Wal Bass Club.

[Thorsoundcore]

Some of you might remember this pic from the old Dudepit Wal forum; I have newer pics of some of these basses individually, but I haven't done a full family shot since this one... Enjoy!

is that a COPPERBURST wal in the top right?!?!? where in the hell do i sign up??!

 

[Toolmybass]

Very cool! Never heard of any multiple layer bodies. Seems like 1981 was Wal's experimental year. I'll post my "Custom" in a few.

Really? going to look in my Wal vault'o pics

Both of my Wal's ...1982 MkI + 2003 MKII had this extra layer....just realized that I thought they all did.....no?

 

[mikeswals]

is that a COPPERBURST wal in the top right?!?!? where in the hell do i sign up??!

Not copperburst, that's a tobaccoburst Pro model.

 

[vegas532]

Could I get a number please? I applied a few weeks ago, but never got a number:

W3850, a lefty that formerly belonged to Steve Chesney.

Is that the old Olive Ash one? If so, that's literally the first Wal I ever played. Met him in a club in Orange Park because I was debating ordering one and never played one in person. If that's it, that's the bass that made me get off the fence.

It's a killer bass..tone for days!!

 

[bassplace]

Here's mine. Neck dated 3-30-81. ProIIe electronics but rear-loaded. Paddle headstock with "Custom Bass" and SN JG1153. Pretty much a parts bass. Another rear-loaded ProIIe turned up yahoo forum a few months ago. If I remember correctly, Pete said he made 3 that way the one time I talked with him. Originally was natural finish and fretless but had a considerable gash in the body around the vol pots when I got it so had it refinished and fretted around 84. Needs a trip to Wal to clean up electronics and a defretting.

dunc

 

[Toolmybass]

Is that the old Olive Ash one? If so, that's literally the first Wal I ever played. Met him in a club in Orange Park because I was debating ordering one and never played one in person. If that's it, that's the bass that made me get off the fence.

It's a killer bass..tone for days!!

Really?.....you played a lefty?...i tried playing a lefty once and had trouble with Smoke on the Water...lol

 

[vegas532]

Really?.....you played a lefty?...i tried playing a lefty once and had trouble with Smoke on the Water...lol

Yes, sir. I told you I was friendless, Dean.

 

[Moonbass Alpha]

Both of my Wal's ...1982 MkI + 2003 MKII had this extra layer....just realized that I thought they all did.....no?

To the best of my knowledge, solid-colour Wals usually have 1-piece mahogany bodies, while natural/trans/burst/etc bodies are mostly 5-piece laminates; P.B. 1656 and a few other instruments made during the same period have 7-piece laminate bodies.

Brendan

 

[matthewfoote]

To the best of my knowledge, solid-colour Wals usually have 1-piece mahogany bodies, while natural/trans/burst/etc bodies are mostly 5-piece laminates; P.B. 1656 and a few other instruments made during the same period have 7-piece laminate bodies.

Brendan

I owned the first white poly 5 string. The body was solid Oak!

 

[mikeswals]

Really?.....you played a lefty?...i tried playing a lefty once and had trouble with Smoke on the Water...lol

Steve Chesney's basses were all strung upsidedown for a lefty. Meaning any righty could flip the bass over and play them.

 

[vegas532]

Steve Chesney's basses were all strung upsidedown for a lefty. Meaning any righty could flip the bass over and play them.

And, of course, that factor. It was just playing on an upside-down body.

 

[Toolmybass]

Steve Chesney's basses were all strung upsidedown for a lefty. Meaning any righty could flip the bass over and play them.

ahh!!

 

[EduardoK]

1981 WAL PRO ll CUSTOM BASS
Number please!

How uncommon are 4 string Wals with a 1.5" nut width?... I WANT ONE !

 

[whodom]

Is that the old Olive Ash one? If so, that's literally the first Wal I ever played. Met him in a club in Orange Park because I was debating ordering one and never played one in person. If that's it, that's the bass that made me get off the fence.

It's a killer bass..tone for days!!

That's it- it does sound pretty awesome. The guy I bought it from was unaware Steve strings his basses upside down; it was strung "normally" for a lefty when I got it. The original nut was kind of a mess and wasn't even glued in place. I eventually had it replaced by a local luthier.

 

[AndroWal]

Protected by Andro S Kotula by ASKotula on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

Short newish composition of mine. Mellow piece on which I used a fretted Wal Mark III with Shedua facings for both bass parts. Bridge pick-up is favored with just a little neck pick-up blended-in.

 

[Thorsoundcore]

Not copperburst, that's a tobaccoburst Pro model.

that's definatly a tobacco burst of it's own right there. looks almost identical to the copperburst teles they had at GC.

 

[chris.gotfunk]

Has anyone on here ordered a new Wal in the states? I am considering getting one, but have never even seen a Wal in person.

 

[mikeswals]

Man! totally sad news from the Wal site:

It is with deepest sadness that we must pass on the news that Pete "The Fish" Stevens, co-founder of Wal Bass Guitars, passed away in the early hours of Wednesday 28th December. He had recently celebrated his 65th birthday.
As many in the Wal family will know, Pete had suffered from chronic respiratory problems for many years. The world of music has lost a great innovator and a true craftsman, and we have lost a dear friend.

 

[Toolmybass]

Man! totally sad news from the Wal site:

Very sad Mike....I imagine my estate will be the one that sells my Pete made MKII, because I don't think I will be ever able to, while I'm upright and breathing

Dean

 

[matthewfoote]

That is sad news, the times I met Pete [and also Ian] were a real pleasure and he was a true craftsman.

Matthew