I've decided to buy a Wal

[Chickenwheels]

I have been in contact with Paul. He’s been very helpful so far. I will continue to be very mindful of their situation with regards to my expectations. After all, no one else can build me a Wal!

 

[2112]

There is no “should” - there’s simply how they choose to do it and their design choices. If it doesn’t work for you... that’s fine. Take Laklands, for example. Well built, high quality basses that feel and sound great but I’ll absolutely never buy one. The oval bridge plate just looks so awful to me. Super ugly. Horrible aesthetic choice (for me). Ditto any bass wearing those oval shaped Delano pickups. That doesn’t stop those who love them from loving them. Personal choice from both builder and buyer.

Agreed. I love my Wals and covet many others' Wals, but I don't love the Mk3 body nor do I like their 5- and 6-string headstock. So, unless I have a major change in heart, I don't expect to ever own any of these. But that doesn't mean Wal shouldn't build them and others shouldn't own (and love) them.

Here's the contour on my Geddy Mk2:

And on my fretless Mk1:

In both cases I feel like they provide a nice, tasteful, contracting accent to the beauty of the tops. But that's just me.

 

[HearNoStevil]

Many other companies have the visible core in the forearm contour: Zon, Status, Ibanez just to name a few very popular ones.

Yep, looks funny when they do it too.

This red one looks great!!!!

 

[mikeswals]

This red one looks great!!!!

View attachment 3968128

See! There's something for everybody, and now you know what to ask for when you order your first Wal.

 

[HearNoStevil]

The amazingly underrated John Gustafson, the man responsible for the "JG" signature Wal.

Criminally underrated, but if you really want to hear simply amazing playing and the first classic "Wal" tone I ever heard, check out his work on the jazz fusion Ian Gillan Band release "Clear Air Turbulence."



Sadly, John passed in 2014. I never hear anyone talk about him. He was an absolutely monster unique player with a great tone.

 

[bolophonic]

OP claims to have purchased six Warwicks in an attempt to force himself to enjoy playing Warwicks. I don't understand why anyone is bothering to try to convince him to try out a Wal before buying one.

 

[zombywoof5050]

They should either use a thick enough top to eliminate that splotch or use a thin enough one that they can contour it to the forearm contour.

Here are some other variants, maybe you would prefer one of these?

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yjMRkuJ7...NuKOs0wbO6rEUogRL71lAUq1PowCLcB/s1600/010.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4beRWqe9f...B1A/z27aQJLLEMI/s1600/1397727061-DSC_0460.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AkB-W3iTw...qX6PGh8/s1600/JGPerryWalCustom06_1+-+crop.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zJ7HN-K4neg/UG82Mp8eVqI/AAAAAAAAAGM/wYWkLXfk1jQ/s1600/tibbsjgdetail.jpg

 

[TrevorR]

The amazingly underrated John Gustafson, the man responsible for the "JG" signature Wal.

View attachment 3968159

Criminally underrated, but if you really want to hear simply amazing playing and the first classic "Wal" tone I ever heard, check out his work on the jazz fusion Ian Gillan Band release "Clear Air Turbulence."



Sadly, John passed in 2014. I never hear anyone talk about him. He was an absolutely monster unique player with a great tone.

You’re clearly hanging around with the wrong people... you should come over to the Wal Club or the FB group. We love Johnny Gus over there!

I was lucky enough to swap emails with him a few years before he died as I was putting together a feature on the early years of Wal basses. Nice guy and a great bass player. The feature including the interview with him is here on my blog... A HISTORY OF WAL BASSES: SPECIAL FEATURE - Wal Basses, the Early Years

In fact, that photo which you posted of him... I was the first person to post that on the internet on my blog. Many years ago Gordon Giltrap (in whose band JG played) lent me the unused negatives of the photos taken on his 1978 UK tour which were used for the “Live At The Oxford Poly” album. I got a load which featured JG blown up into photos to scan - that one was my fave and I used it on my early version of my blog. Since Clear Air Turbulence was recorded in the summer of 1976 it’s debatable whether JG would have had his W1112 bass in time - it may have been recorded on the customised P Bass that Ian Waller built him with a pickup that Ian hand wound himself (which is also responsible for one of my all time fave bass lines - Roxy Music’s Love Is The Drug). But Scarabus and Live at the Budokhan certainly were his JGs.

Check out Gordon’s Live At Oxford album for some amazing JG tone and playing - Ian Mosley of Steve Hackett and Marillion fame on drums! Stunning playing and stunning tone!



About 4 years ago I got an email out of the blue from a bass playing chum (Martin Elliott - Michael Nyman band and the guy who taught Colin Edwin from Porcupine Tree the bass) who said that John’s son lived round the corner from him and brought his dad’s JGs over for him to see and to grab some photos of. It led to this little feature on the blog which you might find interesting!

A HISTORY OF WAL BASSES: JG Bass Special Pt 2: A tale of two basses

Johnny Gus’ memory is, indeed, live and well in a number of discerning bass players and music lovers... sadly not enough of them!