Thoughts on Lakland Skyline 55-01

[HalfManHalfBass]

Absolutely NOT true!! All manufacturers may put out a few lemons but the older Korean models are generally considered the better of the versions. I own one of the first 300 built (Korean model). It weighs between 9-9.5lbs). Neck is slim and wide and is stable as any pro neck out there. I've barely done any adjustment over the 10 years or so that I have owned it. I have modded the electronics a few time but have settled on a US Bartolini 5.2AP preamp and I actually put the stock MK-1 pickups back in the bass as it seems to be the best fit for me. I have tried US Bart P2 pickups as well as Nordstrands Big Splits.

I have also owned 2 55-02's, a Custom 44-60, a JO5 and another 55-01. All were very good basses and weighed 9.5lbs or less. The 44-60 was probably 8.5lbs. The JO5 was 9lbs. All had great necks. Straight and true.

I think a few people have posted about no problems with this. If they don't have the problem there is no need for a test. I'm sure if they had noticeable and premature feet wear they would have stated so. That's my 2¢ worth.

I think a few people have posted about no problems with this. If they don't have the problem there is no need for a test. I'm sure if they had noticeable and premature feet wear they would have stated so. That's my 2¢ worth.

So it's now perfectly safe to go ahead and buy my 4th Lakland and not experience any doubts I had about the durabilty of the fretting because no one mentioned it - thanks bassstrangler!

Conclusive proof without any form of testing...... I'm not so sure!

 

[Showdown]

So it's now perfectly safe to go ahead and buy my 4th Lakland and not experience any doubts I had about the durabilty of the fretting because no one mentioned it - thanks bassstrangler!

Conclusive proof without any form of testing...... I'm not so sure!

There have been a lot of people here who have not had the problem or heard of anyone outside this thread having the problem, even people who are regulars in the Lakland Owners Group, but you dismiss that. You clearly aren't willing to accept any opinions counter to your own.

As for me, the Indonesian Lakland I just got last week came with stainless steel rounds and it did not have this issue.

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

There have been a lot of people here who have not had the problem or heard of anyone outside this thread having the problem, even people who are regulars in the Lakland Owners Group, but you dismiss that. You clearly aren't willing to accept any opinions counter to your own.

As for me, the Indonesian Lakland I just got last week came with stainless steel rounds and it did not have this issue.

I wasn't aware that I had dismissed anything Showdown?, and I'm more than happy to accept any opinions to counter my own.

I think where I went wrong was to expect a direct answer to a direct question, whereas I should have in fact just been content with mere opinion based on the absence of direct answers......

I'm very happy that your bass has no issues and wish you every success with it, for I wish upon no one my present circumstances of having to sell (at a great loss) the body of a Lakland bass on eBay - because to have the truss rod replaced would cost even more.

 

[Showdown]

I wasn't aware that I had dismissed anything Showdown?, and I'm more than happy to accept any opinions to counter my own.

I think where I went wrong was to expect a direct answer to a direct question, whereas I should have in fact just been content with mere opinion based on the absence of direct answers......

I'm very happy that your bass has no issues and wish you every success with it, for I wish upon no one my present circumstances of having to sell (at a great loss) the body of a Lakland bass on eBay - because to have the truss rod replaced would cost even more.

I am not going to discuss this with you any more. Your attitude is not conducive to pleasant discussion. Have a nice day.

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

I am not going to discuss this with you any more. Your attitude is not conducive to pleasant discussion. Have a nice day.

You(rs) too, buddy.

 

[DWBass]

So it's now perfectly safe to go ahead and buy my 4th Lakland and not experience any doubts I had about the durabilty of the fretting because no one mentioned it - thanks bassstrangler!

Conclusive proof without any form of testing...... I'm not so sure!

