AndroWal

In communicating with Paul about a new neck, he wrote me that they cost approximately 1100.

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1331804380' post='1578996'] Thanks for posting the link Is there much differance between the MK2 & MK 3 Wal bass guitars ? Looking at the Wal website , it hints that the differance is mainly body shape ? [/quote] Thanks for listening! Yes a pretty big difference. Not only different shapes, but the strap buttons are in different locations and there is a difference in weight. The Mark IIs are generally heavier than the Mark IIIs. My Mark IIs are from the very early '90s and they are heavy. Also they have heavy tuners. I've actually communicated with Paul about sending my two to him to change the tuners to light weight ones and doing the necessary cosmetic fixes. Not an inexpensive process...just my shipping from the US for the two basses in their flight cases will be $920! The Mark IIs are bigger bodied, and my experience is that this provides a bit more bottom, a bit more tone overall....bigger body for bigger sound body. I'm not saying the Mark IIIs lack anything, it's just that the Mark IIs are fatter. This written, they are also bigger to wear and as said heavier and with the old style tuners, there is some neck-dive. Now the Mark IIIs are the most comfortable basses I've ever played. Fantastic! Easy access to every note, the fantastic Wal sound in a lighter, smaller more comfortable package. As far as the differences in the two shapes....for me the Mark IIs seem to fit on ones body more up and under my arm attached to my plucking hand, whereas the Mark IIIs seem to fit more to the center of my body. My Mark II feels more stabile for slapping, with its bigger body....not that I slap very much!

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1331734258' post='1577941'] Does anyone have any sound clips or video clips of any Wal 5 fretted bass guitars that they could post ? [/quote] If you go to my myspace page.... [url="http://www.myspace.com/androkotula"]http://www.myspace.com/androkotula[/url] , all the bass tracks except for the one entitled "Ocean" are played on 5-string Wals. Mostly Mark IIs....a couple on a Mark III. I used fretted Wals on "Protected", "Falling Face the Sun" (both on a Mark III with Shedua facings) and "Cathedral" (a Mark II with Maple facings)....others of course fretless, a Mark II with English Sycamore facings. And I do have a Mark III fretless once owned by someone posting here! FYI...I keep my filter controls flat...no adjustment. Fretless always just the bridge pick-up. Fretted I favor the bridge pick-up.

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1328525378' post='1528368'] Does anybody have any experience with the Mk3 Wals, you know, the 'ergonomic' model? I'm curious about them in terms of balance, comfort weight etc... [/quote] I have both fretted and fretless Mark IIIs. They are the most comfortable basses I've ever played. They balance perfectly. Weights are not noticable during long gigs. They fit ones body very well. Access all the way to the 24th fret is unfettered. I also have two Mark IIs and although I love the way they sound, the ergonomics aren't as good due to some neck dive and they are heavier. I've spoken to Paul and I intend to send them to him to have lighter tuners installed as well as have general tune-ups as I've had them for 20 years. Paul said that new tuners remove a significant amount of weight and that this tends to be a good fix. I am also curious about moving the bottom strap button to the position on the Mark IIIs. On the IIs, it is centered on the bottom while on the IIIs it is a couple of inches above. I think this move would improve the ergonomics.

I think the greater hardness of the surface of the fingerboard is a central element to sing. The coating of Pedullas and the combination of wood and resin of Zons which I believe is 7 layers of wood with resin that is compressed to create the fingerboard.

Agreed to all. I suspect this will remain available until the price is reduced. In a later post, the Seller did state he is open to "reasonable" offers.

Found this at WalBassesNaturally.... I am not affiliated with the seller.....just wanted to spread the word as it looks to be a good one: [url="http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/walbassesnaturally/message/13025"]http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/walbassesnaturally/message/13025[/url]

I use Under Cover Cases' gig bags for my Wals. Substantial protection...never as much as a hard case, but I've found these to be really good.

Regarding your action....I play fretless more than fretted. My experience is that I get more growl, mwah, with lower action, not higher. On my Wals...I have the action as low as it can go without the strings sitting on the fingerboard and buzzing on their own, and all my notes...low to high sound great and the upper ranges do sing. When recording, I usually run two channels....one from the 1/4 out and one from the Wal DI. My usual pick-up setting is to employ only the bridge pick-up, or with just a touch...up to the first line from all bridge, of neck pick-up. I run the tone controls flat...on 10. I record flat and eq later to taste. New strings are essential. I use DR Highbeams and have for years. The best feeling to me. They stay bright for a long time and I love the sound of them on my Wal fretlesses and on my Zon Fretless. I actuall use them on all my basses, fretted also. This all written, I just listened to your take. Your sound is good! Just like a Wal with old, old strings! Has a bit of a stand-up sound with the deadness of the strings...short decay. I think you will hear a world of difference with new strings and a set-up. Use that bridge pick-up!

