Any good HH bass with a filter pre (ACG or Alembic) will get you into the correct tonal zipcode.
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that Wal tone without the price tag
- Thread starter bassmastan
- Start date
pablomigraine
Commercial User
Set flat, I think the USA G&L L-2500 sounds VERY similar to a Wal (I only ever played one for about 20 minutes). However, as was mentioned earlier, the Wal Preamp is very sophisticated and not at all like anything else out there.....
I believe I read in another thread that SGD will soon be offering pickups based on the Wal design.
Here's that latest I could find on David Schwab's SGD Lutherie Wall pickup clones:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/won-wal-pickup-ebay-432803/index28.html
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/sgd-lutherie-pickups-358989/index41.html
I'm going to send him a G&L MFD humbucker (e.g. L-2000 pickup) so he can potentially make that as well. Next week I'll get it out to him.
KO
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/won-wal-pickup-ebay-432803/index28.html
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/sgd-lutherie-pickups-358989/index41.html
I'm going to send him a G&L MFD humbucker (e.g. L-2000 pickup) so he can potentially make that as well. Next week I'll get it out to him.
KO
There was already a thread like this with the SAME price point (what's with the $1k figure??).
The Wal bass isn't like most instruments where the brand name might lend to some generous markup and thus result in less than perceived value by some people (COUGHRICCOUGH)...it truly is the real deal here. The electronics alone are justification for this bass to be over $1k in my opinion. I don't think you can find a bass for under $1k that would do the Wal tone decently. Now there are plenty around $1k that could fit the bill ok. Warwick $$'s, G&L L2000, MM Stingray HH or a Bongo would get you in that ballpark pretty easy. Personally, I'm leaning towards a G&L L2000 to get me in that Wal ballpark. Keep in mind no bass, that isn't a Wal, will sound exactly like a Wal. I would recommend shirking the $1k price point for brand new though, a G&L L2000 is around $1,350 new...but you can get a good used one for a little under $1k.
The Wal bass isn't like most instruments where the brand name might lend to some generous markup and thus result in less than perceived value by some people (COUGHRICCOUGH)...it truly is the real deal here. The electronics alone are justification for this bass to be over $1k in my opinion. I don't think you can find a bass for under $1k that would do the Wal tone decently. Now there are plenty around $1k that could fit the bill ok. Warwick $$'s, G&L L2000, MM Stingray HH or a Bongo would get you in that ballpark pretty easy. Personally, I'm leaning towards a G&L L2000 to get me in that Wal ballpark. Keep in mind no bass, that isn't a Wal, will sound exactly like a Wal. I would recommend shirking the $1k price point for brand new though, a G&L L2000 is around $1,350 new...but you can get a good used one for a little under $1k.
I don't think you are going to get the Wal tone cheaply. A Musicman Bongo might do a decent impression, if you listen in another room with ear muffs on!
For me, it was actually ACG that got me closest. I had dreamed of owning a Wal for years and come close to dropping some serious money on a Wal once or twice! In the end, I bought the ACG simply because a lot of people on Basschat were talking about how great they were, Wal wasn't even in my head at that point. When it turned up, it did a rather good Wal impression (and more besides) so I was quite surprised and very happy with it.
It has all the ingredients there though, mahogany body, maple neck, big humbuckers, filter based preamp etc etc. It cost me far less than a Wal and frankly, the fit and finish is substantially better than what I'd expect on a Wal, as good as they are. So no, ACG are not a cheap option but there are a cheaper option.
For me, it was actually ACG that got me closest. I had dreamed of owning a Wal for years and come close to dropping some serious money on a Wal once or twice! In the end, I bought the ACG simply because a lot of people on Basschat were talking about how great they were, Wal wasn't even in my head at that point. When it turned up, it did a rather good Wal impression (and more besides) so I was quite surprised and very happy with it.
It has all the ingredients there though, mahogany body, maple neck, big humbuckers, filter based preamp etc etc. It cost me far less than a Wal and frankly, the fit and finish is substantially better than what I'd expect on a Wal, as good as they are. So no, ACG are not a cheap option but there are a cheaper option.
India_Sierra said:
Where can you get an ACG? Are they custom ordered or can you get one through a retailer?
They're fully custom - Alan (the luthier) posts here as "skelf", so maybe he'll be along to chime in. Here's his website:
A.C. Guitars - Hand Crafted Basses & Guitars
There's an online store there too where Alan sells the EQ02 filter-based preamp.
Regarding cost, ACG is based in Scotland, so you'd be paying in GBP - you might want to check the current $/£ conversion rate. Not sure you'll be able to score anything for under $1k, but it's worth speaking to Alan to see what he could do for you.
