Zengineer Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 (edited) Hi everyone, this is my first post here. I’ve been a sound engineer most of my life and have played bass on & off since I was 15 - when I’ve had the time. I bought a 1984 Wal Mk1 lined fretless in the early 90’s (when they were cheap and out of fashion) which I still own. As much as I loved the Mick Karn sound in the 80s, I haven’t used the bass very much - I’m not really a fretless player tbh. I’ve booked the bass in at the Bass Gallery to have a couple of jobs done with a view to selling it. While I was there, they mentioned that it would be an easy job to put frets on if I wanted to. I would LOVE to have frets on this bass - with them it would be a keeper for me, no doubt! I gave them go-ahead, but now I’m wobbling. Bottom line is I don’t really want to sell the bass. I would really love to own a fretted Wal, but I’m a bit worried about making such a fundamental change to it. What do you guys think? Do I sell or modify? Edited February 9, 2020 by Zengineer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Modify, absolutely. Some people might talk about resale value etc etc but at the en dog the day it could make it the ultimate bass for you, so what do you care! Especially as there's been some work on it already so it's not 100% original, which for some is a key sticking point. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 (edited) Have it fretted for sure. I’m a predominately fretless player, but if having frets fitted will make you play it more and, more importantly, keep it - do it. You’ll own a truly magnificent bass, that you like and if you do come to sell it, don’t worry, you won’t have wrecked the resale IMO. Buying instruments for their potential resale, whilst being a potential pension investment, etc, isn’t their raison d’être, they’re musical instruments and should be played. To have a Wal is a lovely thing and it deserves to serve you in the way you want. Ooh, I almost forgot Edited January 26, 2020 by ezbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Yep, fret it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zengineer Posted January 26, 2020 Author Share Posted January 26, 2020 Thanks for the re-assurance guys, I think I'll go ahead and get it done 🙂 I got the bass relatively cheaply when they were out of fashion, plus it needed work. Bought it cos I was a Mick Karn fan. It was all about the sound - the future value had nothing to do with it! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Fretted Wals cost more than fretless ones. More demand ... and currently that "Tool have an album out" factor. I think it would be a shame, especially if it has an ebony board ( love my fretless Wal even more than the fretted one) but if it gets you playing it ..go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zengineer Posted January 26, 2020 Author Share Posted January 26, 2020 Walnut board. Would be great if it was ebony - I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Sell the Wal and buy a fretted ACG to your exact spec. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 This ^^^. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 Play some fretted basses first - try out as many as you can. Are there any kindly BC members out there, who are willing to let you try out their fretted Wals? I've found out the hard way, that if you really really like a bass, and feel that you "bond" with it - then you should probably keep it Can you justify owning two basses (I certainly find a way of justifying owning rather more than that! lol) Though it's an expensive way of doing things, in this case I'd be tempted to get the Wal fretted. I'm just thinking that if you sell, and then get sellers regret.... you may not be able to find another bass you like as much as this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zengineer Posted January 27, 2020 Author Share Posted January 27, 2020 I've got other basses - an American Standard Jazz, a Stingray and a Yamaha BB 5 string. Can't really justify having all of them, but when did that ever stop any of us buying nice instruments :-) The Wal is the only one I don't play much, which is ridiculous given it's current value. Pretty sure I would if it was fretted though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 Hi @Zengineer, you say you're a newbie. Maybe, before you rush into getting frets put on the bass, you should keep it a while longer. Play another, fretted bass, for some months or years and then re-visit the Wal. Commercially you won't regret having it fretted, but will it be right for you? Incidentally, if you're having it fretted, I'd be inclined to ask The Gallery, if they can fret it without the frets going through the sides of the neck - as the fretting is done on Warwick basses. If any one can, I guess the Gallery can do this. Good luck on your Bass journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zengineer Posted January 28, 2020 Author Share Posted January 28, 2020 (edited) Hi Grangur, I've owned this bass for 25 years and have been playing for longer than that. I'm a newbie to the forum 😊 Edited February 9, 2020 by Zengineer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philparker Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 Get it fretted - and enjoy it for what it is! No, it won't affect the 'real' value i.e. what somebody is prepared to pay for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zengineer Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 (edited) Frets on and I flippin love it! 🙂 Thank you very much Bass Gallery Martin! Apparently it was fretted to start with anyway. Edited February 9, 2020 by Zengineer 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Zengineer said: Frets on and I flippin love it! 🙂 Thank you very much Bass Gallery Martin! Apparently it was fretted to start with anyway. Nice one. However, we have a rule here on BC: photos or it didn’t happen 😉. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zengineer Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philparker Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Good job! - Now it can get some 'real' playing time! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 What a beauty 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Not sure that I would have been bold enough to have the work done - expect repercussions from all the fretless players... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philparker Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 I'm mostly a fretless player and a Wal fretless owner, but I think it was the right thing to do for the owner! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 7 minutes ago, philparker said: I'm mostly a fretless player and a Wal fretless owner, but I think it was the right thing to do for the owner! Likewise (except for the Wal owning part ) and I agree, it was the right thing to do and what a result. The chaps at The Gallery are really good at what they do. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 20 hours ago, TheGreek said: expect repercussions from all the fretless players... Fretless Wal owner here, also in full support. Job well done, looks great and it's going to get played. Also makes my lovely fretless even rarer 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 20 hours ago, TheGreek said: Not sure that I would have been bold enough to have the work done - expect repercussions from all the fretless players... Mick, it was originally fretted as Martin at the Bass Gallery said, so no harm done on the contrary as it's really back to its original condition. I was also a bit sceptical about the walnut fingerboard for a Wal fretless. Did Martin confirm this wood type ? Well done @Zengineer, says another fretless player and a huge Mick Karn fan, who bought the same fretless Wal MkI three times... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 30 minutes ago, Hellzero said: the walnut fingerboard They're all ebony or rosewood I think. Standard for the fretted basses is rosewood. The scribble on the scotch tape inside the back cover will confirm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.