Fret leveling done at EB/MM factory?

[oli@bass]

Thanks for your answer! I think I now can understand your position...

Oh, and I like your (almost had written "our" ) stuff better.
However, I think there are a couple of tiny features I really dug on those LLs.

 

[ToneDeath]

WE actually make our own bodies and necks from scratch unlike some of the guys you mention.

We spend gobs of time in set up as that is the proper thing to do....

Anyone seen a photo of Laklands Milling Machines or finishing dept?

SOme of the basses you speak of have higher retail prices because since they dont actually make the stuff there is an additional layer of expense..... Trust me, it is easier if you just have to assemble and set up the stuff.....

A "handmade" piece of **** is still a piece of ****.

 

[bovinehost]

If you're not just trolling, speak up now because I have all morning to stare at the Ban button.

 

[ToneDeath]

My point is that a product made "in house" or by hand does not imply intrinsic quality.

And the opposite is also true.

 

[bovinehost]

So....you're saying.....hold on, brain hurts here....a handmade Wish bass....is not better than a CNC'd bass?

That if I got my pocket knife out and carved a bass out of a pine tree.....

 

[Musicman Nut]

Lakland VS Music Man

Indeed. Seems that "Lakland" triggers emotions around here. I better get them outta my sig, don't want to face a Steamin' Stompin' Sterling on my computer screen in the morning!

We're Just having fun at their expence, as they do with us on many other sites, and we only mess with them on this site, And by the way we have no beef with Lakland, they're great basses if you don't mind sounding like that, We here just prefer NOT TOO.

Plus when you own the best basses in Town why have others.
DJ

 

[Big Poppa]

My point is that a product made "in house" or by hand does not imply intrinsic quality.

And the opposite is also true.

HOW ABOUT A DIFFERENT WAY OF LLOKING AT IT.


When is it correct to claim that you made something? If you milled it?...painted it? Fretted it?....

if you havent done any of that are you a set up and assembly shop or a maker?

 

[ToneDeath]

HOW ABOUT A DIFFERENT WAY OF LLOKING AT IT.


When is it correct to claim that you made something? If you milled it?...painted it? Fretted it?....

if you havent done any of that are you a set up and assembly shop or a maker?

When I buy a surfboard, I don't consider the foam manufacturer the "maker." Hell the foam blanks are already in the general shape of the board. The shaper fine-tunes it to the final specs. Much like the final setup of a guitar/bass.

And even then, it's still not a surfboard until it's glassed, which is often done at a different site as well.

You can argue semantics all you want over who is a maker/assembler/manufacturer/etc., but quality is quality. And sorry, but I'd never give up my Lakland. I wouldn't feel as much remorse losing my stingray.

 

[bovinehost]

Then let's not argue semantics.

Let's also not argue surfboards because foam doesn't grow in a forest. Also, I don't know diddly-squat about surfboards.

But we're not arguing over Lakland quality, either.

Anyone here claiming that Lakland quality is subpar?

"Some of the basses you speak of have higher retail prices because since they don't actually make the stuff there is an additional layer of expense..... Trust me, it is easier if you just have to assemble and set up the stuff....."

Safe to assume that at least one of the brands in question is Lakland. It's no secret how Laklands are assembled, where things come from or how they're finished.

There's no suggestion that Lakland basses are somehow lacking in quality. The question, if there is one, is about what a manufacturer IS. And most of us are informed enough to understand the basic difference between EBMM and Lakland.

(And what's the MSRP of a 55-94 these days?)

I also understand that you like both Laklands and our stuff. GREAT!

This question of owning "other" basses comes up here quite often, and no one has yet been hanged or burned or crucified for admitting they have a Lakland or a Fender or a Washburn or even a Rickenbacker in their arsenal. I like to keep things nice and clean here because this is, after all, the official manufacturer's forum and so it's easier to keep things pointed at EBMM instruments.

Most of us, including me and certainly BP, own instruments that weren't made in San Luis Obispo, so it's just not that exciting.

Also, we try to keep out the unnecessary slagging of other brands. It leads to hurt feelings, blah blah blah, and as BP often says, "Choice is good."

So there's no real controversy here, it seems to me.

