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Wal Bass Club.

#13,903
mikeswals said:
Those Wal copy come up for sale a lot, and one just listed and sold here on TB last week. Why not just buy one of those?
Click to expand...

I missed that one...

I already have pickups, preamp, and probably most of the other parts that I'd like to use.

I need a body & neck but I'm looking to scavenge an existing bass mostly because I don't have the skills or equipment or interest to do a scratch build.

I don't really want a FSO so that lets out the usual suspects like Warmoth for a body source. Not totally thrilled with their neck options, either, so now I'm looking for a husk or a donor bass.
 
#13,904
claudel said:
I missed that one...

I already have pickups, preamp, and probably most of the other parts that I'd like to use.

I need a body & neck but I'm looking to scavenge an existing bass mostly because I don't have the skills or equipment or interest to do a scratch build.

I don't really want a FSO so that lets out the usual suspects like Warmoth for a body source. Not totally thrilled with their neck options, either, so now I'm looking for a husk or a donor bass.
Click to expand...

Warmoth has several bass bodies that are not FSO. You should take another look.
 
#13,906
Bob_Ross said:
I have no idea how close this would get to your ideal Wal sound, but since I've always wondered what a neck-thru Wal would sound like, basing your semi-clone build off an Aria SB700 or something of that ilk strikes me as very intriguing!
Click to expand...

Arias have great wood and the necks seem to fit my hands. They can be a bit heavy.

I'm hoping to find something that's not too close to a vintage virgin to build my rat rod.

I'd love to find a SB1010 that's been gutted. I've had a TSB450 before.

Thanks!
 
#13,907
My only complaint at the proposed approach would be that Aria SB700s and the like are such lovely basses it would be a shame to sacrifice one for what is a speculative experiment. Better to just enjoy playing their distinctive tones!

9D161204-23C9-4FE1-8E42-EED1A0E6525F.jpeg
 
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#13,909
TrevorR said:
My only complaint at the proposed approach would be that Aria SB700s and the like are such lovely basses it would be a shame to sacrifice one for what is a speculative experiment. Better to just enjoy playing their distinctive tones!
Click to expand...

Yeah. I'm holding out for something that's already been abused and/or neglected.

Search is even more restricted because I'm looking for fretless although I suppose I could replace a fingerboard if it came down to that...
 
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#13,910
philiprst said:
Interestingly I also had a Status Empathy. I guess that reflects that there were relatively few UK based bass builders back then. As best I can remember it was Wal, Status and Overwater. I used the Status as my main gigging bass for a while but one night when we made a live recording I used the Wal for the last part of the set. As we were mixing down everyone in the room said how much preferred the sound of the Wal in the context of the band and I honestly had to agree. But, I loved the Status because it was beautifully balanced, light, easy to play and the graphite neck was so stable I never had to worry about adjusting the neck to adapt to heat or cold.
Click to expand...
Cool! --Not many in the U.S. know about Chris May OR Overwater Guitars. In 1983, Chris Mat hand made this Guitar:
101_8268.JPG
 
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#13,911
mikeswals said:
I remove the knobs, dip a toothpick in Deoxit and dribble a drop down each pot shaft. Work the pot back and forth, up and down. Its loosed up any I've had.
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Did this but unfortunately no improvement. It seems some of previous owners turned with it too much over the 1/10 limits.

I think about change of the pot - I see it's available as MEC 87222 pot. Is there anything I should be aware of?

Thanks a lot for your inputs.
 
#13,914
Wal friends, I need luthier help!

My Mk3 5-string has a broken truss rod. My luthier is swamped and while he has offered to take the bass in he has no expectation of when it might get out. Easily into next year.

I am looking for someone who preferably has previous experience with Wal necks. I will need a new fretboard as the current one has been re-planed to a flatter radius to preserve material after finding a small twist as well. So, the works.

I'm in Connecticut so local-ish would be outstanding but preferably on the East Coast to minimize shipping.

Help! And thanks! Feel free to PM if you like
 
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#13,916
I'm not really sure about shipping it overseas. I've seen that the wait for repair isn't like the wait for a new bass but that still seems like a long way off

Just the same, I sent them an inquiry
 
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#13,918
rogerbmiller said:
I believe these guys could to a truss replacement and neck repair:

https://www.gui****octor.com/

I spoke to them years ago when I had a warwick with a busted TR. I never used them as I realized that my Warwick had a removeable TR so it ended up being a very easy repair for me to do.

Might want to give them a call.
Click to expand...

Wow, the TB filters are sensitive. I will spell it out. Guitar doctor dot com.

/SMH
 
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