Which one?

[Bashke81]

I’ve received two trade offers, but I can’t decide which one to choose.

It’s between a US Fender Jazz Bass from 2005 and a Lakland 44-01 Skyline from Korea.
There is a Fender 60 detached on the back of the headstock. I guess it’s their 60’s anniversary model…

I don’t have the opportunity to try them out, so I’m hoping for your feedback to help make the decision easier for me.

 

[JonathanPDX]

What's your criteria? What do you like about each one, and what features does each have that the other does not which makes you conflicted?

Or do you just want to hear a bunch of people pick their favorite color?

 

[Bashke81]

What's your criteria? What do you like about each one, and what features does each have that the other does not which makes you conflicted?

Or do you just want to hear a bunch of people pick their favorite color?

The color is not important to me. I’m interested in hearing more about the build quality, electronics, and sound — as well as the similarities and differences.

 

[Chris Chong]

Definitely US fender jazz bass.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Definitely US fender jazz bass.

I agree.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Personally I didn't get on with the Lakland at all : seemed kind of like it was trying to be a Wal on a budget - I don't know, just really not my cup of tea, but who knows, you might love it?

I'd imagine the Fender being American made, would hold it's value better, but I can't remember if there were lower tier U.S. models back then, so it depends what it is, and what it's value is against the Lakland.

The Fender has a horseshoe nailed to it, so at least you know it's going to bring you good luck...

 

[Bob_Ross]

a Lakland 44-01 Skyline from Korea.

On the one hand, everything I've heard & experienced about Skylines from Korea is that they're much better than the later Skylines from ...uh, wherever they were made after they stopped being made in Korea. Indonesia? Vietnam? :shrugs:

otoh, everything I've heard & experienced about xx-01 Skylines is that the electronics suck. If you can swing a 44-02 Skyline, it will be money well spent, much better pickups & preamp.

 

[Bashke81]

Personally I didn't get on with the Lakland at all : seemed kind of like it was trying to be a Wal on a budget - I don't know, just really not my cup of tea, but who knows, you might love it?

I'd imagine the Fender being American made, would hold it's value better, but I can't remember if there were lower tier U.S. models back then, so it depends what it is, and what it's value is against the Lakland.

The Fender has a horseshoe nailed to it, so at least you know it's going to bring you good luck...

This one has Fender 60 attached on the back of the headstock. I guess it’s their 60’s anniversary model…

 

[Bashke81]

On the one hand, everything I've heard & experienced about Skylines from Korea is that they're much better than the later Skylines from ...uh, wherever they were made after they stopped being made in Korea. Indonesia? Vietnam? :shrugs:

otoh, everything I've heard & experienced about xx-01 Skylines is that the electronics suck. If you can swing a 44-02 Skyline, it will be money well spent, much better pickups & preamp.

Yeah, I’ve the same stuff about electronics. I guess that’s an extra expense on my behalf

 

[Wood and Wire]

This one has Fender 60 attached on the back of the headstock. I guess it’s their 60’s anniversary model…

They tend to put those coins, or an anniversary decal on every instrument released in an anniversary year (special edition anniversary instruments tend to have unusual finishes).

It looks like it's a standard American Jazz, with the S1 switch :

American Jazz Bass® (2003-2008)

Serial #
Z5151664

Model #
0193460700

Description
AM J BASS S1SW RW 3TS

Date
02/2006

Body
Alder
Body Finish
Polyurethane
Body Shape
Jazz Bass®
Bridge
4-Saddle Strings-Thru-Body with Individually Adjustable Saddles
Bridge Pickup
American Single-Coil Jazz Bass®
Color
3-Color Sunburst
Commodity Code
[object Object]
Configuration
SS
Control Knobs
Black Plastic
Controls
Volume 1. (with S-1™ Switch) (Neck Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Tone
Country Of Origin
US
Dimensions
6.00x17.50x52.00 IN
Fingerboard
Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius
9.5" (241 mm)
Fret Size
Medium Jumbo
Hardware Finish
Chrome
Model Name
American Jazz Bass® (2003-2008), Rosewood Fingerboard, 3-Color Sunburst
Neck Finish
Satin Urethane
Neck Material
Graphite Reinforced Maple
Neck Pickup
American Jazz Bass® Single-Coil
Neck Shape
Modern "C"
Number of Frets
20
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Nut Width
1.5" (38.1 mm)
Orientation
Right-Hand
Pickguard
3-Ply Parchment
Pickup Configuration
SS
Pickup Switching
2-Position Push/Push S-1™ Switch: S-1 Switch Up: Pickups in Parallel, S-1 Switch Down: Pickups in Series
Position Inlays
White Dot
Refinement Neck Material
Maple
Refinement Neck Shape
C Shape
Scale Length
34" (864 mm)
Series
American Series
String Nut
Synthetic Bone
Strings
Fender® USA 8250M Nickel Plated Steel (.045-.110TW Gauges), PN 0738250406
Truss Rod Wrench
3/16" Hex (Allen)
Truss Rods
Posiflex™ Graphite Neck Support Rods
Tuning Machines
Open-Gear Die-Cast

