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I second that. My headstock has small lacquer cracks. At first, I was concerned it was the maple and hornbeam cracking and freaked for a sec..
So, unless custom order, does Paul do satin on body and and gloss on neck & headstock? You know if it's oil-based? Oil usually dries on the yellowish side, so I was thinking so. Have no idea
Well, people need to think this through usually.....why does one "need" a B string?
I can honestly ask the same for why people need a 24 fret Wal VS a 21 fret Wal....it's all person preference.
Frankly with extra frets....really...we play bass! You want low notes, not high notes.
The 5 string was invented in the 80's and Wal was one of the builders on the front lines making this happen because keyboards and synths started stealing our range....so we came back with a vengeance!
I like the feel of a B string for the most part and often use it as a dynamic thumb rest.
I still have another 5 string Wal and will always own a 5 string Wal.
I owned a 2003 Wal MK2 4 string in American Walnut for a very brief time and felt I let it go too quickly.
I had been so focused on 5 strings, that I just couldn't do 4's. I just really missed having the B string for quick access to some lower notes.
Now, since I got this Alleva Coppolo KBP 4 string....and also went through owning a Sadowsky NYC Will Lee 4 and two Fodera Monarch Deluxe 4's.....I figured....I have to try another Wal 4 stringer! And a really nice guy from this club got in touch. 4 strings have a different feel than 5's. They're different animals. Neck width differences, number of strings, and regardless of what others think, I feel there is a sonic difference between the two.
There is physically less wood in 4 string VS a 5 string. So, I guess my answer is.....I prefer to own both 4's and 5's as oppose to one or the other.
No, satin body/gloss neck is not standard with Paul. His standard is satin on both. it's a poly, not oil.
Gloss is optional on either neck or body or both, but comes at a cost, usually starting at £360+ for clear gloss per each piece. Colored glosses can run £450-500 each piece.
Clear gloss on my Mk2 body amounted to £620 when I added the option in January 2018
Hey there all, I am looking at getting my Wal re-finished in the current thin clear coat, but having the work done here where i live rather than getting it done at the Wal Workshop. I am planning on only getting the body refinished as it has a bit too much wear and tear through the finish. The neck doesn't need to be refinished and i dont plan on having any work done to it. Does anybody know where you can buy the same thin clear finish or know the name of it, used on the bodies of Wal basses at the Wal workshop / factory?
Thanks
Thanks
I have a Wal fretless for sale in the 'Europe and International' Classified section.
The Bass is in Ireland, but I am happy to ship.
For Sale - Wal Fretless custom series bass 1989
Many thanks
Gerry
The Bass is in Ireland, but I am happy to ship.
For Sale - Wal Fretless custom series bass 1989
Many thanks
Gerry
Cool. Always helpful with the info! The back of my neck has worn down to what I would consider "satin" over the years— but right above the brass nut is super shiny. Shinier than what I'd think of as "satin". But for uniformity, satin all-around makes sense sans extra option. Gloss looks nice, but tends to get sticky (to me). Poly finishes can easily be oil-based. Cleanup more difficult obviously.
I don't need to think anything through. I want ALL the notes. Would I dig an MK1 4? You bet. Does endless meandering on higher register bass work get irritating? You bet.
I'm pretty sure it was gonna be invented no matter what. The piano hits 23Hz and that's been around for several hundred years.
Sweet. Congratulations on a nice trade. I asked because it looked like you were offloading everything for 4-strings only. I can believe there's a tonal difference between a 4s and 5s for sure. But had no idea the number of strings between a 4 and 5 were different. Less wood, too, you say? Mind blown.I like the feel of a B string for the most part and often use it as a dynamic thumb rest.
I still have another 5 string Wal and will always own a 5 string Wal.
I owned a 2003 Wal MK2 4 string in American Walnut for a very brief time and felt I let it go too quickly.
I had been so focused on 5 strings, that I just couldn't do 4's. I just really missed having the B string for quick access to some lower notes.
Now, since I got this Alleva Coppolo KBP 4 string....and also went through owning a Sadowsky NYC Will Lee 4 and two Fodera Monarch Deluxe 4's.....I figured....I have to try another Wal 4 stringer! And a really nice guy from this club got in touch. 4 strings have a different feel than 5's. They're different animals. Neck width differences, number of strings, and regardless of what others think, I feel there is a sonic difference between the two.
There is physically less wood in 4 string VS a 5 string. So, I guess my answer is.....I prefer to own both 4's and 5's as oppose to one or the other.
I hear you on wanting all the notes..I’ve always been a 4 string guy and when I traded up to a 5 I felt uncomfortable. I have been looking for a 4 string mk2 or mk3 for awhile now and after playing last night for awhile..I started to question if I’d miss the B string and I think I would. I’ve spent so much time playing it the last year that I’ve gotten really accustomed to having that extra range as well as just having access to hit certain notes higher up on the neck.
I don't need to think anything through. I want ALL the notes. Would I dig an MK1 4? You bet. Does endless meandering on higher register bass work get irritating? You bet. I'm pretty sure it was gonna be invented no matter what. The piano hits 23Hz and that's been around for several hundred years.
You can do whatever you want. I'm not telling you or anyone else what to do.
If anything, realize the power of "want" and then finally you'll get what you "need".
Also, I was identifying how useless the upper frets get beyond the 20th really.
Fret quantity or even string quantity can be argued endlessly as everyone has a different frame of reference of how the experience life. No two people are the same...as per share different perspectives and experiences, good and bad.
Well, there are also reasons why things happen, like a 5th bass string or more strings.
Whether they catch on, that's another story. Why are many players playing a passive P-Bass right now with 4 strings? That's been happening for a while. Would have been bad timing to invent a 5 string that would have barely ever flied. So, the piano was ahead of it's time! It's a master instrument afterall....it should have all the notes!
Sweet. Congratulations on a nice trade. I asked because it looked like you were offloading everything for 4-strings only. I can believe there's a tonal difference between a 4s and 5s for sure. But had no idea the number of strings between a 4 and 5 were different. Less wood, too, you say? Mind blown.
Yep.....in general......4 strings are more "open" sounding as oppose to 5 strings. There's less wood that vibrates as you have less wood mass in the instrument. However, wood being a natural product is unpredictable. Even wood from the same tree. Luthiers do their tap tests to get the most musically resonant wood they can find regardless of species. But it's not until a bass is finally built.....in completion....that we finally get to experience the end result. So, that's why I say "in general"....when comparing 4's and 5's together.....you'll get a different experience. Some people say....both sound like basses......just like people generalize colour. Well try telling that to someone who designs paint or does photo editing? Heck, what would a colour blind person say! All different perspectives! Trust your ears.....enjoy yourself....and don't fret over it! Hahaha
All I can say is, get both! 
Horses for courses.
Horses for courses.
Posted to the FB group but not a lot of traffic on my post:
Anyone use Dunlop super bright nickels? Thoughts on them if you have or do? Kind of want a brighter string then the regular Dunlop nickels but don’t really want to go the SS route.
Anyone use Dunlop super bright nickels? Thoughts on them if you have or do? Kind of want a brighter string then the regular Dunlop nickels but don’t really want to go the SS route.
Might be from the same slab? Mine's a late 2010.
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They certainly are bright. I've never used the regulars, so cant give a comparison. Give em a try.
