Wal Bass Club.

[kulit17]

Please excuse if posted already... this is a bit of a unique piece:

Wal Wal / Sims 4 string bass one-off unique 2020 Black | Alby's Bass Boutique | Reverb

Anyone have more info?

don't think its been posted here in TB at all, but it has been posted a couple times in the Wal FB. The current owner took delivery of this a couple weeks ago. Apparently it was a project that Pete and Martin Sims were working on, but with Pete's unfortunate passing nothing came out of it. Martin ended up finishing this project according to the seller and fitted his electronics that he uses on Enfield basses. Looking at all the pictures and the soundbytes the owner posted, its really not my cup of tea - but i think its due to the amount the owner is trying to get for it is more of the issue. He had is posted for 8000 Euro and dropped it to 6500 euro. I personally thing he'll be lucky to find a buyer wanting to get it for 4000 euro. Its really an Enfield bass in a Wal body.

It does have a pretty interesting story, but for what the seller is asking for it - no thanks!

what would've been cool though is if Pete gave a set of Wal electronics to Martin Sims to go to town with like he did with Martin Petersen with Sei

 

[graphics1988]

don't think its been posted here in TB at all, but it has been posted a couple times in the Wal FB. The current owner took delivery of this a couple weeks ago. Apparently it was a project that Pete and Martin Sims were working on, but with Pete's unfortunate passing nothing came out of it. Martin ended up finishing this project according to the seller and fitted his electronics that he uses on Enfield basses. Looking at all the pictures and the soundbytes the owner posted, its really not my cup of tea - but i think its due to the amount the owner is trying to get for it is more of the issue. He had is posted for 8000 Euro and dropped it to 6500 euro. I personally thing he'll be lucky to find a buyer wanting to get it for 4000 euro. Its really an Enfield bass in a Wal body.

It does have a pretty interesting story, but for what the seller is asking for it - no thanks!

what would've been cool though is if Pete gave a set of Wal electronics to Martin Sims to go to town with like he did with Martin Petersen with Sei

View attachment 4106976

Agreed. Especially when you consider that the Wal "magic" (ie: cost) is their electronics and pickups...this bass is none of that. Its neat..but not THAT neat with the price.
That pic of the fretless is sweet! Would like to hear that one!

 

[kulit17]

Agreed. Especially when you consider that the Wal "magic" (ie: cost) is their electronics and pickups...this bass is none of that. Its neat..but not THAT neat with the price.
That pic of the fretless is sweet! Would like to hear that one!

ya it would be cool to know who owns that now...wonder if that person knows it's a 8000 euro bass

U.K. Sale: Sei Bass Flamboyant 5 String Fretless

 

[mikeswals]

I do not believe this was a project of Pete and Martin.
If a new Wal got LED's, it would get sent over as a carcass because he does have to cut into the neck for the neck light install, and then sent back to be painted/finished.
I believe this is simply a carcass that Pete sent over near his final days and didn't care to get back.

This is IMO.

 

[bassballs27]

don't think its been posted here in TB at all, but it has been posted a couple times in the Wal FB. The current owner took delivery of this a couple weeks ago. Apparently it was a project that Pete and Martin Sims were working on, but with Pete's unfortunate passing nothing came out of it. Martin ended up finishing this project according to the seller and fitted his electronics that he uses on Enfield basses. Looking at all the pictures and the soundbytes the owner posted, its really not my cup of tea - but i think its due to the amount the owner is trying to get for it is more of the issue. He had is posted for 8000 Euro and dropped it to 6500 euro. I personally thing he'll be lucky to find a buyer wanting to get it for 4000 euro. Its really an Enfield bass in a Wal body.

It does have a pretty interesting story, but for what the seller is asking for it - no thanks!

what would've been cool though is if Pete gave a set of Wal electronics to Martin Sims to go to town with like he did with Martin Petersen with Sei

View attachment 4106976

I just about got pulled in by this Wal MK3 4 with odd pups and preamp.
I offered up this bass in trade:
For Trade - Buckeye Burl Fodera Imperial Custom (Matt Garrison Shape) 5 - with Video Clips
Quickly had second thoughts for the exact reasons you stated above!

For those interested in hearing a Fodera MG, I just posted videos this afternoon.
The fourth one down I played in dual coil mode which gave me a little taste of the more modern somewhat Wal tone when played through my Ampeg SVT-VR. My other clips (the first one is all talk, second two have playing) which are done through my Bergantino B Amp for those interested in checking them out. I'll apologize for "work in progress" playing. LOL

 

[kulit17]

I do not believe this was a project of Pete and Martin.
If a new Wal got LED's, it would get sent over as a carcass because he does have to cut into the neck for the neck light install, and then sent back to be painted/finished.
I believe this is simply a carcass that Pete sent over near his final days and didn't care to get back.

