The Battle of the MM/J's

Lakland 4-94 all the way!

I make a point to post when I vote on a poll, so my choice from the list is the Lakland 4-94.

I think they are well built and sound fantastic.


Treena

 

Haven't played the Lakland, but love Warwicks, therefore either of the FNA's would be my choice.

Steve

 

For ME, it would be no contest - the Lakland, hands down.

 

Given the choices up there, I voted 4-94, but you may also want to consider the 44-02. They are less expensive and still excellent instruments.

Or you can go the direction that I did, I took a Warmoth body and had Karl Hoyt build me a neck to fit it. I then put Duncan pups into it. Total cost was around $1000 for all new parts. About $500 of that was the body. If you don't custom order a body and take something from the thrift shop, you can lower that price. Click here for pics

 

i've played several 44-94s at the lakland shop (all bartolini, no duncan) in chicago. i have also played an MTD kingston (i know it's not an heir, but the experience translates), and a couple warwicks with MM/J pickups.

without a doubt, the lakland is the most balanced and sweet sounding. i was not at all pleased with the sound of the kingston, and the warwicks just didn't sound right. the best sounding warwick i've every played was the infinity LTD. but i digress.

i have not had the opportunity to play a carvin, washburn, or aria with MM/J pickups. i have not been impressed with washburn basses in the past.

robb.

 

What I want to know is, what is the Kingston Heir, Washburn RB, Aria and Carvin doing up there. The Lakland completely blows them away, including the Warwick. I think its an unfair comparison considering the Lakland is much more expensive than the other basses in the options.

 

Even though those MTDs are made in Korea, doesn't mean they are crap.

Heck, I even played an MTD Kingston 5, and the sound and feel of it made me want to sell my Modulus.

Just because a Kia doesn't have this symbol
on the hood, doesn't mean that it won't run.

 

I am going with the lakland here. The Warwick MM/J sounds pretty good, but the one i played had really bad action... so it kind of turned me off. As far as Carvins go, I really think that they look better than they sound. The MTD Heir is a great bass. For the price ($700.00 I think?) they are hard to beat.

 

I've only played the MTD Heir, so I didn't vote. I bought one sight-unseen and was really very pleasantly surprised with the sound of the MM/J pup combo. Consider this a vote for that pup configuration rather than any particular bass... definite agreement here though with the assertion that the MTD Korean instruments are absolutely fabulous for the price.

 

I recently played a Modulus Flea Bass with a bartolini J and MM pickup in it. I was very impressed with the clarity and thought it sounded pretty good, even though I am not a huge fan of J pickups. but out of the ones up there, the Lakland gets my vote.

 

Personally, I think the Flea does sacrifice some of that MM growl with a J pickup in it. It sounded that way when I A/B'd a regular MM equipped Flea with it. It might be able to get the job done, I just think the addition of a J pickup isn't necessary for what I play and that was the only reason I didn't get one.
As for the Lakland, I can't really give you a good opinion on it because I barely remember trying it, but I do remember being more impressed with the Flea for some reason. I think the Lakland had slightly more growl due to the wood neck, but it could of been something else...i dunno my memory sucks sorry.

 

I would steer clear of the carvin LB75 J and MM the pick ups are seriously lacking in tone and in my case output. When i sent the Carvin back this is the nice J and MM i got instead.

 

No I assure you, I'm quite serious. They sound quite similar, the Modulus a tad warmer (Bartolini electronics) but the feel of the MTD won me over. My Modulus just doesn't fit my hands, and the MTD felt like it was sculpted for my hands. All a matter of personal preference, not personal pocketbook.

 

ive owned a lakland and have played the carvin and warwick mm/j models. my old 5594 was one of the best playing basses ive owned but i prefered the tone of both the carvin and warwick.

 

Warwick Corvette Jazzman, but just bc im a big drooler over Warwicks. I plan on making my next (distant future) bass purchase a warwick.