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Lakland Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric based in Chicago, Illinois. The company's first bass combined elements of the Fender Jazz Bass and the Music Man StingRay. The company's current line-up includes basses inspired by classics like the Fender Precision Bass and Jazz Bass as well as Lakland's own original designs. Lakland's line of signature models includes basses designed in collaboration with well-known bassists Joe Osborn, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Jerry Scheff, Darryl Jones and Bob Glaub. Lakland basses are manufactured in the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia.
Lakin and McFarland began developing the first Lakland prototype in January 1994Roberts, Jim (2003). American Basses: An Illustrated History and Player's Guide. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. . p. 112. and showed it later that year at the July 1994 NAMM Show.
The pair launched Lakland in 1994 with a $20,000 home equity loanLambert, Emily. His Own Beat Forbes. July 5, 2004. Retrieved 2011-02-25. and Lakland basses went into production in the United States in 1995. In 1996, the company became a unit of A. Lakin & Sons, Inc., a tire recycling company founded by Lakin's grandfather Abraham Lakin in 1919.
McFarland left Lakland in 1997. In 2001, Lakland introduced the Skyline Series, a lower-priced alternative to its U.S.-made basses. Manufactured in South Korea, the Skyline Series helped the company break even for the first time in 2003. Production of Skyline Series basses was moved to Indonesia in 2008.Pirruccello, John "'Official' Lakland Owners Club (part 8)" Talkbass.com. November 24, 2008. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
In April 2010 the company was acquired by Chicago-based Hanson Musical Instruments.Molter, Dave. "Hanson Guitars buys Lakland; brand name will continue with model changes" Music Gear Review. May 3, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-24. Hanson, a maker of electric guitars and electric guitar and bass pickups and electronics, had been Lakland's primary supplier of bass pickups and preamp products since 2005. Lakland was renamed Lakland Guitars LLC and while the Lakland brand name remains, signature model names—such as the Bob Glaub, Duck Dunn and Joe Osborn basses—were given numeric designations. Lakland executive John Pirruccello was named president.
Owners of Lakland basses and others interested in the Lakland company and its products formed The Lakland Owners Group. It is not affiliated with Lakland Guitars, LLC. About Us Lakland Owners Group Website. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
The prototype's electronics were inspired by a Bass Player magazine review of the Warwick Dolphin bass. Pickups were supplied by Bartolini and the bass featured Lakland's characteristic oval bridge plate. Originally made of aluminum, McFarland later replaced the bridge with one fashioned from chrome-plated steel.
Other signature models were developed in collaboration with bassists Geezer Butler, Jerry Scheff, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Darryl Jones and Bob Glaub.
The Donald "Duck" Dunn and Bob Glaub signature models remain in production under the names 44-64 Custom, and 44-64/55-64, respectively.
Originally manufactured in South Korea, Skyline Series basses are currently built in Indonesia and Korea. The first two digits of the serial number on a Skyline Series-bass indicates the year it was built. Lakland Production by Serial Number (PDF) Lakland company Website. Retrieved 2011-02-26. Skyline Series basses are shipped to Lakland's U.S. facility for the installation of electronics and final inspection and set-up. Skylines Receive Stateside Attention to Detail. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
In 2001, Lakland introduced the Korean (Indonesian since 2008) made Skyline Series. Developed with the help of importer-exporter Westheimer Corp., the midrange Skyline Series is constructed using North American wood and features the same overall design as the US basses (excluding the graphite reinforcement on the 4-string necks, all necks being half-sawn instead of quarter-sawn, acrylic nuts instead of bone, no left-hand models, no alder body wood option, and in far fewer colors) but is cut, finished, and assembled overseas. Once the instrument arrives in Chicago, the company's builders work to install its electronics and make sure the frets are leveled within specification of Lakland's US models. Lakland currently uses the PLEK setup and leveling system. The Skyline 44-02 and 55-02 models originally contained the USA Bartolini MM\J pickups and NTMB preamp, the same system that was in the USA 44-94 and 55-94 basses. Currently all of those models (44-94, 55–94, 44–02, 55–02) contain the Lakland-Hanson LH3 system. The Skyline 44-01 and 55-01 models contain the Korean Bartolini MK1 pickups and preamp. The Osborn, Scheff, and Jones signature models previously featured Hipshot-licensed tuners and Lakland-Hanson custom pickups. (Previously Lakland used Aero or Lindy Fralin pickups.)
ESP also manufactures the Skyline Japan Series, much the same way as they produce their own Edwards range. These are manufactured in China to be a lower cost option to the MIJ Shoreline line-up. Most Skyline Japan series basses, such as the Skyline 44-AJ, feature Duncan Design pickups and the Bartolini ME-1 pre amp.
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