Won the Wal pickup on ebay!!!

[Mofo-Kang]

Any updates? This sounds like such a cool project!

 

[SGD Lutherie]

I'm finishing up the first couple of prototype pickups....

 

[LowB-ing]

Oh yeah, someone posted that link before.

So from that video I have determined that the pickup I have here is not wired up with an output from each string, but obviously some (or most) of them are. Maybe this was for a passive bass?

I'm trying to figure out the simplest way of offering as many wiring possibilities as possible, while still making the pickup easy to deal with.

Stay tuned!

It would sort of make sense if they moved over to the individual string output arrangement when they introduced the filter pre, wouldn't it?
That "low impedance sound" is not going to be a problem once you have a resonant lowpass filter to emulate a high impedance pickup.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

It would sort of make sense if they moved over to the individual string output arrangement when they introduced the filter pre, wouldn't it?
That "low impedance sound" is not going to be a problem once you have a resonant lowpass filter to emulate a high impedance pickup.

I agree.

 

[LowB-ing]

Regarding your upcoming filter pre. I have an idea that's been kicking around in my head for a while. It would be cool if the filter resonance was controlled by a 250-500 kOhm pot, instead of 25 kOhm or thereabouts as is common with active stuff. That way the same knob could be used as a tone knob in passive mode.

Even cooler would be if the frequency knob could act like a Tone Styler capacitor controller. Sweepable lowpass in active OR passive mode! And active mode adds resonance into the mix.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Regarding your upcoming filter pre. I have an idea that's been kicking around in my head for a while. It would be cool if the filter resonance was controlled by a 250-500 kOhm pot, instead of 25 kOhm or thereabouts as is common with active stuff. That way the same knob could be used as a tone knob in passive mode.

The Resonance control actually is 250K. I think I'd want to use a dual gang pot for that though, since the switching would be much simpler.

Even cooler would be if the frequency knob could act like a Tone Styler capacitor controller. Sweepable lowpass in active OR passive mode! And active mode adds resonance into the mix.

The Tonestyler is a switch, not a pot. And the active low pass filter does the same thing, just better.

 

[LowB-ing]

The Resonance control actually is 250K.

Cool!

The Tonestyler is a switch, not a pot. And the active low pass filter does the same thing, just better.

I meant the 'smooth' version with the 'undetented' switch. Wonder if it can be had ganged with a pot

And the active low pass filter does the same thing, just better.

Absolutely, but it is not available i passive mode

 

[SGD Lutherie]

I meant the 'smooth' version with the 'undetented' switch. Wonder if it can be had ganged with a pot

It's still not a pot, even without the detents. It's a switch.

Absolutely, but it is not available i passive mode

The reason you would want an active mode is to have things like filters available.

Passive would be for those times you don't want those things.

Personally I see little use having a preamp and bypassing it. But I'll add a passive mode.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Here's an update on the Wal pickup clone project.

I've been working with another guitar maker who was also interested in a Wal inspired pickup for a possible new line of basses, so between the two of us we are having the correct style parts made. This includes things like magnets and maybe even the custom pole screws and bobbins.

Also from inspecting some real Mk II and III Wals we have figured out that the current pickups do indeed have an output for each string, but they do not have a buffer for each string at the preamp. They are summed together with a mixer type circuit at the preamp.

So these should be seeing the light of day very soon. I'm also working on a neodymium powered version.

 

[LowB-ing]

Cool! Can you disclose what kind of price he is aiming for with this line of basses, or who he is?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Cool! Can you disclose what kind of price he is aiming for with this line of basses, or who he is?

I have no idea, and no. I will say it's a company that's not known for basses, or even electric instruments, until recently.

 

[enemybass]

ill try a pair of these
so long as there only similar to wal in tonal values not money

 

[Skelf]

Would it be Larrivee by any chance.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Mums the word....

 

[Hopper]

Mums the word....

Larrivee it is then!

 

[svirfnebli]

I'm the person working David. We're actually a very good match up for this project because we come from different background that don't really conflict with each other. He's coming at everything from the standpoint of an Aftermarket pickup replacemer, and I as an OEM manufacturer. I have no intention of selling the pickups I make to the public beyond what is used on my guitar so its a perfect fit. Whats neat is we each bring something different to the table. Dave has a ton of experience in the bass world and is a very good pickup designer in his own right, but because of the size of his company it is very difficult to plop down the costs for custom magnets, screws, injection molds etc. What I think I bring to the table is volume, and design ability.

