Wal Bass Club.

[bassballs27]

wow, 14K!
too bad you let it go...
I think a Wal doesn't sound like a typical active bass. What is it that you don't like about active basses? Just curious...

Yeah, when you’re asking for trades, you’ve got to be inline with the market which is still inflated from the pandemic.
People are in a more negotiable mood nowadays with everything so expensive.
I’ve already got two local offers worth just slightly less than my asking price.
So instead of selling in CAD, dealing with exchange as my dollar continues to drop against the USD…I’d rather just deal with my currency…bass!

I agree Wals don’t sound like most basses. Big factor with active…preamp noise.

 

[bassballs27]

Yeah, really digging good old Fenders lately. Very impressed by Fender custom shops.

 

[Les Fret]

Yeah, really digging good old Fenders lately. Very impressed by Fender custom shops.

Those are nice indeed but totally different beasts than a Wal. It’s like apples and oranges.

You can buy at least three second hand Fender custom shop basses for the price of a Wal.

 

[bassballs27]

Those are nice indeed but totally different beasts than a Wal. It’s like apples and oranges.

You can buy at least three second hand Fender custom shop basses for the price of a Wal.

Of course, that’s why there is the love / hate relationship for Wal. If you don’t love the Wal tone, you must love other brands. I think now we can say, many love Wal, but don’t like the price of admission.

Fender and Wal do share one common thing, both make basses. And I do agree, with the knowledge we have. Go to the general public and all of sudden no one cares, they just think wow, the bass sounds cool!

Some individuals say, when listening to the radio / recordings / live, even being blindfolded, can you really tell what model of bass the individual is playing?

I believe I can at times, a Wal has a distinct voice. Even a P or J. However under certain conditions, it can be hard.
And you can’t tell an apple from an orange, or even if the bass is present!

It’s a fun debate and turns into a lot of subjectivity. Critical listening is fun to develop.

 

[graphics1988]

Of course, that’s why there is the love / hate relationship for Wal. If you don’t love the Wal tone, you must love other brands. I think now we can say, many love Wal, but don’t like the price of admission.

Fender and Wal do share one common thing, both make basses. And I do agree, with the knowledge we have. Go to the general public and all of sudden no one cares, they just think wow, the bass sounds cool!

Some individuals say, when listening to the radio / recordings / live, even being blindfolded, can you really tell what model of bass the individual is playing?

I believe I can at times, a Wal has a distinct voice. Even a P or J. However under certain conditions, it can be hard.
And you can’t tell an apple from an orange, or even if the bass is present!

It’s a fun debate and turns into a lot of subjectivity. Critical listening is fun to develop.

Totally agree with this. (and not cuz you live an hour from me) lol
I have two MK3's - both incredible. Can I even tell the difference between the two?? Blindfolded?? Probably not - it would be a 50/50 guess if I am being honest with myself.
Two completely different wood tops, and two diff fret board woods.....maaaaybe I can hear a bit more 'sparkle' in the red one...but after all the smoke clears....it would be a guess.
Most of the time, I can nail a P or J in songs (most meaning 80%)...I certainly don't claim to have an advanced ear or any playing talent in general lol...but yeah Chris, that is true...developing an ear IS fun to develop and learn.
I have been a jazz bass snob for most of my playing life (I don't like the looks or the thin farty tones, or the 1.5" nut)...any time I play one, I put it down and go for a P bass. Recently however, I am enjoying 'other people' playing them - so for whatever reason, my tastes in ear farts are expanding. haha
At the end of the day - I dig ALL bass tones AND love my Wals (and they won't be for sale, in my lifetime)...

 

[Les Fret]

Some individuals say, when listening to the radio / recordings / live, even being blindfolded, can you really tell what model of bass the individual is playing?
.

I record almost every day and many times I myself don’t remember which bass I used and can’t even tell 100% sure from listening to the recording either.

 

[WG Plum]

I can tell if it's a fretless Wal. Nothing else sounds like that.

