wal substitute

ian finegan · #1 05-20-2011, 02:59 PM

hi,please can anyone advise me on which bass if any sounds like a wal fretless,ive heard a pedulla buzz is very good and a bit cheaper,thanks

AndroWal · #2 05-20-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian finegan

hi,please can anyone advise me on which bass if any sounds like a wal fretless,ive heard a pedulla buzz is very good and a bit cheaper,thanks

Pedulla Buzzes sound great. Wonderful and unique fretless sound, but they don't sound like Wals.

Pedullas, Zons, Wals, Fender Jazzes...all have great fretless sounds...unique, distinctive, and classic in some instances, but all different.

I've read players saying that their G&Ls get a sort-of Wal sound. You might try one of these.

I own Wals and a Zon, and have had a Pedulla Pentabuzz. Love them all but am most enamored of my Wals and the Zon. Especially the Zon currently...it's a TJ5 and has incredible growl, punch, clarity and projection. The Wals are a bit more woody, and their pickups allow an incredible fullness. I can run just the bridge pickup and have all the fullness, bass, etc. that I need.

Caca de Kick · #3 05-24-2011, 09:04 PM

Sorry, but none do. I've owned the G&L's and they still don't.

kris pung · #4 10-05-2011, 06:03 AM

I've read Bongo's do a nice job of getting a Wal'ish tone.

BlackElan · #5 10-05-2011, 09:45 PM

Sorry no substitute.

sandmangeck · #6 10-06-2011, 11:13 AM

Check out SGD Lutherie pickups, he's very close to finishing the Wal pickup clones, and preamp.

BostonJazz72 · #7 10-14-2011, 10:21 PM

I think that both are great basses. I personally own a Pentabuzz and couldn't be happier with its fretless sound. If you compare these two videos, I think both basses sound great (and somewhat similar)
Buzz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G813...eature=related
Wal:
Wal Fretless Improvisation - YouTube

I found my Buzz off of Craigslist for 1600 which is a lot cheaper than what a used Wal even goes for.

**Freddels** · #8 10-20-2011, 05:39 PM

That Wal fretless sounds beautiful.

kesslari · #9 10-20-2011, 05:52 PM

The ACG preamp is a filter-based preamp, as is the Wal (and the Alembic) pre.
I have an ACG in an Ibanez GWB-1 fretless and can cop a very nice Wal-ish tone.
I've never had a Wal fretless in hand to A/B them, though.

But if you want to get close to the Wal sound, and you're on a budget, then I'd suggest getting a good playing fretless and putting in the ACG pre.