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So I’m making a jazz into a Wal mk1
- Thread starter Andy westwood
- Start date
slowburnaz
Commercial User
I think the Maruszczyk effort sounds closer to a Wal than SuperFunkyPete's. It's not 100% of the way there but it's close enough that in a band setting you'd be pretty hard-pressed to know it wasn't an actual Wal. My guess is the bridge on the Maruszczyk (Hipshot A, I think) is more like the Wal bridge. I also suspect neither the SFP or the Maruszczyk has the bridge pickup close enough to the bridge. It's also a question of "which Wal"? I think these Turner/Lusithand efforts sound more like a Mk2 than a Mk1, so if you're looking for the Mk1 sound it's going to be even harder to get there.
This is cool to see the multi coils on a J bass body instead of in my imagination. I was about to do something like this last year, but instead got a USA-era SUB as a backup to the now incredibly expensive to replace Stingray Classic lol. The 2-band preamp gets pretty close to the Wal tonal palette with a Broughton RFE subbing as the preamp, but it's definitely still not a Wal (especially on the E and A strings).
The Turner pickups are THICK BOYS (thicker than the EBMM Stingray and SUB routs, but probably OK for the USA Sterling with the dummy coil underneath [which oddly enough, the import SUBs seem to be routed for]).
My best guess for something really nice (but not one-off luthier nice) was a custom routed Warmoth J-style body.
Besides the special sauce in the Wal electronics, the pickup placement really seems like an overlooked part of the Wal sound, but the builders in this thread look like they've nailed that part of the equation!
The Turner pickups are THICK BOYS (thicker than the EBMM Stingray and SUB routs, but probably OK for the USA Sterling with the dummy coil underneath [which oddly enough, the import SUBs seem to be routed for]).
My best guess for something really nice (but not one-off luthier nice) was a custom routed Warmoth J-style body.
Besides the special sauce in the Wal electronics, the pickup placement really seems like an overlooked part of the Wal sound, but the builders in this thread look like they've nailed that part of the equation!
I just took ownership of my second Octave bass this past Monday. Can concur that Dario has nailed it.
As for the OP's bass, it looks amazing and I can't wait to hear sound clips. Very interested in those Turner pickups.
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wander or wonder? Wal's are not patented
but ethical is a different matter...
but ethical is a different matter...
Soon don’t have time to actually record properly tonight
I’ve seen toaster pickups quite often on some Rickenbacker but never saw any panini press pickups like these ! LOL ! 
This bass looks soft thanks to its blue shades but also mighty thanks to its oversized pickups and black hardware, best of both worlds IMO ! Very nice !
This bass looks soft thanks to its blue shades but also mighty thanks to its oversized pickups and black hardware, best of both worlds IMO ! Very nice !
Subbed! Because we're kindred spirits. The turner multicoils are incredible and Chris is such a nice dude. What preamp are you using?
I glanced at the post above before actually reading it and for some reason my brain thought "tubular necrosis" for a split instant.
You could ask Sadowsky, Lakland, et al that question, maybe they’d have an answer?
was super close to ordering a double pickup ring like that!!
using a underhill full English filter pre
that’s not the same thing. Fender is the biggest guitar company while Wal is basically a one man business.
