mikeswals

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1349441287' post='1826371'] Have you considerd the option of buying back your old MK1 and buying a new fretless neck for it from Wal ? Paul could make you one , lined or unlined according to your preference, and send it to you and if neccesary you could have someone local like Mike Lull fit it for you. Back in the day plenty of people bought fretted Wal basses with an additional fretless neck to swap between the two whenever it suited them. [/quote] Dingus, alot has happened since this series of posts about a fretless. I did buy back the fretted violet MkI I mentioned, but I then sold it and bought a MkII 5 string since I thought I was going to be needing one. Of course I miss that MkI now too! However like your suggestion above, I did manage to pick up a spare fretless neck. So for now, the white bass in my avatar is back to being a fretless, which I'm having alot of fun with again. But I think eventually when I have more money than I know what to do with (yeah right!) I'll have Paul build me a body for it. Oh btw, Rob Burns is pretty active on the Wal/facebook page.

The Wal is wearing a later Custom series neck, and later bridge; circa 81/82 ones judging by the hardware. Any idea why?

I'm in the camp that will never believe in a million years its a '59. Fender had released the pics of the couple prototype Jazzes they did in late 59, they had goofy wide pickups like the Jazzmaster guitar, and so many details that didn't look like a production Jazz Bass at all. Remember, the production Jazz debuet in May 60, and Herbies bass looks very much in every way like a production bass and not like either of the prototypes. On a somewhat related claim, my uncle gave me a Precision Bass that he claims all day long he bought new in 1979. When I took it apart it says 1982. He'll argue "no way!" but every component on it is dated 1982.

[quote] however you can't underestimate, or replicate, the sounds from the Wal. Unfortunately they are weighty and the neck profile wasn't to my liking. You can get the best of both worlds by getting, as Luke says, an ACG. I'm sure that Alan would be happy to build a more conservative bass. Also hard to argue against a GB - the Spitfire has a bolt on neck.[/quote] If you are talking about having a bass built here, Wal now make their basses lighter than ever. And Paul will not even start on the neck until you specify to him how you want the neck profile to be

[quote]That's me (I've looked better!), and the 1 pu bass was mine. It actually sounded really good, although I can't for the life of me remember why it had the usual four knob setup! [/quote] Walbasist, thanks for chiming in! For years I tried finding info about that single pickup fretless but no one could remember who's it was, I think it would be the ideal fretless. Is there anything you could tell me about it? Is it gone now?

I have one of the new ones (as well as a bunch of the old ones), and I have to say that Paul is building them better today than the old company was at any given peak. He builds them lighter too! Study his new era bass and he's like a laser guided robot, everything is perfect and precisely symmetric as it needs to be, bookmatch of all the woods involved are precise. I do love my old ones, but you see the little handcrafted uneven idiosyncrasies everywhere...he fixed all that.

The first time I got to see an actual Wal in person was at the (other) Bass Centre they built in Hollywood in the States way back in the earlier 90's. I was about 21 at the time. Brand new black poly Geddy style MkI, $3200 dollar price tag! No way I could afford such a beast at that age. I had to wait until my late 30's before I could afford buy the same black bass at $4500 dollars preowned!

Yes, as menitoned, EBMM have now been offering the SLO neck option on the StingRay 4. it's a narrow 1.5" nut width like a Jazz Bass.

[quote=DrTStingray]- the one thing I found a little disconcerting was the neck and fretboard - I found it reminiscent of a Warwick - basically not what I'm used to but at the same time it didn't hinder me - the frets seemed a little closer together than I'm used to. [/quote] DrT. The frets aren't any closer than a StingRay or Precision...something about the neck profile only makes them feel that way. I layed the other basses ontop my Wal comparing frets, they're spaced the same. Maybe it's the very flat-ish fingerboard.

White Cloud, he would have an impossible time even IF he wanted the Wal pickups and circuit. Wal absolutely will not sell those components. They have stood their ground on that for many years now, despite the couple folks who bought stripped down basses were refused replacement electronics. A Sting-Wal would be a cool resto-mod . Look at this rare odd, apparently factory made MkI with a single pickup in the 'StingRay' position and not in ether Wal position.

My Midi 4-string was signed off in the control cavity by Stuart. Stuart Monks is his name.

That bass was on ebay earlier this year. Yup interesting mods. I would say keep the case since it matched the bass. But since Jason Lollar is in my backyard, if you ever want to trade that case for a new set of Lollars let me know!

Wow, that will be one fantastic bass. Congrats!

