Wow! I've always thought the opposite - that the Wal really stood out in their mix. Just listen to the live album A Show of Hands and the 80's studio albums that featured the Wal (especially Power Windows, but really all of them). Also, I'm thinking of other albums that have featured Wal basses (RHCP - Blood Sugar Sex Magik, all of the Tool albums w/ Justin Chancellor, etc. - they all have bass tones that cut through like a buzz saw). I do think the Steinberger sounded good (how could it not, it shared the same "guts" as Spector basses!), but I've always preferred Geddy's Wal and Jazz tones. But hey, that's why we have variety, to suit everyone's varying tastes.
i love wals don't get me wrong, wish I could have them back and i'm probably nit picking here...but i would actually put the jazz last....clearly he sounds good on all of them...but if you listen to the clips I posted and then listen to r40 the overall band sound has become more elegant and there's a clearer distinction between the instruments, IMO it used to be much more mid focused