I'd never give up my Lakland. I wouldn't feel as much remorse losing my stingray.

I'm glad to hear you have basses you like.

Jack

 

[bovinehost]

And now, having read Talkbass this morning, I understand where you came from and what your mission is.

TO SHOW US AS THE KOOLAID DRINKING LAKLAND HATERS WE TRULY ARE.

Sorry. We are EBMM fans. That much should be obvious. This is, as I may have mentioned, the EBMM Forum. So I fail, once again, to see the big SHOCK that we are all fans of EBMM instruments.

Also, I offer up a hearty "Duh" to anyone who IS surprised.

Nor is this a Lakland Hater thread. I've read it three times, all the way through, to be sure I'm not missing something, and I'm not.

So if you want to promote what is in fact a false premise, do it elsewhere. I have no interest in a childish little brand war here where I can control it.

Jack

 

[Moondog]

You can argue semantics all you want over who is a maker/assembler/manufacturer/etc., but quality is quality. And sorry, but I'd never give up my Lakland. I wouldn't feel as much remorse losing my stingray.

I tried to buy a Lakland, I really did. The price was comparable to buying two SR5HH's but that didn't deter me. Three times I went to my dealer to play/buy it but I never brought it home; just did not like the barts at all - the overall quality was excellent though, the new pups are better but still no comparison or not as good as an SR4H, SR4HH, etc. (IMO)...

Why am I posting this? I guess b/c I love StingRays and feel the need to defend them

 

[Goofball Jones]

This question of owning "other" basses comes up here quite often, and no one has yet been hanged or burned or crucified for admitting they have a Lakland or a Fender or a Washburn or even a Rickenbacker in their arsenal.
Jack

This cracked me up for some reason.

 

[Moondog]

This cracked me up for some reason.

Me too! and I own one. I like mine quite a bit but that bridge can drive you nuts (to intonate) . . and removal of the pup cover . . . and adjusting the trussrods . . .

 

[82Daion]

This cracked me up for some reason.

Rics and Ric owners have a certain...reputation around yonder parts.

 

[bovinehost]

Okay, I officially declare the Lakland discussion over (with the exception of the CEO).

Movin' on, movin' on......

Jack

 

[Big Poppa]

I love this....I love talk bass.....I love innovation.....I love tone death....I love passion...
I had fun with this......

I think Dan assembles nice copies. Truly nice ones....no hate here...

 

[Kindness]

I figured this is as good a time as any to register and say hello. I'm the poo poo talking crack smoking friend here.

To clarify, I was saying that most major guitar and bass manufacturer's don't put in the time and expense to complete the hand finish work required to make an instrument truly playable, even when they are charging into the thousands of dollars (I'm looking at you Gibson ). When I was asked about EBMM I responded, "I don't know, but I'd be pleasantly surprised if they did." Seeing this thread demonstrates that to do all of the hand work that you do at the price point you are at makes you stand out from the competition. Nothing but thumbs up from me.

To go one further, I recently was doing some work on a friend's new Stingray. It was fresh out of the box, stickers and plastic still on. Every last detail from nut slot depths, to neck pitch, to neck relief, etc. was perfect. It is without a doubt the nicest bass I've ever played at any price point (into the several thousands of dollars) and this is something that just shipped to him in a box from one of the online retailers. I'm not going to go overboard and claim that this has been my experience with the stock I find at my local stores, but we all know there are reasons for that as well. In any case, it is a pleasant surprise to see the amount of hand work that goes into EBMM basses and I now know that the perfect Stingray was not a result of mere coincidence.

So hurry up and sell me a Bongo 6 already!

 

[Big Poppa]

nice kindness thanks!

 

[bovinehost]

I figured this is as good a time as any to register and say hello. I'm the poo poo talking crack smoking friend here.

Sorry about the poo-poo thing, although in my defense, I did say, "Well, as far as EBMM goes, he is indeed talking poo-poo."

Heh.

So hurry up and sell me a Bongo 6 already!

See? We're going to end up being great friends!

Welcome to the forum.

Jack

 

[Big Poppa]

this is toast......I hope the kids at TB dont mind that we wound them up. It is pretty easy.