[quote name='Sumatra' timestamp='1381258046' post='2236650'] When I was at the shop I played a '68, a '69, another claimed-to-be 80ish (S854453 so more close to 77-78?), [/quote] It could very well be a '80 model. The most misquoted serial series is the S8 serials, so many think it means 1978. It does not....the S8 serials spanned from '78 until well into '82.

[quote name='Sumatra' timestamp='1380961718' post='2232768'] Really excellent feedback in my opinion as well The shop says it's a '85, and says that everything is original and perfectly functional and for the moment I'll take this as true:............................................................................................................ Why you say it's not a Fullerton? thanks again, Luca [/quote] It is not a Fullerton because 1) Fullerton reissue basses only lasted from 1982-1984. Fender/CBS sold the company in January 1985, and the new FMIC was not making them in 85 because the machinery nor the facility was not part of the sale. They started back up in '86, and switched to using CNC machines. 2) V03 serial number is no where near Fullerton serials, which stopped before V02. I estimate that bass being an '87-'88 FMIC era bass. All of these stack knob Jazz Basses from '82 up until '89/'90 have pots stamped 1982 because CBS bought so many in '82, it took so many years to finally use them up. Yes that is a very complete and original bass, just not a Fullerton

[quote name='jacko' timestamp='1372979483' post='2132546'] My turn. My Mesa rig .. Titan V12 . 212 powerhouse and 210 powerhouse. 1200 watts of nonesense The Titan is on evilbay at the mo though. I'm lusting after an M9 carbine but the new 400 watt all tube amp has caught my attention this week too. [/quote] I'm waiting for that new monster tuber to come out from Mesa, so in the mean time I sold my Titan to a friend.

R Cocco's for me. I've used both ss and nickel, but currently favoring the nickels...and that's coming from a 20 year ss user. Been getting a year per set.

[quote name='Mokl' timestamp='1375632320' post='2163663'] Paul did an amazing job in refinishing my Mach 25 string a couple of years ago. He always responded quickly to my emails and answered his phone - and this was when he had just taken over and things at Electric Wood must have been chaos. It was bloody expensive though, but the results were stunning. From this: [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/mokl/media/IMG_3114.jpg.html"][/url] To this: [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/mokl/media/IMG_3435.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] Mokl, was this the bass Dean Garcia sold a couple of years ago?

My Custom Shop 55. It's a beauty and a nice player, but unfortunately it sits in the closet unused as I just haven't been into the P sound for quite some time.[URL=http://s48.photobucket.com/user/Negative7bass/media/DSC08424.jpg.html][IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f224/Negative7bass/DSC08424.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

This thread needs more pictures. A little stagnant since June! [URL=http://s48.photobucket.com/user/Negative7bass/media/DSC09013_zps36369f49.jpg.html][IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f224/Negative7bass/DSC09013_zps36369f49.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1375877077' post='2166765'] I don't know what it's like in Seattle but I don't know of any shop in the UK who would recrown the frets etc on a used bass without you specifying (and you'd usually have to pay extra too)..[/quote] Oh obviously a recrown is not part of a commission sale. But at least the infamous bass store here in Seattle does take a few minutes to make sure a commissioned bass is at least playable with a quick setup, and doesn't cut out when plugged in, since people do walk in and want to try them out. My main point was the sky-high action was not even adjustable because the bridge saddle screws were all stripped out (which you'd think they'd mention, but didn't), and the jacks so dirty it easily cut out just as you move around. That's what I couldn't believe, especially for a bass that was sold twice there.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1375529078' post='2162532'] but when i played one a few years ago, the tone was a very uninspiring thud. [/quote] I've had 8 Wals pass through here, and they are definitely not a thud type sound. Best basses I've played. Very growly, 3-dimentional, and can absolutely tear your face off.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1375624077' post='2163545'] I've just bought an old Pro IIE (which I'm yet to get my mitts on) and Paul answered a phone call straight away, emails within a couple of days, and was very helpful. He's on the pricey side though; for a basic set-up and electrics check he quoted me approx £200 which is 3 times what I'd expect from the Gallery. [/quote] I'd bet his setups and maintenance are better. I received a Wal 5 not long ago that sold from The Gallery twice in very recent times, and the bridge saddles were completely stripped out and locked into rediculously-high position. Dirty output jack and the frets needed recrowning. You'd think for a bass they threw on the wall and priced at high market of 3k £, the thing should have been put in top notch condition. And the strings on it were from at least four years ago. I wasn't impressed.