I've decided to buy a Wal

[mikeswals]

RE: the comments on the neck profile(s).

The beauty of ordering a brand new Wal, is you can order a profile you want. If you say nothing, then you will get his standard profile which is a soft V and P bass width.
So be specific. If you prefer C shape or Jazz width, tell him. If it needs to be thinner front to back, tell him what measurement you wish.

I have 8 Wals, new and old ones, they're spectacular workhorses. I play in a busy casino band, these basses do it all.
I don't know where you are since your location isn't filled out, but if you're near Seattle I don't mind at all demoing someone interested.

 

[Blackhawks55]

You are making a fantastic choice!! Tremendous instrument. World class build quality and playability. I just got my first Wal about 2 weeks ago. 2017 Mk1. I luckily found it used and didn't have to wait more than a few days to get it! Talk about lucky... Being a Geddy addict, I bought it without ever having played one. The mystique and hype with these basses are 100% real. I can't imagine having to wait 3 years, so my hat goes off to you! I hope it goes by fast!

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Or buy used then flip it if you don't like it. You more than likely get what you pay for it.

^That. And then, if it turns out to be all you hoped and more, parlay the flip-money into the custom build of your dreams. I've never seen a Wal, much less played one (I REALLY want to someday), but they are undoubtedly unique and I've heard and read a hundred times that they feel just as unique as their electronics are. You'd most assuredly take a serious bath on a new one if it wound up not really being for you, and it may very well not be. I pretty desperately want a Mk III someday, provided I play one and it works for me.

 

[mikeswals]

30 months build time, do they grow the tree for the wood first????

There is only two people in the workshop, and everything is hand made. Wood sections are cut by saw and shaped with a rasp. The only off-the-shelf parts is the tuning machines. Electronics are their own completely build in-house, and all the goofy imperial screws are their own made in small batches and either chrome or gold plated in small batches.

 

[luciens]

There is only two people in the workshop, and everything is hand made. Wood sections are cut by saw and shaped with a rasp. The only off-the-shelf parts is the tuning machines. Electronics are their own completely build in-house, and all the goofy imperial screws are their own made in small batches and either chrome or gold plated in small batches.

Sounds like a nightmare if anything goes wrong with it.....

L

 

[DuluthDank]

30 seconds of hands-on time > decades of GAS-fueled research. I'd try to at least get one in your hands for a bit before taking the plunge. I wonder how often Wals pop up on GC used. I'd pay 20 dollars shipping to try out a 7 thousand dollar bass for a month.

 

[Loring]

Or buy used then flip it if you don't like it. You more than likely get what you pay for it.

good luck finding used - and they hold their value really well...

 

[graphics1988]

good luck finding used - and they hold their value really well...

Agreed! You need to have $8K-ish (USD) at your fingertips instantly, cuz when a used one pops up, that one won't last very long IF its a sought after model.

 

[GHOST AT]

God that's gorgeous. Thank you for the offer. I wish I were closer.

Me too I would love for you to play a Wal before you commit. I could have saved myself thousands of dollars on a couple of basses had I been able to play them before ordering. Madness I'm like you I drive an older car that's paid for only, buy clothes and shoes when they start wearing out. I haven't had a drinking or drug habit for years thanks to the life changing one day at a time program. Basses are my luxury item though I try to impose limits on myself The worst case scenario IMO if you ordered a Wal and didn't like it you could sell it in a day due to demand. Just follow the Wal and Facebook clubs to see how fast they go!

 

[Justinian]

Why doesn't Wal increase production?

 

[Turnaround]

Happy Birthday! Sorta. Later.

I understand where you are coming from. For my 50th I decided to stretch and get myself a NYC Sadowsky. I had been wanting one for a long time. Absolutely no regrets.

I would do a bit of research if I were you into the resale value of a newish Wal whatever model you are desiring. I believe the resale value is excellent so you may not realize too big a loss if it doesn't measure up to your expectations and you sell it.