In your case, if you do consider a Lakland in the future, find a way to play them first. That way you won't be disappointed in receiving one sight unseen with issues. After reading your other post describing some issues, I don't understand how a replacement neck could be thicker from front to back. Maybe they send a B stock or rejected neck. I don't know. As far as I know, Lakland does not make chunky necks. The 5 strings are all mostly the same specs (slight variation between the Skyline and US models). I believe the DJ has extra frets. But for the most part, slim front to back and wide at the nut and tapers to a 3" heel. Not one of the basses I owned had a thick neck. The 5's necks were all the same. But it's all good. Not everyone digs Laklands. Find what works for you.

 

[Texan]

Yeah, that would require set screws if you stick with the stock preamp. The rubber knobs might squeeze over the solid shaft, or they might not. If you need to have set screws, maybe something like this would be close enough: Small Black Aluminum Knob - Best Bass Gear

Or just get custom knobs

 

[felixxx]

My Lakland 5502dlx was awesome but I couldn't hear myself in a mix. I blame that more on the Bart's than the bass itself. Fit and finish were superb.

Solution

 

[Esoge]

This topic has moved along quickly, but it doesn't appear that anyone has read or tried what I suggested yesterday (in my copied above post).

Is it the preferred method on here that I start a new thread when asking new questions in an existing thread?

Peace,

Rob.

I've only had mine a few weeks (55-64), but as I stated earlier, I have exactly zero issues with my Indo Lakland. It looks, sounds and plays great, and honestly exceeded my expectations which were high considering I could get a US or Japanese made model from other manufacturers...

My frets are not wearing quickly. I have zero marks of wear so far on my frets and (also stated before) anyone who thinks Indonesia (or any other country for that matter) are incapable of producing fret wire (or any other part of a bass for that matter) simply because of their geographic location on the map is silly and I have some oceanfront property in Iowa I want to sell you while you're buying all of your "American made only" products.

You judge a bass by how it plays, how it sounds, how it looks, reputation and track record of the company, and then price/budget. If you're judging fret wire based off of it's country of origin you really need to stop typing on this forum and just go play a bass already

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

I've only had mine a few weeks (55-64), but as I stated earlier, I have exactly zero issues with my Indo Lakland. It looks, sounds and plays great, and honestly exceeded my expectations which were high considering I could get a US or Japanese made model from other manufacturers...

My frets are not wearing quickly. I have zero marks of wear so far on my frets and (also stated before) anyone who thinks Indonesia (or any other country for that matter) are incapable of producing fret wire (or any other part of a bass for that matter) simply because of their geographic location on the map is silly and I have some oceanfront property in Iowa I want to sell you while you're buying all of your "American made only" products.


You judge a bass by how it plays, how it sounds, how it looks, reputation and track record of the company, and then price/budget. If you're judging fret wire based off of it's country of origin you really need to stop typing on this forum and just go play a bass already

I had promised myself not to reply to this (or any other future thread here) because it seems people are either unable or unwilling to actually read anything I write and would rather disbelieve or cast aspersions regarding any real life experiences I have had. However, for the last time (on this and any other subject) if anyone here can help you to read it, I actually wrote in my post:

'This is because many Indonesian guit@rs / basses I have seen use fret wire as soft as solder and I would be even more concerned about quality control.'

This statement (whilst confusingly being written in the same language as this website) actually states 'many' and not 'all' -a dictionary might help you out here. It also neither states that 'I judge fret wire based on country of manufacture'(!?)

My bad, but lesson learned. I guess I will just never understand why when someone asks for true, 'in the field' experiences and opinions there are those on here that criticise those who reply -when they only did so because they wanted to warn you against the possibility of having similar, negative experiences!

It's like if my or other's opinions don't fit with your own preconceptions (usually while you are simultaneously waxing lyrically about your 'ultimate keeper' of a new bass - in the 'honey moon' phase) you automatically have to accuse them of being wrong or worse still, manipulate their words!?

Well, it's probably long overdue anyway, but 'addio amici'. To be honest, I have all the basses I could ever justify owning in this lifetime and certainly my bank manager would be more than happy if I were to spend more time playing them instead of coming here to be tempted by new gear.

