EssentialTension Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 (edited) My Lakland Skyline Decade, in the first handful produced, got here on Thursday. One of the first of the new Indonesian Skylines - "Designed and Completed in Chicago, USA, Crafted in Indonesia". It's hard to know what you'd get extra on a US model, it has the bone nut and has been plekked and seems perfect in every way including a perfect finish. I'm planning some pics in the Gear Porn forum when the rain stops enough to take some natural light pics because the colour does not photograph well with artificial light, especially flash. I haven't rehearsed with it yet nor gigged it but my first impressions are extremely good. Rehearsal tomorrow night. The feel of the neck is to me superb. 1.5" Jazz style but I guess it's the plekking that does it because there is an even-ness to the frets that - if I exaggerate a little - makes it almost feel as if one is playing a fretless. This even-ness also applies to the life of the notes up and down the neck and across the strings. Not just no dead spots but everywhere rings out in an equal and vibrant way. Mine's a passive model with single-coils and is strung with medium gauge Lakland Joe Osborn flats. On the neck pickup, which is right up to the neck, a P bass kind of thump is available but it is never merely a P bass. There is a roundness to the tone, a completeness even, which goes beyond anything I ever heard from a Fender. Roll off the tone and the strings although bassier still ring out, none of the failure of the D and G strings to ring that can sometimes happen when one is aiming for some thump on the E and A strings. At the other extreme, the bridge pickup can get close to a J bridge pickup soloed but never quite makes it because the sound is never quite thin enough. Again a kind of roundness, fullness. I think what's happening here is that the Chi-sonics somehow copy the aliveness of the Dark Stars that they are replacing (and so I guess copy the old Hagstrom Bi-sonics too). It's as though you can't have merely thump or merely growl because there is always an aliveness a wholeness to the note on top of whatever you have dialled in. It's possible that some of what I am describing about the tones is down to the mahogany body. There is a kind of Gibson darkness to the roundness of tone - if I can put it that way. I'm still trying to figure out the blended possibilities. The active model with humbuckers and a coil tap switch must have a magnificent range of tones available. The clarity of tone seems to make it much easier to play double stops and even larger chords - especially higher up the neck of course - while retaining the clarity of the individual notes. They ring out individually rather than becoming blurred. I've heard some people suggesting that the Decade does not balance well because of the body shape. My experience so far is quite the opposite. Never have I had a bass that sat so easily on my shoulder. It weighs in at 9lbs 1.75oz. So far I'm thrilled with the Decade - I feel I've never had a better bass. A further report will be forthcoming. Edited December 17, 2008 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born 2B Mild Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 Let's hope it stops raining and starts sunshining very soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 14, 2008 Author Share Posted December 14, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Born 2B Mild' post='354650' date='Dec 14 2008, 10:45 PM']Let's hope it stops raining and starts sunshining very soon! [/quote] Phil, I was expecting someone to say 'No pics, no bass' but of course you are more subtle than that. Pics will be coming but there's no point seeing pics that don't look like the bass. PS You're not thinking of selling those Bergantinos are you? Edited December 14, 2008 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Beautiful, Dave. Absolutely stunning! Rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Now that I like! Very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 Thanks guys. It's hard to capture the exact natural colour - probably my rubbish photography. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 nice looking bass--even if it's not a Fender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 That's a seriously nice cooker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 [quote name='Happy Jack' post='357167' date='Dec 17 2008, 05:19 PM']That's a seriously nice cooker. [/quote] I thought someone would notice our excellent new Rangemaster. We have the matching Rangemaster American cooler too. But I still had two take away curries in the last two days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 (edited) [quote name='artisan' post='357143' date='Dec 17 2008, 04:46 PM']nice looking bass--even if it's not a Fender [/quote] Thanks. I tell you what, I'll do you a special picture of it next to my Fenders. Possibly with the cooker in the background. Edited December 17, 2008 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GЯДИКФЯ Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 looks good, is it solid under the pickguard? I reckon it'd look even better without Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s_u_y_* Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Man... my New Year's Resolution of not buying a new bass ends in a few days. Now I know what to put on the top of the GAS list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 [quote name='GЯДИК' post='357255' date='Dec 17 2008, 07:09 PM']looks good, is it solid under the pickguard? I reckon it'd look even better without[/quote] The US model is available without a pickguard but I can't find a pic of one. Personally, I prefer the pickguard. Basses without a pickguard look funny to me. The specs for the Skyline Decade were sorted by me and six others at the old Dudepit and this was to be a Dudepit Limited Edition of thirty only. The DPLE fell through for several reasons, not least of which was Dan Lakin liked it enough to make it the Skyline standard. From what I've heard they have sold in excess of a hundred of them already. As far as I know this is the only one in the UK and one of two in Europe so far - the other belongs to a guy called Mauricio in the Netherlands. Anyone know of any others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 [quote name='s_u_y_*' post='357263' date='Dec 17 2008, 07:26 PM']Man... my New Year's Resolution of not buying a new bass ends in a few days. Now I know what to put on the top of the GAS list![/quote] Yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdphysio Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 OMG!! ..............that is absolutely f**king stunning!!!.............gimme gimme gimme (please!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmz Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Great stuff - looks fab ! Nice to see something a little different. Must go to the Lakland website to hear what they sound like - if indeed they have clips up and running yet....... Hope you have hours of fun Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 (edited) [quote name='dmz' post='357419' date='Dec 17 2008, 11:12 PM']Great stuff - looks fab ! Nice to see something a little different. Must go to the Lakland website to hear what they sound like - if indeed they have clips up and running yet....... Hope you have hours of fun Bill[/quote] Thanks Bill. At the Lakland site the Decade audio clips are still with the Dark Star pickups. You can hear the Chi-sonic single coils in a Joe Osborn [url="http://lakland.com/ac_j-sonic.htm"]here[/url]. Imagine the same but with the neck pickup three inches nearer the neck and a mahogany body for the Decade sound. Edited December 17, 2008 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 [quote name='kdphysio' post='357362' date='Dec 17 2008, 09:44 PM']OMG!! ..............that is absolutely f**king stunning!!!.............gimme gimme gimme (please!) [/quote] Well, thanks for the request but you can't have it. ^_^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I've quietly been admiring the Decade - it does look reasonably original which isn't a common occurance nowadays ! I think it looks fantastic in that finish, can't think what it'd look better in either. Nice cooker too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I did think that the Bass Centre (when they sold Lakland) or the Gallery had a DarkStar Decade in stock but I could be wrong. Lovely bass. Maybe we should organise a Brighton bash so we can all have a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 19, 2008 Author Share Posted December 19, 2008 (edited) [quote name='bass_ferret' post='358640' date='Dec 19 2008, 11:11 AM']Maybe we should organise a Brighton bash so we can all have a go [/quote] NIGEL: Now this is special, too, it’s a...look...see ...still got the uh...the ol’ tagger on it...see...never even played it ...see... MARTY: You just bought it and.... NIGEL: Don’t touch it! Don’t touch it! No one...no one...no! Don’t touch it. MARTY: Well uh I wasn’t...uh I wasn’t gonna touch it...I was just pointing at it...I.... NIGEL: Well don’t point, even. MARTY: Don’t even point? NIGEL: No. It can’t be played...never...I mean I.... MARTY: Can I look at it? NIGEL: No. MARTY: Don’t look at it. NIGEL: No, you’ve seen enough of that one. Edited December 19, 2008 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 19, 2008 Author Share Posted December 19, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Machines' post='358552' date='Dec 19 2008, 08:45 AM']I've quietly been admiring the Decade - it does look reasonably original which isn't a common occurance nowadays ! [b]I think it looks fantastic in that finish, can't think what it'd look better in either[/b]. Nice cooker too .[/quote] When at the Dudepit we were considering finishes for the intended DPLE the two main alternatives to the trans burgundy with rosewood and blocks, black headstock, and black pickguard were: 1. Butterscotch with maple and black blocks, plain headstock, and black pickguard (like Eric Halborg's US Decade in Swayback). which you gotta say looks pretty good although personally I wasn't so keen on the maple fingerboard. Does it beat the trans burgundy? 2. Sonic Blue with rosewood and blocks, plain headstock, and white pickguard (which unfortunately I don't any longer have a pic of but it also looked pretty good in the photoshops). The nearest pic I could find was this US Decade from the Lakland site in Ice Blue without the blocks. which you gotta say also looks pretty good. In the final vote the trans burgundy won easily. We were conscious that we were making a reference back to the Gibson EB0 and EB3 finishes. Dan and the other guys at Lakland really liked it and the rest is history as they say. The cooker is available in cream, red, and green as well as black. Edited December 20, 2008 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebeat Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Think i might be tempted by one of these in the new year...liking the butterscotch one very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 19, 2008 Author Share Posted December 19, 2008 (edited) [quote name='thebeat' post='358851' date='Dec 19 2008, 02:40 PM']Think i might be tempted by one of these in the new year...liking the butterscotch one very much.[/quote] Lakland will, I believe, do you a butterscotch (or any other finish) but only in a US version at $4400 list price - I guess about $3000 street price which, the way things are going, will be about £3000 here in UK!!! The Skylines are only available in the trans burgundy. If you wanted a different colour on a Skyline you'd need to order a Limited Edition batch of thirty. Edited December 19, 2008 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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