• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Wal Bass Club.

#9,801
Toolmybass said:
My current MKII took me months (accounting for knob twisting) to get it the way i wanted. Lol The Walnut was almost “plug and play”
All my basses live in their cases and have a humidor and hygrometer in each one to keep from moving a smidge.
As you know, living in Canada, a perfect set-up can go askew when humidity drops (+’s) 20% in a matter of 24hrs.
Click to expand...

My basses live in their cases too.
They all stay in the same room.
All I have to do is adjust the truss rods if needed...but for my Wal 5s...it’s hardly ever.
 
#9,803
bassballs27 said:
My issue with any of the Wal 4s I’ve played is I’ve had a tough time getting really low action across the fretboard.
Lots of buzzing or slight neck twists or humps. It’s a real pain, but we’re all at the mercy of wood.

As I said in an earlier post, I should just stick with 5s and forget 4s. Lightning doesn’t strike twice and sure got lucky with what I own.
Click to expand...
My MK3 came from Brazil,the temperature change and the bass had less than thirteen hours of playing time definetly affected the playability. Now I love the way the Wal plays, I set my action low I plan on getting the bass Pleked in Nashville which I'm sure will make the Wal play even better.

mikeswals said:
So the black poly fiver actually has walnut facings?

Actually not the first time I've heard that on a black Wal.
Click to expand...
The Poly Black MK3 Bassballs and I owned had Walnut facings I often wondered what the Walnut looked like beneath the finish but would have never had it stripped had I kept the bass.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: mikeswals
#9,804
Musicman1901 said:
These are words of wisdom. I was gonna put a deposit on a new Wal in October 2017. I said I’d hang tight and wait for used. Here we are in June of 2019. Never got ahold of what I wanted, don’t have a deposit down on a new one. Not to mention I’d be in the home stretch of my build at this point and for a lower price. They’ve gone up even higher since then and you can bet they’ll go up again by 2020. If you have the money just put a deposit down. You can always sell a 5er later to recoup the cash if money is the culprit.
Click to expand...
I just sent Paul a price quote for a MK3 four string with these specs.
Quilted Maple facings with matching headstock
Ebony Board
High Gloss finish TBD currently dig Trans Blackburst
Custom neck profile , slightly thinner front to back without the soft V more "C" shape.
The price? $10,575 USD!
 
  • Like
Reactions: graphics1988
#9,805
GHOST AT said:
I just sent Paul a price quote for a MK3 four string with these specs.
Quilted Maple facings with matching headstock
Ebony Board
High Gloss finish TBD currently dig Trans Blackburst
Custom neck profile , slightly thinner front to back without the soft V more "C" shape.
The price? $10,575 USD!
Click to expand...

You sent him an email without payment and he responded quickly? Magic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WaveyDavey
#9,807
GHOST AT said:
I just sent Paul a price quote for a MK3 four string with these specs.
Quilted Maple facings with matching headstock
Ebony Board
High Gloss finish TBD currently dig Trans Blackburst
Custom neck profile , slightly thinner front to back without the soft V more "C" shape.
The price? $10,575 USD!
Click to expand...
Don’t feet too bad. That would be about $14,175 Canadian.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DavidbCan
#9,808
LowEndHum said:
You sent him an email without payment and he responded quickly? Magic.
Click to expand...
I guess I just lucked out, but didn't feel lucky when I got the quoted price LOL. My specs were for a pimped out Wal so I knew it would be close to the $10,000 mark so I wasn't excactly surprised. To be honest $10,575 + shipping and duty + 27 month wait I would love a custom Wal just don't know if I'm ready to commit. Wal's aren't going to get cheaper so it's a dilemma. At this moment 90% sure I'm going to pass and be grateful for the Mk3 I have!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Les Fret and LowEndHum
#9,813
GHOST AT said:
My MK3 came from Brazil,the temperature change and the bass had less than thirteen hours of playing time definetly affected the playability. Now I love the way the Wal plays, I set my action low I plan on getting the bass Pleked in Nashville which I'm sure will make the Wal play even better.

The Poly Black MK3 Bassballs and I owned had Walnut facings I often wondered what the Walnut looked like beneath the finish but would have never had it stripped had I kept the bass.
Click to expand...

Now that was a bass I should have never traded! That was a wicked bass but I preferred my Poly Black MK2 over it. It was more similar than unique but still should have kept it.

Glad you got a cool Wal 4 man!
 
#9,815
TonyRo said:
I want a Wal bad and I think they're wonderful sounding and looking instruments, but that's a silly price to pay for a slab of wood with some pickups on it.
Click to expand...

It’s whatever floats your boat, right?

The way I justify higher prices for basses is think of how long a builder spends on the bass in hours and maybe take your personal wage per hour.
They’re definitely spending months on these basses and it becomes much more than a piece of wood that makes sound.
It makes sounds like no other bass on the planet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GHOST AT, toothguy, TolerancEJ and 1 other person
#9,816
bassballs27 said:
Now that was a bass I should have never traded! That was a wicked bass but I preferred my Poly Black MK2 over it. It was more similar than unique but still should have kept it.

Glad you got a cool Wal 4 man!
Click to expand...
That was a killer bass! When I get the MK3 Pleked I may consider having a brass nut installed. All the basses I have owned the ones that played the best IMO had brass nuts. And with our former MK3 I seemed to be able to get the action lower without buzz than the four string. I had the action on the five the same height as my Fodera and Spector It might not make a difference and I don't think it would be that expensive to have one installed. Someone told me the Plek machine cuts the slots on the nut I don't know if thats true.
 
#9,818
GHOST AT said:
I just sent Paul a price quote for a MK3 four string with these specs.
Quilted Maple facings with matching headstock
Ebony Board
High Gloss finish TBD currently dig Trans Blackburst
Custom neck profile , slightly thinner front to back without the soft V more "C" shape.
The price? $10,575 USD!
Click to expand...

Those specs are darn close to my Mk3 and I sure love mine!

4-string-Mk3-with-quilted-maple-facings-and-a-fretted-ebony-fingerboard..jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Warren Bassett, gmacg, GHOST AT and 4 others
#9,820
GHOST AT said:
That was a killer bass! When I get the MK3 Pleked I may consider having a brass nut installed. All the basses I have owned the ones that played the best IMO had brass nuts. And with our former MK3 I seemed to be able to get the action lower without buzz than the four string. I had the action on the five the same height as my Fodera and Spector It might not make a difference and I don't think it would be that expensive to have one installed. Someone told me the Plek machine cuts the slots on the nut I don't know if thats true.
Click to expand...

That’s a great point!
And of course all my Wal 5s have a brass nut. I didn’t like the nut on the MK1 I just owned. The slots seemed really deep. I guess MK2 and MK3 have a similar plastic nut? Is it plastic? I never know as there are so many different materials used for them now.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back