NBD - LAKLAND 55-01

[TheGreek]

So it finally arrived today!!!

Bought on eBay from a seller on Isle of Man it couldn't be tracked till it landed in the UK...several days watching the, unchanging, tracking info till I was relieved this morning when the info was finally recognised.....HOOORAY!!

I've had several attempts at moving onto a 5er in the past - including a Roscoe/ Nanyo - I never really gelled with any of them, finding that whenever I went to practice I'd pick up a 4 string. I'm determined to persevere with it.

Initial impressions - I love the shape  - there are a number of other basses hinting at this shape including the MK11 Wal and the Enfield so very much "of the moment".

Bass has a nice feel to it, well balanced and a very nice neck - slim through the depth making it easy to navigate, even though I'm not used to a 5er. I am having to relearn my right hand technique - is it called "The Floating thumb" where your right thumb changes it's resting point, moving up and down the strings? I remember Scott Devine doing a video on the technique but facked if I can find it!!

The Rosewood fretboard sounds warm - preferred over maple which I always feel lacks "something". Check @Lozz196's test at the first Herts Bash for more info.

The pick ups on the bass are not the stock ones on a 55-01. Here's what the sellers says:

" This bass has been improved by the addition of Bartolini MK6 pickups (MK6 work better than MK5 on this bass, as the pickup area is larger and the volume of the strings is very even as a result). The electronics have been fully upgraded to Bartolini top quality active electronics. There is an additional 3-position toggle switch between the two volume knobs that controls the frequency of the midrange. 

Controls are: Neck Volume, Bridge Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble and 3-position toggle.

It's had about £400 spent just on electronics/pickups."

Tonal palette is nice and broad, finding a phat, 80s sound is easy and TBH once I found what I was after I sort of left it alone.

The one thing I'm not totally happy with are the D'Addario 45 gauge strings - but anticipating this I ordered a set of Warwick Red 40-130s just after I won the auction. These are still to arrive - hopefully tomorrow.

A nice early Xmas/ Birthday present to myself - even though I am a proper Bah Humbug about this time of the year.

 

 

[Reggaebass]

8 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

I remember Scott Devine doing a video on the technique but facked if I can find it!!

very nice mick 👍, is this the video you mean 

 

[TheGreek]

I found that one, but it's not the one I remember. There was an emphasis on how the right hand moved up and down the strings for easy access. I looked for over an hour and couldn't find the one I wanted.

[Storky]

Very nice! I imagine the upgrades would be very worthwhile and would make this bass as good as any.

[TheGreek]

Just finished playing - man, those 45 gauge strings are rotten!!!

Hopefully new ones arrive tomorrow.

[binky_bass]

Looks absolutely awful, you'd best give it to me straight away to dispose of. 

Edited December 18, 2020 by binky_bass

[TheGreek]

You wouldn't like it...not enough strings

[binky_bass]

I'd just stick a string between each string, make it a 9 strings, also known as a REAL bassists bass! 😋

[TheGreek]

Does anybody know if I need to buy super long strings for this or will I get away with Long strings? It is a 3+2 after all.

I'm specifically thinking the Fender 72505L (115 low B)

[Storky]

You might need extra long strings if you string through the body. I’d guess you could get away with it despite 35” scale through the bridge.

[CameronJ]

If anything, the 3+2 tuner arrangement makes life even easier in this regard as your D string (which on a 4+1 tuner arrangement would be the furthest stretch) is closer to the nut. All my 35” 5ers have been 4+1 and I’ve been fine.

I’ve owned multiple 35” scale basses and always found ordinary long scale strings to work perfectly. And I’ve gone through rounds and flats made by Dunlop, D’addario, Ernie Ball. Maruszczyk, La Bella, Thomastik...the list goes on.

As Storky says, the only reason you’d need to consider extra long strings is if stringing through the body, but through the bridge you should be fine.

[Richard R]

On 18/12/2020 at 17:13, Reggaebass said:

very nice mick 👍, is this the video you mean 

 

There is another video somewhere,  I'll look for it. I only play a 4, but quickly fell into sliding my thumb down the strings similar to this. This wasn't the video that gave me the idea.

[TheGreek]

Not the video I was looking for but this does the job

 

[TheGreek]

Spent the last hour or so learning the technique above. Retraining the muscle memory is such a pain. I know it's about perseverance though.

He knew what he was talking about!!!

[chris_b]

I didn't find any noticeable difference between through body and top loading stringing on my Lakland. After that discovery I always strung through the bridge.

I'd make 2 suggestions; put your 4 string basses away and don't get them out for at least 6 months. Then, learn one thing at a time. Trying to master two new concepts, floating thumb and 5 strings, simultaneously has the potential to derail the whole project. Most of us easily adapted out 4 string thumb positions to a 5 string. Muting an extra string isn't a big deal. You just have to be careful and tidy in your playing style. 

In reality you still have a 4 string bass under your fingers, so just play how you would normally play. The B string can be introduced little by little over time.

[TheGreek]

Hey @chris_b

Thanks for the advice however the reason I haven't persevered with 5ers in the past was the issue about muddy, ringing strings because I wasn't muting them properly.

This morning I was working on playing slower, muting strings and using the floating thumb technique. It did feel like I was a novice again but it gives me the chance to clean up existing bad habits that many of us may have.

Being self taught I probably developed issues that I can, with advice and input from more experienced players here, avoid or retrain when learning the 5 string.

This is partly why I'm highlighting the new bass and hope that by learning from other players, others, in the future, may learn from my journey.

I've started another thread - "Do you need a 5 string bass" - 

where I am posting things I'm finding useful and hope that others will post with similarly useful resources for those, like myself, moving on to 5ers.

Edited December 20, 2020 by TheGreek

[chris_b]

20 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

Thanks for the advice however the reason I haven't persevered with 5ers in the past was the issue about muddy, ringing strings because I wasn't muting them properly.

I'd suggest your right hand technique might also need tidying up. It could be that you are not plucking the strings accurately enough, ie you're hitting other strings when you play a note.

[jezzaboy]

I don`t play 5 strings but re the muting, would one of those fret wrap things help with muting the open strings?

 

[TheGreek]

Got one...

[TheGreek]

2011 Catalog

https://jedistar.com/images/May 2019/2011_lakland-catalog.pdf

Dating by serial number

https://jedistar.com/lakland/

[TheGreek]

Getting to grips with the floating thumb thing - the muscle memory is slowly setting in, fewer bumnotes and less unwanted ringing strings.

"Installed" string mutes (two bits of foam) tonight - sounds amazing.

Would recommend anybody try this.

[dave_bass5]

This bass looks like my old one, only i never upgraded the pups. I had the same preamp put in and also the toggle switch. 

My first real 5 string and still one of my favs as far as playability goes. 

[glassmoon]

Congratulations @TheGreek on your new plaything. That looks really nice indeed. Hours of fun just waiting to be had.