As the title says, does anyone have any input on who makes the best reproductions of the stock Wal pickups (5 string versions) along with possibly the pickup rings, too? I know there's a few makers out there, but I'd just like to get some feedback from the folks here before I put some cash down.
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Any idea on who makes the best Wal clone pickups?
- Thread starter hachi kid
- Start date
Big BladeMan 5
Apparently Nordstrand built these based on Wal pickups. But in a MM cover.
also scroll down on this page for the w-bucker, these look more faithful to the original wal design:
HotWire Pickups — Hot Wire Bass
Apparently Nordstrand built these based on Wal pickups. But in a MM cover.
also scroll down on this page for the w-bucker, these look more faithful to the original wal design:
HotWire Pickups — Hot Wire Bass
Last edited:
Basscultures did. I think they still do. It's the 2 filter, sweepable preamp that's the problem. John East made a few but Wal
Didn't like it, since his East did the real ones, so he stopped after about 20 of them in order to keep their business. Maruszczyk still markets the Basscultures on their basses, though.
This is sourced through a well placed bass gossip and I believe it's true about the Wal/East relationship. The rest is
verifiable on line.
Didn't like it, since his East did the real ones, so he stopped after about 20 of them in order to keep their business. Maruszczyk still markets the Basscultures on their basses, though.
This is sourced through a well placed bass gossip and I believe it's true about the Wal/East relationship. The rest is
verifiable on line.
Ahh, you're right. I didn't catch that when making the post.
The Hotwire pickups may work. I don't believe the Nordy's will do the trick as the Wal pickups have individually wound bobbins, 2 per string. I came across them when looking, but I was curious if anyone had any experience with them.
I'll check into Basscultures and see if they sell them anywhere stateside. The pre-amp is actually my starting point on this project, honestly. I got my hands on a couple of the AC Guitars EQ-01 pre-amps, though, and I'm wanting to build a P-Bass that sounds like a Wal. Those seem pretty cool in that you can adjust the filter peak level. They seem to be an improved design on the original Wal setup. It's got two low-pass filters, one per pickup and a global high-pass filter. Individual individual filter cutoff adjustability and resonance peak level adjustment for each pickup as well as for the global HPF, and a master vol/blend stack for output stuff. Interesting note on John East being the guy whose rumored to have made the pre-amps for Wal, though.
I was going to suggest sourcing the ACG preamps, but you've done that, so I guess I'd suggest either the Bassculture ones, or maybe contact some of the builders in the LC here on TB.
There are a few there doing their own pickups, and a couple have done some Wal-types with individual coils and bobbins.
There are a few there doing their own pickups, and a couple have done some Wal-types with individual coils and bobbins.
I've got a custom by Jerry Dortsch with Enfield splits and the twin filter/sweep East. Sounds like a great idea. It only takes a week or so to dial in, then it doesn't work in a mix with the band. I like your idea of a P bass variant with sweep(s). Probably a lot more manageable in real life!
Yea, I saw those. I was wondering if anyone here may have any experience with them. Are there any pickup builders on here you would recommend me checking out, though?
ohhhh, yea I remember seeing that video. it was cool. I was curious if anyone here may have had some input on those, too.
oh yea? I've recently learned about the pre-amps, and I guess I got really interested in playing a bass like that. So, it eventually turned into a build idea, and I'm still getting it together. I guess I'll find out what it's like, but I got a feeling that this thing will sound *fantastic* with flats.
I'm on the hunt for the closest clones as well. I found the video of the guy on Youtube using Rautia pickups in his Spector -
- I am sad to say these do not really sound to me quite like Wal pickups, though they do sound great.
I do like the Bassculture pickups (?Hotwires) for this sound - here's a TB'er testing a Maruszczyk with them, and I think I can hear some of the Wal sound coming out there.
My vote currently goes with the latter video.
- I am sad to say these do not really sound to me quite like Wal pickups, though they do sound great.
I do like the Bassculture pickups (?Hotwires) for this sound - here's a TB'er testing a Maruszczyk with them, and I think I can hear some of the Wal sound coming out there.
My vote currently goes with the latter video.
I own Rautia pickups and I'm very happy with them (new way wind) - plus they work with another company that's making a filter preamp now that matches well with those pickups, I want to try it someday (currently using ACG).
@hachi kid
I am doing a similar build to you, and writing it up on Basschat. My thread may be of interest to you…
Building a Wal....ish
I am doing a similar build to you, and writing it up on Basschat. My thread may be of interest to you…
Building a Wal....ish
Great thread! I have a Wal-inspired build on the way, very excited
Last week I order a pair of Rautia multicoils for my Aria SB Elite II. I ordered "old style" as I want to keep the options for series/parallel/split. The preamp will be a Lusithand NFP. The wait time is 2-3 months but I'll be posting clips when it's done.
