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Wal Bass Club.

#581
Okay, so I don't have a photo yet, but about 2 months ago I got my first Wal. It's a Trans Green '93 MkII 5 string with a "sported" sycamore top, and then the rest of the usual fretted appointments.

I guess I'm around the 4th or 5th owner, with one of the earlier owners apparently being a studio in Ireland that Massive Attack records/practices at. I'm not sure if they used it at all.

The bass does have a few dings, including a pretty gnarly one by the output, but that doesn't matter! It's my Wal! I'm so happy with it that it's unbelievable. It's just SO easy to play. And it sounds...well, it's to die for. I'm hooked. I already have visions and aspirations for a 4 banger as well. It's unbelievable.

I promise photos soon.
 
#582
Hi there,

seems my old green Wal 5 has finally come to a good home! Enjoy it! I was its second owner, its first being a nice chap from Ireland having travelled with it to Thailand, England/Bristol, Spain and so on. He said that it wasn't used on those Massive Attack sessions, but that it was in the same studio in Bristol at the time.
Because of a slight upward warp/curve of the neck around the 14th fret I had it turned into a lined fretless, since I couldn't get the action as low as I had wanted it to be, and its third owner, also German, had a great professional refret-job done to it. As a fretless, the Wal sounded wonderful, too, I can tell ;)
BTW the bass had originally been a Wal demo at the Bass Cellar London around 1993 and can also be seen in a Bassplayer magazine edition from around that time. Just take a look at the "files" section on the walbassesnaturally forum on Yahoo to see the scans I did from it.
Having said all of this, and remembering its wonderful finish, I really regret having sold it ...:crying:

Cheers from Germany
Oliver
 
#583
spiritchaser said:
Having said all of this, and remembering its wonderful finish, I really regret having sold it ...:crying:
Click to expand...

Oliver,
I can't believe anyone selling off one of the most amazing finished Wal. That was simply an incredible color combination that would be mega-expensive to have replicated today.
-Mike

I have the pics saved of it and stare at them often! :o
 

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#584
That's exactly it!

Sorry I've been slacking on the photos, my girlfriends camera had a battery corrode inside and so I'm out a camera atm. But those photos just above are a great example of it!

I LOVE this bass. In the past I've owned a few CB basses; While nice, CB's really didn't prepare me for the level of detail and the ease and diversity available with the Wal! The professional refretting really was top-notch.

Oh and on a side note, Mr. Jens Ritter was a party that was indirectly involved in my buying the Wal, and he offered to ship it and even paid about 160 Euro's more out of his own pocket so that I wouldn't have to pay customs fees. Truly an amazing man!

I love hearing the history of this bass--it's pretty much my dream bass (other than being a 5er, but I'm getting more and more used to that each day).

I recently emailed Wal about having a custom bass built, and one of the details of my order was a trans-color like this bass; I was quoted something like 750 English pounds just for the coloring. So, yeah, I could see how this bass would be insanely expensive to recreate! I must say though, that Wal finish is like armor! The bass arrived with a few battle scars (that were from previous owners, and documented before sale) and one particularly bad one caused a spider-web-shaped crack in the finish by the input. But that sucker hasn't moved, and I don't think that the wood underneath was even affected.

Also, I had a question: the top is "Sported Sycamore," and I've never heard the term "Sported" in relation to wood figuring. Anyone have any idea? Thanks!
 
#587
Caca de Kick said:
Mine are all at home, and I'm at work. But it looks like someone did some re-wiring on yours. A few of those look out of place.


136-3626_IMG.jpg
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Hey Mike

I recognise that control cavity ;).

From my former :crying: Wal Mk I Custom.

136-3623_IMG.jpg


136-3649_IMG.jpg


Don't have the bass any more, but I do have the pictures (and a much healthier bank balance :D).

Great to see all of these lovely basses though - gives me Electric Wood :eek:!
 
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#589
Caca de Kick said:
Heh...well Andy I can't say the same about my account. :help: You ruined me on that Shedua, and had to evetually find one of my own! But couldn't stop there, noooo....
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They're all stunning Mike - right up my street :smug:!

My personal fave (aesthetically) is actually your refinished white bass. I like the lack of dots on the fretboard and the classic, but understated look. Would look good with black tuners, that one ;).

As for the bank account - your money's probably better off invested in these basses :). Most bank accounts are paying interest at less than the rate of inflation, whereas classic basses like these just keep on going up and up in value.

I'm seriously toying with the idea of picking another Wal up at some point and giving it another go (with better strings this time), as I know that I can get my money back on any sensibly priced example :ninja:.
 
#591
Oliver,
I can't believe anyone selling off one of the most amazing finished Wal. That was simply an incredible color combination that would be mega-expensive to have replicated today.
-Mike

I have the pics saved of it and stare at them often!
attachment.jpg
attachment.jpg
Click to expand...

wow, is this the wal that sold on bassic.ch a few months ago ? it was reasonably priced, if i would not have been totally down and out because of recent divorce, i would have jumped on the offer in a flash...

cheers,
lowstar
 
#593
anybody else ever have issues with their Wal over driving?

i remember last month, first time i took my wal to the studio for a recording session and the engineer DId me and it would over drive like a mother....

took it to a gig the other night and the sound guy had to DI me cuz the amp had a broken input jack and again, OVER DRIVE like mad...

this is making me sad lol
 
#594
jimmyjames said:
anybody else ever have issues with their Wal over driving?

i remember last month, first time i took my wal to the studio for a recording session and the engineer DId me and it would over drive like a mother....

took it to a gig the other night and the sound guy had to DI me cuz the amp had a broken input jack and again, OVER DRIVE like mad...

this is making me sad lol
Click to expand...

One of the little blue pots inside the control cavity is for setting the gain level. If you have it cranked all the way up, it's REALLY hot--by far the hottest output of any bass I've owned. Just turn the gain down about midway, and you'll be fine.
 
#595
mikezimmerman said:
One of the little blue pots inside the control cavity is for setting the gain level. If you have it cranked all the way up, it's REALLY hot--by far the hottest output of any bass I've owned. Just turn the gain down about midway, and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip :). Now, how do I know which one to turn down lol
 

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