Interesting - mine is rippled ash top ....i should find this database and see how many were done. ...and yes, always ask the wife her opinion
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Interesting - mine is rippled ash top ....i should find this database and see how many were done. ...and yes, always ask the wife her opinion
84 of the 450 entries mention ash in the body, looks like 13 or so have ash facings specified as opposed to solid ash body.
@syntap one thing to note with that database that got revived - its not complete....it's probaly, at this point a fraction of all the Wals that are out there since it has no direct affiliation with Wal and data only gets entered if an owner wants to be added by contacting @TonyT
and some more:
It's original body is heavily damaged, so I had Paul made me a new (sycamore) body back in 2011.
Here's the whole story;
I used to own a MK3 5 string fretless (bought new in '98). Around 2006 I prefered 4 strings again. Pete Stevens wasn't in business anymore so selling my MK3 and ordering a new MK1 fretless 4 string wasn't an option.
So I decided to swap; Ian Leese (a British session player) had a MK1 fretless with a rosewood neck. I prefer ebony for fretless but Ian also had a spare ebony neck lying aroud so he was willing to add that one with the swap. The same week I took the ferry from Rotterdam(NL) to Hull(UK) and we swapped basses on a parking lot.
At home I swapped the necks and a few months later I was wondering where that ebony neck came from so I contacted Ian again. He told me the sad story of W2111..;
W2111 had a rare body of solid berlinia with Australian Walnut center stripe and signed off by Wal himself. A previous owner decided was too heavy and cut the body up to make it lighter. The body was also revarnished (with a brush). Ian bought it with a replacement body which was not very good, the bridge and pickups badly installed and the electrics were damaged, hence the reason the neck was removed, being the only useable part left...
I purchased the rest (including the demolished original body) of this Wal with the idea to have a new body made by a local luhier. Fortunately i never had the money to have it done at that time so when Paul took over Wal in 2009 I contacted him to make me a new body. I send all the parts and the fretless rosewood neck (which originally belonged to the fretless MK1 (W2714)) to Paul and he made me this beautifull Sycamore body, fretted the rosewood neck and put it all together so it's like new again!
I still have the damaged body, here's a picture (not for the faint hearted...).
Thanks! that one has a story...Gorgeous, Ron. The fretted MK1 on the left is über sexy
It's original body is heavily damaged, so I had Paul made me a new (sycamore) body back in 2011.
Here's the whole story;
I used to own a MK3 5 string fretless (bought new in '98). Around 2006 I prefered 4 strings again. Pete Stevens wasn't in business anymore so selling my MK3 and ordering a new MK1 fretless 4 string wasn't an option.
So I decided to swap; Ian Leese (a British session player) had a MK1 fretless with a rosewood neck. I prefer ebony for fretless but Ian also had a spare ebony neck lying aroud so he was willing to add that one with the swap. The same week I took the ferry from Rotterdam(NL) to Hull(UK) and we swapped basses on a parking lot.
At home I swapped the necks and a few months later I was wondering where that ebony neck came from so I contacted Ian again. He told me the sad story of W2111..;
W2111 had a rare body of solid berlinia with Australian Walnut center stripe and signed off by Wal himself. A previous owner decided was too heavy and cut the body up to make it lighter. The body was also revarnished (with a brush). Ian bought it with a replacement body which was not very good, the bridge and pickups badly installed and the electrics were damaged, hence the reason the neck was removed, being the only useable part left...
I purchased the rest (including the demolished original body) of this Wal with the idea to have a new body made by a local luhier. Fortunately i never had the money to have it done at that time so when Paul took over Wal in 2009 I contacted him to make me a new body. I send all the parts and the fretless rosewood neck (which originally belonged to the fretless MK1 (W2714)) to Paul and he made me this beautifull Sycamore body, fretted the rosewood neck and put it all together so it's like new again!
I still have the damaged body, here's a picture (not for the faint hearted...).
Attachments
Nice, my 85 fretless MK1 had a damaged body, the wenge facings had separations that were repaired. I sent it back in 2015 and had Paul put a new body on it with Sycamore facings, had all the electronics serviced, planed and refinished the neck, came back to me like a brand new bass.
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It's great to get an old damaged instrument back to new again!
Paul is a real craftsman.
Paul is a real craftsman.
Absolutely, I just used it because it is the only source of multi-year Wal info I know of. I'll try to remember to disclaim that somehow next time.
Interesting stats, thank you for posting.
I’m in-queue for a walnut, although the idea of a more unique wood does appeal to me, particularly Honduras mahogany.
I do however have some photos of a gorgeous mid-80s walnut bass and I’m hoping Paul can get close to replicating the facings when the time comes. My neck should be done close to March according to schedule. Fingers crossed.
James.
A really good walnut can be spectacular. Claro and Bastogne are amazing, but even a lot of "plain" american walnut has some cool color variations and figuring. And it sounds great, too. I really like maple as far as the tone (this is a subtle thing, but I think there *is* a difference) but even flame/quilt/birdseye maple seems really plain to me unless you give it some color. They can be beautiful up close, but a few feet away they tend to just look tan colored unless the finish really brings out the contrast. The only exception is spalting which gives you enough contrast to be interesting.
I'm interested in Wal but I can't afford one. So Im thinking on getting a bass made with Rautia multi coil pickups and their recommended filter preamp. Is this a fool's errand? I know it won't be the same but I figure the electronics are a large part of the Wal factor. Anything I should consider before starting down this road?
For a while I kept G&L L-2000's in my Craigslist search because some said that was as close as one could get to a Wal sound without it being a Wal, and some Youtube covers seemed to lend some credence to it. I think I'd at least investigate that route if you can find a shop that has one, it could be the "devil you know" may be less risky than a custom build.
PS nice to see Virginia folks here, sell me your Wal and you won't have to worry abut shipping!
PS nice to see Virginia folks here, sell me your Wal and you won't have to worry abut shipping!
This idea has crossed a few peoples minds, mine included. But if you want a Wal, just get a Wal in my opinion.
The cost seems high, but compared to what brass and classical instruments can cost (or even other custom bass builds) it’s actually not bad. For an example, I gig an average double bass that would cost 5 figures to replace, and once played an $85k double bass. Plus, some other pursuits cost HEAPS more (cars, etc).
Anyway, just some thoughts.
James.
What about the Wal are you after? The craftsmanship, the flexibility of the electronics, or the signature barking sound? I ask because there is an extremely affordable option for you to try if it’s just the sound you are after. If you are intrigued by more than “that” tone, then likely you will have to start saving your pennies!
I can’t justify the cost. Seems like owning a real Wal is an impossible dream.
The electronics are intriguing to me.
What is the affordable option to which you refer?
