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I Thought I Wanted A Wal

Trapeze Fan

Trapeze Fan

Mar 18, 2008
92
2
San Antonio
#1
Apparently, they sound great. I've seen Tool 5 times. I have $3K in effects and pre's. So, why aren't these $5K basses selling, except the one that sold last week? Ok, so they're heavy. I've owned Alembics and Gibsons that were anvils. If the sound is so much better than an Alembic, including "The Mandarin", which I owned for 4 years, then why are they so expensive and why aren't they selling?
 
#2
Expensive because :
Supply and demand.
hand-crafted instruments.
unique design, especially pickup and electronics.
High profile (Justin Chancellor, Flea on Blood Sugar Sex Magic).

Justin Chancellor also commented that his Wal is not the typical Wal sound.

They are not selling as fast because $5K is a lot of dough, especially in a depressed market and second hand, and considering what you can also get for $5K.

If you are interested in the Wal electronics, you can check out the ACG preamp, which is a filter-based preamp, sort of a modern version of the Wal pre (added trebble fliter). IMO more powerful than a standard EQ.

Personally, I love the tone on BSSM, but what is down to the bass, what is down to the engineer, what is down to the player...
 
#4
i also hear that the new guy running the show has been having a bit of a problem building them. don't take my word for it, it was just a rumor.

i'm 19 and i've wanted a wal for quite some time now... and with those prices, it's highly doubtfull that i'll own one before i turn 30. :rolleyes:
 
#5
If you really want the Tool tone, double humbucker G&L's and Schecters can come very close when set up with the right EQ. Otherwise, Wal's have an immense sonic capability, made clear by not only JC and Flea, but Geddy Lee, Colin Edwin, and many, many others. Even Troy Sanders has one. A lot of people like them for the neck as well. The V-shape neck, though a little fat, is found by many to be very comfortable, similar to the baseball-bat-feeling stingray neck.

They're sort of mythological creatures, like Carl Thompson basses. I'd love to get my hands on one, but I know there's a lot I can do with a lot of other basses. I don't NEED a Wal like some may confess. Should the day ever come that I'm famous and have the cash, you bet your sweet bippy I'll have one on order, though!
 
#6
SurrenderMonkey said:
Expensive because :
Supply and demand.
hand-crafted instruments.
unique design, especially pickup and electronics.
High profile (Justin Chancellor, Flea on Blood Sugar Sex Magic).

Justin Chancellor also commented that his Wal is not the typical Wal sound.

They are not selling as fast because $5K is a lot of dough, especially in a depressed market and second hand, and considering what you can also get for $5K.

If you are interested in the Wal electronics, you can check out the ACG preamp, which is a filter-based preamp, sort of a modern version of the Wal pre (added trebble fliter). IMO more powerful than a standard EQ.

Personally, I love the tone on BSSM, but what is down to the bass, what is down to the engineer, what is down to the player...
Click to expand...

Pretty much this. And like what Monkey said, Justin's Wal isn't your typical Wal although it's one of the many sounds a Wal can do.

One thing I have learned from being a Tool fan is to create your own sound. When I first started bass I wanted a Wal as my dream bass. It's still up there, but through Talkbass my GAS is now concentrated on F Basses and MTDs, so I can create my own sound...that is, if I strike it rich, and even then, I'm satisfied with my Schecter and my Peavey. And in the end, it's all in the fingers; an instrument is only is capable as its user. I for one probably could not use a Wal due to the preamp.

Ok, rambling over.
 
#7
SurrenderMonkey said:
If you are interested in the Wal electronics, you can check out the ACG preamp, which is a filter-based preamp, sort of a modern version of the Wal pre (added trebble fliter). IMO more powerful than a standard EQ.
...
Click to expand...

+1

Ive wanted a Wal ever since I heard Geddy on Power Windows back in the 80's. Love his tone with that bass! I came across G&L basses and now I have one getting a ACG preamp installed. As some else said, its a "poor mans" Wal lol

The Tool sound to me isnt all that even though I am a big Tool fan. It definitely not a traditional Wal tone.
 
#9
My first exposure to a Wal was the Rush video "Big Money", and it struck me as quite odd. It left a better first impression on me than a StingRay did as far as appearance, yet the tone still hasn't become "de facto" for my needs.

SO did Flea use a Spector or a Wal on BSSM?
 
#10
A friend of mine has a Tool cover band. His bassist uses a Stingray, and with the right EQ it sounds pretty similar. No Wal needed.

They asked me to cover for him one night a couple months ago, and I was a bit worried about getting a good/similiar tone. I brought my brightest sounding bass (Thumb BO 4), boosted the treble on the bass, and boosted the high-mids and highs on my Boss GE-7B. The other musicians said it sounded great, and the other fill-in bassist said my tone sounded right on.

What I learned: boost the treble more than you ever would, grab a pick, and you're set :D
 
#12
jgroh said:
It definitely not a traditional Wal tone.
Click to expand...

I can take my sound and roll of just one of the 2 tone knobs or the blend knob for the 2 pick-ups and my Wal sounds totally different.

Also remember that Justin is running 3 channels in recording and live. One clean channel, one dirty channel, and one through a Demeter Bass Pre-amp (direct-out)

So this combination, with his giant pedalboard, trust me finding a Wal in a store or trying one at a buddy's and "comparing" this as a "wal" sound....indeed will sound completely different.

In Justins quote he is talking about his Walnut MKII compared to his Maple MKII. Plugging the Walnut into his current rig set-up WILL sound different. There would be some tone adjustments AND some Eq adjustment needed to get the exact same sound out of it. Im in a Tool tribute band and have spent some time acquiring his studio and live sound

Have a listen
Invalid Link Removed
Only 2 channels here...I recorded the clean channel through an Ampeg SVT-VR to get the fat warm tube sound of the Demeter



















FOR SALE RARE 1982 WAL MKI with Australian Lacewood facings
 
#16
rpsands said:
When it comes to expensive instruments, you can get 95% of the way there for 25% of the price, excepting Dingwalls ;)
Click to expand...

LOL! Sounds like my brother:

20% of the money will buy you 90% of the sound.

Corollary: Another 30% of the money will buy you another 5% of the sound.

Corollary: You can't buy the remaining 5% of the sound because nobody can agree about what it is.
 
#19
Toolmybass said:
I can take my sound and roll of just one of the 2 tone knobs or the blend knob for the 2 pick-ups and my Wal sounds totally different.

Also remember that Justin is running 3 channels in recording and live. One clean channel, one dirty channel, and one through a Demeter Bass Pre-amp (direct-out)

So this combination, with his giant pedalboard, trust me finding a Wal in a store or trying one at a buddy's and "comparing" this as a "wal" sound....indeed will sound completely different.

In Justins quote he is talking about his Walnut MKII compared to his Maple MKII. Plugging the Walnut into his current rig set-up WILL sound different. There would be some tone adjustments AND some Eq adjustment needed to get the exact same sound out of it. Im in a Tool tribute band and have spent some time acquiring his studio and live sound

Have a listen
Invalid Link Removed
Only 2 channels here...I recorded the clean channel through an Ampeg SVT-VR to get the fat warm tube sound of the Demeter

















FOR SALE RARE 1982 WAL MKI with Australian Lacewood facings
Click to expand...


That sounds great!! :bassist:
 

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