Wal Bass Club.

[mikezimmerman]

I'm curious: How do you check relief without strings on? I always use feeler guages to measure the distance between the top of the 7th or 8th fret and the bottom of a string capo'd at the first and last fret; but without that "virtual straightedge" I'm not sure what I'd be measuring or referencing.

I think the intent is just to make sure that there is no tension being exerted by the strings. An actual straightedge would be best, if possible...

The hornbeam was replaced by the mahogany stringers in the current neck design, correct?

Nope, the middle section was hornbeam and that was replaced with maple, which is pretty much the same color.

 

[TrevorR]

I'm curious: How do you check relief without strings on? I always use feeler guages to measure the distance between the top of the 7th or 8th fret and the bottom of a string capo'd at the first and last fret; but without that "virtual straightedge" I'm not sure what I'd be measuring or referencing.




The hornbeam was replaced by the mahogany stringers in the current neck design, correct?

No, maple…

 

[TrevorR]

So John ‘Rhino’ Edward’s from Status Quo is selling off a load of his bass collection. Including his Wal. Quite a special Wal…
Wal MK1 (ex-Rhino) Live AID bass

Why special? It’s the Wal played on the Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas” video by John Taylor of Duran Duran!!! A quick look at the distinctive flaming on the upper horn pretty much seals it! Wow!! Just WOW!!!

 

[zuma]

I cry because I want.

 

[bassplace]

They eventually junked the carbon fibre as unnecessary because if anything the necks were already more than rigid enough with the laminate design. The hornbeam (also known as “ironwood”) also went later on for similar reasons.

the hornbeam in my neck is so rigid a clip on tuner barely works. And rarely goes out of tune regardless of temp change or humidity. But the bass is so resonant it just sings.

 

[Les Fret]

So John ‘Rhino’ Edward’s from Status Quo is selling off a load of his bass collection. Including his Wal. Quite a special Wal…
Wal MK1 (ex-Rhino) Live AID bass

View attachment 4736834
View attachment 4736831
Why special? It’s the Wal played on the Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas” video by John Taylor of Duran Duran!!! A quick look at the distinctive flaming on the upper horn pretty much seals it! Wow!! Just WOW!!!
View attachment 4736830
View attachment 4736832

What wood is the body? Really nice looking.

 

[mikeswals]

Looks to be sycamore.

 

[Dyerseve14]

Wal pro basses indeed have 2 carbon fiber reinforcing bars in them.

Thanks for the info.
The strings are now off the neck, I will wait until tomorrow to assess the native relief of the neck.
I'm just thinking about how I can introduce relief into the neck... I was thinking about putting on an old set of strings and tuning them up half an octave. Or I could string it BEAD or even BEEB (to create a high and even tension across the neck) as I have loads of old sets of strings from my 5ers.
If anyone thinks this is crazy or could damage the neck please let me know.

 

[zuma]

Don't know how crazy your idea is, however, maybe consult a tension chart like this one? You'll generally produce higher tension with the G and D strings.

 

[mikeswals]

Yeah, a B string is no stiffer than a G, thats why the treble side of the neck gets pulled more than the bass side, even on 5 strings.
Sounds like using a mix of gauges is going to be needed to get the relief result. Or, might be time to seek a luthier to see if truss is stuck into position not letting the neck release.

 

[Shlabotnik]

Wal MK1 Fretless 1987 Wenge | Reverb

Wal MK1 1984 natur | Reverb

 

[Wibble666]

So John ‘Rhino’ Edward’s from Status Quo is selling off a load of his bass collection. Including his Wal. Quite a special Wal…
Wal MK1 (ex-Rhino) Live AID bass

View attachment 4736834
View attachment 4736831
Why special? It’s the Wal played on the Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas” video by John Taylor of Duran Duran!!! A quick look at the distinctive flaming on the upper horn pretty much seals it! Wow!! Just WOW!!!
View attachment 4736830
View attachment 4736832

the one in the video appears to be brown and the one for sale appears to be grey ...?

 

[Dyerseve14]

Yeah, a B string is no stiffer than a G, thats why the treble side of the neck gets pulled more than the bass side, even on 5 strings.
Sounds like using a mix of gauges is going to be needed to get the relief result. Or, might be time to seek a luthier to see if truss is stuck into position not letting the neck release.

Just to update, I've had the neck off the bass for 36 hours and found that it has a native backwards-bow of about 2mm.
While the neck was off, I took the opportunity to remove the bolt from the end of the truss rod and put a few drops of oil down the truss rod.
I was hoping the truss rod was removable but it looks captive.
Anyway, I've now put it back together, the truss rod bolt is loosened to the max, and the bass is strung GDDG.
There was no change in the relief, compared to how it was when strung EADG, but i will wait 24hrs to measure it again. After that I will tune the strings a few steps higher and then wait another 24hrs and check again.
If nothing changes after that I will email Wal to see if they have any ideas.

 

[zuma]

Wow. What luck @Dyerseve14 ! I hope you get it sorted soon.

 

[Dyerseve14]

Well I couldn't wait 24hrs but it had been a good 8hrs and nothing had changed. So I've tuned it up to BFFB and I know have a not insignificant amount of relief. I'll measure it in the morning with my feeler gauge.
I will leave it like this for a couple of weeks to see if I can reverse the native backwards bow...

 

[Shlabotnik]

I’m talking to people about refinishing this neck. Might someone be able to tell me exactly what finish was used on these back in ‘89? I was assuming it’s a thick coat (or layers) of clear polyurethane but wanted to check to be sure. Thanks!!

 

[zuma]

You're probably right that it's thick poly, however, if it were mine I would use Osmo Polyx-Oil. Man, I love how that feels. It's great that there are no logos or serials back there. You can just do the back I suppose. What's the front look like?

 

[Shlabotnik]

You're probably right that it's thick poly, however, if it were mine I would use Osmo Polyx-Oil. Man, I love how that feels. It's great that there are no logos or serials back there. You can just do the back I suppose. What's the front look like?

LOL the front is just as bad!
Thanks for the info! I wouldn’t mind (would even prefer) making the length of the neck satin but I’d like to attempt to restore the headstock as close to the original as possible.

 

[zuma]

No kidding! Yeah, I would redo the top and sides of the headstock with poly, with a new logo underneath of course. Then, I would do the entire back with Osmo Polyx-Oil (matte).

 

[Shlabotnik]

No kidding! Yeah, I would redo the top and sides of the headstock with poly, with a new logo underneath of course. Then, I would do the entire back with Osmo Polyx-Oil (matte).

I'm trying to think of a way to refurbish it along with the logo without having to send it to Wal in the UK. I imagine the odds of getting them to send me a logo sticker alone to use without an instrument is about as likely as getting a foot massage from Elvis.