Looking at a Wal...

[RenorCordic]

So I'm contemplating ordering a Wal and my main concern is the neck thickness/width. I have smallish hands and I need a slim neck. My current bass is a Schecter Studio 4 and its neck is awesome. I also own a Warwick Corvette Std. and its neck is just too chunky for me to play live with.

My question is to anyone that has played a Wal or owns a Wal: How do you feel about the neck? I guess you can customize the neck size, but I'm not sure how to communicate what I want

I'm not familiar with the the lexicon associated with bass necks. I've heard the term soft V shaped neck and C shaped neck, but they don't mean a lot to me.

 

[mmbongo]

Maybe try a Warwick Streamer Jazzman if you like your Warwick but don't like the neck. The neck on my Jazzman is super slim and perfect for small hands. Best Jazz neck I've ever played.

 

[cynelli]

I used to own a Wal and being a Fender Jazz Bass player, I like slim necks. The Wal had one of the best necks I ever played and it was extremely comfortable. I am sorry I sold it. I hope this helps.

 

[Hans Gruber]

That's one heck of a financial jump, too.

 

[mmbongo]

That's one heck of a financial jump, too.

I was going to say that too but forgot

Just making it clear that I'm not saying a Streamer Jazzman is as good as a Wal by any means, but the $4000 price difference makes that obvious I guess!

 

[lbpark]

I've owned 2 Wals, still own 1. Both have that soft V description, so that sounds about right. You can tell it's shaped like a V but it's not uncomfortable. Very unique. Nut width is a tiny bit wider than the necks on my jazz basses. I have smallish hands as well and I don't have any issues with the neck on mine. Keep in mind my Wal is an '86.

 

[anonymous02282011]

The neck on my 88 is incredible.

I'd invite you to come and play it if you're in my neck of the woods . . . . which is a long ways from ancient China.

If you're around New England shoot me a PM.

 

[nofrets5]

Wals have great necks to me; not super wide, not too narrow and the depth is very comfy. The basses themselves just feel really great and I think you'll have NO problems if you have, or think you have smaller hands. For the last few years, it's only really the 4 strings that have that soft V shape. I'd say the 5 and 6 string necks are more of a shallow C shape and even if you do go for a 4 string, Paul is a great craftsman and i'm sure could accomodate the non standard shape. I don't know for sure that HE still does that shape, haven't heard specifically, but Pete Stevens did them that way.

 

[Spleenface92]

I want a wal...but I just got an alembic, so no wal for a very long time.

 

[john_g]

Ive talked to Paul Herman several times and he is great, if you communicate just what you said here, he should be able to help.

 

[AndroWal]

Wal Mark IIIs....the most comfortable basses I've ever played and own. Necks are not too thick or wide...string-spacing at bridge is about 17mm and for me...a great dimension. The Mark IIIs hang without any neck-dive at all. They tend to be on the lighter side.

 

[AndroWal]

PS...on my Wal 5s...neck thickness at first fret is .85 and at 12th fret .95. Neck width at nut is 47mm.

 

[pjmuck]

I can't speak for fretted Wals, but I own a '91 fretless Mark I. IMO, the neck takes some getting used to and the V profile/narrow depth is actually a bit too thin for my preference. Flatter and thinner than my Jazz basses. I wrote to Paul and asked about other neck profiles to possibly swap it out, and he quoted me over $1400 for a neck neck. Ouch! Might be perfect for you, however.

 

[vegas532]

I've owned Wal MKI's, II's, and III's and all of them have had slim, fast necks on them. Probably the most comfortable necks I've ever played on, actually.

 

[tdizzle]

The best and most comfortable 5 string I have ever played was a Wal Mach II fretless. After playing it for about 20 minutes, it felt like a part of me. It was that good.

 

[Obese Chess]

I thought Wal was no more. Weird.

 

[KarateKid25]

I thought Wal was no more. Weird.

They stopped for a while. Back in full swing again now.

 

[mikeswals]

I thought Wal was no more. Weird.

Pete retired for good. And Paul Herman who used to work for Wal, took over and started up about a year ago.

So I'm contemplating ordering a Wal and my main concern is the neck thickness/width. I have smallish hands and I need a slim neck. My current bass is a Schecter Studio 4 and its neck is awesome. I also own a Warwick Corvette Std. and its neck is just too chunky for me to play live with.

I guess if you're going to compare the necks of those two basses to a Wal, it would closer to the slim style like a Schecter. They are nothing like the clubby neck of a Warwick.

 

[Jjango]

Call me crazy, but I distinctly remember playing a Mk 1 with a really strong V-shaped neck contour, something like this:

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It wasn't unpleasant, but it did make you go "what the devil?!?" the first time you tried it.

Was this a standard option, or was this a custom job?

 

[mikezimmerman]

Call me crazy, but I distinctly remember playing a Mk 1 with a really strong V-shaped neck contour, something like this:

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It wasn't unpleasant, but it did make you go "what the devil?!?" the first time you tried it.

Was this a standard option, or was this a custom job?

That is the standard contour for Wal 4-string necks (though it's not so strong a V as your picture!). It's more pronounced toward the nut. Some folks don't like it, but I loved the feel of the necks on the Wals I've owned.

Mike