So the real question is whether it's worth the potential loss you might take to get something that haunts you. If you don't go there, how much wonder and agony are you going to go through? If it cost you $1000 in the end, would the satisfaction of having given it a try outweigh the expense? If you don't do it now will you ever do it? If not now for a significant birthday, what event will it take to convince you it's time to take the plunge?

Hope this helps.

 

[Justinian]

More Money, More Problems /thread

 

[Loring]

Happy Birthday! Sorta. Later.

I understand where you are coming from. For my 50th I decided to stretch and get myself a NYC Sadowsky. I had been wanting one for a long time. Absolutely no regrets.

I would do a bit of research if I were you into the resale value of a newish Wal whatever model you are desiring. I believe the resale value is excellent so you may not realize too big a loss if it doesn't measure up to your expectations and you sell it.

So the real question is whether it's worth the potential loss you might take to get something that haunts you. If you don't go there, how much wonder and agony are you going to go through? If it cost you $1000 in the end, would the satisfaction of having given it a try outweigh the expense? If you don't do it now will you ever do it? If not now for a significant birthday, what event will it take to convince you it's time to take the plunge?

Hope this helps.

It probably won't cost a dime - 3 years from the price will be higher and he could probably flip it and make money.

 

[micguy]

If you scour GC's used web site (there isn't on on their right now), and find one, you can have it shipped to your local store, and....if you don't like it, you're only out the shipping cost, which, given that their trucks haul a lot of stuff between stores, is $20. Seems like a small price to pay to try out a rare instrument before you commit big bucks to it.

 

[mdogs]

So 30 years ago or so, I had my heart set on an Alembic. I wasn't going for a custom build, but one in a shop. Like a good boy, I saved my money and went to buy it. Well, I got to the shop that day and played the Alembic and it was exactly what I thought it was. But then, I played a Pedulla and in all honesty, the Alembic lost all appeal to me.

 

[hotrodjohn]

I got my Wal MK2 used, for a particular reason: I play in a Tool tribute band. Not sure if would have ever considered buying one for any other reason. I bought it without trying it first, and it’s a great bass, there are no regrets. But I only gig with it on those tribute shows on big stages. I do some recording with it. It never gets the call for other types of gigs I pick up. It only leaves the house for high-profile, high-paying shows. It will never see a typical bar gig. I am fortunate enough that it has paid for itself over my time of ownership. As others have said, I recommend you track one down used, try it and see if you like it before throwing down that much scratch.

 

[Huw Phillips]

I would try to get in contact with Wal directly and ask them if they would be willing to find someone to let you play an instrument or maybe they would loan an instrument for that kind of money they should be accommodating

 

[2112]

Or buy used then flip it if you don't like it. You more than likely get what you pay for it.

If you hold on to it a little bit and take care of it you"ll likely get back more than paid for it... and you'll sell it FAST.

Join us: Wal Bass Club.

 

[kulit17]

If you scour GC's used web site (there isn't on on their right now), and find one, you can have it shipped to your local store, and....if you don't like it, you're only out the shipping cost, which, given that their trucks haul a lot of stuff between stores, is $20. Seems like a small price to pay to try out a rare instrument before you commit big bucks to it.

hahahahahhahahahah i've never heard of anyone bringing a Wal to a big box chain music store like GC....lol. However, a couple years ago someone did bring a stolen Wal to Samash and it was posted on their website - i contacted the original owner and he called the store and after going through the protocols he got it back.....but ya no one in their right mind would drop a Wal into GC and sell it for 45% less than what they could get it for on a private sale.

 

[kulit17]

I would try to get in contact with Wal directly and ask them if they would be willing to find someone to let you play an instrument or maybe they would loan an instrument for that kind of money they should be accommodating

shipping from UK to US is about $350. once it hits US soil, you'll have to pay customs. Wal doesn't provide loaners overseas, nor will they provide confidential information on who owns a Wal bass for someone to hunt down.

again best bet is to post in the Wal bass club or at Facebook Wal owner group (which i posted earlier).

I actually met up with a few people to let try my Wals out.