I have had a USA Lakland Glaub, and quite a few Fender Ps. I love both. The Lakland is a boutique bass, and as such, it gets extra attention to details: nicer woods, superb fret jobs, and superb components. That said, 2008 and later Fender are excellent for the money, with good, resonant woods, great components and really good fret jobs. You are comparing a $3200 bass to a $1250 bass.
The main difference to me in sound is attributed to the pickup: the Fralin in the Lakland has more clarity, but the Fender stock pickup is almost as good, if not as refined. The main differences otherwise is that the Lakland looks more expensive in your hands, and FEELS much more expensive. I would venture and say that Lakland necks are the best I've ever played (second to Lull), and what Lakland does to frets is simply magical. Lakland do not feel like Fenders and viceversa (for example, the necks on Laklands are usually skinnier, and the body's arm and belly cuts are not as deep as in Fenders). Also, I don't think that Lakland feel like vintage Fenders at all: they are much more like modern basses, and the neck profiles are not similar to Fenders. Just like a Sadowsky, Lakland are improved and modern boutique Fenders. Alleva-Coppollo aims to be more like NOS vintage Fender.
So, it's really comparing a Ford to a BMW. Ford is a classic American brand that makes great cars (as of late) that would take you where you need to go with a fair degree of fun; BMW will take you there in luxury and that extra element of precision and finesse.
About NJ Guitar and Bass Center, I do have a great experience with them. I've bought some incredible basses from Jay (my '82 Jazz, and a used Fodera Monarch, a few years ago). He is a straight shooter, but their prices tend to be a little higher than what the market dictates, and they do business the old-fashion way: no credit cards, and usually no shipping outside the USA. I mean, what retail company in this country does not accept credit cards? Also, they are not very aggressive in their sales tactics, like they don't care if a bass sits there unsold for years. I'm guessing they make their money on something else, and selling lefty basses it's just a hobby. . . LOL. Although kudos to them for even bothering having so many lefties in stock.
That said, I wouldn't be afraid to bargain with Jay. Name your price and do some pawn-shop style back and forth bargaining to see how low he'll go.
About the Lakland he has in stock, it's been there for about three years. I great deal if you ask me (I think he wants $1600-$1700) The only reason I never bothered with that bass is that it has a 1-3/4" nut, and I don't like anything other than a 1-1/2" nut on 4-strings.
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