purpleblob

Fantastic stuff. Really enjoyable.

How could I forget Phil

Thanks for sharing the link - she's awesome and I love Tony Grey's playing and sound, mind you guitar and drums and pretty good also

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1350198' date='Aug 24 2011, 01:15 PM']However much it costs so long as I can afford it. There is no upper or lower limit. If there's an instrument I like and want to own and I have the spare cash, then I'll buy it. I've yet to spend £3000 or more on a bass, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't at some point in the future. At the same time if I see something cheap that I like I'll buy that too. As Clarky says people spend far more money on things with massive depreciation and don't blink an eyelid.[/quote] This [quote name='Highfox' post='1350204' date='Aug 24 2011, 01:18 PM']Whatever I can reasonable afford or save up for with out putting my Family in strife. If you have the money then why not (just that I don't)[/quote] And this. With regards to W&T Zoid in the original post, I seem to recall one (or maybe it was that one) on sale on BC a year or so back - lovely looking bass.

Excellent job.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1345053' date='Aug 19 2011, 07:44 AM']Yamaha TRB is always what comes to mind when I think of a good six string on a budget. I believe there is also a 6 string Spector on the boards at the moment for not much more, which will be an incredible bass.[/quote] Those Yamaha's are probably one of the best value 6 string basses out there. I tried one back in the days of the Bass Centre at Wapping and was amazed at how light and how easy to play they were. Fantastic sound as well - and no I don't have one for sale

Interesting read - what it does demonstrate is how different each Wal is and/or how different we are in our requirements. My MKI was purchased in the early 80's and I played metal/heavy rock with it, funk, fusion, pop and assorted covers when doing the club scene and I never found it wanting. Looks wise, they're not as radical as Alembics or Sei's (for example) but I like them. Sound wise, they are so very versatile. In terms of weight, I've always heard that they're heavy, but my MKI is solid but I never felt it to be heavy. The other issue often levelled at Wal's is the chunky neck, but not everyone likes thin Jazz type necks - so you'll like them or you won't. Since I first bought my MKI I always wanted a fretless and recently got a MKIII which balances better than anything else I've got, sounds better than any other fretless I own (my Vigier comes closest) and is a joy to play. (EDIT: Oh and I was amazed how light it was) So what can we conclude from all this - I obviously like the look and the sound and the feel of a Wal. Somebody else may or they may not.

[quote name='Green Alsatian' post='1342425' date='Aug 16 2011, 09:19 PM']It's probably a thumb plectrum - I used one for a bit years ago when I was learning: Nice bass tone on the vid.[/quote] Definitely looks like one of those. But thanks to the OP for posting the video, I remember buying the 45 when it was released, great song And nice Vigier.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1339201' date='Aug 13 2011, 11:14 PM']Ripper/Grabber[/quote] Yeah I was thinking Grabber.

That's brilliant !

Very interesting stuff.

[quote name='nottswarwick' post='1338408' date='Aug 13 2011, 08:14 AM']Jimmy Cliff - top attitude :-)[/quote] ^Totally. Pretty tame some of those stories, although Will Young paid in chorizo's seems about right to me. Actually being paid in Tapas doesn't sound half bad to me

[quote name='spiritchaser' post='1337431' date='Aug 12 2011, 11:32 AM']Great Wal 5 man! Congrats! Paul is a real master of the craft and it's always a pleasure to talk to him. The flamed maple MK1 could be mine which is due this month - did it have a black neck and was the finish somewhat light brownish? I can hardly wait for it to be ready and compare it to my white MKII which you can hear and see live on stage here: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5fC2CTYt5k&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5fC2CTYt5k...feature=related[/url]. At around 1:30 into the clip you can hear it soloed. tc Oliver[/quote] Sorry, I cannot recall if it had a black neck or not (and yet I did see a neck near it - damn my poor old memory). If it's yours then wow, it looks awesome.

[quote name='AndroWal' post='1335978' date='Aug 11 2011, 02:04 AM']Beautiful! You are going to love that bass. The sound and the ergonomics. The Mark IIIs are the most comfortable basses I've ever played. Perfect balance, weight, positioning.[/quote] [quote name='lozbass' post='1336165' date='Aug 11 2011, 10:04 AM']Wow!!! Absolutely beautiful - the basses coming out of Paul's shop are simply fantastic - testament to his skills and extraordinary attention to detail. As an owner (of a 6 I can'tplay) I would say that, but in all seriousness, new Wals deserve serious consideration from anybody in the market for the higher expression of the bass building art. Purpleblob - yours is a fabulous example![/quote] Guys thanks for the kind words. So far I have nothing but glowing things to say about the quality, the look, the feel and the sound of this instrument. You're absolutely spot on AndroWal, the ergonomics and the balance, weight etc. make this the most comfortable instrument I own (I admit I'm in the honeymoon period at the moment so I probably would say this ). lozbass, totally agree with you. Paul is producing some awesome instruments. Also if you talk to Paul you get the feeling that he's somebody who really cares about what he's doing and strives to produce the best. Whilst I was at the workshop Paul appeared to be putting the finishing touches on, what I think was a flamed maple bodied, MK1 - it was absolutely stunning. Anyway, I suppose I'd better start saving for a fretted MKIII next

