EBMM HS OR Lakland (Please post your opinions)

[KennethB]

I have never smelled a Lakland.

 

[Caca de Kick]

has anybody tried both? what do you like/dislike? can you split the music man humbucker and use the neck single-coil for a jazz bass type sound?

Here is the pickup selector switch layout....
HS MODELS:
Coil 1=Bridge Humbucker (coil closest to bridge)
Coil 2=Bridge Humbucker (coil closest to neck)
Coil 3=Neck Single coil

Position 1=coils 1,2
Position 2=coil 1
Position 3=coils 1,2,3
Position 4=coils 2,3
Position 5=coil 3

Yes, as you can see in position 4 you are running two single coils, and yes it is a very jazz bass sound.

I have wanted to buy a Lakland before, but (sorry to say) the Bartolini electronics are a very bland, way too reserved. The MM's (and other brands) get the growl I really go for.

 

[mynan]

absolutely. it's my email address and username for a lot of sites. ;-)
king's x are my favourite band ever.

They're one of my favs too...since I started playing EBMMs earlier this year I've often wondered what Doug Pinnick would sound like with an EBMM.

 

[mynan]

I like my MusicMan basses because they always smell fresh and clean, like a California sea breeze. Laklands always smell like pizza and Lake Michigan.

...easy with the Lake Michigan digs

 

[1Echo]

I like my MusicMan basses because they always smell fresh and clean, like a California sea breeze. Laklands always smell like pizza and Lake Michigan.

Can't attest to smell, but one thing you learn on this forum after you've been here awhile is that Bongos taste better.

 

[robobass13]

I agree with a couple of the other posters, I have owned just about everything there is including lakland (55-94 and a 55-02) and to me you can't beat sound, playability or quality of any EBMM bass. Like I said I've played everything and after playing my first MM I was hooked for life.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I've played some nice Laklands and even owned a Bob Glaub. Of course, the Glaub went to pay for half my Dargie Delight Bongo.


I am primarily a 5 string player, and I don't dig on 35" scale necks. Sure, they help the B string, but to the detriment of the D and G strings.

All of the Musicman basses I've played have had great B strings with a 34" scale.


FWIW, I've always found Bartolini pickups sound better when you use the passive input, even with active pickups.

 

[Beth]

I have never smelled a Lakland.

I'm sure someone who used to be familiar 'round these parts has licked one...

 

[Rano Bass]

Like Jack said... Laklads are designed to "mimic" the sound of Musicman and Fender, and does neither.
It can get a little closer to the Fender sound but fails to sound like a Musicman IMO.

 

[Fred E.]

I own them both--I have a great '97 USA 4-94 that I've owned since 1/98. I had first met Dan when he was selling used & vintage basses & he was a real Music Man freak. When he started the company, he was right up front saying that he wanted to produce a bass that would draw on some of the best features of Mr. Fender's designs over the years. At the time I had very little experience with MM basses, I had only owned one late '70s SR & a fairly early fretless Sterling that didn't fit in with my preferred fretless sound at the time.

However, my preference these days is definitely EBMM over Lakland. Why? I don't know, other than the fact that I can get the sounds I want out of my EBMM basses & they just feel right to me. If you're looking to get the sound of a SR, then that should be all you need to let you know that a SR is what you should get.

 

[JimB52]

I have a 20th Anniversary Stingray, a Bongo HH and a Sterling HS.
I also own a Lakland Skyline JO and a '95 4-94.
The Sterling HS gets the widest variety of tones out of those 5 basses.
The Bongo is the most agressive, and my band's favorite..
In completely different ways, the JO and the Stingray just sound 'right' always.
The 4-94 and the Stingray are about even in the awesome neck category.
Over all, for price, value, versatality and playability, I think I'd have to go with the Sterling HS.
Just my five cents.
Jim B

 

[EBMM7181]

...... Money wasn't an issue when I bought my bass a few months ago, I saved up enough money to buy whatever bass I wanted, so I played them all, and I mean I played them ALL............. I bought a Musicman

 

[moanjam]

thanks guys - i really appreciate everyone's comments. i'm going to be buying my first ebmm bass (own two ebmm guitars already). sterling it is for me! now i just got to wait for one with the right colour and vibe. ;-)

 

[jaylegroove]

No XX vs. YY from me, but just 2 cents :

Back in 1980, I used to play a R**********r 4001 and a F****r T********r Bass, but mainly the 4001. I wanted to go for more round of a sound, while not losing the brightness. The SR was my top choice and I was happy with that. By simply tweaking two knobs I could get any of both worlds. Finally I sold the F****r which had become useless to me.

I guess I'm too much used to the single H config to appreciate what an additional S could bring. I tried an SR5 HS last year and finally still preferred the single H. But that's just me, and I know that many players get something really interesting and useful from the HS config.

 

[The Crow]

Did you really think anyone would tell you the Lakland on this forum?

 

[MingusBASS]

Get the Lakland...














Ok, I changed my mind. Get a Bongo H/S

 

[Alz®]

Lakland's and EBMM's are very close to my heart. Actually I can't really tell which one I prefer more. They all have positives. Those guys who had Laklands but didn't like them, I have this to say.......try the 55-94 classic to get the infamous MM growl you are looking for. The Alder body helps a lot (unlike the Ash Bodies of the Deluxe and Standard bodies) with the tone and so does the mid freq dip switch (try it at 250Hz in my opinion). It suits the Barts, Lakland uses.

The world is a much better place with EBMM and Lakland. All the other manufacturers can go and jump

Thanks BP for allowing us to share our experiences for the greater good of mankind. You are way ahead of Lakland in that area!!! As for the MM growl.....that tone is legend. The only tone for me!

 

[kneeoh]

Please note that this is not a flame and is not meant to insult anyone but...

Why buy a Lakland to get the MM growl? Why not just buy a Musicman?

 

[Alz®]

35" scale (on the 5 string), hybrid MM/Jazz bass pickup options, lightweight. Then again, I wouldn't expect a guitarist to know much about that!!! hehehehehehe

 

[kneeoh]

hehe Maybe when the Bongo 6 appears I'll see the light and join you low end shakers. (Its got to be a 6 string or else I'll get confused.)