Wal basses

[kodiakblair]

So many "just get a clone" replies on a forum where "Rip Off" is used to describe things remotely Fender or Ric but not produced by those companies.

Would these responses be the same if the OP put Alembic or Fodera in place of Wal ?

 

[mikeswals]

(they have the MKIII's that are closer to what I would want but I asked Paul years ago if I could get the neck profile modified if i ordered a new one and it was like I was speaking a foreign language lol).

You can get any neck shape you want.
Unlike the previous ownership, Paul's standard neck is a very-very soft V and not thick front to back, 1-5/8" width nut.
He keeps this strict with his neck jigs to ensure year after year the neck shape is consistently the same for folks that went 'standard'.
But* if you have specific profile, he will build it as you want. If you want no V at all, he does it. I also had one with a 1-1/2" Jazz width and it was lovely.
If you rather have ebony stringers, he'll do that too

Old world Wals, the necks were all over the place, since all the different employees just probably shaped them how each liked it... I've had thick necks, slim ones, hard V, no V.

2022 regular profile. I've had 5 new era, all were exactly the same shape.

 

[Michedelic]

I'm glad you bought up the shape of the neck, @Michedelic. The V shape is especially noticeable on the 4-string basses (as far as I remember,) so if this is something that could be a deal breaker for the OP or anyone else interested, it's better to know now.

Undeniably KILLER basses, though!

Yeah, I think we discussed this a long time ago. I consigned it with The Bass Place when it was way out in the Valley on Ventura Blvd. in Tarzana(?). It ended up on the east coast.

 

[EricOnTheBass]

I feel like if Wal basses were as great as their reputation suggests, there would be more of them and they would be somewhat obtainable.

 

[Rdore2000]

I feel like if Wal basses were as great as their reputation suggests, there would be more of them and they would be somewhat obtainable.

I feel that way about Stenback. I feel like after all the hype, if I ever play one it may not live up to the standards set by Talkbass .

 

[john_g]

You can get any neck shape you want.
Unlike the previous ownership, Paul's standard neck is a very-very soft V and not thick front to back, 1-5/8" width nut.
He keeps this strict with his neck jigs to ensure year after year the neck shape is consistently the same for folks that went 'standard'.
But* if you have specific profile, he will build it as you want. If you want no V at all, he does it. I also had one with a 1-1/2" Jazz width and it was lovely.
If you rather have ebony stringers, he'll do that too

Old world Wals, the necks were all over the place, since all the different employees just probably shaped them how each liked it... I've had thick necks, slim ones, hard V, no V.

2022 regular profile. I've had 5 new era, all were exactly the same shape.
View attachment 7211900

Thats great that there are options, which is weird because when i asked Paul about it (years ago) he did not say anything and almost seemed like "huh?". Mine is from 84 and it is pretty pronounced V and thick from front to back. Me at 25-35? No problem. Me at 50+ and 3-4 hour shows? Not ideal.

 

[john_g]

I feel like if Wal basses were as great as their reputation suggests, there would be more of them and they would be somewhat obtainable.

They are great. Maybe they didnt want to "scale" and wanted to keep it a small and high quality. Probably a rare way of thinking these days. But, at the end of the day, its still just a bass. No one, even fellow bass players, even know what Im playing at gigs. They love the tones though but its not curing a disease or anything.

 

[mikeswals]

Carl Thompson is the same way, there's no scaling up production.

 

[SunByrne]

I feel like if Wal basses were as great as their reputation suggests, there would be more of them and they would be somewhat obtainable.

That seems exactly backwards to me. Supply is limited because Wal doesn't build very many of them, as they are committed to their process. Because they're good, demand is high. As Econ 101 will tell you, when supply is limited and demand is substantial, it will keep prices high. And looking at the used market for Wals, that seems to be borne out pretty well.

Indeed, if Wals are both expensive and really good, then there ought to be knock-offs... and there are. Notice how many people here are recommending them as a way of dealing with the price issue. I had a custom bass built with Wal-style electronics for exactly this reason.

 

[Danny O Danny]

I owned two Wal Mk I's in the early 2000's, a fretted and a fretless. They were terrific basses but also heavy (which is why I eventually got rid of them). And, although they're terrific, they're not $10,000.00 terrific (no electric bass is, imho). There are plenty of other basses that look, sound and feel just as great for a fraction of the cost.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Wals on Reverb are like thirteen grand to thirty grand. It's crazy because this is pre-CBS Fender price range for instruments that are still being made today.

 

[john_g]

Wals on Reverb are like thirteen grand to thirty grand. It's crazy because this is pre-CBS Fender price range for instruments that are still being made today.

Dont look up Alembic prices lol

 

[LowWay]

I love my bordwell built Wal-sequel bass so much I’m doing a second one as a fretless with him. It’s very exciting. The turner pickups and filter based preamps scratch the itch that I have for Wal-ness.

If I were on a super tight budget, i’d find an inexpensive used bass with 2 music man pickups, replace them with Turners (they will fit a standard MM route) and get a lusithand or underhill preamp.

I’m sure those that truly love all things Wal would say this is not even close, but for the general ballpark of the tone and tonal flexibility, probably your best budget move.

I just love the way my Bordwells feel in my hands, and he builds what I want. So I go Bord-Wal.

 

[LanEvo]

Make sure you play one before you GAS too hard. They have weird ergonomics, as others have mentioned.

I was offered one in the early '80s for a very good price and I passed on it because the neck didn't feel right in my hands and it balanced weird (both sitting and standing). Newer ones are more conventional in feel ... but don't look as cool IMNSHO. Everything is a trade-off LOL

 

[LanEvo]

If I were on a super tight budget, i’d find an inexpensive used bass with 2 music man pickups, replace them with Turners (they will fit a standard MM route)

I wonder if they'd fit a G&L L2000. Not sure how G&L pickups compare to MM in terms of dimensions.

 

[LowWay]

they are different sizes with different mounting patterns.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Dont look up Alembic prices lol

I would never ever do that

 

[john_g]

Make sure you play one before you GAS too hard. They have weird ergonomics, as others have mentioned.

I was offered one in the early '80s for a very good price and I passed on it because the neck didn't feel right in my hands and it balanced weird (both sitting and standing). Newer ones are more conventional in feel ... but don't look as cool IMNSHO. Everything is a trade-off LOL

Since mine is from 84, it does have the old school ergonomics...i.e., none lol I was even thinking about taking out the electronics and trying them in something like a G&L L2000 to get it both lighter and a more comfortable neck. I know other things affect the tones but, would be a cool experiment.

 

[DigitalMan]

I feel like if Wal basses were as great as their reputation suggests, there would be more of them and they would be somewhat obtainable.

Ahh yes, the waitlist is so long that it must suck argument.

 

[syntap]

Yeah the thing with Wal I had to deal with was once I was old enough to afford one, I was also old enough to wonder if I'd live long enough to see it made after ordering it

It worked out, my spot on the wait list came in late 2020 and in April 2024 I was playing it. I also own an Mk2-5 that I got via Reverb while waiting on my custom build.