Well I've finally got myself a Wal fretless. Only taken me something like 20 years (not the build time, just the time it's taken me to actually get my butt in gear and order one ). Anyway here's a pic Paul sent me prior to pickup. Picked up from Paul at Wal HQ on Saturday... Just want to say what a top guy Paul is. Kindly showed me around his workshop demonstrating to me how the instruments were made and answering my dumb questions and my gushing at some of the instruments on show or my excitment of seeing the Wal twin neck template (yes sad I know, but last time I saw an actual Wal twin neck up close was Jonas Hellborg's, and that was a long long time ago)

Lovely. My fav. Adamovic shape. This is the one from the Fray's Bass corner website I guess. Very nice.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1330292' date='Aug 6 2011, 08:13 PM']Who thinks if Victor, Marcus and Mark king all set their own gear up how they like it then swapped over they would all sound like themselves still? I do.[/quote] I think I read somewhere (poss. on this site) that Marcus, Stanley and Victor did that whilst doing the SMV album and supposedly did sound just like themselves - however I'd certainly be interested to hear Stanley Clarke making Marcus's Jazz sound like an Alembic - but I think in terms of their playing you'd probably recognise them instantly. EDIT: Oh wait possibly not if each set their rigs up to sound like themselves and then let the other play through it - I certainly would suspect Mark King's rig would stand out as one being difficult for Marcus to sound like Marcus through - but just an opinion as I obviously haven't heard them do this

Class !

Sometimes you can switch from B-G to E-C without any issues (major or otherwise), however you may also find that the fret's need dressing or the nut will need replacing or it may just be a general set-up needs tweaking. Obviously it partly depends upon the guage of string you're intending to use.

I have to say I've always loved the Marcus Miller sound, specifically for funk, but then I also love Stanley's sound. As for Victor, I'm a big fan but yeah I'd have to agree, I don't feel he's got a tone thats particularily good (obviously imo). With regards Marcus's tone - let's not forget that Marcus does use a pretty complex preamp in his set-up, so we're not talking about just a bog standard Fender Jazz tone here.

[quote name='4 Strings' post='1328120' date='Aug 5 2011, 12:47 AM']Who says he gets away with it?[/quote] What ! Are you suggesting he doesn't ?

Bootsy ! EDIT: Who else could get away with the gear this guy wears ? : [url="http://bootsycollins.com/bootsy/BOOT_PHOTOS/BOOT_PHOTOS.html"]http://bootsycollins.com/bootsy/BOOT_PHOTOS/BOOT_PHOTOS.html[/url]

[quote name='Doddy' post='1327654' date='Aug 4 2011, 07:23 PM']Stanley and Victor would be great whatever instrument they used-it isn't the bass that makes them who they are as players.[/quote] I totally agree - but they obviously felt that an Alembic and Fodera (very expensive though both are) gave them some benefit over playing something less expensive or with less features (as it were). To make it clear, I'm absolutely NOT saying owning an expensive instrument made either Victor or Stanley great EDIT: [quote name='BigRedX' post='1327547' date='Aug 4 2011, 06:08 PM']Buy the bass you want whether it's something for a tenner at a car boot or an massively expensive vintage Fender or a Riiter Royal. Whatever makes you feel good about playing the bass. That's the important thing. And then get out there and play it.[/quote] But I think BRX pretty much hits the nail on the head anyway

I never really get it when people feel the need to talk about money spent on an instrument bar pointing out the obvious which is that too cheap and instrument [b]may [/b]hinder your playing (due to lack of quality) and just because you spend X thousand on a bass doesn't mean you'll be a X times better player. Find an instrument you like, get used to it and learn to play as well as you can. If you fancy buying a cheaper or more expensive instrument that's totally upto you. Marcus is one of my fav. players, but I wonder whether he's pointed out to Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten that their instrument won't have made them better players Oh and the Marcus Miller Fender is hardly a cheap instrument either.

Absolutely love his playing. Didn't realise he was playing in London in Nov, so thanks for the heads up, will see if I can make that.