I'm sorry that I can't impart any meaningful experiences or advice over a hobby that I have pursued for nearly 35 years, but I'm fast learning that these internet forums are "MOSTLY" frequented by very different people to myself and to who I want to be. I'm also finding it increasingly difficult to justify wasting my time with people unable to read or respond to intelligent exchanges.

Ciao, it's been......'interesting'.

 

[jim nolte]

Good morning my bass playing brother!

I know YOU feel you have a sufficient understanding of my particular circumstances in order to diagnose 'pilot error', but just for the benefit of the others who do not:

1) Bass number 1 was broken by a very highly respected bass builder and boutique bass merchants in Camden, London. He, like me, couldn't straighten the neck sufficiently. Being a dealership, Lakland switched out the faulty neck free of charge. The only thing was, the replacement neck was much thicker front to back than that of the original (the old Joe Osborn model) maybe because it was a 55-01 neck instead......?

2) Despite setting up and assembling ALL of my own instruments over the last 33 years including refrets, fret levels and reprofiling, bass number 2's truss rod broke whilst I was trying to straighten its neck. The action at the 12th fret was always higher than that at the 22nd fret and that is the role of the truss rod. After running out of adjustment and using the 'washers over the trussrod trick', there was still a backwards bow and further adjustment lead to it snapping.

Neither wishing to, nor being in the financial position to be able to throw away further money, means I would never consider this brand again. That's a real shame because a 35", 19mm spaced, 'normal looking' 5 string Jazz bass like their current 55-60 model is not easy to find elsewhere. Still, I rather doubt I or Lakland will be losing much sleep over the repercussions of my decision to be honest!

Have a great day!

Rob.

"there was still a backwards bow" if it's a backwards bow you need to be loosen the truss rod not tighten it, that's for a forward bow. Jim

 

[Esoge]

I had promised myself not to reply to this (or any other future thread here) because it seems people are either unable or unwilling to actually read anything I write and would rather disbelieve or cast aspersions regarding any real life experiences I have had. However, for the last time (on this and any other subject) if anyone here can help you to read it, I actually wrote in my post:

'This is because many Indonesian guit@rs / basses I have seen use fret wire as soft as solder and I would be even more concerned about quality control.'

This statement (whilst confusingly being written in the same language as this website) actually states 'many' and not 'all' -a dictionary might help you out here. It also neither states that 'I judge fret wire based on country of manufacture'(!?)

My bad, but lesson learned. I guess I will just never understand why when someone asks for true, 'in the field' experiences and opinions there are those on here that criticise those who reply -when they only did so because they wanted to warn you against the possibility of having similar, negative experiences!

It's like if my or other's opinions don't fit with your own preconceptions (usually while you are simultaneously waxing lyrically about your 'ultimate keeper' of a new bass - in the 'honey moon' phase) you automatically have to accuse them of being wrong or worse still, manipulate their words!?

Well, it's probably long overdue anyway, but 'addio amici'. To be honest, I have all the basses I could ever justify owning in this lifetime and certainly my bank manager would be more than happy if I were to spend more time playing them instead of coming here to be tempted by new gear.

I'm sorry that I can't impart any meaningful experiences or advice over a hobby that I have pursued for nearly 35 years, but I'm fast learning that these internet forums are "MOSTLY" frequented by very different people to myself and to who I want to be. I'm also finding it increasingly difficult to justify wasting my time with people unable to read or respond to intelligent exchanges.

Ciao, it's been......'interesting'.

I can read English just fine. You can't speak it, nor keep your story straight (as evidenced quite literally by the very next post after your little rant)

You stated:
"Because of this I would NEVER EVEN CONSIDER another Lakland, ESPECIALLY as they are now made in Indonesia.

THIS IS BECAUSE many Indonesian guit@rs / basses I have seen use fret wire as soft as solder and I would be even more concerned about quality control."

