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Is there a Wal Bass Copy

#41
This was available on the Bass Northwest website years ago. I almost pulled the trigger on it. My right index finger was quivering over my mouse. Kidding. Would have just called them. Made by a fellow with the last name of Helms. Have no idea if it sounded similar to a Wal.

Helms - Wal copy 1.jpg Helms - Wal copy 2.jpg Helms - Wal copy 3.jpgHelms - Wal copy 4.jpg Helms - Wal copy 5.jpg Helms - Wal copy 6.jpg Helms - Wal copy 7.jpg

M. M.
 
#43
InhumanResource said:
That’s awesome and I have so many questions. How’s the hardware? What are the knobs made out of? Would you like to post a detailed video review? Just kidding about the video thing, but truly would love to know more and how you like it.
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The luthiery work is absolutely IMPECCABLE. The knobs, pickup covers and other plastic accoutrements are apparently made via 3-D printer. The bridge is tooled from aluminum, powder coated and functions very well and the pickups and preamp are reverse engineered from an original specimen. As I said before, I've never owned a real one but this is totally good enough for me. You can get pretty much whatever you want from Dario for approx. $3k. Just tonight I ordered my second, a fretless. I'll let you cats know how it turns out but I can tell you now it's going to be bad ferkin' ass!

P.S. He makes MKIIs also.
 
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#44
maxschrek said:
The luthiery work is absolutely IMPECCABLE. The knobs, pickup covers and other plastic accoutrements are apparently made via 3-D printer. The bridge is tooled from aluminum, powder coated and functions very well and the pickups and preamp are reverse engineered from an original specimen. As I said before, I've never owned a real one but this is totally good enough for me. You can get pretty much whatever you want from Dario for approx. $3k. Just tonight I ordered my second, a fretless. I'll let you cats know how it turns out but I can tell you now it's going to be bad ferkin' ass!

P.S. He makes MKIIs also.
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See if you can talk him into aluminum knobs too ;)

Thanks, that’s great info!
 
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#48
It's surprising one of the Japanese makers didn't do a Wal-ish bass, just like they made Alembic-ish basses like the Ibanez Musician, Greco GOB, Aria Pro II SB1000 etc. Maybe there weren't enough Wal users popular in Japan to attract their interest.
 
#50
blowinblue said:
This was available on the Bass Northwest website years ago. I almost pulled the trigger on it. My right index finger was quivering over my mouse. Kidding. Would have just called them. Made by a fellow with the last name of Helms. Have no idea if it sounded similar to a Wal.

View attachment 5249580 View attachment 5249582 View attachment 5249583View attachment 5249584 View attachment 5249585 View attachment 5249586 View attachment 5249588

M. M.
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That was 20 years ago
 
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#51
tim gueguen said:
It's surprising one of the Japanese makers didn't do a Wal-ish bass, just like they made Alembic-ish basses like the Ibanez Musician, Greco GOB, Aria Pro II SB1000 etc. Maybe there weren't enough Wal users popular in Japan to attract their interest.
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They did. DR Hartfield are filter electronics based basses.
 
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#57
Okay, so I’m not going to provide a link, but a certain Chinese Amazon competitor that’s known for knockoff brands has a Wal copy now, supposedly available in a few weeks. Now, I don’t honestly think this will sound anything like a Wal. If anything more like a Stingray HH, but that’s technically another option out there.

At $700 Euros it ain’t cheap. But I do look forward to watching the inevitable YouTube unboxing videos.
 
#58
I think you can get into the ballpark with the right combination of pickups and electronics. I'm looking at combining some Turner multicoils with an Underhill 'Full English' preamp. Both of these fellows are TBers and have been very forthcoming with information about their work. Turner is @slowburnaz and Underhill @bowthing

I just built this bass with Nordstrand Big Blades and two JTEX Distillers, and although it doesn't 'sound like a Wal', it certainly stumbles around in the Wal/Alembic soundscape territory.
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For looks, I was leaning more Fodera than Wal though. :D

Edit: JTEX is here too @Jerry Catanescu :thumbsup:
 
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#59
With the insane prices of Wal basses these days I think it will not be long before a bigger company like Sire will come with Wal clones. They already have the new Godin and Stringray clones now, so it’s more a question of when they are going to clone a Wal.
 
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#60
Les Fret said:
With the insane prices of Wal basses these days I think it will not be long before a bigger company like Sire will come with Wal clones. They already have the new Godin and Stringray clones now, so it’s more a question of when they are going to clone a Wal.
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if and when this happens I am 100% sure it will only increase prices of real Wals on the used market. We’re going to see a million videos examining the Wal mystique and it will be something to behold.
 

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