 

[GHOST AT]

Totally agree with this. (and not cuz you live an hour from me) lol
I have two MK3's - both incredible. Can I even tell the difference between the two?? Blindfolded?? Probably not - it would be a 50/50 guess if I am being honest with myself.
Two completely different wood tops, and two diff fret board woods.....maaaaybe I can hear a bit more 'sparkle' in the red one...but after all the smoke clears....it would be a guess.
Most of the time, I can nail a P or J in songs (most meaning 80%)...I certainly don't claim to have an advanced ear or any playing talent in general lol...but yeah Chris, that is true...developing an ear IS fun to develop and learn.
I have been a jazz bass snob for most of my playing life (I don't like the looks or the thin farty tones, or the 1.5" nut)...any time I play one, I put it down and go for a P bass. Recently however, I am enjoying 'other people' playing them - so for whatever reason, my tastes in ear farts are expanding. haha
At the end of the day - I dig ALL bass tones AND love my Wals (and they won't be for sale, in my lifetime)...

I have the day off and finally going to do a sound comparison between my MK3s. Both have Ebony boards, the high gloss has a solid Mahogany body no facings.

The new one has satin finish and maple facings it’s also nearly two pounds lighter.

I will take the preamp covers off and see if everything is set the same.

It will be interesting to compare but at the end of the day I don’t think I will be able to tell much of a difference Scott.

So far the only thing I have noticed is the new one is more “lively” and sounds louder unplugged vs the high gloss.
Will report my findings later and try not to listen with my eyes

 

[GHOST AT]

Well I compared both of my Wal’s here’s the results of my intense after lunch scientific study.

After both the preamp covers were taken off the pot screws were set up the same.

Both basses have the same strings Ken Smith Slap Masters SS 35-90 and the basses have approximately the same set setup I like my action low.
Also the basses have the same pickup height

With both basses at the same volume tried a number of settings everything at 10 with pick attack neck and bridge pickups only etc.

To my surprise there is a difference in the sound.

The heavier 2013 Mahogany body has more pronounced low mids definitely more bottom end.

The 2023 has sounds like it’s more mid heavy to my ears.

At the end of the day (to my ears anyway) there is a slight difference in sound but both have the signature Wal tone.

The 2023 is only a few weeks old and is still settling it will be interesting to compare both basses in a year when the new MK3 is broken in more.

When my friend comes into town I’m going to have him play both basses with the same settings. He is a much more accomplished bass player than me. It will be interesting to hear what he thinks.

He is also of the school that wood doesn’t make a difference at all in a basses sound whether you have a Ash /Alder body maple or Ebony board. I think it does IMO but don’t don’t want to open that can of worms with him or on TB

 

[syntap]

He is also of the school that wood doesn’t make a difference at all in a basses sound whether you have a Ash /Alder body maple or Ebony board. I think it does IMO but don’t don’t want to open that can of worms with him or on TB

This video changed my perspective on what to focus on for upgrades. Your Wal comparison results confirm the theme of it.

 

[mikeswals]

He is also of the school that wood doesn’t make a difference at all in a basses sound whether you have a Ash /Alder body maple or Ebony board. I think it does IMO but don’t don’t want to open that can of worms with him or on TB

My results are same as yours, if your buddy wants to come play mine sometime!
I have duplicates of each, and yes the solid mahog ones are darker on top and hit deeper in the lows.

 

[bassballs27]

Continuing my pursuit of passive basses and have opened my ad yet again. I think it’s time to get this amazing instrument a new home. Focused more on passive basses these days.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/2015-wal-mk2-5-string.1608152/

We’ll scratch that, Black Friday is a bit of a bust mind you I’ve had some better reactions to my ad this time ‘round than before. Had a great trade offer from a contact in California. And I’m sitting on two local cash deals where on is a good friend of mine. So it makes it so tough to sell this bass for cash, deal with the conversion and or moving other basses.

Have that contact from Australia highly interested in swapping for a 2017 MK2 4 string. For those that may live in the East with a 5er you’d want to trade, that’s a deal for you. Shipping is about $625CAD for me using UPS at a heavy discount as Canada Post allows shipments of boxes the size for a fully assembled bass. Hard to ship the Wal case without the right dimensions.

