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Unimpressed with Lakland

kirkm24

kirkm24

Jan 1, 2007
2,331
51
Columbus, Ohio
#1
Ok, I'm probably going to get flamed but I went to Sam Ash for their big president's day sale and they had some Lakland Skylines and I was really excited to try them out since I had never played one before. The 55-02 had the worst fretwork I have ever seen on a bass. Every single fret was sticking out beyond the edge and I just couldn't get the tone dialed in on it. Obviously a lot of factors play into this like strings, amp used etc. but my initial experience was not positive. I also realize that the US Laklands are probably killer. Has anyone else had an experience like this with the Skyline basses?

Honestly, my visit made me happier and more thankful for my MIJ Fenders which IMO play and sound great and the workmanship is spot on compared to higher priced basses I have tried. A trip to the music store actually reduced GAS for me.
 
#8
Okay, you asked for it...

flamethrower_straight.jpg


;)

Hey, I'm really just kidding. I haven't been blown away by any Lakland Skylines I've tried yet. Still, you have to know that there are a whole bunch of folks who are gonna' be upset with your post. It's like telling a guy his wife is ugly. Watch your six!!! :D
 
#9
PLEK is a machine they use for fretwork. It's supposed to be very good and very accurate. IMO there are too many dials and such on 55-02's. I much prefer the Fender-esque Lakland to the 02 series. (not that this has anything to do with fret issues.) Can't say much about that except I have not experienced that in any that I have owned.
 
#10
Although fret prout is annoying when your really interested in trying out a bass,I look at it as an easily correctable problem.

Still it's aggravating!

IMO it seems to have a lot to do with the seasoning of the wood and quality. I'd imagine that bass left the factory fine. Then developed sprout as it dried. Winter or not. I believe it's in the rapid rate at which new lumber is rushed to product.
 
#11
WoodyG3 said:
Okay, you asked for it...

flamethrower_straight.jpg


;)

Hey, I'm really just kidding. I haven't been blown away by any Lakland Skylines I've tried yet. Still, you have to know that there are a whole bunch of folks who are gonna' be upset with your post. It's like telling a guy his wife is ugly. Watch your six!!! :D
Click to expand...

I know. People get so passionate about gear and it's really pretty silly. Gear is personal preference. If I'm happy with a Squier who cares what anyone else thinks? If I'm happy with a $4K Alleva Capollo, again who cares what others think?

With all the real things to be concerned about in the world today it seems awfully silly to get PO'd over someone's experience or opinion with a bass. It's an opinion and one only based on 1 experience I had. I was just curious if anyone else had the same thoughts as me.

I'm not bashing the Lakland brand, just stating that I was unimpressed with the model I tried out.
 
#12
Johnny Alien said:
PLEK is a machine they use for fretwork. It's supposed to be very good and very accurate. IMO there are too many dials and such on 55-02's. I much prefer the Fender-esque Lakland to the 02 series. (not that this has anything to do with fret issues.) Can't say much about that except I have not experienced that in any that I have owned.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information. I honestly don't know if this particular base went through the PLEK process. I would like to try the "Fender" style Laklands. I've always been intrigued by the Darryl Jones and the Duck Dunn P bass. Unfortunately, Sam Ash's offerings were pretty picked over.
 
#13
My experience isn't totally unlike yours. I haven't noticed any issues like fret sprout and other playability concerns when I have test-driven them in the past. But, when I play them, I feel nothing. I have played just about every Skyline model there is and I have only been marginally impressed once or twice. They are nice and I see why everyone likes the necks so much, but the tone didn't blow me away. I guess I prefer Fenders if I'm looking for a passive bass.

I'm sure the USA Laklands are better, but I would still probably go a different direction if I had that much money to spend on a bass. Different strokes, I guess. I can see what the fuss is about, but they aren't for me.
 
