Unimpressed with Lakland

[jasper383]

I have owned a 5501, a Glaub, and a DJ4. I also have not been as blown away as others.

The Korean Skylines, to me, feel like all the other instruments made there: the Fender Jazz 24s, the Cort Artisans, some Ibanez basses, and the Laguna basses at GC. Same feel, same materials. Well made, well done, but nothing spectacular. The Indonesian Skylines, I have no experience with.

 

[Baird6869]

I had a 55-02 that I just could not get comfortable with nor could I get a good tone out of it.

+1.

I owned a 55-02 for about 6 months and it just wasn't my thing. Great looking and playing bass, but i just wasn't into the tone of the 55-02 compared to my Fenders, Sadowskys and Stingrays. Strange as it was an older model with Barts, and I love Barts.

In any case, I sold it. BUT not due to any workmanship issues as it was beautifully constructed and played effortlessly. I just preferred the sound of other basses.

P.S. 55-02's record REALLY well IMO.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Fretsprout has nothing to do with the fretwork and everything to do with the humidity and how a bass has been treated in a store.

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.

Exactly.



Fret sprout is a natural occurrence no matter how well dressed the frets have been. And it doesn't matter if the bass cost $100 or a $100,000 it can happen.

 

[Showdown]

Has anyone else had an experience like this with the Skyline basses?

Nope. I've had 4 (currently have 3) and they are all perfect. My favorites. I have 23 basses, all types and brands, but the Lakland are by far my favorites.

 

[MicG]

I'll play...

Few years ago I was in Guitar Center and spotted a used 55-01 in great shape; the neck felt great, sound was there, price was right-so it hopped in my car and away I went. The next DAY while playing it I started to smell something burning and hear a crackling sound through my amp. After a few minutes of trouble shooting I began to wonder about the electronics, I took the back cover off and found a partially melted battery with smoke still escaping from it! I took the bass back and the guy asked me what I did I said I'd simply played the thing and asked why...guy said that my whole board was fried and could still smell the smoke

Guys, i'm not trying to bad mouth Lakland, it was just my experience...but that experience as a first impression turned me off to both Laklands and active basses for quite a while. For the record though, I would like to try some of Laklands passive stuff...

 

[jumbosilverette]

I had the same experience with the 2 Skylines I tried at Ash in Los Angeles: worst fret sprout I've ever seen and a generally meh overall tone. Just wasn't for me, I guess.

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.

 

[GregC]

I have 3 Skylines I really, really like (including one Indonesian Skyline Decade). But no flaming from me--or anyone else, as far as I can see. It could be that the bass was sitting around a long time and not properly maintained. Could be that a lack of familiarity with the controls made it tough to dial in a good sound. Or maybe you just don't dig the 55-02.

I would only ask that you give'em another shot when you get a chance. Different model, different store might do the trick.

 

[DWBass]

I would only ask that you give'em another shot when you get a chance. Different model, different store might do the trick.

I agree with this. I gave Lakland another chance after a failed first chance of owning a 55-01 3 years ago. Clicky frets and getting lost in the mix while slapping made me give up. I tried again last year with the 55-02 which I didn't jibe with and traded it for a JO5 and "viola"! I tried the 55-01 again and this time was different. No clicky frets and it definitely does NOT get lost in the mix when I slap! Funny, it's an older model than the first one I tried.

 

[sturmvogel]

I am not impressed with Sam Ash as a retail guitar establishment. It seems they do no set up or maintenance with floor models. I tried out a Jaguar bass last spring while in Las Vegas and it was horrible. Stuff was loose, switches didn't work, strings high---I was not impressed. I later tried one at a local music store in Winchester VA and had to change my mind.

I have only tried one Skyline---a hollowbody. It is excellent in every way. I have a USA Decade that is as good as they get.

 

[Bass Mule]

I realize that fret sprout can happen to any bass, but of all the basses I've tried in any store, only the Laklands had it, and they had it in spades. You can tell me it's all about how the instrument is stored and such, but I've ONLY experienced this with Laklands.

Now, for clarification, I have tried Laklands OUTSIDE of a store. Two different friends of mine had a Glaub, an JO5, and DJ5. (One friend had the Glaub and the JO5, another had the DJ5). THOSE particular basses were butter. Absolutely no fret sprout.

Those are just my experiences.

 

[basspraiser]

Okay, you asked for it...

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!!!

I disagree....his post does not upset me...it concerns me....I am very dissapointed when a person's first experience is so negative....I guess I have been extreemly lucky.....I have owned 9 Laklands to date (still own 7) and I have not had any issues....

sorry about that! I would say give another Skyline a try....maybe the 55-02 is not for you.....if you like Js, try a Joe Osborne or a Darryl Jones...if you like Ps, try A Bob Glaub....

I do believe the fret issue was a hunidity problem....as for the sound...was it "old strings" or maybe a really bad set up (or a dead battery?)....

give it one more try...then you can really decide....

good luck and peace!

Doug

PS - nice RIC in your avatar!!!!

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Sam Ash might as well be GC - Music Walmart by a different name.

 

[johnnycat42]

I tried several at the Bass Emporioum and they all were setup and played great. They seemed to have excellent craftsmanship. Nice basses, I can see why people like them. However, I couldnt see anything that was head and shoulders above most MIA or MIJ Fenders I played as well. IMHO---I still like the Fender Japan stuff the best of all the under $1300 imports.

EDIT: Skyline series...I never picked up the USA ones (too much $$$ for me)

 

[joeyl]

it is ok to feel underwhelmed by a bass especially if you had high expectations, I played a Wal once that was in a rehearsal studion, I was like: this bass costs more than my car at the time, and that's all it got???

 

[iskbee]

Hi Folks being the proud owner of 3 Laklands JO4, DJ4, 55-02, I must say they are great instruments in many respects and I would not hesitate in getting another. My only gripe was the weight of a JO4 I had, it came in at about 10 lbs a bit too much for my liking. In any event I replaced it with a new Indonesian made J04 same mind blowing construction , fit and finish is among the best in that price range and a 60s tone to die for , oh and the wight is perfect... PS no bass manufacturer is perfect but I have found perfection in what I have. Cheers

 

[LedBelli Bass]

My first 5 string bass was a Lakland Skyline 5501. I sold it after about 2 months. That was a loooong time ago.

Sometimes I wonder if I wasn't a little hasty . . . I'd like to try one again now that I have a lot more experience in playing and building.

 

[Marcus]

Sam Ash in White Plains, NY has a few Lakland basses. For some reason, the pair of 55-02 there have horrible, horrible fret sprout. The ends are remarkably sharp!

 

[WoodyG3]

I am not impressed with Sam Ash as a retail guitar establishment. It seems they do no set up or maintenance with floor models. I tried out a Jaguar bass last spring while in Las Vegas and it was horrible. Stuff was loose, switches didn't work, strings high---I was not impressed. I later tried one at a local music store in Winchester VA and had to change my mind.

Yeah, I hate that, too. In one of our local stores I was always finding basses with knobs missing, looses parts, dead batteries and on and on. Now they are under new management, and everything is in nice shape. I actually want to buy things there now.

By the way, cudos to Lakland fans who have been very level headed and helpful to the OP. I was expecting WW III. You guys are great!

 

[Surprise Panda!]

To each their own, but every Lakland I've tried were amazing (I try them at the Bass Exchange bassexchange.com)

 

[JAUQO III-X]

The Panda is everywhere.