Alright, which one of you snagged that black & gold Mk2 5 string from Ebay? 
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for those that have a facebook acct. two popped up available, both in EU.
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and I believe this is Honduras Mahogany faced.
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and I believe this is Honduras Mahogany faced.
Less than a day, me thinks. it sold at 4:40 AM. so probably listed before someone went to bed.
Update on the fate of poor ol’ W2503
As some of you may recall, I purchased a dilapidated and delaminated 1985 Mk 1 last Fall from a seller a Reverb (see my August 4, 2018 post on this thread for the “before” pictures). I subsequently removed all of the hardware and electronics and placed the bass in the capable hands of Ed Cox at Cox Guitar Repair in lovely Saratoga County, New York.
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Ed opted to take a very conservative approach to the restoration, and rather than using heat and clamps to force the facings back into place, instead rehydrated the body for several months (“Let’s see what the wood wants to do”), resulting in the facings coming back close to 100% on their own. Only then was the body re-glued and clamped.
Ed then set to work lifting the player wear from the top before proceeding with the refinish.
There are a few minor spots where the accent laminate is missing and which will be hit with a color-matched filler. Those with sharp eyes will also note that the center seam did not come back together completely. As a result, I’ll be speaking with Ed about the possibility of adding a “skunk stripe” of rosewood or ebony to eliminate any gaps - something like this:
Finally, we’ll discuss the refinish - my inclination at this point is to use a few thin coats (as few as practicable) of vintage tinted clear nitrocellulose to try and recreate that beautiful honey color it had (and that only 30+ years of aging can truly achieve), bringing out that beautiful birdseye figure. (On a related note, does anyone know what type of finish Wal typically uses on its satin finished basses?)
The electronics are on their way back to Wal HQ for a refurb, and a new set of control knobs and screws will be installed once the refin is complete.
For anyone interested, Ed has documented his Wal repair efforts on his blog at:
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Pics of the completed project to follow.
Comments welcome!
As some of you may recall, I purchased a dilapidated and delaminated 1985 Mk 1 last Fall from a seller a Reverb (see my August 4, 2018 post on this thread for the “before” pictures). I subsequently removed all of the hardware and electronics and placed the bass in the capable hands of Ed Cox at Cox Guitar Repair in lovely Saratoga County, New York.
Invalid Link Removed
Ed opted to take a very conservative approach to the restoration, and rather than using heat and clamps to force the facings back into place, instead rehydrated the body for several months (“Let’s see what the wood wants to do”), resulting in the facings coming back close to 100% on their own. Only then was the body re-glued and clamped.
Ed then set to work lifting the player wear from the top before proceeding with the refinish.
There are a few minor spots where the accent laminate is missing and which will be hit with a color-matched filler. Those with sharp eyes will also note that the center seam did not come back together completely. As a result, I’ll be speaking with Ed about the possibility of adding a “skunk stripe” of rosewood or ebony to eliminate any gaps - something like this:
Finally, we’ll discuss the refinish - my inclination at this point is to use a few thin coats (as few as practicable) of vintage tinted clear nitrocellulose to try and recreate that beautiful honey color it had (and that only 30+ years of aging can truly achieve), bringing out that beautiful birdseye figure. (On a related note, does anyone know what type of finish Wal typically uses on its satin finished basses?)
The electronics are on their way back to Wal HQ for a refurb, and a new set of control knobs and screws will be installed once the refin is complete.
For anyone interested, Ed has documented his Wal repair efforts on his blog at:
Invalid Link Removed
Pics of the completed project to follow.
Comments welcome!
Nice! Really great restoration job. Mr Cox clearly REALLY knows what he's doing!
One little note on the nitrocellulose finish. It will look lovely. However, don't that's not actually a finish that Wal have ever really used. The standard Custom series have always been finished in thin matt polyurethane finish IIRC.
Yep i emailed Paul from Wal and asked about the finish on my 1980 Wal because i was getting it refinished. He told me that my 1980 Wal finish had a 'AC lacquer with a matting agent' to achieve the satin finish. I didn't ask if they still use AC lacquers with mating agents for Wals manufactured today or if the finishing process has changed - maybe somebody else here knows?
Hey there, i had my Wal refinished too. I had posted these pics on the Wal FB and in case there are some people of TB who are not members the Wal FB page and havent seen the before and after pics refinish pics of my 1980 Wal here they are -
The problem my Wal had was with a faulty finish which was caused mainly by a white hazy look in the finish + it had some wear and tear in multiple areas of the body (eg slap / pop zone area). I had a local luthier in Dunedin New Zealand do the work - the results were outstanding. You might be fooled to believe it was a different bass and looks at least 10 years younger ha.
The problem my Wal had was with a faulty finish which was caused mainly by a white hazy look in the finish + it had some wear and tear in multiple areas of the body (eg slap / pop zone area). I had a local luthier in Dunedin New Zealand do the work - the results were outstanding. You might be fooled to believe it was a different bass and looks at least 10 years younger ha.
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He told me it was 'durasilk lacquer'. The luthier who done the refinish on my bass was Steve Barkman (Link Removed)
Still looking for another Wal 4.
Hoping for an MK2 or MK3.
No replies on Facebook.
I have a feeling I’m just meant to own and play Wal 5s!
Hoping for an MK2 or MK3.
No replies on Facebook.
I have a feeling I’m just meant to own and play Wal 5s!
Dare I pole the Wal Club to see if there is an 4 string Wal owner interested in my Wal MK2 5 string in Polyester Black?
PM me if interested...
Wait...I’m sure not too long ago, you said this was “THE” one, and would always keep it.
What has changed your mind?
The MKII 4 i sold you, stayed the least amount of time in your stable.
Its a sweet black poly bass, you will regret not keeping it!
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Let me first state that both of my 5 string MK2s are fantastic. But the simple answer is I have two of them. Both are Poly but how they differ is with fretboard material and facings. One is Indian rosewood and the other Indian Ebony.
Facings are Walnut VS Zebranowood.
And I will humbly admit that there is tonal difference between the two.
Where the big problem lies is trying to obtain a 4 string Wal these days aside from ordering new. The supply outweighs the demand. It is what it is.
So how does one get one? Well, offering up something great can make
Actually, that Walnut MK2 5 may have beat your MK2. To be more honest though, I didn’t like your former Walnut 4 string with super low action.
It just didn’t work for my playing style.
Ironically, I found this issue with the old MK1 I just sold.
Ironically both of my 5s pass with flying colours. Fantastic necks on these basses and maybe your right, I should just keep them. But then trying to get a Wal MK2 4 string I actually like...well I think new is almost the only way at this point.
I’m just more hopeful that a trade would work out.