#14
kirkm24 said:
Ok, I'm probably going to get flamed but I went to Sam Ash for their big president's day sale and they had some Lakland Skylines and I was really excited to try them out since I had never played one before. The 55-02 had the worst fretwork I have ever seen on a bass. Every single fret was sticking out beyond the edge and I just couldn't get the tone dialed in on it. Obviously a lot of factors play into this like strings, amp used etc. but my initial experience was not positive. I also realize that the US Laklands are probably killer. Has anyone else had an experience like this with the Skyline basses?

Honestly, my visit made me happier and more thankful for my MIJ Fenders which IMO play and sound great and the workmanship is spot on compared to higher priced basses I have tried. A trip to the music store actually reduced GAS for me.
Click to expand...

Honestly, the Laklands at the Columbus Sam Ash have been there for probably over a year (from my own visits, which are few and far between), and probably in the same spot (meaning little to no TLC over that period of time). I bought my SR5 there in 00 or 01, and I remember the salesguy slapping it a bit, much to my chagrin, as it clicked and clanked everywhere. I set it up (with my then-novice set of skills) and it was cool. I've never been a fan of that Sam Ash personally, and I don't think you should base your opinions of Lakland (an awesome bass, IMO, and I've played several) on what that store carries.
 
#15
kirkm24 said:
Thanks for the information. I honestly don't know if this particular base went through the PLEK process. I would like to try the "Fender" style Laklands. I've always been intrigued by the Darryl Jones and the Duck Dunn P bass. Unfortunately, Sam Ash's offerings were pretty picked over.
Click to expand...

Per my other post, these aren't new Laklands, so there is a 95% chance that they aren't Plek'd.
 
#16
chiplexic said:
Although fret prout is annoying when your really interested in trying out a bass,I look at it as an easily correctable problem.

Still it's aggravating!

IMO it seems to have a lot to do with the seasoning of the wood and quality. I'd imagine that bass left the factory fine. Then developed sprout as it dried. Winter or not. I believe it's in the rapid rate at which new lumber is rushed to product.
Click to expand...

Wood is kiln-dried for at least 2 years in most cases before it even gets near a CNC machine. Fret sprout can happen on any bass. I had 2 brand new Fenders years ago with it, I had a MusicMan SUB that had it to a certain degree. It's all in how it's stored once it leaves the factory. If you're buying it from a big-box place like Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, etc. you take your chances on how long it's been sitting in a cold, dry warehouse. Any dealer worth their salt with a qualified luthier on hand will clean up fret sprout to allow you to evaluate a bass properly, and will understand it's a consequence of less-than-adequate environmental conditions. As for the tonal concerns, some like Laklands and some don't... I have a feeling you might not like the tonal character of certain ones. Which models were you trying out? I can't live without my -01 series Laklands and my 44-02 Deluxe. Different sounds, but there's a common thread in them all even with the Korean Bartolinis and preamp vs. the LH-3. I actually prefer the -01's for certain styles of music. Cheers!
 
#18
NicJimBass said:
Honestly, the Laklands at the Columbus Sam Ash have been there for probably over a year (from my own visits, which are few and far between), and probably in the same spot (meaning little to no TLC over that period of time). I bought my SR5 there in 00 or 01, and I remember the salesguy slapping it a bit, much to my chagrin, as it clicked and clanked everywhere. I set it up (with my then-novice set of skills) and it was cool. I've never been a fan of that Sam Ash personally, and I don't think you should base your opinions of Lakland (an awesome bass, IMO, and I've played several) on what that store carries.
Click to expand...

Noted. I just wish there was a reliable retailer who sold Laklands in the Central Ohio area.
 
#20
While I love Laklands, not all of them do it for me. I had a 55-02 that I just could not get comfortable with nor could I get a good tone out of it. I own a Joe Osborne 5 and a 55-01 that I love. I wouldn't trust Sam Ash or Guitar Center to actually have fully set up instruments with new strings. Most of their stuff gets abused daily! Unless there is a bargain that is just too good to pass up, I'll never buy a bass from either one of them. Having said that, a good setup with new strings does wonders.
 

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