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$3500 Wal - Go Get It !!!!

#3
I'm still amazed at the way the price of Wals have rocketed - about 10 years ago a nice second hand wal with a pretty top would have cost me about £7-800 GBP. Which is about right. Having tried out a few to me they sound pretty brutal, the sound of hyped up active circuits that hammer the input stage of most amps. Pulling up the control knobs adds even more brutality to the sound. I believe it may be a 'pick attack' setting, club attack would be a more appropriate description. Of course, that may be right up your street! I see them going for £2000 now second hand which to me seems a bit ridiculous. I'd happily take one for £800 though.
Does anybody seriously pay $5000 for a Wal? I really can't believe i'm reading this!
 
#6
I believe they don't make them any more. Ian Waller is dead and Pete Stevens retired for health grounds. Geddy Lee used one for a long time and they show up from time to time. They are well built and have unusual electronics and a unique sound you either like or you don't. See my above comments for more details...
 
#7
davidjbass said:
That crack in the neck would concern me. Also why would the seller be selling this bass so cheap when other Wals are going for over $5,000.00. And it seems to me that this one being a black poly would make it even more rare and worth more money. I could be wrong but I would be careful on this one.
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The crack looks like it's just in the finish. The poly finish on the neck is fairly thick, and it's not unusual to see those kinds of cracks behind the tuners (several of my Wals had them), but I've never seen one in that location before.

Mike
 
#8
mikezimmerman said:
The crack looks like it's just in the finish. The poly finish on the neck is fairly thick, and it's not unusual to see those kinds of cracks behind the tuners (several of my Wals had them), but I've never seen one in that location before.

Mike
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I agree. If it was in the wood, it would look much different. I might get flamed for this but I never was exited over the 2 Walls I've played over years :( Not 3K excited anyway :confused:
 
#10
jonotronic said:
I'm still amazed at the way the price of Wals have rocketed - about 10 years ago a nice second hand wal with a pretty top would have cost me about £7-800 GBP. Which is about right. Having tried out a few to me they sound pretty brutal, the sound of hyped up active circuits that hammer the input stage of most amps. Pulling up the control knobs adds even more brutality to the sound. I believe it may be a 'pick attack' setting, club attack would be a more appropriate description. Of course, that may be right up your street! I see them going for £2000 now second hand which to me seems a bit ridiculous. I'd happily take one for £800 though.
Does anybody seriously pay $5000 for a Wal? I really can't believe i'm reading this!
Click to expand...

I agree with you. I've had a couple of Wals. Bought the first one, it was OK, but ultimately didn't do it for me. Bought the second one a few years after selling the first to give them a second chance...still didn't do it for me. Horses for courses I suppose but I reckon that they're over rated and at $5000 definitely overpriced
 
#11
Spinal Tapper said:
why are these basses so expensive?
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cause they are handmade basses.i'm guessing they use a certain type of wood to make them,and it's probably extremely rare.also the pickups and electronics are one of a kind with a very distinctive tone.Jonotronic is partially right,they weren't in buisiness for quite a few years,but they just went back in buisiness late last year.if you wanna hear what one sounds like first hand,just listen to tool.justin chancellor specializes in them pretty much :smug:,he uses them more than geddy probably did.
 
#12
I haven't seen a crack exactly like that before, but I've seen polyester finishes crack (my old Spector had cracks in the finish at each fret on the side of the fretboard) and they appeared to be similar, at least through the pictures on e-Bay. I'd be less concerned about a crack in the neck than a crack in the poly - if it were to bother you, steer clear, as it's in the first position and might irritate you. On the other hand, since I doubt it's structural, it may be barely noticeable to the feel, in which case I doubt you'd have anything to worry about.

I've played a few in my day and they're very unique feeling instruments. I really WANTED to like the neck more than I did, because I felt once I got used to the electronics I'd probably never put it down.
 
#14
I've played a few Wals, and while there is lots of talk about how great there are, I have yet to be impressed. What is it that gets folks so fired up about them? They aren't all that attractive... and based on my very small sample set, they don't play / sound THAT great (but like I said, i've only played a few).

So what am I missing here?
 
#15
I have owned 2 of them over the past 10 years. Bought both of them new right from Wal. They were very heavy weight wise, in the 10lb + range which I really didn't like. They also had a P bass kinda neck from what I remember which I also didn't care for. But they did have a great sound. If they weren't so heavy I would still own one.
Listen to Blood Sugar Sex Magic by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I believe Flea used one on that entire CD. They really have a distinctive sound to them.
 
#16
Harry, I'm with you part way.
I had the opportunity to try one in the late 1980's and definitely liked my Tobias much better.
OTOH, the fretless tone Percy Jones used to get in his Brand X "Wal" days was just fantastic, and very distinctive. Granted, that's not just the bass, it's also Percy, but the Wal is a good platform for that sound.
I'd like to get a chance to play one today and find how I like them now.
 

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