I asked him for a photo before, but he never sent it. This time I thought I'd send a payment before the currency exchange gets worse for me, then ask for a pic. Success on both!
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Wal Mk2 4 String
Mk3 neck joint & body heel
Ebony fretboard
Neck reinforcement
Brass nut
Zebrano facings
Body gloss finish
Dunlop strap locks
Black Schaller M4S Lights & string retainer
What a cool action shot, nice looking stage too.
Here are some better pics of my recently acquired MK3 courtesy of my girlfriend. I love this Wal, the Ebony board really makes it shine!
It's going to my local
Luthier tomorrow to do whatever it takes to get the action lower. I have the saddles to the floor of the bridge, and the neck's
now flat, yet the action still isn't low enough. I think a shim will help and filing the nut will get the action l like.
It's going to my local
Luthier tomorrow to do whatever it takes to get the action lower. I have the saddles to the floor of the bridge, and the neck's
now flat, yet the action still isn't low enough. I think a shim will help and filing the nut will get the action l like.
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Perhaps you could install a shim, however, the Mk3 has a strange asymmetrical neck pocket which might as well require the thinking of a luthier. I have installed neck shims on several basses now, including my Mk2. It does help with action. Although you are correct about the top nut. I am going to take my bass to a luthier and install a shiny brass nut soon.
Your photos make me glad I switched my fretboard wood to ebony. I can't wait for the new bass.
Your photos make me glad I switched my fretboard wood to ebony. I can't wait for the new bass.
Thank you for pointing out the asymmetrical neck pocket didn't realise the MK3s had them. I was looking at the Maple neck shims at Stewmac I thought about doing the work myself, now that you alerted me about the neck pocket I will let the Luthier do the work.
I just now realised the five strings have the brass nut when I briefly owned the MK3 five string I was able to get the desired action on the fiver, don't know if the brass or plastic nut has anything to do with lower action.
I like the relief around .010 using a feeler gauge. I think you will love Ebony on a Wal the specs on your bass are awesome! Are you going with flatsawn or quartersawn on your Ebony facings?
Yeah, I too was gonna say the nut slots may have to be cut a tad deeper, I like the nut end really low so give me more room to set the bridge more to my taste.
Thanks Mike between filing the nut lower, and a shim should get me closer to what I'm used to. My Fodera has spoiled me!
I have gotten used to the higher action on the Wal but I had left hand issues in the past so I want to stick with lower action. I read Paul sets the action pretty high when the Wal's leave the shop.
Mike I haven't used a pick in twenty years I caught one from Monster Magnet's opening band last month and decided to use the pick on the Wal what a sound!
I didn't know you could customize the cut type for fretboard woods, if I could I would have it plainsawn. Same for the Zebrano facings, I would love to see the amazing swirls and striking thick wild stripes of the wood. Quartersawn, it just seems like a book, although still great looking on it's own.
Sorry I meant quarter or flat on the Zebrawood. Never have seen flatsawn Ebony If its Indian or Gaboon I don't think it would look that different
I agree flatsawn Zebrawood is the way to go!
When it comes time for the facing selection, he will email you quite a few samples to see what you're after.
Sorry to ask, I never read about neck reinforcements on a Wal; is it an option Paul offers or is it your request? What kind of reinforcement is being adopted?
Thanks
It's a non standard option at an upcharge, so it is a request. I currently have another bass with neck reinforcement. It's beyond rock solid. For this reason, I asked for reinforcement.
"For your neck we will use two carbon fibre rods that are set either side of the truss rod within the neck" - Paul, March 2018.
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Just testing the waters to see if there's any Wal Club or any Wal owners for that matter who may be interested in a bass with a butterfly on the headstock (aka Fodera)? I've got a couple great ones right now for possible trade and I'm always interested in Wal 4 or 5 string basses (fretted or fretless). I've got a wicked Alleva Coppolo KBP4 4 string P Bass too. And an Alembic Brown Bass 4 string (Stanley Clarke) 30.75 Scale. Start a conversation with me if interested. 
This is an interesting post...when I bought my first Wal in 2012 I never would’ve imagined it being on par with the cost of Foderas and now I see people trading them pretty evenly. It’s surprising to see such a massive spike in the price of Wals yet Foderas (although still expensive) haven’t seen that huge price hike in recent years. Not to my knowledge anyways.
Good old supply and demand . Fodera went from a two and a half year build time in 2009 to a four to five month wait in 2019!
The last time I checked Wal's build time is 27 months.
