…because I bought it just to flip it at a humungous profit…?played a total of 4 hours! hmmm......why?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Well, I went out and got a couple of scouring pads from an auto store, and just finished knocking out about 80-90% of the streaks on my ebony fretless jazz and buffed it back up. Looks pretty good. So, I guess I have my conclusion now - I'll play what sounds best on the Wal, and I've now got a mechanism for treating any ill side-effects. Now I have to find a place to store the scouring pads where I can find them again in ten years...
Thanks all for the input. And I wanna give those LaBella tapes a shot.
Thanks all for the input. And I wanna give those LaBella tapes a shot.
0000 steel wool is what I used to clean up fingerboards. You don't want to use anything too abrasive.
+1 on labela black tapes. Not a big fan of flats, but ya, try a few and see what suits you best!
I'd been interested in them, then it was reading your high praise of them that actually pushed me into getting a set.
probably so. Although it’s hard to imagine, there are some people around that don’t like the sound of a Wal bass. Or don’t like the feel of the bass. Some find it a bit chunky. But if you buy such an expensive bass better do your homework.
Not by best playing but a good demo of my bass
A couple of reasons... I played exclusively fretless decades ago and want to return to it with a Wal. I couldn't decide between fretted or fretless for my Mk1 build, so the cost of the second neck was insurance against the possible remorse over going through the time and expense of a build process for something I didn't ultimately love. I have a fretted Mk2 so I can always pick up a fretted Wal. It is coming shipped fretless, maybe it will stay that way forever, maybe I'll change it on my birthday every year, maybe I'll decide to go and stay fretted, who knows.
The unlined fretless I played did get those gouges and streaks. It was double-ball-end, so I was using either Steinberger-branded roundwound or GHS-branded roundwound. I'll be on the lookout for a method to address it, maybe I can try a method on that one before trying it on the Wal. I'm starting with flats on my new build (I've played flats before), but if I don't like them I won't hesitate to move to rounds and will try to avoid steels.
Oh WOW. Congratulations. That is just gorgeous. And Chromes, if only for the blue silks, might be the only way to fly with this one.
Spectacular bass!
I ordered a blue Mk1 at the start of Oct 2020, will be a few shades lighter.
Very nice! looks great with the unlined board. Is that a matching headstock or is it black? Can't see that very clear on the picture.
It is matching, I'll try to post a headstock-only pic when I get it.
Man that blue with gold hardware is stunning. I just confirmed my facings selection with Paul yesterday, can’t be far away from that first picture.
A lot of the mids. It sounds more scooped to me. Similar to what happens on a Jazz bass with rosewood vs. maple.
The New Blue Wal has landed, and now environmental acclimation begins. It's late in the day so I don't expect to actually see it until tomorrow morning. I know some ignore that, but it's a new Wal rite of passage
Maybe I lucked out due to being on the USA east coast, but Paul shipped early Monday (my USA time), I got paperwork to FedEx and through customs yesterday (Tuesday), and it's at my house Wednesday late afternoon.
Yes, just wait! It's warmer now thankfully but the important thing is that you HAVE it! Another day will make sure it is perfect.
I had the opposite experience, I got my Wal back from CA and the neck had a pretty substantial bow and sharp fret ends. I know it wasn't shipped that way so it's a bummer until it gets to my luthier.
I had the opposite experience, I got my Wal back from CA and the neck had a pretty substantial bow and sharp fret ends. I know it wasn't shipped that way so it's a bummer until it gets to my luthier.
GOOD MOOOOORNING - WAKE UP! IT'S WAL TIIIIIME!!View attachment 5421563
The New Blue Wal has landed, and now environmental acclimation begins. It's late in the day so I don't expect to actually see it until tomorrow morning. I know some ignore that, but it's a new Wal rite of passage
Maybe I lucked out due to being on the USA east coast, but Paul shipped early Monday (my USA time), I got paperwork to FedEx and through customs yesterday (Tuesday), and it's at my house Wednesday late afternoon.
Acclimation recommendations done, I present W4351 -
I absolutely love it, worth the wait! One surprise was the New Wal Smell, fresh from the shop! The packing job is something to behold, really well done.
Weighs in at 9.7 pounds.
Here was the timeline -
2020-12-13 Deposit placed
2023-07-25 Specs roughly finalized
2023-07-31 Next deposit
2023-11-20 Facings choice finalized
2023-12-22 Balance paid
2024-04-15 W4351 shipped
2024-04-16 FedEx/customs
2024-04-17 Wal delivered to home
My Mk2 (W4083) is April 2002, so that comes out to a completion rate of about one a month.
I absolutely love it, worth the wait! One surprise was the New Wal Smell, fresh from the shop! The packing job is something to behold, really well done.
Weighs in at 9.7 pounds.
Here was the timeline -
2020-12-13 Deposit placed
2023-07-25 Specs roughly finalized
2023-07-31 Next deposit
2023-11-20 Facings choice finalized
2023-12-22 Balance paid
2024-04-15 W4351 shipped
2024-04-16 FedEx/customs
2024-04-17 Wal delivered to home
My Mk2 (W4083) is April 2002, so that comes out to a completion rate of about one a month.
Last edited:
