Stingray 5 vs Lakland 5502

[obi 2 kenobi]

Hi, I just bought a Lakland 55-02 Skyline to join my USA Stingray 5 which I’ve had for around 15 years. 
Pretty impressed. Getting used to the different string spacing. 

I know quite a few of you have both.

Interested to know your thoughts. 

Thanks 

[Misdee]

To me, the Lakland is a bit more polished and refined, the Stingray has a bit more brute force and thump, but both are great in their own way. The Lakland has got so many tones available using the various pickup combinations, the MusicMan has got various flavours of that distinctive Stingray sound using the pickup switch. In terms of how they sound, both are top-draw.

 

I prefer the wider  string spacing on the Lakland, but I dislike the 35 inch scale. The neck on the Stingray feels really good, but the spacing is a bit too tight for me and the G string tends to be too close to the edge of the frets.

 

I like both basses but I couldn't live with either because of those things.

Edited 13 hours ago by Misdee

[bubinga5]

Both great instruments.

 

Try a Lakland 5594. They are everything and more. Greatest modern/traditional electric bass that is made today imo. And that neck. !!!!!!!!!

 

 

[chris_b]

Nice move.

 

I sold my SR5 to fund a 55-94, which was my #1 bass for 14 years. I briefly owned a very nice 55-02. IMO Lakland's are very special basses.

[Sibob]

Back in 2016 I was looking for a new 5 string, and kinda had decided I’d like an SR5. Went and tried a bunch in London and just wasn’t massively impressed, they were ok, but nothing mind-blowing IMO (for the money anyway). Also happened to try a Lakland Skyline 55-01, and let’s just say that the 55-01 is still my main/only 5-string 10 years later.

 

Si

[Terry M.]

2 hours ago, Sibob said:

Back in 2016 I was looking for a new 5 string, and kinda had decided I’d like an SR5. Went and tried a bunch in London and just wasn’t massively impressed, they were ok, but nothing mind-blowing IMO (for the money anyway). Also happened to try a Lakland Skyline 55-01, and let’s just say that the 55-01 is still my main/only 5-string 10 years later.

 

Si

I hear you on the SR5 price. Have you ever tried a SBMM Ray35? I recently acquired an early used example and as far as I'm concerned it's a Stingray made in Indonesia and sporting a different headstock logo. I've own EBMM SR5s in the past for reference.

[obi 2 kenobi]

Thank you all for the replies 

 

quick photo 

[Sibob]

3 hours ago, Terry M. said:

I hear you on the SR5 price. Have you ever tried a SBMM Ray35? I recently acquired an early used example and as far as I'm concerned it's a Stingray made in Indonesia and sporting a different headstock logo. I've own EBMM SR5s in the past for reference.

I don’t think they were a thing back in 2016, but yeah, their price make it a little more compelling. I am looking for a backup 5er for my Lakkie, probably either a Sterling SR5 or a Sire P5R/P7.

I do prefer 19” spacing, but whatever really. 
 

Si

[Misdee]

5 minutes ago, obi 2 kenobi said:

Thank you all for the replies 

 

quick photo 

Two very handsome basses there.

 

I noticed the other day that EBMM are offering Transparent Red as a new colour option in the Custom Design Experience website.

[obi 2 kenobi]

And here’s the full fat version!

[Terry M.]

55 minutes ago, Sibob said:

I don’t think they were a thing back in 2016, but yeah, their price make it a little more compelling. I am looking for a backup 5er for my Lakkie, probably either a Sterling SR5 or a Sire P5R/P7.

I do prefer 19” spacing, but whatever really. 
 

Si

The SBMM branding was launched in 2008. Like you I prefer 19mm spacing but somehow I'm all over the neck on my Ray35 without as much as a thought.