So way to mis-quote yourself out of context Einstein.

You make assumptions of the quality of Lakland's Indonesian products (and yes the quality of their fret wire) based solely on their country of origin as you in your own words WILL NOT EVEN consider an Indo Lakland. Even more oddly and illogically because of your experiences with KOREAN made Skylines (so your bigoted buying practices aren't even aligned with the reality you "lived" based on your "experiences")

I honestly didn't intend to egg you on. I truly meant no hard words other than to say that completely judging a bass based on the country it was constructed in is stupid and it is. If thats your perogative, more power to you, but judging on the fact that you can't bring anything of substance to the argument from your 35 years of playing why don't you just sit down when grown folks are talkin you child.

Honestly. You come on here starting a fight with me, claiming I can't accept the truth, and you provided an aswer that's just "different" than everyone else's so we can't accept it.

Here's what actually happened. You had a bad experience with 2 KOREAN Laklands and ranted about how Indo Laklands must be terrible and their fret wire is likely soft because most Indo guitars and basses are that way (please tell me when those helpful facts that address the OPs questions or concerns come in... I'll wait). You even mention that Korean Laklands are "very heavy and have necks like tree trunks"... A characteristic literally NEVER "commonly" associated with Laklands.

Do I believe that you had bad experiences with Korean Laklands? Yes. Why not? Any company can produce bad products.

Do I believe your Korean Laklands were heavy with a thick neck? Sure. Again no reason to not believe you, plus a tree trunk to you may be described differently by me.

Do I believe that your truss rods snapped on your Laklands? Yes technically. It can certainly happen, but I have to believe as stated earlier that user error was definitely at play.

First of all you describe a bad bowing problem on each. Well for one bowing happens gradually so what were you doing in the meantime? Ignoring them? Not playing them? Leaving them in a humid or extra dry area? I don't know, only you do and can't admit it to yourself so that's fine cause I don't have time to play bass therapist today.

Second, you mention that your tech snapped it. Well guess what, if I could stash a nickel away every time somebody's really super-experienced guitar tech completely did a hack job on basses and guitars while I was manager of a music store I'd be rich. So I take that with a grain of salt. Not to mention you didn't learn the difference between front bow and back bow in your 35 years playing bass so what hope do I have that you know your way around a truss rod?

But even dropping all that and accepting that Lakland made 2 inferior KOREAN made (gonna be in caps every time) basses and gave them to YOU SPECIFICALLY, let's weigh that against the literally hundreds to thousands of Skylines that have passed through the hands of TBers with exactly zero issues and most being richer for the experience of having owned one.... I'm gonna say your point is almost invalid in this argument...

Did you mention the 55-01 as the OP asked about? No

Did you speak to anything about the basses playability? No

Did you even mention anything relevant about Indonesian Laklands based in reality that wasn't an assumption based on 2 bad experiences with KOREAN Laklands? No

Were your bad experiences logically user error? The evidence is pointing towards resoundingly yes, but we can't know so again I'll even drop this point and you still have exactly zero working for you in your corner.

I know your just too real for us man and we can't accept the truth, but maybe you can't accept the truth as you have to mis-quote yourself and describe things inaccurately to do it.

I am far from a Lakland fanboy and I admittedly am in my honeymoon phase with my bass. A point I have yet to need to lie about in this thread. But you want it both ways. Because you proposed a TEST to see if the frets were soft (more evidence that country of origin is your sole identifier of bad fret wire here despite what you think you said). Well while I am in my honeymoon phase your test would present a problem within a few string pulls of sustained deep vibrato and I have had my Skyline 2 weeks with no fret wear as I STATED ALREADY and you in your smug BS with an agenda ignored cause it didn't fit YOUR NEED to not accept reality.

So be gone. I truly hope you never do post here again because we'll all be richer and smarter for the experience.

All you "learned" here was that we're not gonna put up with your BS. You should learn that in life too not just internet forums. It will take you far (well maybe not you).

