D. Lakin Basses Unveils New Line of Basses
Dan Lakin has launched a new line of basses with his company, D. Lakin Basses. Lakin, who founded Lakland Basses, offers one-on-one consultation for every bass that’s made.
“My favorite part with Lakland was working with artists to create the perfect bass for them,” he writes on the D. Lakin website. “Without having a dealer as a middleman, I can now offer this consultation with all customers. Every order starts with a conversation, (phone, text or email) and ends with your perfect bass. We use the finest components and skill by the best technicians in the world to create the ultimate playing experience. All details of your bass are customizable.”
Lakin’s new team includes designer Kirk Hunter and master luthier Dan Strack, who both worked with him at Lakland. Together they’re offering P-Style and J-Style models in 34 and 30-inch scales, but they’ve also introduced a new model called the 1930. The short-scale bass comes standard with a lightweight swamp ash body, maple neck, and option of either East Indian rosewood or birdseye maple fingerboard. The design centers around a single Curtis Novak Bisonic pickup.
“The Bisonic pickup design was introduced in the early ’60s by Hagstrom and more famously used by Guild on the Starfire Bass in the mid to late ’60s. Curtis Novak stayed true to form and yet improved the design by adding an extra magnet. This trick was first done by Bay area bassist’s Jack Cassidy (Jefferson Airplane) and Phil Lesh (The Grateful Dead.) This pickup offers unparalleled frequency response and tonal clarity.”
Lakin points out that most options are customizable including pickups, pickguards, hardware, and color finishes. The 5734 and 6034 are available for order now, while all the short-scale models – the 5730, 6030, and 1930 – are available for pre-order for spring 2020. Each model has a base price of $3,199.
D. Lakin Basses Model 1930 Specs:
| Body Wood: | Lightweight Swamp Ash or medium weight Alder |
| Neck Wood: | Quartersawn, straight grain Maple with 2 graphite reinforcement bars |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood w/ Birdseye Maple dots, Birdseye Maple w/ Ebony dots, Rosewood w/ Pearl blocks and binding (add $300) |
| Blocks & Binding: | Abalone (add $300) |
| Body Finish: | Nitro-cellulose (recommended), Polyurethane (add $100) |
| Neck Finish: | Oil (to recreate the feel of a vintage bass with the finish worn through – recommended), Nitrocellulose (add $150) |
| Headstock: | Matching body color (add $100) |
| Fingerboard Nut Width: | 1.50″ |
| Scale Length: | 30″ |
| Truss adjustment: | Allen key at body |
| Fret Size: | Medium / Vintage-Style (recommended) or Jumbo |
| Nut: | Bone |
| Tuners: | Hipshot Ultra-Lites w/ Tapered Shafts |
| Bridge: | Hipshot Custom designed dual access (string through body or string through bridge), .750″ spacing |
| Strap Buttons: | Dunlop dual design |
| Pickguard: | White, Mint, or Spitfire Vintage Tortoise Shell (add $250) |
| Pickups: | Novak Bisonic, Bridge position Bisonic (add $400) |
| Electronics: | Passive Volume / Tone (CTS Potentiometers), Switchcraft top mounted jack |
| Strings: | Dunlop Stainless Steel or Nickel Roundwound 45-105 or 40-100, Pyramid Gold Flatwound 45-105 or 40-100 (add $50) |
| Case: | Mono Bass Sleeve Gig Bag |
D. Lakin Basses Model 5734 Specs:
| Body Wood: | Lightweight Swamp Ash or medium weight Alder |
| Neck Wood: | Quartersawn, straight grain Maple with 2 graphite reinforcement bars |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood w/ Birdseye Maple dots, Birdseye Maple w/ Ebony dots, Rosewood w/ Pearl blocks and binding (add $300) |
| Blocks & Binding: | Abalone (add $300) |
| Body Finish: | Nitro-cellulose (recommended), Polyurethane (add $100) |
| Neck Finish: | Oil (to recreate the feel of a vintage bass with the finish worn through – recommended), Nitrocellulose (add $150) |
| Headstock: | Matching body color (add $100) |
| Fingerboard Nut Width: | 1.50″ or 1.75″ |
| Scale Length: | 34″ |
| Truss adjustment: | Allen key at body |
| Fret Size: | Medium / Vintage-Style (recommended) or Jumbo |
| Nut: | Bone |
| Tuners: | Hipshot Reverse Gear Open Back w/ Taper Shafts (recommended) or Hipshot Ultra-Lites w/ Tapered Shafts |
| Bridge: | Hipshot Custom designed dual access (string through body or string through bridge), .750″ spacing |
| Strap Buttons: | Dunlop dual design |
| Pickguard: | White, Mint, or Spitfire Vintage Tortoise Shell (add $250) |
| Pickups: | Lindy Fralin P-Bass, other brands available upon request (may add additional cost) |
| Electronics: | Passive Volume / Tone (CTS Potentiometers), Switchcraft top mounted jack |
| Strings: | Dunlop Stainless Steel or Nickel Roundwound 45-105 or 40-100, Pyramid Gold Flatwound 45-105 or 40-100 (add $50) |
| Case: | SKB Pro Hardshell Case (ATA approved latches), G&G Traditional Fender Style Hardshell Cream with Orange Interior (add $50), Mono Bass Sleeve Gig Bag, Mono Vertigo Gig Bag (add $50) |
D. Lakin Basses Model 6034 Specs:
| Body Wood: | Lightweight Swamp Ash or medium weight Alder |
| Neck Wood: | Quartersawn, straight grain Maple with 2 graphite reinforcement bars |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood w/ Birdseye Maple dots, Birdseye Maple w/ Ebony dots, Rosewood w/ Pearl blocks and binding (add $300) |
| Blocks & Binding: | Abalone (add $300) |
| Body Finish: | Nitro-cellulose (recommended), Polyurethane (add $100) |
| Neck Finish: | Oil (to recreate the feel of a vintage bass with the finish worn through – recommended), Nitrocellulose (add $150) |
| Headstock: | Matching body color (add $100) |
| Fingerboard Nut Width: | 1.50″ |
| Scale Length: | 34″ |
| Truss adjustment: | Allen key at body |
| Fret Size: | Medium / Vintage-Style (recommended) or Jumbo |
| Nut: | Bone |
| Tuners: | Hipshot Reverse Gear Open Back w/ Taper Shafts |
| Bridge: | Hipshot Custom designed dual access (string through body or string through bridge), .750″ spacing |
| Strap Buttons: | Dunlop dual design |
| Pickguard: | White, Mint, or Spitfire Vintage Tortoise Shell (add $300) |
| Pickups: | Lindy Fralin J-Bass, other brands available upon request (may add additional cost) |
| Electronics: | Passive Volume / Volume / Tone (CTS Potentiometers), Stack knob Vol/Tone, Vol/Tone (add $100), Switchcraft top mounted jack |
| Pickups: | Active (Bartolini, Nordstrand, Novak, Mojotone, Aguliar, etc… additional fee depending on choice) |
| Strings: | Dunlop Stainless Steel or Nickel Roundwound 45-105 or 40-100, Pyramid Gold Flatwound 45-105 or 40-100 (add $50) |
| Case: | SKB Pro Hardshell Case (ATA approved latches), G&G Traditional Fender Style Hardshell Cream with Orange Interior (add $50), Mono Bass Sleeve Gig Bag, Mono Vertigo Gig Bag (add $50) |
