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Wal Bass Club.

**edit**
dilemma resolved - sticking with black!!

ok Wal-nuts! here is my dilema. I guess the standard now for electronic plate screws are black. with a standard black plate it looks nice and blends, but if you do the matching cover...it can stick out a bit, especially if neck bolts are chrome or gold.... in my case gold. what do you think?? keep the black or go for gold??

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ok Wal-nuts! here is my dilema. I guess the standard now for electronic plate screws are black. with a standard black plate it looks nice and blends, but if you do the matching cover...it can stick out a bit, especially if neck bolts are chrome or gold.... in my case gold. what do you think?? keep the black or go for gold??

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I'd say keep the black screws as they match other black components on the bass. Besides it won't really matter much when you're gigging with it!
 
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Sorry for the delay!....Im going to keep them original. Paul has set the radius to apx 13.5 for me and they are about to be shipped back.

In answer to Trevor's question. I have only ever had to adjust any of my Wal's pole pieces to get exactly what i wanted for just the Tool sound. It has only been for the over size .110 string i use for a permanent Drop D, and the A string.
Im now on the 3rd Wal for this set-up and found my current Birdseye needed a bit of tweaking for my ear also. Tried several times to just use the pick up height adjustment screws and couldn't quite get "there"
But I'm sure with the poles radius now adjusted will help as they were flat as a board when i got it!

TMB
 
Hello everyone name is Jack and was told by a few musician friends this was the best outlet (besides contacting Wal themselves) to ask questions about some issues and or information. Currently I own a Wal MK2 and im getting a sound almost like a battery dying while playing changed battery and no changes. Has anyone of owners had this happened? I took the control cavity plate off and plugged it in and did some looking around and discovered that the one lead out of my pickup where it connects to the circuit board is doing the crackel like sound when I move the white plastic connector is this a bad solder joint somewhere? Here is picture of the connection that is giving me an issue hope this helps. Thanks in advance!

Jack D.

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Hello everyone name is Jack and was told by a few musician friends this was the best outlet (besides contacting Wal themselves) to ask questions about some issues and or information. Currently I own a Wal MK2 and im getting a sound almost like a battery dying while playing changed battery and no changes. Has anyone of owners had this happened? I took the control cavity plate off and plugged it in and did some looking around and discovered that the one lead out of my pickup where it connects to the circuit board is doing the crackel like sound when I move the white plastic connector is this a bad solder joint somewhere? Here is picture of the connection that is giving me an issue hope this helps. Thanks in advance!

Jack D.

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I would also check how your 1/4 inch is sitting while plugged into the bass. Try plugging everything in with control plate off and lightly wiggling/touching the assembly where the cable is sitting and see if it effects the noise your getting or not.

TMB
 
Hello everyone name is Jack and was told by a few musician friends this was the best outlet (besides contacting Wal themselves) to ask questions about some issues and or information. Currently I own a Wal MK2 and im getting a sound almost like a battery dying while playing changed battery and no changes. Has anyone of owners had this happened? I took the control cavity plate off and plugged it in and did some looking around and discovered that the one lead out of my pickup where it connects to the circuit board is doing the crackel like sound when I move the white plastic connector is this a bad solder joint somewhere? Here is picture of the connection that is giving me an issue hope this helps. Thanks in advance!

Jack D.

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Another thing to try is to unplug the connector and then gently push each wire down into the connector to make sure that they are seated in properly. Those are push-fit solderless connectors and they can, therefore, work a little loose over time. A gentle re-seating of the cables in the connector might just do the trick.

And as @Toolmybass suggested, check that the 1/4 inch jack is connecting snugly in the socket.
 
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Hello everyone name is Jack and was told by a few musician friends this was the best outlet (besides contacting Wal themselves) to ask questions about some issues and or information. Currently I own a Wal MK2 and im getting a sound almost like a battery dying while playing changed battery and no changes. Has anyone of owners had this happened? I took the control cavity plate off and plugged it in and did some looking around and discovered that the one lead out of my pickup where it connects to the circuit board is doing the crackel like sound when I move the white plastic connector is this a bad solder joint somewhere? Here is picture of the connection that is giving me an issue hope this helps. Thanks in advance!

