Mobay45
Well-known member
I just got home from my band's weekly jam. (I don't know why I said weekly since it's been about a month since we got together, but everyone has been busy with other things.) I finally got a chance to really try the Lakland Skyline 55-01 that I got from MF about 3 weeks ago on my Hartke stage rig. Up until now I had only played it through my Hartke Kickback 15.
I took it out of it's case and plugged it in. I played it for a little and then I opened up my other case and took out my SR4. I noticed a MAJOR difference in the sound I was getting. When everyone took a break, I compared them side by side, tweaking the Lakland to try to get a similar sound to the Stingray. It just wasn't possible. I knew right then and there that it would have to make the return trip to MF on Monday.
I guess that if I am to own another 5 string bass, I'm just going to have to put together the funds and come up with a SR5. So far I've tried a Yamaha ($300), a G&L Tribute ($600) and this Lakland ($700) and none of them have even come close to the Stingray sound. I never felt that they could duplicate the sound, but I did think at least one of them could come close enough to satisfy my ear. Even my lead guitar player was very vocal about the fact that the Stingray just has a certain tonal quality that he hasn't heard from any other bass!
Well, back to the drawing board. I just hope that a SR5 can sound as good as my SR4. If not, I guess I will just have to learn to live with 4 strings. That, or get over my aversion to the appearance of the Bongo and try one. After all, I didn't like the looks of the Stingray until I played one and heard the angels sing. After that, I couldn't deny the beauty of any instrument that was capable of creating the sound I had always been searching for. I feel kind of like a dumb a$$ for trying so many other basses that didn't work out, but after all, that's the way I found my 'Ray.
I took it out of it's case and plugged it in. I played it for a little and then I opened up my other case and took out my SR4. I noticed a MAJOR difference in the sound I was getting. When everyone took a break, I compared them side by side, tweaking the Lakland to try to get a similar sound to the Stingray. It just wasn't possible. I knew right then and there that it would have to make the return trip to MF on Monday.
I guess that if I am to own another 5 string bass, I'm just going to have to put together the funds and come up with a SR5. So far I've tried a Yamaha ($300), a G&L Tribute ($600) and this Lakland ($700) and none of them have even come close to the Stingray sound. I never felt that they could duplicate the sound, but I did think at least one of them could come close enough to satisfy my ear. Even my lead guitar player was very vocal about the fact that the Stingray just has a certain tonal quality that he hasn't heard from any other bass!
Well, back to the drawing board. I just hope that a SR5 can sound as good as my SR4. If not, I guess I will just have to learn to live with 4 strings. That, or get over my aversion to the appearance of the Bongo and try one. After all, I didn't like the looks of the Stingray until I played one and heard the angels sing. After that, I couldn't deny the beauty of any instrument that was capable of creating the sound I had always been searching for. I feel kind of like a dumb a$$ for trying so many other basses that didn't work out, but after all, that's the way I found my 'Ray.
