How Do I Get the Wal Bass Tone?

[FunkMetalBass]

EDIT: Oh yeah, also, Justin uses EB Hybrid Steel Slinkies in conjunction with a pick. Those will definitely help you spike some of the upper mids.

Actually, Tool's entire UNDERTOW album is a Rickenbacker 4001.
Sober is a Rickenbacker.

Yes, that's true, but that was Pre-Justin Chancellor and my presumption is that he's looking for the Chancellor-era tone.

And if you're not careful, outbursts like that might encourage him to buy a Rick...

 

[Donald Cajon]

Whose Wal sound are you trying to emulate? Geddy? Flea? Chancellor?

More geddy lee, but possibly somewhere in between. I've heard a few players like Dave larue have a pretty similar tone and he places a music man.

 

[bigalbass]

I understand that the Fender DR Heartfield bass was considered the poor man Wal. These were great basses made in Japan.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

A big key to the Wal tone is the multi-coil pickup. I'll be having my Wal clone pickup ready in the next few weeks.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

A big key to the Wal tone is the multi-coil pickup. I'll be having my Wal clone pickup ready in the next few weeks.

I don't think you realize how insanely excited we all are for it. Any details about pricing?

 

[Dave W]

More geddy lee, but possibly somewhere in between. I've heard a few players like Dave larue have a pretty similar tone and he places a music man.

Dave Larue? He's got a very burpy type of tone, it doesn't remind me much of a Wal.

 

[rojo412]

I'd like to throw PEAVEY into the mix, if I could.

Recently had a TL-5 which had the VFL pickups and was all maple with an ebony board. The grunt and clarity, the function of the sweepable mids, and the fingerstyle burp I could achieve reminded me of Mick Karn's tone a little bit.

Aside from that, it seems like the "budget Wal" can be attempted by having humbuckers and a filter preamp (like an ACG). I say attempted because it's a lot of factors that make a Wal, a Wal.
But if I were trying to get some insanely potent tones for less than the $5500 used price tag of a Wal, I'd opt for a bright sounding bass (all maple or maple body, for example), equipped with humbuckers (Peavey has 'em cheap, Musicmen are more) and an ACG preamp (filer based, sweepable bass and treble frequencies).

Just my $0.02

 

[Donald Cajon]

The pickup I'm using is a seymour duncan basslines and it has an active pre amp with adjustable lows and mids I believe. I'll have to pay around with that.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

I don't think you realize how insanely excited we all are for it. Any details about pricing?

Not yet, but they are a lot of work to make, with 8 coils to wind for a 4 string version, so I'm thinking the price will be around $200.

 

[Systolic]

I'd like to throw PEAVEY into the mix, if I could.

Recently had a TL-5 which had the VFL pickups and was all maple with an ebony board. The grunt and clarity, the function of the sweepable mids, and the fingerstyle burp I could achieve reminded me of Mick Karn's tone a little bit.

Just my $0.02

I'm gonna go ahead and second this thought on Peavey. I have by no means tried everything out there but out of all the run of the mill stuff (Tbirds, Ricks, P's, J's, Ibbys,) the/my Peavey bass seems to be the closest to the sound your describing. Heavy on the upper mids, little light on the lows, super clear, punchy, but can be dialed in for a fatter sound when needed. If ya'll disagree or say no to a Peavey outright, that's ok with me....keeps the prices low.