Now I'm a Tool fan and I love listening to Justin's Wal basses on those recordings, but I have a question. Are Tool songs good examples of Wal bass tone or is it just the his rig and his million effects?
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.
Wal basses
- Thread starter MochomanXXL
- Start date
other users of wal have been Flea (on Blood Sugar, Sex Magik) and Geddy Lee amongst many others. There's a fellow on youtube who owns one and plays through a GK rig, he shows you how to play Tool basslines and does an awesome job but you might be able to get a good feel for his tone from the videos too...
http://www.youtube.com/user/TOOLbassplayer?ob=1
http://www.youtube.com/user/TOOLbassplayer?ob=1
Percy Jones playing on the Brand X album "Masques"
Early Lawrence Cottle stuff like "Notorious" from "Basstorious"
Jonas Hellborg with John Mcglaughlin
And although not a signature or complex part...you can here me playing my Mark II Fretless 5-string on Mick Fleetwood's "Something Big" from his solo album or any tracks with bass on them from Rain Perry's album "Balance"
Early Lawrence Cottle stuff like "Notorious" from "Basstorious"
Jonas Hellborg with John Mcglaughlin
And although not a signature or complex part...you can here me playing my Mark II Fretless 5-string on Mick Fleetwood's "Something Big" from his solo album or any tracks with bass on them from Rain Perry's album "Balance"
To answer your question, Justin does not have the classic Wal sound.
His signature tone (which I like) comes from his pedals and rig.
The Undertones - [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] - and Elvis Costello (Punch the clock period)
exemplify the Wal sound.
exemplify the Wal sound.
Listen to any of Mick Karn's solo albums, or the later Japan albums "Tin Drum", "Gentlemen Take Polaroids", to here the distinctive sound of a fretless Wal bass.
i had a slight facepalm moment when i hovered over the thread title but actually that is a good question - yes, what you're hearing on JT's sound is very much based on his rig and pedals. 
IMHO a good (cheap!) approximation can be achieved with any bass with twin humbuckers and active EQ, and a good overdrive pedal - at least, that's a good place to start.
oh and a big rig can't hurt
if you do a search in Bassists forum there's loads of info i think...
IMHO a good (cheap!) approximation can be achieved with any bass with twin humbuckers and active EQ, and a good overdrive pedal - at least, that's a good place to start.
oh and a big rig can't hurt
if you do a search in Bassists forum there's loads of info i think...
Justin does not have a typical Wal sound. It's buried beneath the post bass processing he uses. Not to say it's a bad tone, but it's not a "Wal" tone. Sure, he uses Wal basses, but he has sucked the magic right out of them.
The best examples of a true Wal sound are IMO, Jonas Hellborg's earlier recordings (these include his solo albums, Hellborg group albums-especially if you're looking for a Wal slap tone-and his stuff with Mahavishnu), as well as Rush's 1986-1991 output. IMO, that sound Geddy gets with his Wal on Hold Your Fire is the best bass tone ever put to record.
The best examples of a true Wal sound are IMO, Jonas Hellborg's earlier recordings (these include his solo albums, Hellborg group albums-especially if you're looking for a Wal slap tone-and his stuff with Mahavishnu), as well as Rush's 1986-1991 output. IMO, that sound Geddy gets with his Wal on Hold Your Fire is the best bass tone ever put to record.
I have to disagree with some of the other posters a little bit. Yes, Justin Chancellor does use effects in a lot of places, but I still hear something very distinctively "Wal" in his underlying tone. To my ears, even when played through a "clean" rig, Wals have a little growl that sounds almost like a touch of overdrive--it's never really a "hi-fi" kind of sound!
By contrast, while I absolutely love the twangy sound of Geddy's Wal playing, it's not really what I think of as the "classic" Wal tone because of the very light strings he was using.
Maybe there are just a lot of different "classic" Wal sounds...
Mike
By contrast, while I absolutely love the twangy sound of Geddy's Wal playing, it's not really what I think of as the "classic" Wal tone because of the very light strings he was using.
Maybe there are just a lot of different "classic" Wal sounds...
Mike
Well here's a studio session from a couple weeks ago, I'm trackin in the control room with my Mk1. My guitarist is videoing with a digital camera, but sorry the click track is sooo loud, it annoyed me too! But this sound is just the Wal straight into the board, both pickups on full. This should give you the idea of what normal tone a Wal has...JC's tone is very processed with his rig and effects.
Benjamin Strange
Commercial User
- Dec 25, 2002
- 9,737
- 310
- 49
- Disclosures
- Owner / Tech: Strange Guitarworks
Methinks most of the tone you hear on the albums has more to do with post-processing and mixing rather than any one bass.
Funny thing you mention that Benjamin...players touch seems to make up alot.
Earlier this year I played Brothernewts Wal, and he noted it sounds so different when I play it, then he played it throught the same amp and settings, pretty different.
Earlier this year I played Brothernewts Wal, and he noted it sounds so different when I play it, then he played it throught the same amp and settings, pretty different.
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,233
- 45,123
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
nooooo!!! It's all the bass! If I buy a Wal, I'll sound like Justin, Percy, Mick, and Geddy all in one!!!
Wal basses are the $#!T. I used mine when I was playing in a RUSH tribute exclusively. I had access to a Steinberger and an old 4001, I have old Fenders but the WAL just kicks ass!
Everyone has their opinions and while Geddy now calls Wals "Fine Instruments" me thinks he'll finish out his career on the Fenders. I saw Ged at Nissan Pavillion @ Stoneridge on the "Snakes and Arrows" Tour. We had VIP access and I metioned casually "Do you miss your Wals onstage with you?"
He gave me a thumbs up and smiled. He prolly didn't even hear what I said. He's still the man. Geddy is the King!
Take care all -
DM
Everyone has their opinions and while Geddy now calls Wals "Fine Instruments" me thinks he'll finish out his career on the Fenders. I saw Ged at Nissan Pavillion @ Stoneridge on the "Snakes and Arrows" Tour. We had VIP access and I metioned casually "Do you miss your Wals onstage with you?"
He gave me a thumbs up and smiled. He prolly didn't even hear what I said. He's still the man. Geddy is the King!
Take care all -
DM
