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Wal Bass Club.

#15,461
While I patiently await for my number to be called on the Wal waiting list, I picked up a poor man's Wal to scratch my itch...

Sterling By Music Man Ray25CA with Turner Multicoil pickups and the Lusithand Double NFP Pre filtered pre-amp.

Skip to 2:55. Music starts shortly after. The bass cuts like crazy, which is what our FOH guy wants.



img_7671-jpeg.7048552
 
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#15,462
Tonegasm said:
While I patiently await for my number to be called on the Wal waiting list, I picked up a poor man's Wal to scratch my itch...

Sterling By Music Man Ray25CA with Turner Multicoil pickups and the Lusithand Double NFP Pre filtered pre-amp.

Skip to 2:55. Music starts shortly after. The bass cuts like crazy, which is what our FOH guy wants.



img_7671-jpeg.7048552
Click to expand...

Can't seem to skip ahead with embed.
 
#15,464
Hello Wal owners. After being on the waitlist for over 3yrs, I finally got a build slot for Fall 2025 and already secured my spot with the deposit.
I was hoping I could get some input or recommendations on my build. I'm most likely ordering a 4string Mk2 but am flexible on that as Ive heard Mk3s are more comfortable and lighter. How are 5string Wal's? I'm a mixed 4string/5 string player but usually go with my Dingwall for 5string because of the lighter weight. I had a Bubinga 5st Warwick that I sold for a 4string because the 5er was 11lbs.
Hoping for highly figured Buckey Burl facings or Zercote facings if I can afford them, otherwise probably get a quilted maple facings.
I would like some input on Ebony vs Rosewood fretboard, Fret size(I prefer thin frets), weight of a Wal and how to keep it down, and would you change or recommend a specific option that I should consider. I know this is a long and open ended question but any input would be appreciated. I probably only have 1 shot at ever owning a Wal and want to make sure its the best for me.
 
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#15,465
I guess we could start with weight, that was a concern that you mentioned a few times. What is the top of the weight range you would want?

My first Wal was a 5 string Mk2, but weight wasn't one of my main parameters. I have ebony on my Mk1 and Indian rosewood on my Mk2, happy with both,

I changed my mind a number of times on parameters before I had to finalize for my Mk1 build :D, part of the process.
 
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#15,466
syntap said:
I guess we could start with weight, that was a concern that you mentioned a few times. What is the top of the weight range you would want?

My first Wal was a 5 string Mk2, but weight wasn't one of my main parameters. I have ebony on my Mk1 and Indian rosewood on my Mk2, happy with both,

I changed my mind a number of times on parameters before I had to finalize for my Mk1 build :D, part of the process.
Click to expand...
9.5 lbs on 4st. 10lbs on 5 string. Might be unreasonable but is probably the heaviest I would want to gig with. Slightly over is ok.
 
#15,467
Smooth Operator said:
Hello Wal owners. After being on the waitlist for over 3yrs, I finally got a build slot for Fall 2025 and already secured my spot with the deposit.
I was hoping I could get some input or recommendations on my build. I'm most likely ordering a 4string Mk2 but am flexible on that as Ive heard Mk3s are more comfortable and lighter. How are 5string Wal's? I'm a mixed 4string/5 string player but usually go with my Dingwall for 5string because of the lighter weight. I had a Bubinga 5st Warwick that I sold for a 4string because the 5er was 11lbs.
Hoping for highly figured Buckey Burl facings or Zercote facings if I can afford them, otherwise probably get a quilted maple facings.
I would like some input on Ebony vs Rosewood fretboard, Fret size(I prefer thin frets), weight of a Wal and how to keep it down, and would you change or recommend a specific option that I should consider. I know this is a long and open ended question but any input would be appreciated. I probably only have 1 shot at ever owning a Wal and want to make sure its the best for me.
Click to expand...

Hi mate, raise all of this with Paul. I'm in the same position as you but about 4 months further down the line. Initially told a november finish date buy we're now looking at May/June.

I went back and forth between a 4 string Mk2 and a 5 string Mk3 for quite a while and eventually told myself to settle on my gut instinct being the 5 string Mk3. I'm probably gonna ask to be re-added to the list for a mk2 4 String but I don't know how realistic that is and so my main two issues were weight and 'this might be my only chance'.

But seriously, if you tell Paul all this, like I did, he's super understanding and accommodating.
 
