Skyline Decade pickup cover change

[Barklessdog]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lakland-Decade-Skyline-4-string-bass-guitar-/390204682584



These are the new covers that are standard on the Skyline bass. Standard Lakland black covers. They are cutting cost. The chrome will still be available for an up charge & standard on US Decades.


old covers, old dog

[OldManC]

Oooh. Not liking that change! I thought they finally had a good looking pickup there.

[jumbodbassman]

looks pretty crappy.  big mistake

[jumbodbassman]

i wonder if this is a Hanson decision

[Dave W]

Whatever the reason, it takes away from the sort-of-Gibson classic vibe.

[Lightyear]

FUGLY!
 Wonder what the upcharge is for the others?
 
I just can't see that the covers could cost them that much more - the main cost, I would think, would be in the investment casting and engineering to produce the covers.  These black covers just scream "genericplasticcrap" 

[OldManC]

Whatever the reason, it takes away from the sort-of-Gibson classic vibe.

I think you nailed it, Dave. The Decade has appealed to me in the same way NR Thunderbirds do (so ugly they go right back around to being beautiful). Those new pickups kill it AFAIC.

[PeterB]

I also think it's a big mistake, the old design made the difference, set it apart. Now it seems "just another bass", nothing special.

I love that big chuncky chrome ChiSonics, put them back John P.!

[Barklessdog]

When you first see the new pick up covers, they look like some installed them after market.  They look too big for the body visually.

[dadagoboi]

That is sad.

[jumbodbassman]

After reading Peter's sterling review of the chisonics i ordered a pair about a month or so ago.  Dealt with Bo directly at Hanson.  Seems like a really good guy.  Anyway as it stands now you have the choice of the covers ,  old style (fat or thin ) or new plastic MM style.  I actually told him they looked like cheap chinese knockoffs of MM and he claims he actually has requests for them and obviously they are cheaper to make.  Received the pickups yesterday and they looked great.  Chrome is nice and shiney.  Haven't tried them yet as they are larger than i expected and will not fit in any emg 35 route.  He also told me that the humbucker version is no longer available as they are redesigning those.  So only single coils for now.  More later....

[Dave W]

John did say in the first post that the chrome was still available on the Skylines at an upcharge.

I don't think they look good, but I don't see how you can say they look like Chinese MM knockoffs. They look smaller than MM pickups and most MM copies I've seen have exposed polepieces like the originals -- except for Barts and EMGs, but those aren't cheap Chinese knockoffs.

The Skylines are very expensive for Korean basses. They're not competitive and obviously they haven't sold enough of them on reputation alone. Too bad they changed the classic style by doing this, but I understand that they have to cut costs somehow.

[jumbodbassman]

to me they look way oversized for a 4 string bass.  they look narrower but much longer than the stock MM.  They look like a pickup that was built to cover all 4 , 5 , and 6 string basses.  To me that is something that a chinese made instrument builder would do when they are being creative versus building a reiisue copy to exact specifics.  I shoot some pics of the chi and other pups i havew laying around to give everyone a better perspective. 

[jumbodbassman]

here is a picture of the chi sonic pickup next to an artec and a mm. overall bigger pickup which when in the black plastic casing gives you that elongated mm look in the new decade.   power wise -   7.5 and 7.48 for the two pickups.  Interestingly neither pickup is marked neck or bridge but one has red/black wires other has green/black.  I will have to call Bo to figure that out.

[Dave W]

Off the bass, looks to me like normal width for a 4-string.