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WAL-copies?

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by Velocityx, Dec 27, 2014.

  1. Dec 27, 2014 #1
    Velocityx

    Velocityx

    Feb 12, 2008
    Turku, Southern Finland
    Hello fellow talkbassists!

    I've got this tingling GAS for a WAL, the type that Justin Chancellor uses, but they cost anywhere from 3500€ to 5000€, which is way out of my price range.

    Now I saw this bassist on Youtube:


    He's got a Wal-like bass that's not a Wal but a similar model made by another luthier, probably for like half the price. It looks and sounds like a Wal.

    Has anyone got any experiences or knowledge about where to get such a Wal-copy?
     
  2. Dec 27, 2014 #2
    wvbass

    wvbass Supporting Member

    Mar 1, 2004
    West Virginia
    I doubt you will find a Wal-like bass in a very affordable price range. The body shape is easy to reproduce, but the pickups and preamp are unique. Undoubtedly, the costs of producing such a pickup are much different than the cost of producing, say, a single coil. I doubt demand is sufficient to justify a "cheap" version of this pickup - or the electronics.
     
  3. Dec 27, 2014 #3
    Clark Dark

    Clark Dark

    Mar 3, 2005
    earth
    Did you try going to his YT page and sending him a question?
     
    scourgeofgod likes this.
  4. Dec 28, 2014 #4
    Velocityx

    Velocityx

    Feb 12, 2008
    Turku, Southern Finland
    That's the first thing I did. He hasn't answered, which is why I decided to ask you guys :)

    EDIT:

    "I doubt you will find a Wal-like bass in a very affordable price range. The body shape is easy to reproduce, but the pickups and preamp are unique. Undoubtedly, the costs of producing such a pickup are much different than the cost of producing, say, a single coil. I doubt demand is sufficient to justify a "cheap" version of this pickup - or the electronics."

    This does explain why they are so expensive and hard to copy soundwise, thanks for the clarification. In that video's comments the bass player says that he can sell Wal pickup copies. Interesting.
     
  5. Dec 29, 2014 #5
    DigitalMan

    DigitalMan Bring Back Edit/Delete

    Nov 30, 2011
    Bay Area, CA
    If you couldn't afford a Ferrari and really wanted one, would the next best thing be a top of the line Corvette or a fake Ferrari if they both cost the same?

    Wal's are a pilgrimage. For some it's a decades long endeavor to get there. There is a small town called Mecca about 75 miles southeast of Tiajuana, but it's not the same thing.

    Welcome to bad metaphor Monday!
     
    JPBassMan, McFarlin and Velocityx like this.
  6. Jan 9, 2015 #6
    Kurtis Marleau

    Kurtis Marleau

    Jan 8, 2015
    Barrie, Ontario, Canada
    Glass Iris
    I'm very interested in this. I am also a huge Wal fan. Justin Chancellor of Tool, Colin Edwin of Porcupine Tree, Paul McCartney, I love the filter electronics associated with them. I've also been looking around for a decent filter style bass with a similar sound but somewhere closer to $1000-$2000. (Which is much more achievable) This is probably the closest I've heard although keep in mind one of the biggest contributors to JC's tone is his bi-amp rig. One head is clean and one head is dirty at a slightly lower volume. If this guy was running bi-amp the tone would be nailed almost dead on. If you can get a price on the pups or just more info on the bass please let us know!
     
  7. Jan 9, 2015 #7
    tobias3469

    tobias3469 Supporting Member

    Sep 28, 2013
    West Los Angeles
    If you can't afford a Wal do what I did

    buy a nice USA Stingray and be happy!
     
  8. Jan 9, 2015 #8
    OutToPlayJazz

    OutToPlayJazz

    Dec 30, 2007
    Gloucestershire, UK
    Not a WAL copy, but with some similarities, you could look at Enfield's Lionheart. I have the Lionheart prototype...

    upload_2015-1-9_18-49-5.jpeg
     
  9. Jan 9, 2015 #9
    Kurtis Marleau

    Kurtis Marleau

    Jan 8, 2015
    Barrie, Ontario, Canada
    Glass Iris
    View attachment 537903
    Very nice bass! A little flashy for my tastes. After doing some research from what I've gathered it's only similar in the way the pickup is built. Yes multiple coils in each pup but I'm looking for something with the filtering ability of a wal. Do they do custom work? I'd be curious how much it would cost to have a couple low pass filters added.
     
  10. Jan 10, 2015 #10
    OutToPlayJazz

    OutToPlayJazz

    Dec 30, 2007
    Gloucestershire, UK
    Yes, they started out as the SIMS Custom Shop, doing LED's, paint jobs and pickup upgrades.

    Status-Graphite also do a full parametric eq these days, too.
     
  11. Jan 10, 2015 #11
    blindrabbit

    blindrabbit

    Apr 22, 2011
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada
    Take a look at ACG's Uber line of basses with Wal-style pickups and filter preamps. They are the top end of his range, but even still they will be less expensive than the "real" Wal.

    http://www.acguitars.co.uk/acg_admin/wordpress/basses/ber-specification/

    Alan sells his filter preamps separately, but the only way to get those pickups is in one of his basses.
     
    smperry likes this.
  12. Jan 10, 2015 #12
    Kurtis Marleau

    Kurtis Marleau

    Jan 8, 2015
    Barrie, Ontario, Canada
    Glass Iris
    That would be as close as one can get without an actual Wal. Not sure of OP's Price range but $2k is much better than $4k-$7k.
     
    blindrabbit likes this.
  13. Jan 10, 2015 #13
    audreycashin

    audreycashin

    Mar 14, 2010
    long island, ny
    210943_320381784641236_1456148655_o.jpg heard things about the Heartfield DR line being a poor man's Wal, but I don't have a Wal i could compare it to
     
  14. Jan 28, 2015 #14
    jbaade77

    jbaade77

    Jun 1, 2004
    Lansing, MI
    I've owned 4 Wals of various years and configurations and have 2 currently. The filters are not all they are cracked up too be. The most use I get from them at times is when you pull the boost up and sweep them back and forth because it sounds cool, then you set them at 8 and play.