 

[Esoge]

Also Lakland replaced a neck that your tech snapped. Sounds like they have excellent customer service despite you and your tech's incompetence to me

 

[DWBass]

Lakland has a very good reputation. When they have an overseas factory build their basses, they are built to the exact specs that Lakland gave them. The factory doesn't have free reign to use inferior components such as 'soft' fretwire. And Lakland is pretty good with their QC.

Kinda reminds me of the Behringer bashers who do so without ever owning a Behringer product. All the crazy 'catching fire', 'blowing up' stories. Well I'm a real world user (of both brands) and have never experienced any such thing. Not saying this is the case with you but I was shocked at 'thick neck'. Lakland is also good at making things right. But it sounds like you're already off the Lakland bandwagon. It's all good. Carry on.

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

I can read English just fine. You can't speak it, nor keep your story straight (as evidenced quite literally by the very next post after your little rant)

You stated:
"Because of this I would NEVER EVEN CONSIDER another Lakland, ESPECIALLY as they are now made in Indonesia.

THIS IS BECAUSE many Indonesian guit@rs / basses I have seen use fret wire as soft as solder and I would be even more concerned about quality control."

So way to mis-quote yourself out of context Einstein.

You make assumptions of the quality of Lakland's Indonesian products (and yes the quality of their fret wire) based solely on their country of origin as you in your own words WILL NOT EVEN consider an Indo Lakland. Even more oddly and illogically because of your experiences with KOREAN made Skylines (so your bigoted buying practices aren't even aligned with the reality you "lived" based on your "experiences")

I honestly didn't intend to egg you on. I truly meant no hard words other than to say that completely judging a bass based on the country it was constructed in is stupid and it is. If thats your perogative, more power to you, but judging on the fact that you can't bring anything of substance to the argument from your 38 years of playing why don't you just sit down when grown folks are talkin you child.

Honestly. You come on here starting a fight with me, claiming I can't accept the truth, and you provided an aswer that's just "different" than everyone else's so we can't accept it.

Here's what actually happened. You had a bad experience with 2 KOREAN Laklands and ranted about how Indo Laklands must be terrible and their fret wire is likely soft because most Indo guitars and basses are that way (please tell me when those helpful facts that address the OPs questions or concerns come in... I'll wait). You even mention that Korean Laklands are "very heavy and have necks like tree trunks"... A characteristic literally NEVER "commonly" associated with Laklands.

Do I believe that you had bad experiences with Korean Laklands? Yes. Why not? Any company can produce bad products.

Do I believe your Korean Laklands were heavy with a thick neck? Sure. Again no reason to not believe you, plus a tree trunk to you may be described differently by me.

Do I believe that your truss rods snapped on your Laklands? Yes technically. It can certainly happen, but I have to believe as stated earlier that user error was definitely at play.

First of all you describe a bad bowing problem on each. Well for one bowing happens gradually so what were you doing in the meantime? Ignoring them? Not playing them? Leaving them in a humid or extra dry area? I don't know, only you do and can't admit it to yourself so that's fine cause I don't have time to play bass therapist today.

Second, you mention that your tech snapped it. Well guess what, if I could stash a nickel away every time somebody's really super-experienced guitar tech completely did a hack job on basses and guitars while I was manager of a music store I'd be rich. So I take that with a grain of salt. Not to mention you didn't learn the difference between front bow and back bow in your 38 years playing bass so what hope do I have that you know your way around a truss rod?

But even dropping all that and accepting that Lakland made 2 inferior KOREAN made (gonna be in caps every time) basses and gave them to YOU SPECIFICALLY, let's weigh that against the literally hundreds to thousands of Skylines that have passed through the hands of TBers with exactly zero issues and most being richer for the experience of having owned one.... I'm gonna say your point is almost invalid in this argument...

