Clarky

Although I didn't buy it through BassChat, I recently bought a lovely Wal Mk 2 from Paul. As he is a new member of BassChat I thought it would be helpful to all if I posted here to let the good people of BassChat know that he was very straightforward, honorable and friendly in his dealings and that his bass was exactly as described. So have no fears buying/selling from Paul!

Played Meadowlands festival today. The bad: it was far from great weather - grey, threatening to rain and with huge gusty-y winds - and that, coupled with our early time slot (1.30pm) meant we only played to about 100 people, which was a bit disappointing. The good: we played well, my new DB rig worked fabulously (Acoustic Image Clarus+ through an EA Wizzy 12"), and the audience enjoyed our set. The BBC Radio 'Introducing ...' DJ that played us on her show a few weeks back came along and was really complimentary about the set, so hopefully word spreads Next up is a slimmed down version of the band (probably 8/9 of us, instead of 14) at the 12 Bar on Friday 10th June

[quote name='Marvin' post='1248871' date='May 29 2011, 06:44 AM']When I play the C♯ on the E string (ie 9th fret) the string rattles and buzzes on the frets behind that note. If I fret C and C♯ it disappears, hence the string must be buzzing on the lower frets. I don't know whether I need to tweak the truss rod to straighten or put more relief in it. What I have noticed is that on other occasions when I've put more relief in the neck is that notes above the 12th fret start to choke a lot, so that option could be some what limited. Cheers[/quote] I have had something similar. Sounds like one fret wire is standing too far proud and the neck needs a fret stoning. Any luthier or guitar shop should be able do this quite cheaply

I wasn't wild about this bass, although I so wanted to love it (as it looks so incredibly cool). I found it wasn't as playable as a fretless electric bass (due to the heavily-radius'd finger board and unadjustable bridge, hence quite high action) or as an upright bass (due to 34" scale). Like I say, I was all set to bash the credit card but it wasn't for me.

Last call!

My '83 Mk 1 fretless and 2004 Mk 2 fretted - photo removed and transferred to Flickr (clink on link in my sig below)

Obligatory on the bed shot [attachment=81171:P1040275.JPG]

Paul just bought my AI Coda combo. Very friendly nice guy who is new to BassChat. I am happy to recommend him as someone to buy/sell from with confidence

I did have a search out for a 5-string Wal but was today offered a Wal Mk2 4-string at a reasonable price and - having wondered whether I would really get to grips with a 5-string (I have flunked before when I had an Alembic 5'er) - decided to play it safe and buy the 4-stringer. So here is the rather lovely 2004 American Walnut-faced, ebony board Mk2 I have acquired today [attachment=81141:SDC11177.jpg][attachment=81146:Wal_4.jpg]

Excellent gig, BigRedX! Very good band with some great tunes. And your Gus bass does look ludicrously sexual Hope to see you again, hopefully with Rattlin Bone on the same bill

[quote name='chrkelly' post='1247391' date='May 27 2011, 05:54 PM']Good move Clarky, the AI heads are amazing pieces of gear. As you know that company's got the best after sales service in the business too. If you can, try it out with an Epifani UL112, it's a match made in heaven. Sounds glorious with a flatwound strung p bass too [/quote] Cheers Chris - trust you're still loving my old (and your old and now yours again!) 72P? The Clarus+ not only has loads of extra headroom with extr awattage but also has two channels so can be used for doubling - my band is DB-only right now but I am sneakily planning to work on them to include the odd fretless or fretted electric bass song

[quote name='james_guitar' post='1246533' date='May 27 2011, 01:36 AM']I'd love to know what you think of the doubler once you've gigged it. That and the AI Clarus are the only heads I'm considering other than the PJB M300 or D600 to go with my 8b cab. You guys seem to be the double bass amp connoisseurs on this forum, so I'm finding your feedback on each head to be invaluable. I just need to take my upright on a train journey to a decent music shop that stocks some of these options. I hope you've finally solved the sound quality v.s. volume issue![/quote] I'm afraid I've sent back the Doubler. I didn't think the sound quality matched Acoustic Image (at least with a piezo pickup) and I think EA have gone too far in making it lightweight - to the extent it seems incredibly breakable. It weighs a ludicrously low 2.5 pounds and I would have very happily traded another pound or two in weight on it to make it more sturdy. I am sticking with Acoustic Image and will be getting a Clarus+, the new head with double the wattage (800W up from 400W previously). I will put that through an EA Wizzy 12" cab with a Mackie C200 10" PA speaker on a stand for loud gigs

Flat Eric very kindly sent me a kettle lead in return for a BC donation when I put up a thread about needing a .... errr kettle lead! A fine example of a BC'er helping out another BC'er

[quote name='chris_b' post='1246790' date='May 27 2011, 10:44 AM']As others have said, I'm happy that Wals are still being made, although it would have improved the resale value of my Wal if they weren't!![/quote] Chris, best sell me your Wal 5 before it depreciates further

[quote name='chris_b' post='1246885' date='May 27 2011, 11:59 AM']The difference is important to some people and will never be important to others.[/quote] I just paid around three times for my fretless '83 Wal what I have recouped from selling my drop-dead gorgeous, superb-playing '71 fretless Fender P/J - was it worth it? Yes. The Wal is astoundingly playable, sounds wonderful and its MY fretless

[quote name='bobpalt' post='1246689' date='May 27 2011, 09:37 AM']Hi Clarky. No, its a 4'er sorry! It was the first one made in the current run, using, so I believe, old stock timbers. Its gorgeous, but I've never played it since I bought it, I'm so aware of its value/provenance (snap yourself out of it man. Its only a bass guitar!)[/quote] No worries Bob, if it helps BassDirect just sold a few Wals for aroud the £3k mark and Bass Gallery have several FS at £3.5k (mind you, they don't seem to be shifting so I think they are a bit over-priced). If no buyer on BC for it, I would suggest giving Mark at BassDirect a call

[quote name='BigAlonBass' post='1246663' date='May 27 2011, 09:12 AM']Lots of separate ads on here, detailed, with pictures. Much more drooling for us all. [/quote] Agreed. The odds of unearthing a decent honest buyer are way higher on BassChat (I've done so many deals yet not had a bad'un yet). Go to eBay if it doesn't shift PS, is the Wal a 5'er in which case I might be interested?

Are you by any chance the seller of the '55 two-tone refin P bass on eBay at the mo'? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Precision-Bass-1955-Original-NOT-Reissue-/220789011397?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item33680cf3c5#ht_2102wt_1141"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Precision-Bas...#ht_2102wt_1141[/url]

Phwoar - amazing condition for something 11 years older than me (I look like sh*t ) Please show us your other toys