Jack D.

Agree with TMB & Trevor... and when you get everything squared away pls post pics of your bass it looks like a real beauty!
 
I like to clean all the pins and jacks with Deoxit.
But just to be sure, I also would inspect the solder joints where the white connector is soldered to the board.

How old is it? Not sure what era used a red capacitor wired between the two jacks, but seem well into the 2000's seeing the yellow cap next to the transformer.

Hmm, a blue Mk2? Would also love to see a pic of it! :D
 
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Sorry for the late reply, been a busy week and weekend. I have owned this Wal for the past 8 or 9 years now i believe this is a 02 don't have it in front of me I actually broke down and took it a well known guitar tech in my area to have it looked at because if it was in need of soldering i am not attempting that in my old age :) waaaay too shaky. Soon as i get it back i will be sure to post a picture for you guys since it took me over 3 hours to figure out how to post the first photograph might be awhile . Thanks for the help so far. Didn't even know this website existed glad my buddy told me about it!

Jack D.
 
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Jack I was experiencing those types of issues as well, and eventually had to ship the preamp to Paul for servicing. Over time, a few of the connections were spotty and the pre was crackling and distorting when I would play. Once the pre came back though the bass sounded better than it ever had!!
 
Jack I was experiencing those types of issues as well, and eventually had to ship the preamp to Paul for servicing. Over time, a few of the connections were spotty and the pre was crackling and distorting when I would play. Once the pre came back though the bass sounded better than it ever had!!
Yes I have a feeling that's what im going to have to do just to be sure. If I may ask how much was the shipping to England for something like that?

Jack D.
 
Yes I have a feeling that's what im going to have to do just to be sure. If I may ask how much was the shipping to England for something like that?

Jack D.

you should be able to ship in a small flat rate international box.

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its very simple and easy to take out the preamps. turn around on the preamp work is relatively quick too, most cases, you'll get it back in 3.5 weeks time. cost can go anywhere was £65 - £85 (or more) depending if anything major needs to be replaced (pot, battery clip, etc). they accept paypal now, so no need to do bank transfers, but if you do not use paypal, then bank transfers would be the only other option....FWIW, this will be the best investment you could ever do on your Wal...:thumbsup:
 
you should be able to ship in a small flat rate international box.

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its very simple and easy to take out the preamps. turn around on the preamp work is relatively quick too, most cases, you'll get it back in 3.5 weeks time. cost can go anywhere was £65 - £85 (or more) depending if anything major needs to be replaced (pot, battery clip, etc). they accept paypal now, so no need to do bank transfers, but if you do not use paypal, then bank transfers would be the only other option....FWIW, this will be the best investment you could ever do on your Wal...:thumbsup:
Thank you all for the quick reply's you think I should send the pickups as well? just so everything has been properly gone through.
 
Thank you all for the quick reply's you think I should send the pickups as well? just so everything has been properly gone through.

unless you think you're having issues with the PU, sure........other than that, i wouldn't bother. the PU's are typically solid and don't need servicing.


Soon as i get it back i will be sure to post a picture for you guys since it took me over 3 hours to figure out how to post the first photograph

i just posted this in another club thread but posting pictures (TB hosting the pics) is pretty easy .... just copy and paste pretty much.....

The Rickenbacker Club Part Twelve

**edit**

you can drag and drop too!!!
 
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Ok thanks for the instruction on the photographs I'm an older guy so bare with me. As stated before once I get it back I will post a few photo's unless my daughter has a few of me actually playing it. I will see. I mentioned the pickups before because they seem unbalanced where if I strike really hard its very distorted like and even clips my bass head preamp wonder if the poles are too high or something. Like I said I been playing the hell out of it for 8 or 9 years so probably in need of a tune up.

Jack D.