This is IMO.

You could be right! I just noticed the logo on the headstock is a repro too. Same type of logo used when I had i had Martin refinish my maple mk3 to red and add LEDs.

It's missing the made in England underneath the logo and the trademark indicator.

 

[Toolmybass]

I would bet my own Wal that nothing on this bass was made at Wal HQ.

 

[graphics1988]

I would bet my own Wal that nothing on this bass was made at Wal HQ.

Yayyyy! The body was...so...when do you want me to pick up your, i mean 'my' new Wal from you? I can be there in an hour.

 

[Toolmybass]

Yayyyy! The body was...so...when do you want me to pick up your, i mean 'my' new Wal from you? I can be there in an hour.

Paul didnt make it.....and i highly doubt that Sims had this sitting around for 2 decades.
Different screw hole placement and amount of screws for cavity cover are different. (another hint it wasn't Wal made)
There is a maker thats current producing REALLY good replicas of bridges....
and no way anyone would let a headstock that is that poorly made leave Wal.
Im open for any suggestions to change my mind.

 

[graphics1988]

Paul didnt make it.....and i highly doubt that Sims had this sitting around for over a decade.
Different screw hole placement and amount of screws for cavity cover are different. (another hint it was Wal made)
There is a maker thats current producing REALLY good replicas of bridges....
and no way anyone would let a headstock that is that poorly made leave Wal.
Im open for any suggestions to change my mind.

pffft...minor technicalities.

 

[Toolmybass]

pffft...minor technicalities.

 

[bassballs27]

It appears the back pick-up is physically bigger than the neck pick-up too.

 

[bassballs27]

There's this too in his ad on reverb.com...

 

[Tjluke]

Hi all, I'm discussing on an italian forum about famous/professional Wal bass players. Since I'm close to 50, so definitely not a teen anymore , I'm not really aware of new bands, so I ask: are there famous bass players that started using Wal basses after 2000?
For "famous bass players" let's say I'm referring to anyone playing in bands, formed after 2000 (so definitely not Tool or RUSH - for example), that sell millions of records (or collect millions of views) worldwide.
Thanks in advance!

 

[2112]

Hi all, I'm discussing on an italian forum about famous/professional Wal bass players. Since I'm close to 50, so definitely not a teen anymore , I'm not really aware of new bands, so I ask: is there any famous bass player that started using Wal basses after 2000?
For "famous bass player" let's say I'm referring to someone playing in bands, formed after 2000 (so definitely not Tool or RUSH), that sells milions of records (or collect milions of views) worldwide.
Thanks in advance!

My first thought was "Earl Pickrell and the United Rugs", but then I saw where you specified "sells millions of albums worldwide". I'm not sure Earl and the boys have sold even one album.

I'm guessing there aren't many answers to your question. The only player that comes to mind is Sam Rivers of Limp Bizkit. According to his Wikipedia article, Rivers starting using Wals around 2005.

 

[mikeswals]

Well, our very own memeber here; PJ from Jota Quest. They are latin pop rock band, but they are huge worldwide. And he has an army of Wals.

 

[nibs208]

Well, our very own memeber here; PJ from Jota Quest. They are latin pop rock band, but they are huge worldwide. And he has an army of Wals.

This was my first thought. I had to look it up and apparently they formed in 1993.

 

[Tjluke]

Thanks for the replies.
But, what about bass players in "new bands" (worldwide famous and formed after 2000) using Wal, no one?

 

[2112]

Thanks for the replies.
But, what about bass players in "new bands" (worldwide famous and formed after 2000) using Wal, no one?

I think before we answer that particular question we have to ask if there are ANY bassists, not necessarily just Wal players, in such bands. The only world-famous bassist that's risen post-2000 that comes to my mind is Davide Baile (davie504), and he isn't part of a world-famous band that I know of. And I've never seen him play a Wal. So I'm guessing there's nobody out there that meets these criteria.

 

[Tjluke]

I think before we answer that particular question we have to ask if there are ANY bassists, not necessarily just Wal players, in such bands. The only world-famous bassist that's risen post-2000 that comes to my mind is Davide Baile (davie504), and he isn't part of a world-famous band that I know of. And I've never seen him play a Wal. So I'm guessing there's nobody out there that meets these criteria.

Ok, I understand what you mean