Technical Documents

Q&A

Q. What's the difference between a Skyline and a US series?

A. The answer is a lot and not much - depending on who you are, what you like and what your needs are.
Check out our much more detailed comparison.

Q. How do you pronounce Lakland? Lake-land or Lackland?

A. Lakland is pronounced Lake-land with a long first A (note the symbol over the A in our logo). The name comes from a combination of Dan Lakin and original partner Hugh McFarland. LAKin plus mcfarLAND equals Lakland.

Q. What is the difference between a Deluxe, a Standard and a Classic?

A. Electronically the models are the same. The Standard and Deluxe are both made with Swamp Ash for the Body and are available in sunburst and translucent finishes. Deluxe models add a figured Quilt or Flame Maple Top, tone-wise the addition of the maple top is negligible. The Classic has a body made from Alder and is available in solid metallic finishes only and a pick guard is added (un-attached).

Q. What is the difference between Ash and Alder for body wood?

A. Southern Swamp Ash tends to be a little lighter and has a more figured grain that is suitable for translucent and sunburst finishes It has great full-range tonal characteristics, very balanced. Alder has more of a "midrange punch." It is the type of wood Fender used on many of their early (pre-CBS) Jazz Basses. Alder offers what many consider the "Vintage" tone.

Q. What is the sound difference between Rosewood, Maple and Ebony Fingerboards?

A. Maple boards have a bright and round response with good ringing piano-like treble and sustaining quality. Rosewood is a little mellower on the treble side with great midrange and thick bass. Ebony has the brightness of Maple but the treble characteristic has a different "presence" that especially helps bring out a "growling" quality that sounds great with fretless basses.

Q. What type of strings do Lakland basses come with?

A. Most come with Lakland Custom Wounds .045-.105 stainless (add a .128 for 5-strings). The Hollowbody and Decade ship with Joe Osborn Flats .045-.106.

Q. How does one become a Lakland Artist?

A. Lakland looks at possible endorsers on a case by case basis. We review any information the applicant has, i.e., press pack, website, etc.
What we are really looking for is national TV exposure. Playing as or for a major label is also very important. Anyone interested should
email Dan Lakin. If one has a Lakland bass already that makes the process easier.

Q. What are the factory setup specifications?

A. Truss Rod
These operations are effected by turning the truss rod adjustment nut clockwise to decrease forward bow, or counter-clockwise, to increase forward bow. The amount of forward bow, sometimes called, "relief" is typically measured in .001"s. Our necks are designed to work well with about .008" relief (about the thickness of an average business card). To measure this we use an 18" straight edge, touching at the 1st and 12th frets, resting along side the A (5-string basses) or D string (4-string basses). The distance between the straight edge and the 6th fret is the amount of forward bow. If your playing style requires a higher action you may also need a little more relief. The deepest relief we've seen on a working bassist's instrument is .015".

String Height - Action
After you adjust your relief you must adjust your string height. This is done by turning the tiny set-screws on the bridge saddles. The measurement is taken at the 12th fret and is the distance from the top (or crown)of the 12th fret to the bottom of the string. Our instruments are set in the factory at (5/64" under the G-string) (5.5/64 under the E-string) (6/64 under the B-string). One should use all the above measurements as a starting point and adjust the heights to your individual playing style. Once you have your action set correctly, any changes to the way your bass feels is probably due to humidity changes. A good set-up should address the way your instrument has changed. In most cases this should be a slight truss rod adjustment.

Q. I am a proud owner of 2 Lakland basses, a 5 string Skyline Bass -
55-01 and a 4 String US Series bass - 04-94. I believe both models to be quality instruments and have been very happy with both. However, I have a guitar tech friend that tells me the US Series Basses are basically "kit" basses with the bodies and necks being produced/made by another company, they are then sold to Lakland and then Lakland assembles them at the factory. Is this true?

I had assumed that Lakland creates/produces the US series bodies and necks in the Chicago factory from naturally obtained high quality woods. I realize the Skyline Basses are produced overseas and assembled in America but what about the US Series basses?

Please don't get me wrong...I swear by your products and think they are great. I would just like to be able to tell my friend he is wrong. Look forward to hearing from you.

A. Our bodies and necks are made by an outside partner. I wouldn't go as far as saying these are "kit" basses. All of our designs are proprietary and produced to our specifications from our original designs. This is not an unusual set up in our business. We hand select the wood here in Chicago and ship it to the milling facility. The bodies and necks arrive here unfinished and without frets. This set up has enabled us to cut out the tedious, repetetive and space-consuming process of milling out parts in our shop. By contracting this out to a facility dedicated to this process we are able to concentrate on the finer aspects of bass building. If you or your friend are ever in Chicago, you are more than welcome to come by and see the process.