Wal Bass Club.

[j.kernodle]

Yes, well I'm replying from an iPhone. So I clear immigration, drive for an hour, arrive at home to the family I haven't seen for a week. Wife has steaks and was waiting for me to turn the grill on. Son wanted to play video games, I wanted to actually play my bass amplified which I did for all of two minutes. Then went to bed at a normal time. Now I'm waking up and getting ready to take my son to a 5k fun run which starts at 8:30 this morning. This answer is the more descriptive of the schedule since I'm actually sitting down for a quick moment (and won't describe exactly why that is.)

So, I have the final picture yet to take along with about four or five others that wrap up the story. I'll get to that in about the next three hours.

Sheesh, I thought only my wife needed fully detailed minute-by-minute accounting of my whereabouts...

Looking forward to the final report!

By the way, I have mine strung up with the .100,.070,.055,.040 d'addario custom gauge set that I like to order from bass strings online. The lower tension allowed the little bit of relief that was originally In the neck to straighten out. I noticed I wasn't getting the usual grind and fret buzz that I like in my Wal tone, so I commenced to dropping the action. I will tell you that Paul's fretwork is world class. I had a lakland 4-94 that I always considered the gold standard of great fret work , but this thing easily matches that. I have the action on the E string down to 3/64ths and it still doesn't choke out on any notes.

I also finally got to plug it I to my bass 400+ and am happy to report the sound was eeeee-vil.

 

[DigitalMan]

How did that go?....meet your initial expectations?

It was brief. The first thing I had to do was find a cable. The Wal has a jack recessed far enough that the angled plug on my wireless doesn't fit. That's fine, I've got a straight plug cable somewhere.

However, by plugging in I bypassed the tuner so it was an approximate tuning at best.

The Wal is far louder than my passive basses so my amp settings will need to be worked with to get the intensity and level of OD where it needs to be.

I'll do a more extensive review when I've had the chance to really spend some time with it.

 

[DigitalMan]

And to continue the story ....

This is the first thing you see when you enter the workshop.

Paul (left) was working with an associate Phil (right) who was winding pickups for the day.

There are always a few basses in progress. Here are the next two bodies in line (not counting a beautiful fretless 5er in the back that is almost out the door)

Always a number of necks in progress to allow them to settle in and be stable.

Finally, in the back of the shop my new Wal was waiting for me. The wait is finally over!

That's all for now, but I will add a few updates with the journey home and more details about the bass itself.

 

[Zentner]

Awesome pictorial!! Thanks for the insight in to your adventure!

 

[DigitalMan]

And finally...

Preparing for the long flight home is tough. Fortunately there's some space in the airport lounge to stretch out before departure.

The bass now has a new home, appropriately positioned at the head of the line.

The body gloss shines so nicely it looks like a liquid surface.

And I'm so happy I changed the logo color from white to gold. Thanks to whoever posted the gold logo a month or two back!

 

[rusheroo]

And finally...

Preparing for the long flight home is tough. Fortunately there's some space in the airport lounge to stretch out before departure.

The bass now has a new home, appropriately positioned at the head of the line.

The body gloss shines so nicely it looks like a liquid surface.

And I'm so happy I changed the logo color from white to gold. Thanks to whoever posted the gold logo a month or two back!

Great Geddy collection... Man I wish. At least I got to play a Midnight blue 4003 today

 

[j.kernodle]

Hmmm, what pray tell is going on with this bass?

is it new or a Refin older model?

That switch on the lower horn, the center stripe and the routes next to the pickups are mysterious!

 

[mikeswals]

Thats probably someones restoration. That body has been hanging in many peoples pictures over the year.
It also has 5 control knob holes, and you can tell the large rear-body rout.

 

[Phantom Valley]

I wonder if my neck is in that pile there? Paul said he was going to email me pictures of mine in a week or so.

 

[bassplace]

Hmmm, what pray tell is going on with this bass?

is it new or a Refin older model?

View attachment 491209

That switch on the lower horn, the center stripe and the routes next to the pickups are mysterious!

That looks like what I believe to be 1 of 3 (or so) rear-loaded ProIIe's. I have one which I hope to have back from being refurbished soon and someone on the Facebook Wal group noticed one in an old Steve Hackett video. Dik Cadbury is the player and you can mostly see the body in this pic.

The one above looks like it has a mahogany core. The one in my link looks like it's a solid body. Mine is the typical 3-piece ash. The one time I spoke to Pete he thought he'd made about 3 this way right around when they were getting to produce the MkI.

dunc

 

[MPU]

And to continue the story ....

This is the first thing you see when you enter the workshop.

Paul (left) was working with an associate Phil (right) who was winding pickups for the day.

There are always a few basses in progress. Here are the next two bodies in line (not counting a beautiful fretless 5er in the back that is almost out the door)

Always a number of necks in progress to allow them to settle in and be stable.

Finally, in the back of the shop my new Wal was waiting for me. The wait is finally over!

That's all for now, but I will add a few updates with the journey home and more details about the bass itself.

So the wind the pickups themself? Did you happen to see what kind of winding setup they use?

 

[DigitalMan]

So the wind the pickups themself? Did you happen to see what kind of winding setup they use?

I did not. I saw the piece parts on the bench but there wasn't an obvious winding apparatus that I observed. Could have been truly by hand alone, or I could have missed something.

 

[j.kernodle]

thanks dunc!

 

[MPU]

Did you see empty bobbins as well as wound coils? They must have a machine for winding as it would take a lifetime to wind 16 coils with 10 000 rounds for one bass alone.

 

[DigitalMan]

Did you see empty bobbins as well as wound coils? They must have a machine for winding as it would take a lifetime to wind 16 coils with 10 000 rounds for one bass alone.

Sorry, I said hi to Phil, snapped a quick picture and headed back to my bass. Wish I could have gotten more detail for you.

 

[Toolmybass]

Sorry, I said hi to Phil, snapped a quick picture and headed back to my bass. Wish I could have gotten more detail for you.

So wondering.......with the last price increase, what is the "out the door" cost now on a Geddy with gold hardware??

 

[DigitalMan]

So wondering.......with the last price increase, what is the "out the door" cost now on a Geddy with gold hardware??

My cost was £4590 (if my math is right) based on 2012 prices and minus a couple of special items including rework to change the logo after the neck was finished and Dunlop strap locks.

 

[Toolmybass]

My cost was £4590.

Wowzers!!!...that's $8900 CAD
Add almost $500 for shipping and taxes/duty around 13%.....
$10,550 CDN


Maybe I should sell my Geddy lol

 

[DigitalMan]

Wowzers!!!...that's $8900 CAD
Add almost $500 for shipping and taxes/duty around 13%.....
$10,550 CDN


Maybe I should sell my Geddy lol

I was lucky to avoid shipping costs due to a business trip, and also duty (US 5%) due to pure luck and good fortune.

 

[AltGrendel]

Wow, that's Alembic pricing. Nice looking bass though, all that Wal goodness. I'm jealous.