Lakland Bass guitars

All maple woods on the instrument. Brilliant bright woodgrain finish on the quilted maple top and back. I got it with Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats, very smooth but bright for flatwounds. The pickups are a Bartolini Jazz in the Neck and a Bartolini Humbucker in the bridge. Very powerful tone combination. It sports a 3-band active EQ with 3-position mid center switch to change the mid frequency, along with a push-pull active/passive switch on the volume knob and a pickup blend knob. Standard Lakland bridge and tuners. 22 frets. All made in the USA. I borrowed it for a studio gig with a roots rock group from a friend while my Godin BG-5 5-string was in the shop. Most of my gigs are either rock, jazz, fusion, or musicals, with the occasional reggae job thrown in for good measure. I also play upright bass, and piano is my other main instrument. I like the finish, and Bartolini pickups are always great to see on a bass. The perfect blend of warmth and sparkle in their tone is what I like to hear. I like that the bass doesn't weigh as much as it could for how big it is. It's also well-balanced. There's a nice space right below the fretboard to practice safe slapping, too. Easy access for the trussrod and battery. EQ is powerful and the frequency points for the treble and bass are well chosen. The neck is HUGE. The strings might even be a bit too wide for my taste in some spots. I'm getting used to it, but it's still a big difference between what I've played and this monster. Granted, it isn't heavy, and it's balanced enough that it doesn't neck-dive (somehow), but there is a definite learning curve with this bass as compared to others. I wish the selections for the mid-range frequencies were more varied in tonal colors...it seemed like all 3 setting gave me largely the same mid control with a slightly different EQ curve, a barely audible difference. It's completely sturdy, and it hasn't given it's other owner any problems yet. We both take care of our instruments, and they take care of us. Don't let the thick neck stop you, but do take it into consideration. It's a great sounding bass, but Laklands are different to play. I also really do wish that the mid controls were a bit more expressive. That's an important variable for a bassist to have control over, and this bass just doesn't deliver as well as it should on that. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Pro player for 30+ years in a few name acts. Currently working in two classic rock/original bands. Musicians Friend-$699.00 Absolutely the best buy of any bass I've tried. Action much superior to my USA Fender Deluxe Jazz V and a fatter tone. Perfectly articulated low B string and low fast wide neck that plays like a dream.Beautiful finish in sunburst w/maple board.Puts basses at more than twice the price to shame. A real pro player's ax at a median price. A little on the heavy side due to the ash body but not excessively. Too bad this bass at double the price can't be made in the USA. It would be worth it. $3000.00 for a 55-94 is a little silly. Flawlessly constructed, beautifully finished and set up to play perfectly out of the box(unheard of !). Fantastic bargain for pro or learner and anyone in between.Start makin' em' in the USA Lakland ! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Purchased new from local dealer for $1125.00 I have played many basses over the past 20 years and this thing is GREAT! Even though the Skyline series basses are made overseas, the quality, sound and detailed craftsmanship is second to none. It is equipped w/ active American Bartolini p/ups (1 humbucker-MM and 1 jazz) and therefore gives you a TON of different tone flavors. EQ: tone, mid, bass, p/u selector, volume, and coil tap switch for the humbucker. It has a very warm sound and is perfect if you play a variety of styles of music. Also, be sure to let the dealer know if you would like a "J" neck or "P" neck. Also,necks available in maple, rosewood or fretless. Lakland makes 'em the way you like 'em. Kind of pricey. But I have a feeling you'll forget about it when you plug it in and hear it. It will be the last bass you need to buy..unless you get a Chicago USA model. Construction is flawless on mine and have read guitar mags stating the same thing on their test models. So far, no problems with quality. Needed a slight adjustment out of the box. But dead on ever since. Bottom line: the Lakland 44-02 is worth the price! I have recieved many, many compliments on my sound from not only my bandmates, but other bassists in the audience. This baby pumps out the rhythms gig after gig and sounds great everytime. Highly recommeded! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com