[quote="JEDI BASS TRICKS":2pa3zsp2]Well, a little less than a year ago I agreed to meet a guy to buy his Lakland 5594 (5 string). It didn't sell on ebay, so I was gonna get it for $1700 w/ tweed case (a very fair price). I had never played a Lakland, but I knew they had 35" B strings (a must for any 5 str) and this bass was striking: birdseye maple fretboard, quilt maple tobacco burst top, banjo frets (like Dingwalls), Bartolini pups and elec, and the quality and reputation that all bassists have heard of if you don't live under a rock. I drove 6 hours round trip for it, got to see The Red Hot Chili Peppers in Nashville that night too! Was almost wanting to skip the concert to play the bass at the hotel.....almost! Flea was calling too, you know! Needless to say, the bass is phenomenal. The sound, a product of all the best elements that went into the basses construction, is the voice I had been searching for since picking up my first bass 21 years ago at the age of 16. BUT, NOW I HAVE A DINGWALL ABI 5er, it has the same SWEET voice that my Lakland has, with a bit more growl & bite and (as we all know) a B string that is unmatched PERIOD! The craftmenship, attention to detail, etc is as good, and we all know how good Dingwall's customer service is via this forum! So, will I quit playing my Lakland.....NEVER! It's easier to play many of my chordal compositions that are played above the 12th fret, on a parallel fret bass. IMO, there's no real tone compromise on the A, D, and G strings of a quality parallel fret bass compared to a Dingwall. I actually prefer the tone and tension of even shorter D and G strings, like Rickenbackers 33.5" scale or even shorter scale Gibsons or Hofners. And, if I don't need the Dinger's B string and don't feel like stretching in the lower register, out comes my Lakland. DON'T GET ME WRONG, MY DINGWALL IS MY FAVORITE BASS AND THE ONE MY BAND PREFERS TOO! But, there's no reason to snub other basses, they have their strengths too. Be bilingual....have more than one bass voice! You know, if it weren't impossible to play, I'd like to have a fanned fret bass with a 37" B and a 31" G.....talk about impossible to play! The fanning would be EXTREME! But, the D and G would be sooo sweet![/quote:2pa3zsp2]
I just checked out the spec sheet for the Super J for the first time. Sounds like Sheldon agrees that shorter D and G strings sound sweeter. He's the Man!! How about making a 35.5 to 32.5 scale 5 or 6 string......I'd be buying one!!