Wal Bass Club.

[WaveyDavey]

In the second picture, is that some sort of strap button on the bottom under the lower horn?

The seller identifies it as “a ‘Bass Brace’ strap lock on the bottom of the body”, but one would think (or, at least, *I* would think) that on a bass with an upper horn that extends to the 12th fret, neck dive should not be an issue to begin with. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[Janforth]

You might think that but the Cranberries are something of a revered band in more indie rock circles and Mike Hogan is a well known Wal user. Never been my bag other than the big singles (and Zombie is probably the biggest) but iconic in indie as Rush or Tool are in rock/prog. Even if they’re not quite up there with bands like The Cure in the collective consciousness. A reminder that not everyone’s entry route to Wal was Geddy and Justin.

Being a huge Rush and Geddy Lee fan, that was not the first time that I heard a Wal bass, I believe it was in 1982 on Roxy Music’s Avalon album with Alan Spenner, followed by Rupert Hine produced albums by The Fixx (Dan K. Brown is awesome), and Peter Collins produced albums by Nik Kershaw, then, of course Rush! Though I love Geddy Lee’s Wal tone, it comes in second, just behind his Rickenbacker tone on albums Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Exit Stage Left, and Signals.

 

[Janforth]

To be fair, though, it appears (to my eyes, at least) that Fodera may have tweaked the tuner and/or headstock layout in later builds to avoid that awkwardness with the extended B string configuration:
View attachment 4483447 View attachment 4483449

… and now back to your regularly-scheduled Wal programming!

I believe that is a reversed headstock(not sure), cause there is this headstock, which looks to be strung normal.

 

[Element Zero]

I believe that is a reversed headstock(not sure), cause there is this headstock, which looks to be strung normal.
View attachment 4483638

The Extended B was an option on custom builds. Not sure if they still offer it.

 

[WaveyDavey]

The Extended B was an option on custom builds. Not sure if they still offer it.

If you go to the most recent Fodera “Newborn Gallery” (Fodera), 3 out of the first 12 basses shown have the extended B headstock, so I have to believe that it remains an option.

 

[mikezimmerman]

I’ve seen that on a few other basses, but I don’t recall whether it is original on this bass.

In the second picture, is that some sort of strap button on the bottom under the lower horn?

 

[ThomasTronics]

Though I love Geddy Lee’s Wal tone, it comes in second, just behind his Rickenbacker tone on albums Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Exit Stage Left, and Signals.

Agree with this fully. Although I love the bass sound of the mid to late 80s of Geddy, the Wal and small strings don't give that beefy bass growl I love. #1 bass tone though is def Counterparts which was back to the Jazz, some compression and flamenco style which I think he started using all the time around this time.

 

[21DaHoagie12]

Agree with this fully. Although I love the bass sound of the mid to late 80s of Geddy, the Wal and small strings don't give that beefy bass growl I love. #1 bass tone though is def Counterparts which was back to the Jazz, some compression and flamenco style which I think he started using all the time around this time.

I love the overall counterparts mix, but I think test for echo has my fav geddy jazz bass tone.. power windows though, still love geddys wal tone on that album

 

[Janforth]

My favorite “Wal era” Geddy Lee tone was on the Power Windows album. I know that he used Peter Collins’ MK1, but I think that the production had something to do with how great that Wal tone came across.

 

[Chickenwheels]

My favorite “Wal era” Geddy Lee tone was on the Power Windows album. I know that he used Peter Collins’ MK1, but I think that the production had something to do with how great that Wal tone came across.

So Peter Collins produced Nik Kershaw?
Does that mean Nik played Peter’s Wal on Human Racing? If so that bass has quite a legacy!

 

[Janforth]

Not sure what bass was used, Peter Collins produced his first and second albums, people have said that Nik Kershaw albums had both Wal and Jaydee basses, so I don’t truly know, I hear Wal, I know a Jaydee was used for the one song (titled Easy) that Mark King played on off the Riddle album.

*edit* after listening to some Jaydee basses on YouTube, there may have been a Jaydee bass used on a bunch of Nik Kershaw tunes.

 

[mikeswals]

It says: sounds like Zombie from the Cranberries! What a strange way to describe a Wal or Fodera. Not the most adventurous bass line in the world. Not something I associate with these basses.

A bass line doesn't have to be adventerous for a player to have fantastic bass tone.
Dan K of The Fixx always has killer bass tone, but also simple meat & potatoes bass lines. This is more my speed.

 

[Les Fret]

A bass line doesn't have to be adventerous for a player to have fantastic bass tone.
Dan K of The Fixx always has killer bass tone, but also simple meat & potatoes bass lines. This is more my speed.

True. I just don’t see the connection between Zombie and this Waldera. So I am puzzled why it is mentioned in the ad. Zombie is played on a Stingray I think.

 

[mikeswals]

I guess thats the great debate: I've only heard it was played on a Wal.
Mike Hogan has owned both for decades, so maybe someday someone will ask him.

 

[21DaHoagie12]

True. I just don’t see the connection between Zombie and this Waldera. So I am puzzled why it is mentioned in the ad. Zombie is played on a Stingray I think.

Zombie sounds wayyyy more like a wal than a stingray in my opinion

 

[TrevorR]

I guess thats the great debate: I've only heard it was played on a Wal.
Mike Hogan has owned both for decades, so maybe someday someone will ask him.

And, of course he also had a Wal neck and (possibly replacement) body with Jazz pickups in it…

 

[mikeswals]

Yeah, the jazz mongrel. Seems to have been very early in his career. But once he got a real one that was it.
I wonder if he had any more than the Mk2 and Mk3?

 

[Chickenwheels]

Not sure what bass was used, Peter Collins produced his first and second albums, people have said that Nik Kershaw albums had both Wal and Jaydee basses, so I don’t truly know, I hear Wal, I know a Jaydee was used for the one song (titled Easy) that Mark King played on off the Riddle album.

*edit* after listening to some Jaydee basses on YouTube, there may have been a Jaydee bass used on a bunch of Nik Kershaw tunes.

His live bassist liked the Jaydee, but the Wal always lurked nearby!
Some strong Wal sounds in both albums, but the Jaydee bridge pickup ain’t a slouch either!

 

[Les Fret]

And, of course he also had a Wal neck and (possibly replacement) body with Jazz pickups in it…

In the video clip he uses a Musicman. Saw Some live footage of Zombie. he used that Waljazz. In a later show he used a Wal mk2. So still unsure what he used on the record. Does sound like any bass to me not specifically a Wal. Guess we never know for sure.

 

[mikeswals]

My practice partner for the evening.