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Wal Bass Club.

#3,101
Out of the wood discussion with Paul I learned that one of the issues with wood choice is that the "classic Wal tone" comes from the mahogany core, and to some degree from a dense (heavier) one. He would then recommend different wood for facings to tune the character towards a brigther or mellower sound instead of using a different core wood.

My take on that is that a completely different selection of woods might not acheive the sound that the customer expects from a Wal. Because it's not just the electronics package that's responsible for the Wal tone.
 
#3,103
j.kernodle said:
I was thinking how good a gloss transparent deep red would look on a plain mahogany body. that classic Gibson SG finish.
Click to expand...
Wow, its like you're reading my mind! But of course thats not odd, its just solid mahogany just like on a solid finish.

That fretless MkI, yes Paul built it a couple of years ago. But I also remember he got hosed on it because whoever comissioned it didnt want it, so he was stuck with it for a while until he found a buyer.
 
#3,104
Do you think the stocks of that dense mahogany are of the same quality today as yesterday. Seems these basses really resonate when just played acoustically. I'm used to ash bodies etc. Just feels different. Hard to explain.

Is the Wal logo that is in the bridge upside down on todays basses also. Is that like an early happy mistake in the company history?
 
#3,105
hunterred43 said:
Do you think the stocks of that dense mahogany are of the same quality today as yesterday. Seems these basses really resonate when just played acoustically. I'm used to ash bodies etc. Just feels different. Hard to explain.

Is the Wal logo that is in the bridge upside down on todays basses also. Is that like an early happy mistake in the company history?
Click to expand...

Ummm, well I "feel" my new era MkII has lighter (not as dense) mahogany, tiny bit less hard-edge attack compared to all my old ones, but also very welcomed it's a pound less than my other two MkII's. Still sounds like a Wal, still sounds beautiful.
Yes the hardware is still all the same.
 

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#3,107
hunterred43 said:
Do you think the stocks of that dense mahogany are of the same quality today as yesterday. Seems these basses really resonate when just played acoustically. I'm used to ash bodies etc. Just feels different. Hard to explain.

Is the Wal logo that is in the bridge upside down on todays basses also. Is that like an early happy mistake in the company history?
Click to expand...

I have basses from the 4 WAL eras "

80's
90's
2000
and Paul's Era

The old ones are heavier , they have more mass and more "bright tone" due the type of mahogany used to make them. These old woods were more dense than the ones that most companies are using nowadays to make bodies.

The question is that nowadays "heavy weight " basses is out of fashion and there's no market for them. You can see this in any bass brand in the world. In the past heavy / dense wood was a synonymous of "good quality wood", that's ******** ! Also the new search for the perfect ergonomic instruments (with light weight) just killed the use of heavy/ dense woods for body core and necks . Note that heavy / dense wood are still used to make tops, like Asian Ebonies , Cocobolo and others woods from "Rosewood" family.

In my opinion , I prefer a light weight instrument with more bottom sound than a heavy bass with a lot of bright and attack. They are better for live performance, balance and health , no more pain on my back lol ! Also don't you forget that the powerful Wal circuit can easily solve this "problem" with just some adjustments, and this is a very 'tenuous" tone thing, most non experienced players will not percept this unless somebody tell them.

So, this is a question of taste !
 
#3,108
I hear you. I guess I'm on the the have no problem with the weight. Maybe cause I'm a big dumb ex jock. But usually I play sitting with a footstool more classical stuff. So the bass level isn't up enough to muddy the sound of the strings. I do use that powerhouse 15 because the string sounds thicker to me. Thats why I like the wal midrange in them. Trying to see how much was the older mahogany vs new. People talk about the density. Then how much facings effect that. I think overall I am drawn to a low midrange focused bass tone with a smoother high end. That was the fight I had with stingrays high end seemed so shrill you lower the trebel and the low bass would over power. It was frustrating. I'm not a slapper so wasn't looking for that.
 
#3,110
j.kernodle said:
the other day TMB mentioned that rich mahogany was the only body core choice. I mentioned seeing a couple of basses on the Wal gallery including these two.

CAD715BE-92FA-4385-9DD6-7A7650BDFADC-193-000000193C07DA9A_zps70ca9757.jpg

MkIII with sycamore core

99A95A90-A63E-4246-A9BB-970C54018143-193-000000194A01F0DB_zps4feb3989.jpg

mkI with padauk facings and swamp ash core

Are these merely relics of a previous era (like the JG pro model with the leather guard?), or is Paul actually still allowing these options?
Click to expand...

Ya, i believe they're just previous era relics. i asked Paul if he had any of the parts for the Pro available and he said he doesn't any more so having this on the gallery doesn't mean its available for him to make....

Invalid Link Removed


Bass42 said:
You can ask for the custom options bellow , but you have to have a reasonable extra budget, they are not cheap !

Blocks Inlay
Neck binding
Custom neck radius
Clear finger ramp for 5 strings bass (see my MKII 5)
Custom string spacing on nut (see my custom MKII 5)
Ebony center strip for body (see the 5 MKII and the Red Geddy)
Ebony stripes for the neck

This is what I have for my last quote from Wal.
Click to expand...

as far as all the custom options talk. a good amount of options, like the ones PJ mentioned earlier are not listed but Paul is more than willing to accommodate. However, he is selective of timbre used for both core AND facings, which i did discuss with him briefly at one point in time.


Bass42 said:
Wal bass for sale, again just for British guys !
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=291034049383
Click to expand...

Appears that it got relisted and a best offer was accepted.
 
#3,113
I suppose I should finally post my Wal M2:

Built in July of 1987 Wal MK2 Fretless - 5 String - Built by Pete 'The Fish' Stevens himself:
Shedua Facings, Brazilian Mahogany Core, and Ebony Board I believe (original build was Indian Rosewood as this bass was fretted and converted by Wal)
 
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#3,120
I'm posting this in the club part# 4 just so it's out there again.
The early club number folks that are missing seemed to have dropped off the face of the earth. Oddio used to have those numbers saved, but he passed away, so I have no access to them.


Went through adding the newest additions to the club. Again, if any of the earlier number folks know their numbers to fill in the gaps, hit me up.

1. Oddio
2.
3. bbocaner
4.
5.
6.
7. Brian Barret
8.
9.
10. Jaymi
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17. knarleybass
18.
19. cetera
20. cebe
21. incubus2432
22. Caca de Kick
23. Otter
24. evilgus
25. 4001
26. Toolmybass
27. pennex1
28. matthewfoote
29. AceWhip
30. Drop-D
31. WalWarrior
32. PazzoBasso
33. whodom
34. djaxup
35. kulit17
36. Pj,Rj,Hj
37. oli@bass
38. MC1970
39. eligilam
40. bigsnack
41. bassplace
42. Jam119
43. Zenter
44. Erkindanger!
45. Mojo-man
46. AndrewDavis
47. ZuluFunk
48. spiritchaser
49. marcos epm
50. Ricketboy
51. mesajoe
52. RenorCordic
53. Musicman 1901
54. Papersen
55. zazz
56. JAACA
57. Modlad69
58. sorgas
59. philbone
60. Nedsbassman
61. j.kernodle
62. Bass42
63. kubikixfactor
64. AlexBTATS
65. Tjluke
66. FrankChurchyard
67. Maedros
68. jimfist
69. Nibs208
70. hotrodjohn
71. Laneb
72. Melquides
73. Frankzelf
74. lordradish
75. hunterred43
76. bassballs27
 

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