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What's the nut width and string spacing at nut and bridge on the 5-string version ? Cheers Bill

I got a Japanese 51 re-issue two years ago off a Japanese e-bay seller - think it was bluezy guitars - highly recommended chap - superb to deal with. My bass came with the Seymore Duncan pickup - model 51-OPB-105SD I think and is the two tone sunburst version, which makes it look more like a 53. Anyway - plays great - built like a brick ****house - I wanted a retro sound from this particular instrument so put some Thomastick Flats on it - doesn't dissapoint. Can get very funky if need be - not in a slappy sense - more a James Jamerson vibe. The slab body is not a problem for me. I love the big neck profile. If you want a vintage vibe - go for it. Would suit a darkstar pick up (or two !) and a badass bridge such is its versatility. I'd go for it.........

"What strings have you got on there? " Nickel roundwounds (Elites) - the coating on the fingerboard is pretty damned hard and shows no signs of scuffing - although I could be tempted to try half grounds just to try something different.

Here's one of my Laklands - started off life as a rosewood lined fretless 55-02 Got Martin at the Bass Gallery in London to put an unlined fretless birdseyemaple fingerboard on it. Fingerboard is coated in satin finished polyurethane - very hard and durable - fingerboard is 8mm thick instead of the more normal 5mm - nice and chunky ! My first ever fretless was a Maya P-bass copy which had an unlined maple fingerboard. Since I got rid of it I always hanckered after another fretless bass with a maple board........

"Can I tempt you with a 55-94?" - Not on this occasion - more than happy with my 55-01/NTMB and 55-02........ Could I tempt you with a US Bob Glaub with PJ Fralins ??

All you Lakland lovers out there....... What would be the chances of finding a 5-string Jerry Scheff these days. Armstrong stopped making the 5-string pick-ups - forcing Dan to stop making them - is that right ? I really am kicking myself for not getting one a couple of years ago. If anyone has one they may be letting go of in the near future please get in touch ! Bill

Can concur with Hamster, I have a 55-01/NTMB and I LOVE the B-string - being Scottish and wanting value for money - I tune my B down to an A - no problem - still nice and taught. The maple neck version has a little more snap when you really start to hit those strings - the rosewood version is a little bit more mellow at the top end. If I could find an Inca Silver Jerry Scheff 5-string with a rosewood fingerboard I'd be a very happy bunny !

Thanks for the nice reception guys ! Originally from Glasgow but have lived as far east as Bathgate ! Will put some piccies of my basses in the porn section soon..... As far as Lakkies go I am lucky enough to have three - a US Bob Glaub - black with a rosewood fingerboard, tort pickguard and P/J Fralins. A sunburst fretless 55-02 with an unlined birdseyemaple fingerboard - installed by Martin in the Bass Gallery in London. Finally a nice 55-01 - black with a maple fingerboard and NTMB pre-amp Thinking about selling the Glaub however as I fancy something older or reliced. The bass you see in my avatar is a Japanese Fender - PB70-99B I believe - basically like a "Geddy Lee" Precision - if that makes any sense - black blocks with a B profile neck - since that photo was taken I got a pair of Darkstars and a badass II installed - it's a belter ! I have two more Japanese Fenders - a natural Jazz bass with an unlined fretless Precision neck and badass III bridge and also a sunburst P-bass with an unlined maple fretless neck. I love Japanese Fenders as you can no doubt tell - could recommend them to anyone ! I love Lakkies too - my Glaub thinks it is active - whilst my 55-02 and 55-01 think they are passive - it's a strange household ! Cheers Bill

Folks, Anyone heard of UK pricing on these and when they will become available ? The thought of going all tube gets me going ! I seem to remember that they are supposed to have switchable 110/220 voltage - they are "Tour amps after all. That would mean you could buy from the US - postage on the VB-2 would be pricey as it's the heaviest - the VB-3 a wee bit less so..........

Hello all, Have been watching a few of the US bass forums of late and have decided to get involved with something a bit closer to home. A Scot living in South Wales, I have been playing bass since 1980. Got quite serious on the live playing front from 1991-1996 but then mellowed out after that. At one point I was in four bands - two blues bands, an Irish folk band and an English folk band - we even had a hurdy gurdy player in the English folk band ! At present I am in a covers band but we don't gig too often - so - also looking for a good bluesy band and have plans on getting a proggy recording project together once I've come up to speed on Logic Express. I have a variety of Laklands and Fenders at the moment as well as an MTD Z6 which is fun. Amp wise I was always an SWR devotee and had a Basic 350 and Goliath Jr 2x10 (Mk II). However, I'm in the process of obtaining a Genz Benz Neopack 3.5 and have recently got my hands on a Schroeder 1212L. Would like to learn to read music and get more confident on improvisation - however, nothing, and I mean nothing, beats getting a good groove down ! Best wishes to you all for the forthcoming year ! Bill