Did you mention the 55-01 as the OP asked about? No

Did you speak to anything about the basses playability? No

Did you even mention anything relevant about Indonesian Laklands based in reality that wasn't an assumption based on 2 bad experiences with KOREAN Laklands? No

Were your bad experiences logically user error? The evidence is pointing towards resoundingly yes, but we can't know so again I'll even drop this point and you still have exactly zero working for you in your corner.

I know your just too real for us man and we can't accept the truth, but maybe you can't accept the truth as you have to mis-quote yourself and describe things inaccurately to do it.

I am far from a Lakland fanboy and I admittedly am in my honeymoon phase with my bass. A point I have yet to need to lie about in this thread. But you want it both ways. Because you proposed a TEST to see if the frets were soft (more evidence that country of origin is your sole identifier of bad fret wire here despite what you think you said). Well while I am in my honeymoon phase your test would present a problem within a few string pulls of sustained deep vibrato and I have had my Skyline 2 weeks with no fret wear as I STATED ALREADY and you in your smug BS with an agenda ignored cause it didn't fit YOUR NEED to not accept reality.

So be gone. I truly hope you never do post here again because we'll all be richer and smarter for the experience.

All you "learned" here was that we're not gonna put up with your BS. You should learn that in life too not just internet forums. It will take you far (well maybe not you).

OMG, after your meds have kicked in, please reread your 'post' and consider if a sane person would have written all that.

For the good of those around you: Please.Get.Help.

As I privately messaged the poster correcting my confusion over forward or backwards bow: yes, I had confused those two terms, but I knew which I meant. It also doesn't usually take turning the trussrod the wrong way (until it breaks) to realise that the bow is getting worse and not less.

PS I actually said 35 years, but you haven't understood anything this far that I've written and besides, I guess a 5 looks like an 8 when under the influence of something. Maybe you just need a hug, you big ol' bully you. I really hope you get it too, before you end up hurting someone or yourself. XX

 

[Esoge]

OMG, after your meds have kicked in, please reread your 'post' and consider if a sane person would have written all that.

For the good of those around you: Please.Get.Help.

As I privately messaged the poster correcting my confusion over forward or backwards bow: yes, I had confused those two terms, but I knew which I meant. It also doesn't usually take turning the trussrod the wrong way (until it breaks) to realise that the bow is getting worse and not less.

PS I actually said 35 years, but you haven't understood anything this far that I've written and besides, I guess a 5 looks like an 8 when under the influence of something. Maybe you just need a hug, you big ol' bully you. I really hope you get it too, before you end up hurting someone or yourself. XX

So all of my evidence goes out the window because I mistyped an 8 where a 5 should be? You're an idiot.

Nice. The old "deflect and distort" the argument because I stated facts that you can't refute. Cute.

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

So all of my evidence goes out the window because I mistyped an 8 where a 5 should be? You're an idiot.

Nice. The old "deflect and distort" the argument because I stated facts that you can't refute. Cute.

And you -my dear man, are absolutely adorable!

Is your music as 'creative' as your arguing? I mean, do you even play bass? Or do you just come here to bully in order to feel better about yourself?

 

[Esoge]

And you -my dear man, are absolutely adorable!

Is your music as 'creative' as your arguing? I mean, do you even play bass? Or do you just come here to bully in order to feel better about yourself?

No I come to shut down BS. In life, on forums, in politics, in music, at home, and in public I will ALWAYS expose BS, nonsense, and lies spewed from the mouths of people with an agenda set to spin their brand of garbage and tout it as fact and truth.

The best part about it is I NEVER have to lie or distort to do it. Einsteins like you make it easy to expose your BS because I understand the English language, the words you wrote, what they mean, and the way the world actually works.

People like you bully with your lies and then cast aspersions on the credibility of anyone who challenges your BS with pesky things like facts and reality and comprehension of the words you said... So I might be a bully, but I'm a bully for the truth. And you sir, don't tell it because you have an agenda as clear as the text you wrote it with.

 

[Thor]

closed for basses mod review.