I've been following Dave's work for a couple of years and have been very impressed. We actually started talked recently about some of our construction plans and found we could strongly mutally benefit each other.

To the person who asked will the bass I make cost.. It's very early in the process. I'm still AT LEAST a year away. I only know some of the basics that I want to tackle. There are alot of factors I havent settled on yet including woods, exact shape, features, etc. But the basic concept is that I plan on offering two models, a STUDIO and a PERFORMANCE model. The performing model will have electronics loosely based on the Wal electronics. It will have a propriatary sized pickups. The pre-amp will likely be fairly different, and more modern than the 20+ year old wal pre. I dont feel the need for the XLR output. I just dont want to use standard off the shelf parts anymore, and I dont want it to cost $6k. I'm targeting the 2000-2999 range. Most likely $2200-$2300 depending on setup costs of the propietary hardware. I can keep the cost down by keeping the options list few and far between, and making lots of them.

Dave and I are currently discussing the possibility of working together on a pre as well, but we havent reach an agreement yet. We're both easy going people, who have been screwed over in the past, so we're just taking it slowly to get used to each other. We're now feeding off each other to move this project forward! :>

In the last two weeks we've designed the Pole Screws, worked out an arrangement for magnets, and are in the process of working out injection molds. Not bad for two weeks if I do say so myself!

As mentioned David is really working towards a Wal Type P/U in a MM case, where as I am using a more propietary design. Here's a picture or two of what I am working on.

 

[narud]

gotta say this a pretty cool idea. a set of these pickups in butt heavy piece of mahogany with a filter pre should get pretty damn close to a wal. i nice alternative being that i have no interest in ever buying a wal.

 

[incubus2432]

Great news....I love the direction this seems to be going in!

 

[Hopper]

I'm the person working David. We're actually a very good match up for this project because we come from different background that don't really conflict with each other. He's coming at everything from the standpoint of an Aftermarket pickup replacemer, and I as an OEM manufacturer. I have no intention of selling the pickups I make to the public beyond what is used on my guitar so its a perfect fit. Whats neat is we each bring something different to the table. Dave has a ton of experience in the bass world and is a very good pickup designer in his own right, but because of the size of his company it is very difficult to plop down the costs for custom magnets, screws, injection molds etc. What I think I bring to the table is volume, and design ability.

I've been following Dave's work for a couple of years and have been very impressed. We actually started talked recently about some of our construction plans and found we could strongly mutally benefit each other.

To the person who asked will the bass I make cost.. It's very early in the process. I'm still AT LEAST a year away. I only know some of the basics that I want to tackle. There are alot of factors I havent settled on yet including woods, exact shape, features, etc. But the basic concept is that I plan on offering two models, a STUDIO and a PERFORMANCE model. The performing model will have electronics loosely based on the Wal electronics. It will have a propriatary sized pickups. The pre-amp will likely be fairly different, and more modern than the 20+ year old wal pre. I dont feel the need for the XLR output. I just dont want to use standard off the shelf parts anymore, and I dont want it to cost $6k. I'm targeting the 2000-2999 range. Most likely $2200-$2300 depending on setup costs of the propietary hardware. I can keep the cost down by keeping the options list few and far between, and making lots of them.

Dave and I are currently discussing the possibility of working together on a pre as well, but we havent reach an agreement yet. We're both easy going people, who have been screwed over in the past, so we're just taking it slowly to get used to each other. We're now feeding off each other to move this project forward! :>

In the last two weeks we've designed the Pole Screws, worked out an arrangement for magnets, and are in the process of working out injection molds. Not bad for two weeks if I do say so myself!

As mentioned David is really working towards a Wal Type P/U in a MM case, where as I am using a more propietary design. Here's a picture or two of what I am working on.

Well that looks great, but I thought this project was about developing the pickup on it's own (presumably to be sold on it's own) rather than part of an instrument. Now I'm confused! Are you saying it'll only be available in a bass?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Well that looks great, but I thought this project was about developing the pickup on it's own (presumably to be sold on it's own) rather than part of an instrument. Now I'm confused! Are you saying it'll only be available in a bass?

I'm making the pickups to be sold. It's two separate projects, but we teamed up on certain aspects of it.