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#15,469
Smooth Operator said:
Hello Wal owners. After being on the waitlist for over 3yrs, I finally got a build slot for Fall 2025 and already secured my spot with the deposit.
I was hoping I could get some input or recommendations on my build. I'm most likely ordering a 4string Mk2 but am flexible on that as Ive heard Mk3s are more comfortable and lighter. How are 5string Wal's? I'm a mixed 4string/5 string player but usually go with my Dingwall for 5string because of the lighter weight. I had a Bubinga 5st Warwick that I sold for a 4string because the 5er was 11lbs.
Hoping for highly figured Buckey Burl facings or Zercote facings if I can afford them, otherwise probably get a quilted maple facings.
I would like some input on Ebony vs Rosewood fretboard, Fret size(I prefer thin frets), weight of a Wal and how to keep it down, and would you change or recommend a specific option that I should consider. I know this is a long and open ended question but any input would be appreciated. I probably only have 1 shot at ever owning a Wal and want to make sure its the best for me.
Click to expand...
For my MK3 4string i choosed a target weight less than 4kg, a surface mount socket plate (for using an angled cable, which is much more comfortable in a sitting playing position) and most important: a slimmer neck with a narrow nut (40mm). I´m really glad i did. The neck is fantastic. And comparing to my 87´MK1 the playability is so much better.
By the way, the fretboard is "Rocklite" (an Ebony substitute). I´m happy with that too.
If i could choose again, i would omit the dot inlays on the fretboard and maybe consider a solid walnutbody.
 
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#15,470
loopo said:
For my MK3 4string i choosed a target weight less than 4kg, a surface mount socket plate (for using an angled cable, which is much more comfortable in a sitting playing position) and most important: a slimmer neck with a narrow nut (40mm). I´m really glad i did. The neck is fantastic. And comparing to my 87´MK1 the playability is so much better.
By the way, the fretboard is "Rocklite" (an Ebony substitute). I´m happy with that too.
If i could choose again, i would omit the dot inlays on the fretboard and maybe consider a solid walnutbody.
Click to expand...
So you can specify neck dimensions?
 
#15,471
Smooth Operator said:
Fall 2025
Click to expand...
Congratulations! I only just asked to be added... guess I have 4-5 years ahead of me! I'm pretty sure mine will be a 5-string Mk3, coolest walnut facings we can find, fretted rosewood board.

I've only played one Wal and it's the one I'm looking at right now. It's got a fretted ebony board, and holy s**t does it not sound like rosewood. This borders on a religious argument, but I am very much in the "fretboard wood is a REALLY BIG deal" camp.

That said, my thoughts aren't based on having a Wal with a rosewood fingerboard in my hands, but on paying attention to differences in how different wood sounds on all sorts of different basses over time. Take that how you will...

I think rosewood is the default for fretted Wals for good reason. It sounds great, and it's... more forgiving. Warmer, maybe even a bit more growley depending on what that means to you. Think more woodey growl, not clankey growl.

Ebony is a bit more extreme. It's REALLY responsive... you're going to get every subtlety you put in right back out, and if you're sloppy it's less forgiving than rosewood. Tight, great note definition throughout the harmonic range, really cool top end "springy snap" that's not at all like what maple does. It sort of "compresses" when you attack it really hard. Think Marathon or Territories from A Show of Hands. You are hearing an ebony fingerboard... in contrast, think Middletown Dreams on the album -- second verse when he digs in. That's a rosewood board on Peter Collins' bass. It's not the same sound.

I'm not saying one is better... which is why I want both in my long-term arsenal. 4-string fretted ebony for the "hard" stuff, 5-string fretted rosewood for everything else. 4-string fretless ebony, and I'll need a fretted Pro IIe. That should do it.

I know one or two Wals with maple fingerboards have leaked out over the years (a certain Lefty...). Apparently Paul won't do it. I would be fascinated to hear why... I have some guesses...

The way I visualize this is when you pluck the string, unless you're playing way up high, the piece of wood the string is interacting with the most is the fingerboard. Ebony is like shooting 70mm filmstrip. It's really sharp, so you need to watch your focus. Rosewood is like 35mm. The colour is incredible. You can get away with a little more imprecision. Neither is the right answer for every project...

What sort of Wal sounds do you like?
 
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#15,472
Rosewood is my preference for all basses except upright. I have ebony on my fretless FSO jazz and maple on my Joe Dart, both sound great, but the fretless required different pickups and a number of string changes before it really sounded like 'me'. The Dart is the Dart and it is its own unique thing. Whenever my number is up, it will be rosewood for sure.
 
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#15,476
There's of course tons of options and ways you can go.

I had a Mk2 4 string built with a Mk3 headstock as I wanted this to be the best balanced Mk2 4 I've ever had. It's 9.25 lbs.
And that one has full gloss finish too.

I had a pair or 2016 Mk5 5's built and specified I prefer being at 10.0 lbs.
First one is 10.0, and the other is 9.9.

Fingerboard woods is a pretty personal choice. I always want the most brightest-hardest snap of any board, so all my builds were done with ebony boards.
 
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