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Wal tone, without the Wal price.

M

mitchgilbert

Oct 5, 2011
77
0
32
Central Coast, NSW.
#1
So recently I have fallen a bit in love with Tool and can't help but love the tone that Justin gets from his bass.

I want that real scooped mid-range sound and can't afford to go out and buy myself a Wal. I'd like to say somewhere around the $1000 mark.

So if anyone has an suggestions regarding this, I'd love to hear them.

If you're not familiar with Tool or Wal basses here's a link for you to have a listen to:

Tool - Vicarious - YouTube

Music comes in at about 0:53
 
#10
mitchgilbert said:
Music comes in at about 0:53
Click to expand...


OT: Can someone recommend a Tool tune where I don't have to wait a minute for the music to start? :)

Seriously, every time anyone's pointed me to a cool Tool tune on YouTube it's had this long drawn-out intro that is so unengaging that I rarely have had the patience to wait for the song to "start" (sic).

I think they're a cool band, but I wish I could find some of their tunes where they front-load the meat.
 
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#11
Roscoe East said:
OT: Can someone recommend a Tool tune where I don't have to wait a minute for the music to start? :)

Seriously, every time anyone's pointed me to a cool Tool tune on YouTube it's had this long drawn-out intro that is so unengaging that I rarely have had the patience to wait for the song to "start" (sic).

I think they're a cool band, but I wish I could find some of their tunes where they front-load the meat.
Click to expand...

Parabola.
 
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#12
Roscoe East said:
OT: Can someone recommend a Tool tune where I don't have to wait a minute for the music to start? :)
Click to expand...

As long as you can deal with 15 seconds or so...go do yourself a favor and pick up Opiate or Undertow. The first 3 albums have less of that type of thing. Ænema has a fair amount, but has a lot of great songs as well. If you'd rather youtube yourself to death...

Hush
Part of Me
Cold & Ugly
Jerk Off
Opiate

Prison Sex
Sober
Bottom
Swamp Song
Undertow
4°

H
46&2
Hooker With a Penis
Jimmy
Ænema

Then do yourself a favor and sit though the intro to Eulogy because the rest of the song is awesome.
 
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#16
Well, it's a pedal (and a bass) I got rid of, but when I used to play my G&L ASAT (though many people would steer you towards the more conventionally styled L2000, not for me) though a Sansamp (original version, knobs all at 3 o'clock, with all the switches on except the Low Drive and Mid Drive 2), and then a Hartke Bass Attack (which actually has manual settings specifically for that Tool sound, and which it did quite well, especially with the ASAT and Sansamp)...

Honestly, that'll get you 95% of the way there. Used ASAT: maybe 1100 bucks. Used Sansamp: maybe 180-250, depending on the day and whether the collectors are out in force. I think the Hartke pedal goes for something like 80 or 90 bucks new. It's worthwhile.

Edit: use the forward pickup, passive mode, and use the Hartke's "Shape" control to carve out the tones that obscure the sound you're trying to get. Done.
 
#17
I'm not personally huge on the soloed Wal bass tone and if it's the Tool sound you're going for there's more to it than just a Wal bass.

I think the G&L ASAT or L-2000 gets very close, especially when you engage the bright switch. G&L=>SansAmp=>GK head and you're pretty close. I have the SansAmp bass DI but would like to try the VT bass because I think that would do it a little better. Get new strings and pick hard!

New strings, SansAmp, solid state head and a hard attack will pretty much do it. You can get close with most any bass IMO.
 

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