niceguyhomer

I suspect that a lot of the problem with the perceived quality of the DD lies in its colour. Let's face it solid red looks 'cheap' and I can't help thinking that if the bass came in a nice 3TS with a darker maple neck, people would perceive it differently - I would myself but as I said earlier - I don't care what it looks like.

[quote name='BeLow' post='202457' date='May 19 2008, 08:58 PM']I am fairly experienced in the P bass department, but I can recognise what Homer is saying, what matters for a gigging musician is how a bass sits in the mix. Sometimes the music shop test doesn't always prove too much in terms of playing in the band, some of the best solo sounds just disappear when playing in a band.[/quote] Eggsactly. FWIW I couldn't give a toss about how a bass sounds soloed - for me it's all about how it contributes to the band sound in a live sitaution. P's are unremarkable basses, there's no big wow when you play one - especially if you're used to active basses and as I said earlier they sound poo soloed (IMHO). I doubt that you could pick up any P and be knocked out with the sound in a shop. But if you are a busy working bassist, there's nothing better and all I want is a bass that sits well in the mix, stays in tune and does it week in, week out without any fuss or farting about. Every Lakland I've owned and gigged with does that brilliantly.

I know what your saying Matt - I've picked up lots of USA Fenders and quite a few 'Rays that I've put back on the rack with 20 seconds of starting to play them cos they weren't good enough to burn. There's no hype about Laklands IMO, you may have just stumbled on a pup.

It would be daft to say this never happens with Laklands but IME - for a 'mass produced' bass in their price range, I've personally found that the build quality and set up is very consistent (I've owned 5 Skylines and 1 USA and played probably a dozen more).

I've had mine for a week and a bit. It weighs about the same as my Darryl Jones and a bit more than my Fender P did but not uncomfortably so. It weighs quite a bit more than the USA Lakland I owned costing twice as much and then some. The build quality is what I've come to expect from Lakland - top drawer and easily as good or better as any Fender or Musicman I've owned. I agree that the neck wood is light in colour but TBH, I don't understand why anyone would associate wood that's light in colour with 'cheapness'. (I realise that isn't what you said Matt). Having said that, I think the combination of CAR and a light wood neck are reminiscent of a Squier bass. IMHO - the DD doesn't sound like a Precision. It's brighter and more middy - something OBBM and I have been discussing because to my ears (and Dave's, it doesn't sound anything like Duck Dunn's tone. TBH, when I got it, it had barely been played and the original (stainless steel) strings were like new and I didn't like the tone when I rehearsed with the band. I was constantly knob tweaking, looking for a sound I liked. It sounded hollow and the G string was missing (a la Stingray). So on Friday I put some DR nickels on it, and when we were soundchecking, I boosted the bass slightly, cut the upper mids a tad and used a bit more compression than usual at our gig and f*ck me - BINGO!!. It really filled out the bottom end, it was very very punchy and pounded you in the chest. The thing about Precision type basses is they generally sound fairly poo (IMHO) soloed but really shine in the mix. I'm not 100% happy with my DD, but things are improving as I get to know it better and stop expecting it to sound like a Fender P, cos it doesn't.

Eddie Van Halen had a six string version - that's where he developed his brown sound. Did it come with the paperwork?

I haven't turned a passive bass into an active one but I did take the preamp out of my Darryl Jones and returned it to its original passive state. It improved things tremendously and I was about £100 better off. I do like active basses but I prefer the 'natural' sound of a passive bass.

Lakland Darryl Jones is the best Jazz I've ever played - apart from Toasted's Celinder, which was life changing but silly money.

Terry sold me his Duck Dunn and when we were done I ducked off. Terry's a proper bloke and a pleasure to do business with.

Liking 'em all Peter - but particularly that Flea. How is it?

Bon giorno Augh-nuto. I was 49 when I started playing bass - you're never too old. I was in Siena about 3 or 4 years ago on a family holiday to Tuscany, what a beautiful place. We got carried away with the atmosphere of the place and had lunch on the square which was very nice apart from the bill - 4 bowls of pasta and 4 bottles of water came to 80 euros. We're hoping to come back soon.

I'm in a band that plays soul / 60s stuff. The singer's into rock, the guitarist is into REM, the drummer is into habitually letting the rest of the band down and I like Steely Dan. It's all about compromises / common ground etc and if you need the money, what pays. I'd stay put and keep your eye open for the opportunity to play what you really want to play.

The nob-head who dances idiotically right in front of you taking the p155 with his brain dead mates watching on. I wish I could put my bass down and break that f*ckers legs. Winds me up every time

Thanks a bunch fellas

I'll give you a knock tomorrow on my way home with the DD - you can tell me more about him.

Another deal done with Paul - smooth as silk just like the others. Had a drink at The 3 Frogs and chewed the fat - had a great time, could have stayed all day & night but I'm on the wagon Paul's a lovely bloke.