Mimicing a Wal

The Pressman · #1 01-16-2007, 07:31 PM

Anyone have a suggestion as to a pickup/preamp combination that would best mimic the tone of a Wal? Thanks.

Tbirdbassist · #2 01-16-2007, 08:20 PM

Two Music Man Humbucking pickups and if you can get your hands on an Alembic preamp (Filter based like a Wal, although it is different) or an Audere 4 band preamp with Z mode with some serious EQing, MIGHT get your there. I'd like to try this myself, however I just need the funds for it...

PilbaraBass · #3 01-16-2007, 08:23 PM

John East ACG preamp and a pair of Kent Armstrong soapbar humbuckers

The Pressman · #4 01-16-2007, 08:42 PM

The ACG seems to be a bit expensive, any other suggestions?

skywalkerla5 · #5 01-16-2007, 08:48 PM

a wal bass

PilbaraBass · #6 01-17-2007, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Pressman

The ACG seems to be a bit expensive, any other suggestions?

KA soapbar pair ~$150
ACG preamp ~$300

$450 for an extremely versatile sweet-sounding set of electronics...expensive?...depends on how "expensive" you want your sound to be, I guess.

The Pressman · #7 01-17-2007, 12:43 PM

With the current currency conversion rate, the ACG costs 400 USD.

PilbaraBass · #8 01-17-2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Pressman

With the current currency conversion rate, the ACG costs 400 USD.

my error...$550 all up...have you priced a Wal?

bassjamn · #9 01-17-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

John East ACG preamp and a pair of Kent Armstrong soapbar humbuckers

The same East preamp in skjold's?

Skelf · #10 01-17-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassjamn

The same East preamp in skjold's?

No it is not the pre-amp that John supplies to Skjold. I think that is a custom made retro.If it is not I am sure John will put me right.
The pre-amp mentioned is the ACG filter pre-amp.
Cheers
Alan

John East · #11 01-17-2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassjamn

The same East preamp in skjold's?

Completely different to the ACG.

Pete Skjold's pre is a 5 Knob Deluxe Retro, which is customised to his requirements.

bassjamn · #12 01-17-2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John East

Completely different to the ACG.

Pete Skjold's pre is a 5 Knob Deluxe Retro, which is customised to his requirements.

Ahh ok, I am hearing good things about your pre-amps John.
I'll be a lucky Skjold owner in summer 07

The Pressman · #13 01-17-2007, 07:15 PM

Anyone have any other suggestions for a set of pickups? The kent armstrongs look good, but just looking for more ideas.

ETEcarmine · #14 01-17-2007, 09:24 PM

The Kent Armstrong soapbars would work better than the Kent Armstrong MMs?

Tbirdbassist · #15 01-17-2007, 11:11 PM

The times I've played the HH Musicman Stingrays, I have gotten a tone very, VERY close to a Wals. It just lacked the super midrange punch that Wal's have. I'd say mainly due to the pickup placement and obviously somewhat by the pre. Wal humbuckers are close by the bridge and close together, the Stingray/Sterling are farther from the bridge and from each other.

So I would suggest a MM style pickup before any soapbar. And If I were to go with any company, it would be Nordstrand before anything.

The Pressman · #16 01-17-2007, 11:15 PM

That "midrange punch" is what I'm looking for though. Possibly if they were wired in Series it would make a difference?

ETEcarmine · #17 01-18-2007, 10:09 AM

I really know hardly anything about electronics, but just from hearing the difference between parallel and series on my Music Man, I can tell you that you'll need more than that to sound like a Wal.

I'm sure you'll never get the exact sound, because if you hear a Wal acoustically, it sounds very much like it does plugged in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr42PrGKQYU

That THICK thumpy clicky, whatever you want to call it, sound is coming through without being plugged in. It's like a Stingray on roids.

With that being said, I'm sure a mahogany bodied, maple necked, rosewood boarded bass (I don't think the thin maple top and back affects the sound THAT much, but get that too while you're at it!) with the right electronics would come very close.

This is definitely something I'm interested in too, being that I'm in love with this tone. PilbaraBass, you seem to have the most complete answer, but what led you to this conclusion?

Thanks.

P.S. I can't find the ACG preamp on the John East site.

Skelf · #18 01-18-2007, 11:25 AM

The ACG pre-amp is not on John's site it is on the AC Guitars site.
While the pre-amp was designed and is built by John he does not sell the pre-amp. I commissioned John to build the amp for my own instruments so they are available from AC Guitars.
Cheers
Alan

Baryonyx · #19 01-18-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skywalkerla5

a wal bass

Hoho, yes! Thats how to get it 100% (likesay, there is more to it than the unique low-pass filter system of Wal basses and the fact that it has at least 16 pole pieces).

However, someday I'd love to hear some of the suggestions from this thread, as Wal's look to be good for good now (sadly).

ETEcarmine · #20 01-18-2007, 09:31 PM

Any other suggestions?