Won the Wal pickup on ebay!!!

[Drop-D]

Same price, just without the 15 month build time, and without your specs.

There is quite a difference in price. At current conversion rates the MKI 4-string starts at $5840 US dollars. That is with the basic wood options and basic clear finish. However, it does not include the shipping cost, VAT taxes, and duties to have it imported to the US. Other models and additional strings increase the price very quickly, too (because of conversion rates).

So the cost of a new one, like most things, is much higher than finding a used one. I am not certain how conversion rates differ for you, however.

 

[MikeLee]

I got a quote from Paul at Electric Wood back in February for an MK1. Base price was 3,650. For the options I wanted... Ebony Fretboard, Gloss Finish, Gold Hardware the price went up to 4,590. Plus anywhere from 10%-20% customs/duty fees and taxes, so now we are at 5,500. Convert that to U.S. Dollars and my total cost to get a new Wal bass would be just about $7,000

Anyone out there willing to loan me the cash?

 

[Substandard]

I paid just over 1200 for mine 10 years ago.
::hides::
That being said I am really excited to see this pickup come to fruition.
Any chance of a version that will drop into a stock gibby tbird?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Any chance of a version that will drop into a stock gibby tbird?

Yeah, they should fit with the coils moved closer together. I can get chrome T-bird covers.

 

[Substandard]

Yeah, they should fit with the coils moved closer together. I can get chrome T-bird covers.

Can I assume black would be available as well?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Can I assume black would be available as well?

I don't have a source for them, but I can probably make some.

 

[Substandard]

I don't have a source for them, but I can probably make some.

Would that cause any sort of great increase in price?

 

[MikeLee]

Just wondering how the Wal pickups (and pre-amp) are coming along? Haven't seen or heard anything happening on here in a few weeks?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Not to spill too many beans, but I have gotten the assistance from a talented audio engineer with the task of the reverse engineering the preamp.

Along the way he has made improvements and updated some stuff. The original used an obsolete op amp, and the general layout was bad. This is why some wal basses pick up radio and stuff.

So what we now have is a new design based on the original, with the same filter specs, etc., and from the preliminary sound clips I have heard of the breadboard preamp with a non Wal style pickup, it sounds amazing!

So more work needs to be done, but the project is moving along smoothly.

Stay tuned.

 

[Stealth]

SGD, will you be sharing the schematic with the class like what was done with the Stingray 2B-EQ and 3B-EQ, or will this be a trade secret?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

SGD, will you be sharing the schematic with the class like what was done with the Stingray 2B-EQ and 3B-EQ, or will this be a trade secret?

Well the new preamp is not my design, so no.

It's not just a copy of the original.

 

[MikeLee]

...and the general layout was bad. This is why some wal basses pick up radio and stuff.

What! No radio interference like the original? Not sure I'll want it now. LOL!!!

Thanks for the update, and glad to hear things are going well, and even more glad to hear your taking the time and finding the resources to make this right! As impatient as some of us can be, it's going to be worth the wait!

 

[SGD Lutherie]

What! No radio interference like the original? Not sure I'll want it now. LOL!!!

Thanks for the update, and glad to hear things are going well, and even more glad to hear your taking the time and finding the resources to make this right! As impatient as some of us can be, it's going to be worth the wait!

I was fortunate to be contacted by someone interested in the project that offered to help. Because I have my hands full getting caught up on pickup orders after my move!

But this guy's top notch and has at least one bass related product on the market.

 

[Benberg]

what will the pickups look like?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

what will the pickups look like?

They will be in MM cases.

 

[Unrepresented]

They will be in MM cases.

Have you confirmed dimensions yet? I know you'd mentioned trying to reduce the depth of the stock design, is that still achievable?

4 string MM, 5 string MM or both? string spacing equivalent to either, both?

There's a Warmoth order awaiting your product's arrival on the market.

 

[edgaroviz]

Have you confirmed dimensions yet? I know you'd mentioned trying to reduce the depth of the stock design, is that still achievable?

4 string MM, 5 string MM or both? string spacing equivalent to either, both?

There's a Warmoth order awaiting your product's arrival on the market.

Hah... I'm doing the same thing, it's gonna be one sick Les Paul with these pickups and pre.

 

[Unrepresented]

Hah... I'm doing the same thing, it's gonna be one sick Les Paul with these pickups and pre.

Great minds...

Looking forward to seeing them completed.

 

[Oreomeister365]

Good to hear about the preamp. There's something I've been wondering for a while though...does the preamp have any built in tone shaping? By that I mean some sort of frequency shaping built into the preamp that isn't controllable with pots.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Have you confirmed dimensions yet? I know you'd mentioned trying to reduce the depth of the stock design, is that still achievable?

I'm working on a slight redesign of the pickup that will make it about as tall as a standard pickup, although it will be a bit taller than a real MM pickup, about .75".

4 string MM, 5 string MM or both? string spacing equivalent to either, both?

Four and five string versions for now. Spacing should be around 19mm or so.