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Wal Bass Club.

I ordered a few new sets with different string gauges recently, I switched from 45-105 which I'd been using for 25 years to a set of 30-90. I expected to have to do a lot of work intonating and adjusting the truss rod, but to my surprise, I didn't have to adjust it and barely had to tweak the intonation, crazy!

That said, the switch to a lighter gauge was a bit of a revelation, I almost feel like I'm cheating it's so much easier to play, and the sound is still deep and gritty. I may try a set of 40-100 cause I find the G string a bit too present or too bright and twangy, but I love the rest.

I like the light gauge, I really do, but switching to my Wal from my other basses with heavier tension seemed to be affecting my playing. A the balanced set from d'addario is nice, not quite as tight feeling as a normal .105-.045 set which is by design.
 
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Waiting...
 
So essentially you're saying that I have the weakest fingers known to man? Sweet, like a reverse superpower!

But seriously though, they don't turn, I'll try again tonight and maybe ramp up my gym time from 2 to 4 days/week and focus working my lower arms and fingers specifically.

just playing ;)......i'd actually use pliers and put a jar gripper opening pad over the nut and use the plieres just to loosen it up.. the pad protects it from being damaged....
you can be creative and use other things.....lastly i then use my superhuman finger strength to take it out.


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Any pliers with teeth like in the pic above will scratch the chrome to some extent.
If remember right, it's a 19mm, I use a box wrench (and I line the inside of the wrench with masking tape). You can probably buy a cheap one at the autoparts store cheapie bin for about 5-8 bucks.

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very interesting......there was a post on Wal's FB feed that showed a Mk1 with no forearm contour that was getting sprayed:

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it now made it on Wal's gallery. very unique request from whoever owns it now, pretty cool though! personally i like the forearm contour :cool:

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*figuring on the am walnut looks similiar to my 2011 am walnut :cool:
 
I got my tuners changed, I kind of assumed they'd be identical to the M4s but the Lights are considerably smaller, they look kinda wimpy. That said, and I don't know if it's just in my head or not, but the bass feels a lot lighter and any neck dive I used to have is entirely gone.

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The bottom one is the M4s Light, top is the original M4s

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Left is the Lights

I'll try to get a full picture of the bass this weekend, they look weird!
 
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To me they make most sense on a 5 string because the M4S is so large and that many large tuners looks real busy and hangs a bunch weight on the end of the neck. I weighed my tuners from the MkII 5 when they were removed and I came up with 1.7 lbs of weight. But on the 4 string I like the big ear look.
 
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To me they make most sense on a 5 string because the M4S is so large and that many large tuners looks real busy and hangs a bunch weight on the end of the neck. I weighed my tuners from the MkII 5 when they were removed and I came up with 1.7 lbs of weight. But on the 4 string I like the big ear look.

I agree completely, I really dislike the look on the MkI 4, but the weight difference seems significant. I used to feel that I had to fight with the bass a lot because of the neck dive, now it sits perfectly and is easier on my back, so for the time being I'm going to keep using them even though they're uggo.
 
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So I've never spent any real time with a Wal. I played an event this past weekend and my friend (hotrodjohn here on talkbass) who lives in the area, loaned me his Wal MK II I believe- for the evening under his close supervision:) He even played a couple of tunes. It played and sounded amazing. The bass looked heavier to me than it was and I was surprised at how well it balanced. It was probably the most articulate sounding bass I've ever played and was just a blast to play. Thanks John!

If anyone out there wants to send their Wal to a very good home, look no further. Larrison will take care of it and do it justice. He basically runs a foster home for basses. Let's hook this brother up. Merry Xmas Larry!
 
If anyone out there wants to send their Wal to a very good home, look no further. Larrison will take care of it and do it justice. He basically runs a foster home for basses. Let's hook this brother up. Merry Xmas Larry!

if he has a butterfly on his bass or two US spectors, he may be in luck......there's a feeler in classifieds.
 
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