• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bass with the "Wal sound" without the price?

T

Tupac

May 5, 2011
2,644
366
#1
Does it exist? Ever since I've heard Flea's tone on BSSM, I've always wanted a Wal. Of course, the real deal would be absolutely absurd. Are there any basses that replicated or have a similar tone? Preferably under $1000.
 
#4
Folks...he's asking for something under $1000. Every Wal on TB has gone for 5 times that amount, and a new Wal goes for about the same.

OP...no, there isn't any bass at any price point that sounds like a Wal. People claim they can get a Wal like tone out of a G&L and a few other basses, but it's not the same.
 
#7
bassgod0dmw said:
Folks...he's asking for something under $1000. Every Wal on TB has gone for 5 times that amount, and a new Wal goes for about the same.

OP...no, there isn't any bass at any price point that sounds like a Wal. People claim they can get a Wal like tone out of a G&L and a few other basses, but it's not the same.
Click to expand...

This is the key phrase. You won't get "the Wal sound" for $1000 but it depends on how close is acceptable to you and what particular tone you are going for. There are options in the $1000 range to get you a "Wal like" sound but it won't be exact, which doesn't mean inferior. The G&L L2000 is the most likely candidate, it can be put into series and the humbucker locations aren't too different from the Wal. You could also look at the ACG John East Preamp which is a filter based pre inspired by the Wal pre.
 
#8
Pj said:
This is the key phrase. You won't get "the Wal sound" for $1000 but it depends on how close is acceptable to you and what particular tone you are going for. There are options in the $1000 range to get you a "Wal like" sound but it won't be exact, which doesn't mean inferior. The G&L L2000 is the most likely candidate, it can be put into series and the humbucker locations aren't too different from the Wal. You could also look at the ACG John East Preamp which is a filter based pre inspired by the Wal pre.
Click to expand...

I also recommend the G&L L2000. I believe I was the first to install the ACG preamp into a L2000 over a couple of years ago. It was great but not the leap in tone I was expecting and didnt get me closer to a Wal tone than the stock one would. The L2000 stock can get in the ball park...but nothing will sound exactly like it. Someone should make this a sticky already!
 
#10
yeah i was going to say either a stingray/sterling or l-2000 would be the closest. i wouldn't say the sound is inferior to that of a wal. in fact i think the "stingray" type tone all of these basses can get actually cuts and sounds better than a wal. but i thought wals have tons of more tones at hand, even more so than the g&l. but idk that for sure. either way, all three have their trade offs. personally i think they all sound like good enough candidates for that really glassy tone. i'd be happy to have just one of them..
 
#11
I think of Mick Karn when I hear Wal mentioned. Though I know plenty of other renowned bassists like Geddy Lee have played Wal. Who has a more distinctive tone than Karn? And that is anything but peircing and glassy such as the one audio example given above.
Yeah, my sterling does a tone similar to that if you put the switch towards the bridge and smile curve the eq a bit.
I always liked it better with the mid knob dimed and the middle or towards neck switch settings (single coil and series I think?).
Way more burp and rump.
 
#12
In all honesty, there's a whole lot going on with that BSSM bass tone besides it just being a Wal. The pre, the amp they mic'd, the subtle distortion they added, the compressor they used, all add up to what is in my opinion the best recorded bass tone I have ever heard.

Another prime example is "Funky Monks", also from BSSM. Flea recorded that with a Stingray 5, and the tone on that song sounds NOTHING like a 'ray in my opinion. There's a great subtle distortion that is blended in with the clean tone, which is giving the track a lot of the upper midrange that we are hearing. I think that the distortion is just as key to the BSSM sound than the Wal itself.

I bet with the L-2000 you could get close enough, and with the right amp and distortion (think overdriving a mic pre more than actual distortion) you would at least have the right bite.
 
#13
Plenty of basses can get in the Wal ballpark, but it's too complicated of an instrument to try and emulate with something under $1k.

Now if you are ok with Wal-ESQUE tone

try some of the new Warwick rockbass stuff
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

G&L Tribute
G&L Tribute L-2000 4-String Bass: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

and some ibanez SRX series basses
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Will these sound exactly like a Wal? No...but it's closer than T-bird or a P-bass is. Plus remember to use nice steel rounds as well =)
 
#14
VanillaThundah said:
Plenty of basses can get in the Wal ballpark, but it's too complicated of an instrument to try and emulate with something under $1k.

Now if you are ok with Wal-ESQUE tone

try some of the new Warwick rockbass stuff
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

G&L Tribute
G&L Tribute L-2000 4-String Bass: Shop Bass & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

and some ibanez SRX series basses
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Will these sound exactly like a Wal? No...but it's closer than T-bird or a P-bass is. Plus remember to use nice steel rounds as well =)
Click to expand...

Yep; gotta agree here. I have a $$ Rockbass with labella hard rockin steels, and through a weird combo of a rusty box AND a DHA vt - dual, I can get a fairly convincing tool-like BOING, and a Funky Monks finger tone as well.
Exact?
No way.
Close enough?
Maybe.
Just maybe.
B.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back