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Someone educate me on Wal Basses

#21
Percy Jones played a fretless Wal with Brand X. Great Tone, nothing like Jaco's tone (which I also like).

His playing style with Brand X was very quirky. It held up my development as a bass player because for a long time I tried to emulate him but I didn't really understand what he was doing.
 
#27
Paul M said:
Percy Jones played a fretless Wal with Brand X. Great Tone, nothing like Jaco's tone (which I also like).

His playing style with Brand X was very quirky. It held up my development as a bass player because for a long time I tried to emulate him but I didn't really understand what he was doing.
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Listen to some Brand X with Percy. Certainly a different type of player than Jaco. Jaco's style of playing "supported" the group of musicians he was with; Percy's style of playing incorporates the bass as another voice within the group. Consider that the percussionist in Brand X is Phil Collins. When Phil Collins wants to play commercial stuff, he had Genesis or went out on his own as a solo artist. When he wanted to be musically artistic, that's what Brand X was all about. Every musician in that group provides a unique voice. Percy Jones' tone is fabulous out of that Wal. They're not the easiest thing in the world to play, though...

Z
 
#29
ibanezcollector said:
What makes them so special, im being honest never seen, or heard one personally so what makes a Wal a Wal..

I know there expensive and dont see many 2nd hand so there must be something special..
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What makes them special ... they are rare ... there are only a handful out there ... a few famous players have used them which further adds to their mystique. I have played a few wals ... they are nice ... but they are over rated and over priced ...
 
#34
Ric5 said:
What makes them special ... they are rare ... there are only a handful out there ... a few famous players have used them which further adds to their mystique. I have played a few wals ... they are nice ... but they are over rated and over priced ...
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They're not rare in the UK - I have played several of them and could easily have afforded to buy 2 or 3 - but I have not liked any that I have got to play! :hmm:

I found them bulky, heavy, awkward and also with a tone I didn't really like or could have used in any bands I was in.

So - if you are looking for a unqiue tone and have many hours in the studio available to experiment - then fine, go for it - but if you need a bass to have a classic tone and to be easy to use live - then avoid Wals at all costs in my experience!

Better as an 'investment', than to play maybe...:eyebrow:
 
#36
They're cool!

Ok, the pro side:
- unique growly midrange - never heard anything from other basses. It never get's lost in the mix. It's singing in the high registers, once i got asked if it was fretless ... growl, mwah, ...

- best action i ever had on an instrument - this is the reference for me when adjusting instruments

- PU and electronics are great, versatile and quiet. Honestly, I never use the whole electronics and filter options - to achieve a different tone I use my fingers and the PU-Pan-Pot.

The cons:

- The shop closed down, no-one to repair mine when something happens :-(

- because there will be no new instruments the prices are rising and rising - so, I doubt that i will play mine often on stage ... you all know what CAN happen (free rolling mixer cases, inattentive bandmates ...)


Tom

(all songs on myspace recorded with the Wal ;-)
 
#40
I'm not a fan of them.
They sound fantastic in all situations and styles, I don't argue this.
Now yeah the neck is chunky and they tend to head dive. I find them heavy to wear and a bit clumsy to play, not as comfortable as I'd expect.
I don't find them beautifully shaped, personal preference indeed.

Now and this must be said, the so-very-efficient preamp is a living nightmare to adjust on the fly. To take profit of it you have to remember previous settings and even though, if conditions are a bit different you have a hard time fine tuning the bass for them.
It makes these instruments unpractical for stage use, unless you only use a tone or two, which kinda kills the concept. I'd rather use simpler electronics and pedals.
 

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