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I guess that will be very costly affair to send the hole bass two ways (back and forth). Also a bit of a risk with the shipping and customs. Might be better to just send the electronics? Or maybe have a local guy look at it? I have never send a bass to Wal so maybe others who have done so can shed a light?
What exactly is going on with your Wal. Typically Paul would recommend sending electronics for servicing as a first option - if his first option is to send him the bass, the problem must be dire. So just curious what exactly is the issue?
As far as servicing electronics. It's pretty easy to remove the preamps. Difficult part would just be unclipping the harnesses if you're not used in doing hands on work. Turnaround on electronics servicing is pretty quick. I've done about 8 electronics servicing with Paul and turnaround is usually 1-2 weeks. Whenever I acquire an older Wal, I immediately send the electronics to Paul. Although I haven't done that to any of my active Pros yet.
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Rush Power Windows was recorded in 1985 so I doubt highly this Wal was used since the build date is 1992, now did Geddy use this particular Wal on any Rush recordings after 1992?
Paul said that sending the whole bass would be ideal but costly and also included instructions on how to remove electronics.
I will send electronics to them.
What’s happening on the bass is although it’s fully functional there’s a intermittent problem / static that makes the bass unplayable. It first appeared long after I received the bass and I haven’t had the bass outside our home. I did receive a new Ashdown head and that’s when the problems started. The head works fine with my other instruments. I have swapped cables heads etc and problem is still present.
Mahogany Core, American Walnut facings.
Ah ok IC. Ya I guess Paul requested moreso for thorough troubleshooting. Sorry I didn't realize the bass you had was circa 2014. Before you send out the preamps, have you tried taking the bass to a local tech? It could be something as easy as a cold solder or something with the output jack. Or perhaps the bridge ground wire isn't making sufficient contact (I'm just spit balling here).
It would be a shame to spend $150-175 on sending out the preamps only for the problem to still exist if it's somewhere in the bass itself.
That walnut bass is like a 2014? Or thereabouts?
I see no point in sending the whole bass.
Make sure the output jack is clean and a cable didnt shove crud onto it.
The preamp and pickups is all modular and unclips and removes ultra easy.
But* the output jacks stay in the body when you remove the pre and pickups. So thats why I say check to make sure the jack is clean. If this is just static going on, then I like to unclip the preamp/pickup connections and use deoxit on a swab and toothpick and scrub all of the male and female pins. Put it back together and play test.
Sometimes humid locations can cause buildup.
I see no point in sending the whole bass.
Make sure the output jack is clean and a cable didnt shove crud onto it.
The preamp and pickups is all modular and unclips and removes ultra easy.
But* the output jacks stay in the body when you remove the pre and pickups. So thats why I say check to make sure the jack is clean. If this is just static going on, then I like to unclip the preamp/pickup connections and use deoxit on a swab and toothpick and scrub all of the male and female pins. Put it back together and play test.
Sometimes humid locations can cause buildup.
I never considered a local tech since WAL Basses are so uncommon and unique in their design. There is a guy who is local to me that I will have a chat with. Since everything on the bass is fully functional it’s seems like a bad connection.
Thank you for the information..
I will do a follow up once I have an update.
I honestly don’t know where I would be when it comes to Wal basses, if it weren’t for “kulit17” and “mikeswals”. They have saved me countless hours in troubleshooting over the past six years. I, along with many others, sincerely appreciate you guys... Thank you!
Absolutly! This forum is so helpful, friendly and supporting. A big thanks to all members here and especially to Kulit17, Mike and Trevor. You are great.
I see you're in Bayside (my wife grew up there!), if your local guy can't help you might want to give Evan Gluck in Manhattan a call. I don't know for certain that he's worked on a lot of Wals, but he's definitely very familiar with plenty of other uncommon and unique basses...Fodera, Alembic, Modulus, etc.
Kulit actually made a youtube video on removing the circuit boards from the bass, and another one on reassembling. very handy!
[QUOT="gwangi, post: 25186857, member: 149192"]Rush Power Windows was recorded in 1985 so I doubt highly this Wal was used since the build date is 1992, now did Geddy use this particular Wal on any Rush recordings after 1992?[/QUOTE]
I am afraid I have no proof of that whatsoever, so have removed the annotation.
I am afraid I have no proof of that whatsoever, so have removed the annotation.[/QUOTE]
Thank you for the reply.
I can fully vouch for Evan. He works on my basses and he is great.
I don’t think so, I believe Geddy Lee used Wal basses on Power Windows (1985 Peter Collins Wal MK1), he then purchased his own Wal (or more than one Wal) and used his own Wals on Hold Your Fire (1987), Show of Hands (live album 1989) Presto (1989), and Roll the Bones (1991). The next album was Counterpart (1993) and he moved on to the ‘72 Jazz bass.
I feel similarly apprehensive about taking my Wal to a local person for repair. Thankfully, other than replacing the caps, which was easy, it hasn't ever needed any servicing at all.
You clearly didn't understand my post, the guy that was talking about a Wal bass that was made in 1992, his post made it seemed like the Wal bass he had pictured that was from 1992 might have been used by Geddy on The Power Windows album but that would not have been possible cause the Wal he had pictured was built in 1992 and not in 1985 when the Power Windows was recorded, and then I said referring to the same picture of the Wal was it possible Geddy might have used that same Wal after 1992 on any other Rush albums. Maybe you better re-read my post before you make a comment!!!!
