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Wal Basses... whatever happened to?
- Thread starter jaywa
- Start date
Just wanted to let you guys know I spoke with Paul Herman on the phone about two weeks ago. He called to confirm I was still on the list and specs.
His new pricing is about 3300 pounds sterling for a Wal MkII 4 string with chrome tuners. Which is around 4995.00 US dollars.
I was hoping it was going to be previous pricing which was less and I was going to order two Wals.
I am still on the list for one Mach II 4 string how I want it because if I want a used one its going to cost about the same and I dont get the specs I want.
His new pricing is about 3300 pounds sterling for a Wal MkII 4 string with chrome tuners. Which is around 4995.00 US dollars.
I was hoping it was going to be previous pricing which was less and I was going to order two Wals.
I am still on the list for one Mach II 4 string how I want it because if I want a used one its going to cost about the same and I dont get the specs I want.
Pay the man his deposit, and think hard about what you want. $5K US is nothing these days for a custom handmade bass (used Alembics are going for that much! I'm rich!), and somebody on TB has to be the first one to spring for a Wal and write about it.
We started stocking Wal basses at The Bass Centre in Los Angeles beginning in 1986, as I believe we were the only Wal dealer in the U.S. through the early 90's. The basses were fantastic, and quality was very consistent. Wals weren't for everyone though, as the parametric EQ and V shaped neck was very different from what most bassists were used to. We originally were stocking these with the standard blue Wal cases, but soon began ordering them with flight cases only as basses were arriving with damage near the bottom strap button from the inner part of the bottom case latch due to heavy handling during shipping. The basses had "impale" marks, which we could not allow, which is why the change was made. Imagine waiting several months for your "dream" bass to arrive, only to have 2 little circular indentations in the wood or all the way through the gloss finish you had ordered. We had no issues with the flight cases.
As soon as Jason Newsted got the gig with Metallica, he came in and fell in love with the original "Geddy Lee" model that was all black with gold hardware that had just arrived. Jason was a big Geddy Lee fan. Geddy was a big reason for Wal's being known in America after he used a Wal for Power Windows. We also sold Flea his blue stained MkII bass that he used for BSSM. He had been unsing MM StingRay's (including the MM 5-string we had sold him,) and was lookig for something different that would sound great in the studio. We alos shipped Wal basses all over the country, and even found Geddy a back up Wal for one of his US tours which was provided by a huge fan of his who had bought a Wal from us previously.
Ian and Pete "the fish" built great basses. I hope the new generation will just as legendary.
As soon as Jason Newsted got the gig with Metallica, he came in and fell in love with the original "Geddy Lee" model that was all black with gold hardware that had just arrived. Jason was a big Geddy Lee fan. Geddy was a big reason for Wal's being known in America after he used a Wal for Power Windows. We also sold Flea his blue stained MkII bass that he used for BSSM. He had been unsing MM StingRay's (including the MM 5-string we had sold him,) and was lookig for something different that would sound great in the studio. We alos shipped Wal basses all over the country, and even found Geddy a back up Wal for one of his US tours which was provided by a huge fan of his who had bought a Wal from us previously.
Ian and Pete "the fish" built great basses. I hope the new generation will just as legendary.
His new pricing is about 3300 pounds sterling for a Wal MkII 4 string with chrome tuners. Which is around 4995.00 US dollars.
Well, there's that house down payment Vegas was talking about... Holy Moses that's a lot of coin.
Of course the sorry state of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies these days doesn't help things either.
Like the previous post states Alembic and other bass customs cost double that today. So I will reluctantly have to leave a deposit with my new Wal.
Like the previous post states Alembic and other bass customs cost double that today. So I will reluctantly have to leave a deposit with my new Wal.
Yeah I know, it's all relative. Just jealous that's all!
And as the OP for this thread I do have to say I think it's great that more of these gorgeous instruments are going to be finding their way into owners' hands in the future.
So it seems the first newly built Wal has surfaced. Reported to be a maple faced MK2, and it went to Martin Kemp just in time for the Spandau reunion. Very appropriate if you ask me!
Listen to that tone. Now that's what a Wal sounds like.
Listen to that tone. Now that's what a Wal sounds like.
Always like Spandau Ballet, Tony Hadley has a crazy voice.
Great to see Martin choose Wal for the coming tour, I believe he sold all his previous one's back in the 90's, I was expecting him to just use a Fender P.
Martin's lines are simple (I think Gary actually wrote them) but that sound in the clip above is awsome. Songs like Paint Me Down, Pleasure and To Cut A long Story Short have super fun basslines.
Great to see Martin choose Wal for the coming tour, I believe he sold all his previous one's back in the 90's, I was expecting him to just use a Fender P.
Martin's lines are simple (I think Gary actually wrote them) but that sound in the clip above is awsome. Songs like Paint Me Down, Pleasure and To Cut A long Story Short have super fun basslines.