I still remember getting my 1988 MK2 from Hong Kong back in 2015 which was a straight up trade for a fancy Ken Lawrence Bass (who primarily builds guitars and build for James Hetfield of Metallica). Ken so reminds me of Paul Herman in a way. Just great people.

Anyway, now’s not the right time to let go of my MK2 and I didn’t intend to be Wal-less.

Questions for the Wal club:
Does anyone have the string heights from the 24th fret for the factory Wal setup? Or the saddle heights? Is there a pickup height recommendation anywhere too?

I know the poles can be adjusted…however more interested in the overall pickup height. I guess it is a subjective question since the pickup height can be adjusted for personal taste. Even the action is too.

I’m still using my Fodera Nickel 40 to 120s and it sucks to find out they’ve switched to DR making their strings (only because I liked what they had, DR makes great strings)

I thought the string spacing was 17mm on my MK2 5. Swore I measured 17mm. I guess it really is 18mm at the bridge per the attached brochure.

 

[GHOST AT]

This video changed my perspective on what to focus on for upgrades. Your Wal comparison results confirm the theme of it.

Thank you for sharing it is an eye opener ! In some of the comparisons I preferred the sound of the parts guitar over the Anderson.

My results are same as yours, if your buddy wants to come play mine sometime!
I have duplicates of each, and yes the solid mahog ones are darker on top and hit deeper in the lows.[
Something else to consider the Mahogany in the 2013 is much denser than the 2023.
After buying the 13, I wanted to install Dunlop locks on it. The screws on the Dunlop were wider I tried to use a screwdriver it wasn’t happening.

I’m not much of a handyman I would drill in a piece of Pine but not a Wal.
The guy I took the Wal to said it was the hardest guitar - bass he ever installed strap locks on.
I wonder if the 2013 Mahogany body was a leftover from the Pete era?

In contrast the new MK3 I was able to install the strap locks with just a screwdriver the Mahogany is softer.

 

[bassballs27]

Thanks Mike for sending me those specs!

 

[bassballs27]

wow, 14K!
too bad you let it go...
I think a Wal doesn't sound like a typical active bass. What is it that you don't like about active basses? Just curious...

BTW, I now have three cash offers on my Wal MK2. All of them are virtually the same price of the recent price drop / sale of this bass from John Wright in Colorado:
Wal MK2 2021 Flame Walnut 5 string bass guitar | Reverb Canada

I’m keeping my Wal. Money is definitely not exciting right now. My currrency is and always has been basses!

 

[bassballs27]

BTW, I now have three cash offers on my Wal MK2. All of them are virtually the same price of the recent price drop / sale of this bass from John Wright in Colorado:
Wal MK2 2021 Flame Walnut 5 string bass guitar | Reverb Canada

I’m keeping my Wal. Money is definitely not exciting right now. My currrency is and always has been basses!

You know it’s humbling that there are good people out there. An individual was willing to give me my Thanksgiving weekend asking price of $14K this morning for my MK2 5. I’m still keeping it.

 

[tzonline]

Dumb question but anyone have thoughts on how long the waitlist time is currently? I've been on it for a year now. I imagine it'll be another year at least.

 

[syntap]

Are you on the "waitlist to get on the waitlist", or have you placed a deposit already? If it's the latter, total wait is usually 3-4 years at present, judging on progress of my own build and others.

 

[tzonline]

Are you on the "waitlist to get on the waitlist", or have you placed a deposit already? If it's the latter, total wait is usually 3-4 years at present, judging on progress of my own build and others.

I was told by Paul that "We have added you to the waiting list and will contact you when we can accept orders or if anything becomes available sooner" that's all I know

 

[syntap]

I got on the queue in December 2020, and it wasn't long after that the queue got shut down for new orders. I think I'm looking at a March 2024 delivery, so hopefully that means Paul has worked through most of the backlog.