[quote name='Huwberry' timestamp='1323863971' post='1467852'] Oh well, a negative reaction is better than no reaction! AFAIK, other than the title, the only real similarity to the Depeche Mode song is the synth part in the intro. I was actually unaware of the Depeche Mode song until a few days ago so I had no idea we were destroying a timeless classic. [/quote] [quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1323814438' post='1467511'] Good grief, that was awful. I love Depeche Mode but this was not the 'Blasphemous Rumours' I was expecting or hoping for. [/quote] I also initially thought it would be some sort of cover of the DM song...I don't really hear it, and I can't say the style of music is one for me, but you guys did create something that's yours and performed it with good energy. And you have a good bass sound!

[quote name='wombatboter' timestamp='1321469652' post='1439622'] Thanks for the kind feedback.. I think the sound is there anyway ...the amp is flat and actually it all has to do with the fingers. I have owned around 12 Wal basses and I never had any problems to get this particular sound out of it. I do play hàrd so I don't have a soft touch when I play a bit faster. If you play with that hard touch (which seems to work for me) and play above the pick-up it's actually hard to not have this sound. I use a bit more "meat" when I play more mellow parts.. Have been playing the Pedulla ànd the Wal last week and it's still hard to pick one as a favourite...There's something in a Wal which is unique but the neck of a Pedulla plays like butter. [/quote] And thanks to you for your reply! Good information and I partly suspected what you write about your touch. I have a similar comparison going-on between my Wals and my Zon TJ5. The Zon is easier to play, less energy output, sounds wonderful and notes are crystal clear. Yet the Wals growl, are fat and I can leave all settings flat and only use the bridge pick-up. A bit less sing than the Zon, but more meat and of course the unique sound.

[quote name='wombatboter' timestamp='1315922652' post='1371928'] I have owned both and there is something to say about each one.. Wal basses are a bit harder to play, the neck isn't as "fast" as a Pedulla but there's a distinctive tone which is its trademark. I found that the sustain on certain Wal-basses wasn't as good as on other fretless basses like for instance a Pedulla or a Lefay. I've been playing Pedulla-buzz basses for quite some time and I really like the sound, its sustain and the feel of their necks.. I sold my fretless Wal because of the sustain but now I have again a Pro defretted because I do miss that special Wal-sound.. Both fretless basses do sound different in the clips I have recorded so it all depends on your personal choice..(I do wear stockings in the second clip) [/quote] Wombatboter, I posted on your Youtube link also... Great playing! Really enjoy your melodic sensibility. Question for you....seems that your Wal is very punchy...is it so in itself or do you have your amp adjusted to gain this? I have Wal 5s and they don't have the immediate attack/pop you have. Curious how to acquire it as I play with a light touch and want that fast attack/punch. I do get close by adjusting my amplification...but it's interesting as I still don't get that immediacy. I can quite easily on my Zon fretless... Thanks.

Thanks for your replies. My interest is not due to wear. I've had Wal fretlesses for years...one for 20 and only dressed the fingerboard once about 12 years ago. Probably didn't need to and I played that one each day....but it was suggested. My interest is sound. I've also owned a Pedulla Pentabuzz and my own experience and in listening to others I find that a coated fingerboard is a bit brighter than just ebony. Even with a Zon with its fingerboard of layers of wood and resin, which is really hard, I think more so than ebony, Michael Manring has his coated and you can hear the bit of extra zing. Just thinking of doing this to one of my Wal fretlesses and wanted to gather opinion. I'm not worried about loss of value. It can be reversed and in any old instrument you can have wear that might require new frets, a new fingerboard, new capacitors, etc. Just need to get the right people to do it! And now we are fortunate to have Paul Herman in his shop. I thought I'd read somewhere here of a player that coated his Wal fretless and again, was hoping to learn of that experience....all is food for thought though...thank you again!

Curious if anyone out there has ever coated their Wal fretless fingerboard with an epoxy or like coating. If so....what is your opinion of the result...like, dislike, issues, regrets, happy you did it...did you lose any "Wal-ness?" Thanks.

Zon! Great fretless sounds.....of course I also love my Wal fretlesses....each has its character.

[attachment=90620:W3710.jpg]Another Wal with Sycamore facings. My Mark II Fretless....the facings have a "chemical wash."

Going to put-in my 2 cents.... I have an all maple SR1005 and just purchased and am waiting for delivery of a mahogany/walnut one. The string-spacing on these may be noted as 16.5mm by Ibanez, but in reality it's about 16.75mm....I've measured mine! It's basically the same as my Wal 5s and my Zon TJ5. The neck dimensions are a bit more plump than the newer SR1405/1205/4005/5005/505/705 crowd. Similar to the newer 805s. Depth at 1st fret I believe is 21mm as compared to 19.5mm for the aforementioned crowd of models. These have no neck-dive. Are wonderfully balanced. I drilled a new hole and moved my lower strap-button 2" up so as to have a greater and more ergonomic wearing-angle and the 1005 hangs just like my Wals and Zon.....it's lighter though! The Barts sound great and the older Powercurve works well and certainly sufficiently. If you don't like it, there are numerous choices of other preamps for a reasonable amount of money (less than $200). These basses are well made. The construction is on a par with much more expensive basses. This is why I am buying another! Great to have such quality for so little money. Nice to have a good sounding/playing instrument that I don't have to worry about so much as I have too with the ones that cost $5000+. FYI, my first 1005 cost me $700 and this second was $575. Both used and both in excellent condition. Best of luck.