obi 2 kenobi Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 [quote name='Spoombung' post='619905' date='Oct 7 2009, 07:47 PM']When I bought it in '84 it had the original body, you can see it here, ahem: Oh God, look at me; eighties style Erazerhead haircut, ironic Rockabilly jacket, heroes on the wall - Beefheart, Stravinsky, Wilhelm Reich, bits of my quirky pottery...... and my Wal bass. I had the new Fender body made in '94. I remember it cost me £200 which I thought was an absolute bargain - even after trading in the old body to the workshop. In fact I had several changes made to it over the 10 years; neck completely re-shaped (it's thinner than a Jazz), fretlines added and numerous setups and they never overcharged.[/quote] Almost the same outfit when I saw Stump in Glasgow back in '88. Can't remember the venue, maybe Nitemove (now Victoria's) in Sauchiehall St Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassmingo Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 [quote name='Spoombung' post='619708' date='Oct 7 2009, 04:24 PM']I'm not sure that's the case. That guy has been working on it for ages now and still hasn't even got a working model. There's a lot of mouth but not much trouser going on in that Talkbass thread. The thing to remember is the Wal pickup works in a perfect symbiotic relationship with it's preamp. Both are ingenious and devilishly complicated to reverse engineer because of their complexity.[/quote] he's got a prototype ready... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 [quote name='Bassmingo' post='621510' date='Oct 9 2009, 12:21 PM']he's got a prototype ready...[/quote] How much of my house will I have to remortgage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 [quote name='Bassmingo' post='621510' date='Oct 9 2009, 12:21 PM']he's got a prototype ready...[/quote] Sshhh... nothing to to do with Larrivee.....'mums the word'... etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skelf Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 (edited) QUOTE (Toasted @ Oct 5 2009, 02:42 PM) I don't see how that's a "benefit" over, say CNC. [quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='617862' date='Oct 5 2009, 07:49 PM']I do. Dude with a spokeshave, chisels and sandpaper is cheaper than an expensive CNC router!! [/quote] Actually a small CNC router (big enough for a neck or body) can be pretty cheap these days, <£20K. This sound like a lot, and program development will also take some time, but if your producing standard parts, which Wal seem to be, then this cost and effort will soon be repaid in terms of production rates and repeatability. I guess that finishing would still be hand, but your man could do that while the router produced the next part. Also, in general princible, I can see why people like the idea something being hand made, but quality wise I would have thought that CNC has all the advantages. Edited to say that , if spec'ed correctly, same machine could do most of the bridge work as well. Edited October 10, 2009 by Count Bassy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 £3200 sounds pretty cheap to me for a "hand made" custom built bass. Always liked the sound and feel of Wals but didn't have the cash when I first tried them back in the late 70's. May take a punt on a new 5 although it would put my next Alembic custom back another year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 [quote name='jacko' post='623074' date='Oct 11 2009, 01:26 PM']£3200 sounds pretty cheap to me for a "hand made" custom built bass. Always liked the sound and feel of Wals but didn't have the cash when I first tried them back in the late 70's. May take a punt on a new 5 although it would put my next Alembic custom back another year. [/quote] Don't do it, I've had 2 Wals and 1 Alembic. I still have 1 Alembic.... Get the custom first, the Wal can wait. (I do think they're lovely basses though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 [quote name='bilbo230763' post='620347' date='Oct 8 2009, 10:45 AM']Bought my Wal Custon Fretless on 25th April 1986 and it is still my main squeeze. I have other basses for fretted/low B work but have not gigged with another bass since around 1990. It still sounds great and no other bass has turned by head since. If I had the wonga, I would order a fretless 5 today. Here the bass here! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=42836&st=20"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=42836&st=20[/url] And see it here! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=42836&st=20"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=42836&st=20[/url][/quote] I loved that!! do an album you lazy bugger, I'll buy two! seriously though, if that's just "noodling" about, I would buy some! ace to listen to in the sun! good man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 [quote name='jakesbass' post='623085' date='Oct 11 2009, 01:38 PM']Don't do it, I've had 2 Wals and 1 Alembic. I still have 1 Alembic.... Get the custom first, the Wal can wait. (I do think they're lovely basses though)[/quote] +1 Graeme! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Cheers guys. Still have two years of saving till my big birthday trip to santa rosa. Hoping Mica will talk me into something pretty Jake - you need to come to manchester for bass day and meet some Alembic club members. There's always a few of us making the trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wombatboter Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Great to see them back in business...lots of sharks trying to get an extra buck the passed years because they had become "rare". Even some who regretted that they weren't made anymore secretly liked the idea that they had Wal-basses in their livingroom. They are not cheap but neither are other quality basses..I owned around 10 Wal basses during the last fifteen years only to found out that I only needed one MKI and a fretless. I have other basses but nothing sounds like a Wal bass, that "honk" in the tone you cannot get anywhere else. Throughout the wide spectrum in sounds that are available (you can make it sound like an Alembic or a Precision) that personal Wal-tone comes through. It is unique and cannot be copied..that 's worth a lot of money. I can live without a lot of basses but I wouldn't want to miss my Wal-basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleal Posted October 24, 2009 Share Posted October 24, 2009 Anyone recieved their new Wal yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 This'll make you smile (well maybe not but I did). I've just received the July 1997 bassist magazine through the post. It has an advert for the Embassy in mansfield with 8 Wal basses ranging from £900 to £1500! If only I had a time machine. The reason I bought the mag (on ebay) was for the Alembic Rogue review. This model had just come out in 1997 priced £1800! Mine was near enough £4500 in 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruck Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 I have seen old pictures of old Wal Basses and they have what appears to be coil switches on the actual pickups. Like this one: They are located under the humbucker within the pickup surrounds. On the new site, the new models dont appear to feature this. Hopefully im wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 (edited) Wal only made about 40 of these basses in the early to mid 1970's and they haven't been offered since. I believe they are the JG model with the pickup switches and leather pick guards. Pete Stevens showed me the original order list and it's a Who's Who of top bassists at the time, from Chris Squire to Alan Spenner. Edit correction: JG was the serial number, the model was the Pro or Pro11 and they were made in the late 70's. Edited March 24, 2010 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarnacleBob Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 My 79 Pro 1, which I've just sold, had the coil switch on the pick-up surround. BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackElan Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 [quote name='littleal' post='635329' date='Oct 24 2009, 06:02 AM']Anyone recieved their new Wal yet?[/quote] Mine arrived. Hope its OK to link to another forum but here it is: [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=638638"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=638638[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarnacleBob Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 That is very nice indeed. Much prefer the 2 octave neck. BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleal Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Wow That is lovely :wub: I hope to have my new one by mid summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiritchaser Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 [quote name='littleal' post='794174' date='Apr 2 2010, 01:20 PM']Wow That is lovely :wub: I hope to have my new one by mid summer [/quote] seconded. Waiting for June to come. Great Bass & cool pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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.