Serial Number Lookup

serialnumberlookup.fender.com

You can enter the serial number here for specific info :


Z5151664

Serial Number Lookup

serialnumberlookup.fender.com

 

[Bashke81]

They tend to put those coins, or a anniversary deacal on every instrument released in an anniversary year (special edition anniversary instruments tend to have unusual finishes).

It looks like it's a standard American Jazz, with the S1 switch :

Serial Number Lookup

serialnumberlookup.fender.com

You can enter the serial number here for specific info :

Serial Number Lookup

serialnumberlookup.fender.com

Thanks
S1 switch?? I don’t see any switch on it

 

[Wood and Wire]

Thanks
S1 switch?? I don’t see any switch on it

One of the knobs is push / push (up = pickups in parallel / down = pickups in series).

 

[Bashke81]

One of the knobs is push / push (up = pickups in parallel / down = pickups in series).

Ah, I see. That’s a quite nice feature

 

[JonathanPDX]

The color is not important to me. I’m interested in hearing more about the build quality, electronics, and sound — as well as the similarities and differences.

Yes, but why these two? Of all the basses in the world, why did you narrow it down to these? Obviously it's not about color, so why a Jazz and a Lakland instead of, say, an Ibanez and a MusicMan? Other people can tell you what they like, but that doesn't mean it will align with what you are looking for.

 

[Bashke81]

Yes, but why these two? Of all the basses in the world, why did you narrow it down to these? Obviously it's not about color, so why a Jazz and a Lakland instead of, say, an Ibanez and a MusicMan? Other people can tell you what they like, but that doesn't mean it will align with what you are looking for.

If you had read my post, you would also see that these two basses were offered to me in a trade. Since I’m unsure which one to choose, I’ve made this post here to get some feedback.

 

[JonathanPDX]

If you had read my post, you would also see that these two basses were offered to me in a trade. Since I’m unsure which one to choose, I’ve made this post here to get some feedback.

Yes, but you aren't really saying anything about what you're looking for in a bass. What you like as far as sound, feel, electronics, specs, what you are playing, how you play, or even what you intend to do with it. Asking a bunch of random people to pick between two options with zero info is essentially just flipping a coin.

 

[Bashke81]

Yes, but you aren't really saying anything about what you're looking for in a bass. What you like as far as sound, feel, electronics, specs, what you are playing, how you play, or even what you intend to do with it. Asking a bunch of random people to pick between two options with zero info is essentially just flipping a coin.

You’ve got all the info I’m asking for in the first message (build quality, electronics etc.)
I’m interested in hearing an objective comparison of these two basses — in other words, an objective perspective on how they compare to each other. It doesn’t matter what kind of music I play or what my personal preferences are. I hope that makes sense.

 

[SharpCat]

I vote neither. Would be the Jazz, but there’s holes in the body underneath the horseshoe —ecch.

 

[Freddy T]

Objectively, I believe the US Jazz bass is worth a bit more money right off the bat and will sustain or increase it's value more than the import Skyline. Also, either will sound perfectly like a bass to anyone listening so there is no real sonic edge there unless you have a preference. They both should have good playability and good quality of materials and workmanship, although the Jazz may possess higher quality electronics for it's type of instrument.

For these reasons I would objectively pick the US Fender Jazz over the other. Subjectively, I would possibly enjoy playing the Lakland more, but I wouldn't know that unless I had it in my hands. Good luck with your trade!

 

[Bashke81]

Objectively, I believe the US Jazz bass is worth a bit more money right off the bat and will sustain or increase it's value more than the import Skyline. Also, either will sound perfectly like a bass to anyone listening so there is no real sonic edge there unless you have a preference. They both should have good playability and good quality of materials and workmanship, although the Jazz may possess higher quality electronics for it's type of instrument.

For these reasons I would objectively pick the US Fender Jazz over the other. Subjectively, I would possibly enjoy playing the Lakland more, but I wouldn't know that unless I had it in my hands. Good luck with your trade!

Thanks a lot for your feedback. Appreciate it