 bass has plywood body.

Wrong...my 300 and under basses are not plywood,their basswood or agathis...

 

[Kukulkan61]

As much as pay for these Lakelands it should of never passed QC...

 

[mikeyjm2]

I don't own any Laklands, but would love to give one a shot. If that was the one in question though I would pass. Even though the mismatch is on the back where others wouldn't notice, I would know it's there and it would gnaw at me.

 

[taylor16]

I'm sure that 90% of the "bass market" wouldn't think twice about the grain pattern being relatively mismatched. I'm with the guy who said we should spend more time gigging and practicing rather than obsessing over small fry like this!

 

[Alaotatto]

the bottom part on the back looks awesome... and it would've looked even better if it was matched properly!

 

[David Jayne]

I think you guys need to get some gigs so you don't have time to pick apart every small detail of every bass.

I have 6 or 8 gigs a month. Should I get get more? : D

 

[Bassmuzicar]

Isn't the back supposed to be one solid block of wood? I've never seen anything like this before.

Front looks about right tho!

 

[96tbird]

It's not like it's the ONLY natural Skyline in the world to choose from.

You asked so obviously it bothers you. Why would you then buy it?

 

[TonyP-]

I think you guys need to get some gigs so you don't have time to pick apart every small detail of every bass.

Yep
So many on TB is more concerned wither something is real crappy fender and value / hierchey of their instrument then the playibily and tone they can achieve from it.
Sorry not a popularity post but I'm calling it. (But if your coming at this from a trophey collector standpoint fine, whatever works for You).

My basses go from one of the spectrum price wise to the other and are choosen for function.

 

[Stealth Fighter]

I'd be curious to see the responses to a Fender with the exact grain pattern. I bet the same people who are giving this bass a free ride would give the Fender hell.

 

[jd56hawk]

No doubt.

Seriously, a mismatched grain body might not be a deal breaker for some people, but the simple truth is that someone was asleep at the switch...this bass should've been painted.
I've passed up on Squiers with noticeably bad grain matches...but they weren't this glaringly obvious! After all, aren't $1,000 plus basses supposed to not only sound better but also look better?
Of course they are, that's why we see post after post about how good this or that particular bass looks.

 

[gjbassist]

Isn't the back supposed to be one solid block of wood? I've never seen anything like this before.

Front looks about right tho!

No. The front and back are the same piece of wood. This bass, like many others is made from two pieces of wood glued together. Some basses have three or even four piece bodies.

 

[BassikLee]

My ash Brice Douglas jazz 5 is better matched than that, and it is a $299 bass.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I'd play it and it would sound great.

 

[I am Soma]

I think you guys need to get some gigs so you don't have time to pick apart every small detail of every bass.

 

[sotua]

No, a $300 bass has plywood body.

Nope.

Not exactly AAAAA maple, but it's definitely not plywood.

 

[jamro217]

No need to record the serial number on that one, you'll always be able to pick it out in a crowd.

 

[Big Hoss]

The knot swirls are actually a feature I rather like, but the very straight grain on the one section glued to fairly curly grain just looks screwy.

It absolutely needs paint.

 

[Big Hoss]

No, a $300 bass has plywood body.

Maybe back in the 80's or 90's, but not today... And actually, you can get two of Link Removed for $300.00 and get change back...

Certainly no Lackland, but judging from the grain the OP shows, that is a good thing.