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How Do I Get the Wal Bass Tone?

#5
The answer you're going to get is "get a Wal". The pickups are probably pretty hard to find - their proprietary and no one swaps them out. I think David of SGD (Link Removed) is trying to make a clone of a Wal pickup. I can tell you that SGD makes really good pickups. I'm thrilled with the ND3 I have in my Ibanez Artcore.

Two Minneapolis replies. Good morning Nightlyraider!

KO
 
#7
i had a failed attempt once that i sold and wish i hadnt. it was a 2000ish squier jazz bass with 2 dimarzio model ones. it made it super fat but it came nowhere close to the wal sound. although it sounded cool so i might do it again.
 
#11
kraigo said:
The answer you're going to get is "get a Wal". The pickups are probably pretty hard to find - their proprietary and no one swaps them out. I think David of SGD (Link Removed) is trying to make a clone of a Wal pickup. I can tell you that SGD makes really good pickups. I'm thrilled with the ND3 I have in my Ibanez Artcore.

Two Minneapolis replies. Good morning Nightlyraider!

KO
Click to expand...

The SGD Wal thread is here. It's an interesting thread in it's own right.

Keep in mind he's a busy guy.
 
#12
FunkMetalBass said:
Whose Wal sound are you trying to emulate? Geddy? Flea? Chancellor?
Click to expand...

Flea's Wal sound on blood sugar sex magic is amazing!

Wal's are really hard to find and expensive. It also would probably be a chore to try and find the right pickup, electronics and amp/cab combination that could emulate it. The best bet would be to try and find and buy a Wal.

Technique also has alot to do with getting the right tone you want also. I've read that Flea only uses a couple of basses on tour and the Wal isn't one of them (correct me if I'm wrong). He only used it for recording. He still gets the correct tone for the songs recorded with the Wal though. Just my humble opinion.
 
#16
Aunell said:
yeah I use an Ibanez ATK for most of the things I play,

but even with my neck pickup on, I can never really get as much low out of it, even when boosting the lows

well it sounds low, but it doesn't sound Tool:help:
Click to expand...

Justin Chancellor actually has an EQ pedal that he uses when he wants to give a low end bump. For the most part, I feel like his one is quite lacking in the low end (like a low mid drop, and boosted high mids).
 
#17
FunkMetalBass said:
Justin Chancellor actually has an EQ pedal that he uses when he wants to give a low end bump. For the most part, I feel like his one is quite lacking in the low end (like a low mid drop, and boosted high mids).
Click to expand...

tried boosting some mids and cutting the very low part (30 to 60hz)

and it's beginning to sound quite close, soloing the bridge pickup of the ATK, and also boosting some of the higher frequencies

and is it me, or would a Rickenbacker also be quite good at the Tool sound?

(or is that just me looking for another excuse to get a rick :p)
 
#18
Aunell said:
tried boosting some mids and cutting the very low part (30 to 60hz)

and it's beginning to sound quite close, soloing the bridge pickup of the ATK, and also boosting some of the higher frequencies

and is it me, or would a Rickenbacker also be quite good at the Tool sound?

(or is that just me looking for another excuse to get a rick :p)
Click to expand...

I don't think a Rick would be good for any sound, but I'm rather biased against them. ;)

Have you tried boosting the volume just a hair on the neck pickup? That might help cut out some of the low mids naturally. Are you running through a 32-band EQ to make these subtle changes?

Also, I think most of us here would consider anything under 100Hz to be the bass frequencies.
 
#19
Actually, Tool's entire UNDERTOW album is a Rickenbacker 4001.
Sober is a Rickenbacker.

FunkMetalBass said:
I don't think a Rick would be good for any sound, but I'm rather biased against them. ;)

Have you tried boosting the volume just a hair on the neck pickup? That might help cut out some of the low mids naturally. Are you running through a 32-band EQ to make these subtle changes?

Also, I think most of us here would consider anything under 100Hz to be the bass frequencies.
Click to expand...
 
#20
Chancellor's tone on 10K days is very Ric-esque. His other albums with Tool, not so much. Probably because he used Mesa Boogie for he the first two and GK for the last. G&L L-2000, MM Stingray, or Ibanez ATK are probably your best bets (in that order) for that.

For Geddy's Wal sound I think only the G&L will get you close. Just my opinion.
 
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