mikeswals

On ‎05‎/‎07‎/‎2018 at 22:32, TrevorR said:

Ash over mahogany? The grain is lively (I meant to type “lovely” but that works too, lol!). I hope it’ll be a nice translucent finish. 

Yes, will be translucent red.

On 26/06/2018 at 12:23, Rich said:

Here's another '59 Jazz...

 

I will never in a million years believe Herbie's bass is a '59. Many many threads doubing it as well.

Sold my old 86 Mk2 5 string road warrior, and replaced it with a near pristine 01 Mk2 5er, complete with side-LED's.

I think I know who you're taking about as Im I'm Seattle too. 

The Mk3 is a lightweight version of Wal. I have a 4 string that is 8.6 lbs. which is 3.9 kgs. Mine sort of feels too light! 

My future tasty morsel 

You are asking if the US Musicman share the same electronics as the Sterling By Musicman model?

No. Nothing is shared as far as the parts go, they're not even the same company. SBMM are a different company entirely, making licensed copies of EBMM instruments. 

2 hours ago, walbassist said:

That's a very nice Mk II, not a Mk III. 

You're very incorrect. that indeed IS a Mk3

scalloped arm contour

smaller body and output jacks in reversed position compared to a Mk2

no-neckplate heel

smaller headstock with Hipshot tuners

circuit boards sit in a tapered angle fashion a Mk3, whereas they sit parallel on a Mk1 and Mk2

Pic below: Mk3 vs Mk2

What kind fretboard does it have? It looks like rosewood.

You should just keep it. *to me* that's to the point of not worth selling seeing you're right near the refurbish cost point. 

Replace it with a new lighter Wal. Get ahold of Paul and tell him what you need...he will build it that way.

I dont want light ones, I prefer high 9's to 10.0 lbs. But the 2015 Mk3 4 string Paul built is only 8.6 lbs. 

That would be a neck change. The early 80's Wal logo was larger than the later one which this has. And it also has the 89-later large string tree.

Love the color!

On 1/31/2018 at 08:14, Monkey Steve said:

 

Here are our standard 5-string dimensions:
>
>Neck width @ nut= 46.7mm and @ 24th fret = 71.5mm/2.82''
>Neck depth @ 2nd fret =21.9mm/0.86'' and @ 12th = 24.18/0.95''
>Bridge saddle center spacing = 17mm/0.67''

This is almost identical to my thru-neck Warwick (that is extremely slim and fast) - a mm or two out at most, so I'm very happy.  Does make me wonder if it's my perception that the old Wals were chunkier because of how it felt at the top end, or if they were just made chunkier, either back in the day or for a particular order.

 

Steve, you arent imagining it from the old days. I have a '86 5 string which indeed has a clubby neck, and I also got two new Mk3 5 strings delivered in 2016 with specified neck profiles. Looking at those specs you posted are the current 5 specs, then it looks like Paul has slimmed the neck a hair since he a few years ago. In early 2015 when I ordered mine he said the thickness at the 2nd fret was 23mm. I went with a thickness of 21 and less of a V shape. So if he changed the standard to 21.9, isnt bad! 

I've been contemplating sending my '86 neck in for a refret and knock down the V to bring it to 21mm as well, but the frets are still in good shape. 

As for 4 string necks; I've had two new ones, and I really feel Paul's 4 string profile is slimmer than my old Wals. My last Mk1 ('86) was really chunky.

I'll pile on to say 'wow', very nice bass you got. I like the color. Yup looks to be made after '89. 

The only control that doesnt have a pull up feature is the mixer pot. If one of your tone pots isnt pulling, then its stuck, which certainly can happen. I freed one of mine up by removing the knob up top and dribbling a tiny bit of Deoxit on a toothpick and carefully channeling a couple of drips down the shaft, reinstall the knob and work it in.

As for the eq controls, my normal playing style is leaving the knobs down 99% of the time, just filter off high end a couple of notches. I only pull up when I want something pretty extreme...my Mesa amps are very bright as-is, so very rarely do I go looking for more trebly. 

9 hours ago, White Cloud said:

Be still my beating heart.

When I bought my Wal brand new in 1985 it was a toss up between an Ovangkol or an Olive Ash identical to this. I bought the Ovangkol and have regretted it ever since...

What you do is buy one of each. Its hard to own only one Wal. 

Stu, in the main forum menu there is the gear porn section. In there, there are dedicated pages, one of which is a Wal only page. You may just want to move your unveiling there since thats where 'we' are easiest found.

Well as a U.S. Wal'er I have no idea what a "boot sale" is you all are talking about! 

I havent heard of anyone over here missing a Wal. But like the others have said, just dont post the serial, but do let us see this bass you found! 

Very nice bass you got there. I for one love the gloss poly finishes on Wals. It's tough as nails compared to the standard thin satin.

But oops, looks like one of the brass nut inserts stuck to the control plate on you!

[quote name='medpb' timestamp='1507935774' post='3388960']
Slugs..... I've never even noticed that. What's the story around grubs & slugs?
[/quote]

Dean's very late maple Mk2 also has the slugs.
I wonder of Pete was running out of supplies by the end?

[quote name='medpb' timestamp='1504782053' post='3367247']
Your right you dont actually! It was one of Petes few last basses too, very sad. He put the Mk3 neck joint on for me as well. Killer bass !
[/quote]

So being near the end, does your maple Mk2 have adjustable pickup poles, or does it have domed slugs?

get a section of rug and lay it over your cable

I honestly only like the 2eq StingRays, have owned a ton of them.
Once I find where I like the eq settings of the StingRay, I unscrew the knobs and carefully reposition the knobs (including the volume knob) so all the grub screws are facing straight up. Since there is no detents, the grub screw facing up indicates where 'home' is for me at a glance, or in case a knob gets bumped.

Wal's new website is up now! http://walbasses.co.uk/
And both of Rob's sixers are pictured there.

They are not multi coils, and the pickup placement on the Warwick is totally different than where they would be on a Wal.

As Wolverine mentioned, JC had loaned his greenburst Mk3 as the test mule for these, and quite frankly they didn't sound like Wal pickups...I had people mad at me for saying that (including Mr Nordy himself).

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1499000366' post='3328449']


I'd certainly like to visit but I think that Mk3 demo bass you refer to was sold last year.
[/quote]

There was more like three unsold Mk3 four strings he had done since that one last year. The one amazing one was purpleheart faced.
When word gets out, they get nabbed.

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1498823439' post='3327326']
I'm still waiting to try a Mk3. One day! I've heard good things about them.

The Mk1 shape never sat comfortably on the lap: it was chronically unbalanced with neck dive and the temptation was to drag it towards you and attempt to pivot it on the lower horn to prevent it happening - but that didn't work so you'd have to lift up the neck while playingor lean on the upper bout to raise the angle. The best sounding bass in the world with one of the worst ergonomic body designs. Never understood that.
[/quote]

Have you visited the shop? Paul seems to have a few lately to test. Seemed like I heard he had a Mk3 4 string one can check out.
The Mk3 balances best, especially on my lap. I can let go of mine with both hands and it will stay balanced on my lap on its own!