The order book is closed due to their backlog, so there are no current prices posted. As I recall the starting price for a Mk 1 was approaching £7000 a couple of years ago.
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I'm on the wait list to order. Per their website at the time (last year), I sent an email requesting to be added and several weeks later I received a reply that I had, indeed, been put on the list.
That said, it's looking good that I will have the funds to buy used later this year, likely in August or September. Hopefully there is a lined Mk 1 fretless available somewhere then.
That said, it's looking good that I will have the funds to buy used later this year, likely in August or September. Hopefully there is a lined Mk 1 fretless available somewhere then.
Correct, you will receive a definitive quote just before the building process starts; then you can accept it by sending another payment (don’t remember the amount) or refuse it and get back the £500 advance.
I put an order on jan 2021 and have not received news yet.
hope it helps
Hello friends....
What is your opinion of this lefty bass?
I can't tell if the headstock is cracked, but the conversion from fretless to fretted
leaves Wal's dots off set from the Plex machine.....
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What is your opinion of this lefty bass?
I can't tell if the headstock is cracked, but the conversion from fretless to fretted
leaves Wal's dots off set from the Plex machine.....
[This invalid link has been removed]
I don’t know. For that money it’s a risk. It’s looks more than the usual lacquer cracks that many Wals have on the headstock. The dot markers I would have it fixed, they are on the frets and slightly off. You can ask them to reduce the price by 1000$ so you can have the issues fixed. I wouldn’t pay 8k for it.
You can contact that guy and ask for better pictures of the headstock finish.
Has anyone ever had Wal make a new neck? I think that if the head stock is cracked that could be the end of it…
I don’t think there’s a really good way to completely get rid of the miss placed dots without putting on a new fingerboard. Great idea to get some better photos.
I don’t think there’s a really good way to completely get rid of the miss placed dots without putting on a new fingerboard. Great idea to get some better photos.
If the neck was in the same condition as the body is, what would be a fair price for that lefty Mark 1?
This shop has sold lots of Wals. His ad says there's no cracks. The thick clear is known for checking, but as mentioned contact him and go over it.
I had a fretless Wal converted to fretted. The beauty of it is that the ebony is black and easy to work with. Mike Lull wanted to put my dots in the maple part, and I told him no, that Wal dots are on the fingerboard edge. He gave me two sticks of dot material; black and white, so I could install it myself where I wanted it. Same dot material you buy at Stewmac.
I drilled out the original dots and filled them in with the black stick, worked perfect. I then drilled and put the white dots in. Only use hand tools, easy peasy.
Any luthier can do it easy and shouldn't cost alot, no need to replace a board for just that.
I had a fretless Wal converted to fretted. The beauty of it is that the ebony is black and easy to work with. Mike Lull wanted to put my dots in the maple part, and I told him no, that Wal dots are on the fingerboard edge. He gave me two sticks of dot material; black and white, so I could install it myself where I wanted it. Same dot material you buy at Stewmac.
I drilled out the original dots and filled them in with the black stick, worked perfect. I then drilled and put the white dots in. Only use hand tools, easy peasy.
Any luthier can do it easy and shouldn't cost alot, no need to replace a board for just that.
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That crack down the middle seems the most worrisome to me. I know its been listed for at least a year now, and I suspect this is why (also, the fact that its a lefty really narrows its appeal as well). The description, particularly "There are no cracks, repairs, or issues" seems a bit optimistic.
Yes people have. You'll have at least a 2 year wait, then have to send the body to Wal so he can fit a new neck to the old body.
So not only the cost of the neck, you'll pay to ship a body, and the Customs duty Wal pays when it enters England will get tacked onto your bill. Then Paul ships the whole thing back to you, and again you'll pay a Customs duty bill when lands on US soil. Will end up costing well over 3k.
That seems like a lot of trouble and 3k costs for a neck only....I wouldn’t consider that. But if you really want it that is an option for sure. Better have the neck repaired by a luthier. Will cost much less.
Is there any reason that many Wals have the lacquer cracks on the back of the headstock?
Originality, I guess and the decal! Who on this side of the pond would be capable of making an exact copy?
That decall can be made. You don’t have to copy the neck, Just have it repaired. Should not cost more than 1000$. I would ask that shop for a 2000$ discount and not pay more than 6000$
Pat Wilkins is currently in the process of refurbishing an old Wal neck for me. That’d be a lot cheaper for you than having a new neck made!!
Well Pat said he could make it pretty but there is nothing he can do about the patch or wood filler....
What about having Pat or sim paint the neck and body gloss black? Headstock would need an additional veneer layer of maple in order to conceal the cracks and/or filler....?????
What about having Pat or sim paint the neck and body gloss black? Headstock would need an additional veneer layer of maple in order to conceal the cracks and/or filler....?????
Mike Lull's son, Spencer, says to either leave it alone or get a new neck... Can not be repaired aesthetically to a level that would be commensurate with the quality of the instrument. Even if if they refinished it, they would need the decal to come from Wal. Just waiting for Wal to respond to my inquiry...
