SOLD USA Lakland Prototype: 34" fretless 5-string

WHOOPS. SALE SUSPENDED. Bass is too cool. But not "sold," as per the heading.

Reluctantly selling the bass that led me to taking fretless seriously, and that also led me down the Lakland path, which continues to be my happy place.

EDIT: See posts 6 and 7, below, addressing the genesis of this bass...it looks like this instrument pre-dates release of the 55-94.

If Lakland had ever released this configuration, it probably would have been called a "54-76." 5 strings. 34" scale. One MM humbucker, in a position similar to the Lakland 55-94, or perhaps more like the traditional MM placement. The usual Lakland/Bartolini 3-band preamp, along with a volume control, and a toggle selecting between series, parallel and single-coil. I replaced the original Bartolini pickup with a Nordstrand 5.4 MM - both are included. Strings are old Sadowsky Black Label flats - maybe a bit tired, but they sound and feel great on this bass!

The body is ash, the neck is quartersawn maple, and the fingerboard is a generous chunk of black, unlined - and undotted - ebony. However, there are lines on the B-string edge of the fingerboard, along with side dots that are positioned where the usual marked "frets" would be. The body cap is a beguiling quilted maple. Weight is 8.5 pounds on my digital .5/pound scale. PHOTO ALERT - this bass is more of a teal green color than my photos could capture - it's like a black burst border fading into a muted teal green, with a strong blue undertone. Apologies...

Condition is pretty darned good. Evidence of play wear, but no evidence of carelessness or abuse - although one of the photos shows some roundwound tracks on the fretboard under the B string, up around the 10th to 14th frets, and much lighter tracks in other places. I've certainly seen such things before on other fretless basses over the years. Comes with old-style cream-colored Lakland fiber case.

If it's so cool, then why am I selling? I found a '97 fretless 55-94 that shares many tactile, ergonomic and sonic characteristics with this bass, and I'm pretty much shifting to 35" scale in general. I've not rehearsed or gigged with this bass over the last 2 years, but have not put it up for sale earlier, simply because it is so darned good. This is one of those instruments that has you smiling as soon as you pull it off of the stand, even before playing a single note - it literally feels alive in your hands. If I was a collector I'd certainly not be selling, but in order to deal with other priorities, I'm selling this axe - and several others - in the coming period.

Asking $2800.00, shipped CONUS, for a bass that is exceptional with respect to both playability and collectability.

 

I've not contacted the factory toward determining that. I can say that the neck has a thin and fast quality to it that I associate with pre-2000 items (The main axes I'm keeping, in addition to the Carl Pedigo 34" fretted 5 in my avatar, which was inspired by the bass I'm selling, are a pair of 55-94s: a 1997 fretless and a 1999 fretted).

EDIT: The serial number does not correlate with any Lakland product with which I'm familiar - it is "X34-03"

 

Yes, indeed! A truly great instrument...it's been an honor to own it over these last few years...in fact, it's been 6 years, almost to the day...thank you, pbass62!

Meanwhile, I've heard from the original owner - a Lakland endorser since the invention of dirt - who reports that he still owns and plays X34-01 and X34-02. Apparently Lakland made about 35 34" 5-string basses before expanding into the 35" design of the 55-94...so the bass on offer thus likely reflects design or construction input from Lakland co-founder Hugh McFarland.

Dag...I may have to pull this sale...early Lakland product truly is the JAM!

 

Ditto on Carl Pedigo for 34" 5-string - that's what's in my avatar!

 

Bass now also listed on Reverb...

 

What Dr. Riddim said. Sale suspended.