aj5string Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 Im head of Music at a school in Somerset. One of my students had been showing interest in the bass (a lot of them do - funny that!), and asked if he could bring in the bass his dad had, and said he could use. He said it was really nice - but that gets said a lot when kids bring in all sorts of cheap 80's things. Anyway, he bought in a battered brown case, opened it up to show me a fretless Wal in pretty much mint condition. Its beautiful! He said he had never know his dad to play it, but 'he used to play in a band'... anyway, I suggested that maybe it would be best not to bring it in in the future and use one of the Yamahas I have at school... I'm still stunned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 Did you get to have a play on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj5string Posted September 27, 2012 Author Share Posted September 27, 2012 Yep - it was like playing a new bass. The punch and output were massive - even through a small Vox practice amp. It was heavy, but I guess this transfers into the tone... The class were doing a whole group performance, and his root notes were cutting through the mix so clearly; were far more prominant than a more able bassist going through a more powerful amp! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 I wonder if they are all heavy, from what I've seen in ads on here they seem to be, as you say it's probably all part of why they sound so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 [quote name='aj5string' timestamp='1348760797' post='1817860'] Im head of Music at a school in Somerset. One of my students had been showing interest in the bass (a lot of them do - funny that!), and asked if he could bring in the bass his dad had, and said he could use. He said it was really nice - but that gets said a lot when kids bring in all sorts of cheap 80's things. Anyway, he bought in a battered brown case, opened it up to show me a fretless Wal in pretty much mint condition. Its beautiful! He said he had never know his dad to play it, but 'he used to play in a band'... anyway, I suggested that maybe it would be best not to bring it in in the future and use one of the Yamahas I have at school... I'm still stunned! [/quote] Didnt know you were in Okehampton, I got married there just last Saturday at the town hall! (The Mrs comes from Broadwoodwidger) Somerset though? Bit of a commute everyday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Yay local people! Sorry, that's really all I had to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 I dont think an instrument needs to be heavy to sound good. My ROscoe is one of the lightest basses I've ever played, and one of the best sounding (to my ears)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrenochrome Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 You should have confiscated it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj5string Posted September 28, 2012 Author Share Posted September 28, 2012 [quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1348790302' post='1818441'] Didnt know you were in Okehampton, I got married there just last Saturday at the town hall! (The Mrs comes from Broadwoodwidger) Somerset though? Bit of a commute everyday? [/quote] Ah - no way! It is a cool little town, would be really good for a nice chilled wedding. The commute is a bit mental, but the pay for being Head of Department kind of offsets it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj5string Posted September 28, 2012 Author Share Posted September 28, 2012 [quote name='Adrenochrome' timestamp='1348835712' post='1818869'] You should have confiscated it [/quote] It did cross my mind :-) I got him to leave it in my office - for safety obviously - and explained that I would play on it during the day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 [quote name='aj5string' timestamp='1348856882' post='1819266'] It did cross my mind :-) I got him to leave it in my office - for safety obviously - and explained that I would play on it during the day! [/quote] Nice story. Makes you think of all those beautiful basses tucked away somewhere never seeing the light of day (well it does me anyway) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 Music often isn't a great way to make a good living, and people do fall out of it and find "better" ways to survive. Stick the bass in a cupboard, and why buy another cheapie if there is a good one in the house? Wals are a holy grail bass now, but they were pretty common not that long ago and didn't command any special value (compared to JD's Mansons Overwaters etc). Both mine cost around £650 used in the late 80's and mid 90's and I don't recall the prices going up until the company started to publicly fail. I guess they are still generally as heavy as mine were..and that was a big issue for me after a couple of years, I just didn't find them comfortable to play. Must be a nice distraction though....and certainly makes a change from all the Yam/Fender copies. My only similar experience was a student with a 70's Ric, not really in the same league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pietruszka Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 [quote name='Adrenochrome' timestamp='1348835712' post='1818869'] You should have confiscated it [/quote] Exactly! Or done the ol' "oh, these aren't very good, worth maybe £50? I tell you what, seeing as it's you, I'll give you £65". Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 I remember taking my dads '77 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty into school without his permission. Worth a small fortune, but I didn't know at all at the time. He grounded me for two weeks, no thanks to my mate that grassed me up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 You know you are getting old when kids are bringing their dads Wal's to school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 [quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1348938428' post='1819981'] You know you are getting old when kids are bringing their dads Wal's to school. [/quote]Very true. Sad but true. Always wanted a Wal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorne Posted September 29, 2012 Share Posted September 29, 2012 [quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1348790302' post='1818441'] Didnt know you were in Okehampton, I got married there just last Saturday at the town hall! (The Mrs comes from Broadwoodwidger) Somerset though? Bit of a commute everyday? [/quote] Congrats on the Wedding mate, I remember when you two got engaged! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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