NBD! Wal Tribute from Octave Basses (Dario)

[Bar Band Bassman]

After a few detours, finally have the Wal Tribute I ordered from Octave Basses. Dario helped me realize the color scheme I hand in mind and also was kind enough to modify the neck pocket with a slight back tilt, which does wonders for lower fret access! As a former Wal owner I can tell you I'm very pleased and impressed!

BBB

 

[Snake101st]

Gorgeous! I slept on getting one that was listed for a great price in the classifieds and have regretted it since. Always wanted to try a Wal style bass with multicoils and the filter preamp

Have you tried other preamps, like the Lusithand one? Curious how the one they use compares (it's a custom thing, right)?

Good stuff

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Gorgeous! I slept on getting one that was listed for a great price in the classifieds and have regretted it since. Always wanted to try a Wal style bass with multicoils and the filter preamp

Have you tried other preamps, like the Lusithand one? Curious how the one they use compares (it's a custom thing, right)?

Good stuff

As I mentioned, I've owned a couple of Wals and this fills that niche for me. I didn't press Dario on it but he mentioned he feels like he nailed the preamp part. He also winds his own muIticoils. I also have a Heartfield 5 string with a filter based preamp and have owned a couple of Alembics. Haven't tried the Lusithand but there may be a project in the future that would be suitable. We'll see...

BBB

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Gorgeous! I slept on getting one that was listed for a great price in the classifieds and have regretted it since. Always wanted to try a Wal style bass with multicoils and the filter preamp

Have you tried other preamps, like the Lusithand one? Curious how the one they use compares (it's a custom thing, right)?

Good stuff

Forgot to mention, although it has an XLR jack, it does not have the internal wiring to run as a DI. I never had a need for it in the past so it's not an issue for me. I suppose I could retrofit something if I really wanted to.

BBB

 

[Altitude]

Wow. Nice. Is that licensed by Wal?

 

[ModuMan]

Wow. Nice. Is that licensed by Wal?

Definitely not

That said, I'd kinda like to try a 4-string. I love my Wal 5'er but it's not like I'll ever be able to get another one.

 

[scuzzy]

love it.

 

[GMC]

Beautiful! Does he do 5 and 6 string options or it it currently 4 string only?
I'd love to get a 6 string bridge, a set of pickups and a preamp from him!

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Wow. Nice. Is that licensed by Wal?

Don't think so.

Beautiful! Does he do 5 and 6 string options or it it currently 4 string only?
I'd love to get a 6 string bridge, a set of pickups and a preamp from him!

Just 4's, AFAIK.

 

[JC BASS 91]

Truly stunning!!

 

[Alex-Thompson]

After a few detours, finally have the Wal Tribute I ordered from Octave Basses. Dario helped me realize the color scheme I hand in mind and also was kind enough to modify the neck pocket with a slight back tilt, which does wonders for lower fret access! As a former Wal owner I can tell you I'm very pleased and impressed!

BBB

Congratulations. I'm glad you had a positive experience.

Sadly I didn't. So be careful folks. Dario has highly questionable "business" practices. Check out his work. Neck pocket (chef's kiss). Bubbling bridge (gorgeous), oh the staining (mama mia). Missing screw due to amateur drill.... meh who cares eh when you're spending $3000 US....

Refunded some, but not all of my money.... Very silly.

 

[eqvolvorama]

In case anyone’s interested, I just listed one of my Octaves on the classifieds boards, just because my other Octave fretless came in. Happy to report none of the quality issues as posted above.

 

[embellisher]

After a few detours, finally have the Wal Tribute I ordered from Octave Basses. Dario helped me realize the color scheme I hand in mind and also was kind enough to modify the neck pocket with a slight back tilt, which does wonders for lower fret access! As a former Wal owner I can tell you I'm very pleased and impressed!

BBB

Nice finish! How does it compare to the Wal you used to own? Do the electronics sound pretty similar?

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

A big time gap between the Wal and the Octave. Reacquainting myself with the filter system and pick attack feature. It plays really well. Some might not care for the comparatively minimal neck taper but it's quite comfortable to me. It does have that distinct note articulation that my Wals had. It's become my #1. At least for now. But it's got me thinking it's time to thin the herd, which rarely happens.

BBB

 

[maxschrek]

I have a couple of those with another on the way. Great basses.

 

[DigitalMan]

Wal is a small outfit that probably doesn't have the financial resources to wage a trademark battle with another small company that probably would just fold if they got sued.

I am assuming that Wal doesn't license its IP to this company. If I'm wrong about that, then I'd gladly retract my statement. But until then, IMO "tribute" is a euphemism for rip-off.

 

[mikeswals]

Correct, they do not license their stuff.

 

[HaphAsSard]

On the other hand...

trademark, schmademark.
Until a lawsuit is actually filed, and someone legally demonstrates that correctly registered IP rights have been infringed upon, a ripoff is a tribute.

 

[JeroB666]

At this point does Wal still hold a valid IP for their design? I know they started in 1978.

 

[JeroB666]

Congratulations. I'm glad you had a positive experience.

Sadly I didn't. So be careful folks. Dario has highly questionable "business" practices. Check out his work. Neck pocket (chef's kiss). Bubbling bridge (gorgeous), oh the staining (mama mia). Missing screw due to amateur drill.... meh who cares eh when you're spending $3000 US....

Refunded some, but not all of my money.... Very silly.

That is rough... Surprised they didnt take it back to replace it.