A Master Built Jazz is still fundamentally just a Jazz. You can certainly do better for that kind of money, IMO.
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Fender master built or wal bass
- Thread starter nickty0107
- Start date
^^^ This. Keep in mind, I am a Fender fanboy who currently owns two, and who has owned a total of four in my lifetime. I would still recommend the Wal, because 1) the tone, which Wal is famous for, and 2) I've always wanted one.
No offense, but to ask that question tells me you got no business buying a custom bass.
The first Wal (5 string) I played was in October 2000. I was looking to another 5 string bass and tried the Wal and a Rick Turner RB5-FL. I ended up taking the Rick Turner as it was very different to any other bass I had played or owned. In hindsight, I should have bought the Wal; they were the same price.
Master built instruments are great - from a marketing and profit POV for Fender, if nothing else, really.
Geddy sounded much better with his 4001. Fact.Rush or Zeppelin might have a little to do with a jazz...but in this case, yeah, I'd go Wal, too.
I'm presuming this choice of instruments is based on what Geddy Lee has played? Because, there's not a whole lot in common.
The first caution I would give in either case is that custom spec instruments can take a long time between concept and delivery. And, they are expensive. And, there is enough instrument to instrument variability that you may not dig what you get, even though your concept made sense. And, the instrument will instantly be worth 65% of what you paid for it as soon as you take delivery.
For those reasons, my $0.019 is that a custom build is only sensible if you have sufficient experience to know EXACTLY what you want, allowing for individual instrument variability.
Far, far more sensible to wait patiently for a similar instrument to appear on the used market, and try that. Much lower risk learning experience. You can pop for the custom job down the road, once you are informed.
Which is still a gas satisfying experience, because you get to prowl the used lists!
Quick related story - A TB member named @TJH3113 (Troy), I believe owns Justin's Wal (or one of them). Troy has a YouTube channel with videos of his Wal, and if I remember, the first video mentions that he bought it from Justin.
It seems you are more concerned with aesthetics than the important differences that will actually impact your performance. It's weird that with all of the performance differences between the two basses, you're talking about colors and wood. Really? Like others have said, buy a Wal and a mass-produced Fender.
I'm a Jazz Bass guy thru and thru but I gotta tell you that pretty wood doesn't automatically make a "magic" instrument. I've played well set up and modded $200 J's that sounded and played just as good as ultra high end J's. I once bought a Sadowsky Will Lee, played two sets with it and went back to my SX Jazz with Lollars , neck felt great on the Sadowsky but it just didn't sound any better, had awful balance and a really dead G string (and no it wasn't a bad string). I've yet to play a Custom Shop Jazz that was "magic". Not knocking them, they are fine but I just don't think you need "perfect" construction to make that simple design work. I wouldn't argue against the idea that the better construction gets more consistently good instruments but I've played some CS Jazz Basses that were really lame IMHO. I seriously disliked most of the late model American Standards but I recently played a American Pro that blew my mind, it was truly one of the best Jazz Basses I've played in years. If you absolutely gotta have a fancy Jazz Bass do what you must but most likely it's not going to sound better than a good American Pro or the equivalent.
I've never played a Wal but I've loved the tones I've heard from them and they are intriguing. Of your two options that's probably the way I would go.....but only if I had a bundle of spare cash lying around.
I've never played a Wal but I've loved the tones I've heard from them and they are intriguing. Of your two options that's probably the way I would go.....but only if I had a bundle of spare cash lying around.
I've played only old ones (three from the 90s). Not too chunky, not too narrow, and very nice, would be my limited opinion.
Hold their value? A Wal?
Um…I assume you know what a Wal bass is. And you also know it takes about two years to get one after they've accepted your order, right?
Back in the mid 90s they weren't holding value, and very nearly bought two (fretted and fretless) for about £400 each, so maybe £750/$1000 in today's money. What a fool I was... Not that I'd ever let them out of the house these days!
I've never played a Wal, I would just like to know why they are so expensive, what's so special about them??
Troy doesn't own Justin's Wal!?!? Where did you hear that?? Troy's Wal is what Wal enthusiasts like myself refer it as a Red Geddy model.
If I recall, Troy may have gotten it from a bassist who used to be in Puddle of Mudd
sorrry, for the OT comments OP. if you want to try out a Wal and your in IL, post in the TB Wal club and Facebook Wal Owners page.... perhaps someone will be kind enough to let you play and try out there's.
here is the inherent problem. There is absolutely no where to try a Wal. You simply have to buy a used one to try one. That means shelling out thousands of dollars. Other issue is yes they hold their value but you need to find the right buyer. Ask anyone on here who has sold a Wal, yes it will sell and it will sell for good money, but it can take a while.
With all that said I still said Wal because I love their sound. But like many have never tried one and just cant justify paying that much money since I have never even seen one in person. They are like mirages.
With all that said I still said Wal because I love their sound. But like many have never tried one and just cant justify paying that much money since I have never even seen one in person. They are like mirages.
Hopefully you'll get to try one at some point in the game. Nothing sounds like a Wal. That being said, they're not everyone's cup of tea.
I haven't recently priced out one over there, but back in the 80s when I lived in the UK they were not uncommon and not prohibitively expensive albeit not cheap by any means. Excellent instruments IMO although they would not be my first pick if I could own only one bass and had to make a living out of playing it.
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