Wal Bass Club.

[SamJ]

780 just for block inlays? That is a lot...,

When I built my Fender Master Built Jazz with ebony and Abalone block in late 2006 they charged me $800 for it... so seems pretty fair in todays money.

 

[kulit17]

780 just for block inlays? That is a lot...,

You don't want to know then how much is cost for neck binding then......

 

[Bob_Ross]

Ebony fretboard -205

Gotta admit, I am surprised -- but thrilled -- that an ebony fingerboard is such a (comparatively) reasonably priced option!

 

[mikeswals]

Gotta admit, I am surprised -- but thrilled -- that an ebony fingerboard is such a (comparatively) reasonably priced option!

My 2020 order sheet has ebony board option at £220 on a Mk1

 

[SuperFunkyPete]

I'm working on a build and I can't seem to find the most straight answer to where the pickups are actually positioned on a Wal Mk1. I need the distance from the 12th fret (the fret itself) to either the center of each pickup or to the edge. Someone on another thread mentioned it was 12" to the neck and 15" to the bridge, but did not say whether it was to the center of the pickup or the edge. By my deducing I think it's to the center, but can anyone confirm that for me or put the actual dimensions?

Edit - After another search this appears that it may be unubtanium type of information. I'll understand if no one answers. I am not creating a Wal clone if that helps, but I would like to get the placement at least in the ballpark.

@mikeswals answered this in this post - Wal Bass Club..

The pickle is, the measurements are not in a standard format that can be easily replicated - e.g. ‘from the centre of the 12th fret to the centre of the pickup’. They are in a format which can really only be replicated exactly if you own a Wal, and not much by anyone else.

I too am planning a build, in my case a Wal Mk2-alike, as I frankly cannot afford a Wal, and even if I could, I cannot manage a 4 year wait for one, which seems to be the lead time on the website. But I have not managed to yet find this information either, and may have to estimate it from photos.

 

[Les Fret]

My 2020 order sheet has ebony board option at £220 on a Mk1

Does a fretless (lined) board cost extra? I guess for fretless they use ebony as default?

 

[mikeswals]

Does a fretless (lined) board cost extra? I guess for fretless they use ebony as default?

No extra cost there. Correct.

 

[Janforth]

That’s another reason why I am puzzled that a fretless (where an ebony fingerboard is standard) seems to bring a lesser resale, when ebony is an up charge on a fretted Wal. Also, the opposite is the case for Ibanez Musician basses where the fretless brings more $ on resale market. To me, the resale value is the same be it fretted or fretless, I gravitate more to my fretless mk1, but that’s me.

 

[Les Fret]

That’s another reason why I am puzzled that a fretless (where an ebony fingerboard is standard) seems to bring a lesser resale, when ebony is an up charge on a fretted Wal. Also, the opposite is the case for Ibanez Musician basses where the fretless brings more $ on resale market. To me, the resale value is the same be it fretted or fretless, I gravitate more to my fretless mk1, but that’s me.

That always puzzled me too. I guess Tool has a lot to do with it. And fretted basses are generally more popular than fretless. But for me a fretless Wal is the Wal sound.

 

[WaveyDavey]

… But for me a fretless Wal is the Wal sound.

+1

 

[Janforth]

I love the fretless Wal sound a bit more, but overall, really both the fretted and fretless are the Wal sound, so basically the Wal sound is the Wal sound, isn’t it.

 

[syntap]

Anyone know what strings Paul stocks on a fretless? My notes (from here I'm sure) say he stocks D'Addario XL Nickel Wound on fretted.

 

[mikeswals]

There are fewer fretless players out there. Less market. Thats why

 

[Chickenwheels]

Yep. Nothing sounds quite like a fretless Wal. Or a fretted Wal.

 

[BigBrownBass]

Whole triple album recorded using a Wal 5 string Mk3 and a 5 string Mk3 fretless. Have a listen or even buy it ; )
New album came out 6th of November

 

[SamJ]

That’s another reason why I am puzzled that a fretless (where an ebony fingerboard is standard) seems to bring a lesser resale, when ebony is an up charge on a fretted Wal. Also, the opposite is the case for Ibanez Musician basses where the fretless brings more $ on resale market. To me, the resale value is the same be it fretted or fretless, I gravitate more to my fretless mk1, but that’s me.

supply = demand... fretless players, especially ones willing to pony up north of $10K for a bass are few..

 

[Shlabotnik]

supply = demand... fretless players, especially ones willing to pony up north of $10K for a bass are few..

Any idea what it could cost to put frets on a fretless neck?

 

[SamJ]

Any idea what it could cost to put frets on a fretless neck?

to have Paul do it I would imagine at least 500 pounds. Plus shipping two ways. Over $1200 Us.

 

[kulit17]

Any idea what it could cost to put frets on a fretless neck?

I had it done once locally on a fretless Pro i I owned and it cost about $500. It was the late Jim Mourdian, but his son Jon is still in the business. His shop is in Wilmington now.

 

[kulit17]

supply = demand... fretless players, especially ones willing to pony up north of $10K for a bass are few..

Yup seems to be true on left handed Wals and 5er. Demand on these aren't typically high compared to regular fretted 4 bangers, so they tend to sit long if priced too high.