The "new" Wal

[Nobody]

Who has bought a Wal since they came back on the scene? What was your experience dealing with them? How do the necks feel? Tell us all about your Wal!!! Post a lot of pics too, please.
Let shake things up a bit! What do you say?






p.s. I love P basses.

 

[Nobody]

I would be in the market for one if I had money but sadly I do not so I will have to live vicariously through this thread.


p.s. I love P basses.

 

[two fingers]

Shows how much I keep up. I didn't know they left.

Well whoever owns the new company is hosed. It will be no different than pre/post CBS Fender basses. The new ones will never do for the Wal "purists".

 

[two fingers]

That's not correct. The company is now owned by Paul Herman, who worked with Pete Stevens and Ian Waller for over 20 years building those instruments.

Sure. I agree. They will be swell instruments. But the "pre Paul era" ones will be more collectable in the long run. Mark my words.

I never played one. Don't have a dog in the fight. I have just seen it too many times.

 

[DigitalMan]

Most of the Wal purists are right here on TB and many of them have multiple Wals built by Paul. I think for those who have informed opinions on the subject there is no such thing as a Paul or pre-Paul era with Wals. They are amazing instruments with very limited production. Any attempt to create a perception otherwise is a thinly veiled attempt to salt the marketplace. Won't work. We are on to your schemes.

 

[chris_b]

Paul Herman was building Wal basses during the "Ian and Pete" period, so when does pre-Paul time start?

The templates were handed over to Paul and the suppliers are the same, so there will be very little difference between the era's.

The only Wal basses I'd single out are the leather pick guard JG series from the late 70's. I believe there were only 46 made and they really were special.

 

[Maiden Bass]

I had a brand new Wal made by Pete in 1993. It was a Geddy Lee 24 fret model, color was red raspberry, arrived in a huge flight case from England. I played a lot of gigs with that bass and no other bass sounded like a Wal. Stupidest thing I ever did was to sell that bass cause I needed/wanted a different tone for a new band I joined. Ugh! Learn from your mistakes people! And never sell a brand new Wal that you custom order!

 

[Nobody]

bump

 

[ChefKen]

Anyone know what older model this is? Was told it is passive....? Edit: Found out for myself.Its a Pro 2 from the early period...1978-82 or so. 700 made. rare bird it is.

 

[RicKee]

Justin Chancellor has killer tone and currently uses a mark 3, here is a website with his past and present gear rundownAll Things Justin Chancellor | Equipment


Also I do not know if this guy is a member here at TB but his tone is amazing with a mk 2

I guess this qualifies as some of Wal`s new stuff Dam expensive though!

 

[Janforth]

Justin Chancellor has killer tone and currently uses a mark 3, here is a website with his past and present gear rundownAll Things Justin Chancellor | Equipment


Also I do not know if this guy is a member here at TB but his tone is amazing with a mk 2

I guess this qualifies as some of Wal`s new stuff Dam expensive though!

He is a member here, he's one of top 3 most knowledgeable Wal bass club members,

I believe the only difference is that the new Wal's no longer use horn beam for their necks.

I am luck enough to own the brother of the bass that he's playing in that video.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I nearly bought a couple of Wals in the 90s. 400 quid back then, second hand (presumably 80s ones).

The video clip was not of a style I would voluntarily listen to, so it doesn't tell me much about the tone of the instruments.

 

[bolophonic]

Can anyone explain what the guy in the video is doing with those pedals? I just watched him hit four or five of them and didn't notice any change in his sound.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

One was chorus and one delay, and overdrive of some sort I think.

 

[cnltb]

Sure. I agree. They will be swell instruments. But the "pre Paul era" ones will be more collectable in the long run. Mark my words.

I never played one. Don't have a dog in the fight. I have just seen it too many times.

Talking about collectible...to some...
I saw one of Pino Palladino's Wals(MB4) for sale not so long ago.
A fan might be interested-I think it may still be for sale.

 

[Innocuous]

Can anyone explain what the guy in the video is doing with those pedals? I just watched him hit four or five of them and didn't notice any change in his sound.

Neither did I.
Never trust anyone that uses a pick on a bass guitar.

 

[Turkeypills]

Can anyone explain what the guy in the video is doing with those pedals? I just watched him hit four or five of them and didn't notice any change in his sound.

Multiple pedal engage/disengage going on. Most likely in a loop, which would explain why you didn't hear a change. He is probably just prepping for the next time that patch needs to be engaged.

Neither did I.
Never trust anyone that uses a pick on a bass guitar.

Like Paul, Lemmy or JPJ?

 

[Tom Howland]

I own one. ( 1985 MK 1 ) Simply put, one of the finest basses I've ever played.

 

[Innocuous]

Multiple pedal engage/disengage going on. Most likely in a loop, which would explain why you didn't hear a change. He is probably just prepping for the next time that patch needs to be engaged.



Like Paul, Lemmy or JPJ?

Lighten up, I was just messin with Bolo.

 

[David Vector]

I would be in the market for one if I had money but sadly I do not so I will have to live vicariously through this thread.
.

fwiw, I missed the Wal boat too. Almost ordered one in 1999 when it would have cost considerably less, around $3500 US, but didn't. Maybe a year later I saw two or three Wal MK I's on eBay for $2000-ish, thought about going for it each time, but didn't. We won't see prices like that again. It's a bit like the most classic vintage synths - there was a window of 10-15 years when they could be found relatively cheap on the used market, but those days are also long gone.