Wal basses - pickups?

Chris V. · #1 08-26-2007, 03:28 AM

Hello, everyone.

I was wondering what type of pickups Wal basses have? Are they Bartoloni, or...?

Thanks guys/gals.
Peace.

The BurgerMeister · #2 08-26-2007, 03:31 AM

they are Wal.

Wal pickups and preamps are (apparently) legendary are a huge part of the Wal bass sound.

Chris V. · #3 08-26-2007, 03:38 AM

Ahh... Good to know. =)

Thank you.

EDIT: Aren't you going to get slaughtered by the Wal-lovers for saying "apparently"? =P

Ian Perge · #4 08-26-2007, 04:20 AM

Twice, even.

...thank you for letting me get my Ringo moment on.

The BurgerMeister · #5 08-26-2007, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris V.

EDIT: Aren't you going to get slaughtered by the Wal-lovers for saying "apparently"? =P

i said "apparently" because i've never played a Wal, so i have no first-hand experience to base an opinion on.

DanielM · #6 08-26-2007, 04:45 AM

I know Wal pickups are truly impressive pieces of kit, each pole piece has it's own bobbin and coil. I guess that is why they sound so massive. I do love the sound of a good Wal (but face it have you ever heard one not sound good?)

Baryonyx · #7 08-26-2007, 04:47 AM

They just have the most incredible tone!

vene-nemesis · #8 08-26-2007, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielM

I know Wal pickups are truly impressive pieces of kit, each pole piece has it's own bobbin and coil. I guess that is why they sound so massive. I do love the sound of a good Wal (but face it have you ever heard one not sound good?)

Every pair of poles per string (as it if where a humbucker):

bbocaner · #9 09-14-2007, 05:54 AM

no, every pole has its own coil:

Also, some massively huge ceramic magnets.

vene-nemesis · #10 09-14-2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbocaner

no, every pole has its own coil:

Also, some massively huge ceramic magnets.

oh then it must be that there are 2 coils per string, one winded clockwise and the other counterclockwise that way you get the humbucking thing.

luknfur · #11 09-15-2007, 09:37 AM

That is one interesting looking pup.

ALiP BoB · #12 09-15-2007, 11:12 AM

I'd be damn thankful if they just keep selling the electronics.

luknfur · #13 09-15-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

I'd be damn thankful if they just keep selling the electronics.

I didn't think they sold pups/electronics seperately?

Tbirdbassist · #14 09-15-2007, 12:25 PM

They don't... even though that "they" is really only one person.

I'm sure it's not hard to build a pickup like a Wals. Same goes for the preamp. It would just take time and a bit of money to do so.

Searcy · #15 09-15-2007, 01:12 PM

I've managed to squeeze 8 of my scarab pickups into a Music Man cover. I have always wondered how close that is to a Wal sound.

rogerbmiller · #16 09-15-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris V.

Hello, everyone.

I was wondering what type of pickups Wal basses have? Are they Bartoloni, or...?

Thanks guys/gals.
Peace.

They are proprietary pickups designed by wal. There is info on the web about them if you do a google search.

FYI, the pickups on Wals are not what gives them the sound- it's the electornics. THey are based on a low bass filter control for each pickup with the blend pot used effectively as a master tone. The electronics are filter based so the wal has that super active sound if you want it to.

Lowpro · #17 09-15-2007, 08:58 PM

Does this imply that if you were to get the ACG preamp and throw that in, say, a bass with two Nordy Quad coil Humbuckers, you'd get close to a Wal tone?

cybersnyder · #18 09-15-2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Searcy

I've managed to squeeze 8 of my scarab pickups into a Music Man cover. I have always wondered how close that is to a Wal sound.

Interesting. Do you have any sound samples?

Searcy · #19 09-16-2007, 07:55 AM

No, The guy who wanted the pickup disapeared and I got busy on another project so I never finished the wiring. I think it's in a box in the shop somewhere.

rogerbmiller · #20 09-16-2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowpro

Does this imply that if you were to get the ACG preamp and throw that in, say, a bass with two Nordy Quad coil Humbuckers, you'd get close to a Wal tone?

Yes. And I believe they are now making a preamp that is configured like the Wal-- i.e. 2 separate filters each with a boost setting.

There are other electronics that sound similar too. For instance, the Ibanez varimid electronics get that character of sound, although they only have a master tone. Same for Heartfields if you can find them.