Gwilym

I just bought a effects pedal from Dean, the deal went very smoothly, and I'd be happy to do more business with him. Cheers G

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1331748129' post='1578287'] Thanks Gwilym ... I'll stick to Hofners in future. [/quote] just let me know when you have as many Wals as you had Hofners

Also the JG and original "Pro" basses were effectively the same? e.g. Pro1 Pro2e etc. I don't think they were ever entry level, as they were the only Wals available until the Mach 1/Custom was developled. There were however entry level Wals made in the late 80s, and were, I seem to recall, sold via the bass center. These were arguably entry level instruments, had a single pickup in the bridge/musicman position, and did not have active electronics. http://www.trevorandthea.eclipse.co.uk/specs3.html under "[i][font="Tahoma"][size="4"]1990 reissue passive, single-pickup "Pro-type" bass"[/size][/font][/i]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1331744353' post='1578178'] Wal made several Series of basses: JG (the early days), Pro (arguably the entry level), and Custom (higher quality, more sophisticated electronics). [url="http://www.trevorandthea.eclipse.co.uk/wal_specifications.htm"]http://www.trevorand...cifications.htm[/url] The Custom range has been through two recognised updates. At the first of these, the originals became known as Mk.I and the new designs as Mk.II. With Wals now back in business under new management, we have Mk.III. For reasons I don't understand, the Mark I and Mark II designations are routinely called Mach I and Mach II as if they were supersonic jets. [/quote] i think you'll find that the Mark III/Mach III was a standard Wal design from the mid 90's - the fretless 5 I used to have was a Mark III body shape as was made in the early 2000's well before Pete Stevens sold the business. I don't think Wal have introduced any new designs since Paul Herman took over the reins?

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1331734258' post='1577941'] Does anyone have any sound clips or video clips of any Wal 5 fretted bass guitars that they could post ? [/quote] this is a good one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTja2oHCctU&feature=related

I've got one of these http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/SKB-44-Electric-Bass-TSA-Hard-shell-Case/4XR Fit's 35" scale bass with a longish headstock, so should fit the TRB too. Reasonably light weight, and survived a transatlantic flight with a few scuffs. Might be a bit OTT for your needs though?

And I almost forgot, [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/168984-some-recordings-mtd-535-content/"]this thread here[/url] has a link to demo tracks that were recorded with my ash/maple 535

There a some sound clips here [url=http://www.basssandiego.com/mtdbass.html]http://www.basssandiego.com/mtdbass.html[/url] of various MTDs which might be of some help.

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1331651624' post='1576575'] Thanks shizznit, Just looked on the Bass Central websire and i really like the look of the ............ [b][u]MTD 535 Dark Cherry Sunburst / Wenge[/u][/b] It is the 12'th bass from the top of the 5 string section. very tasty. i love the colour. I would love to play the bass but can't justify the plane ticket ........ unless i bring the bass back with me [/quote] nice, but I would love to try this one: [b][url=""][/url][/b] [b][u]MTD 535 Tortoise Burst[/u][/b] 24 Frets, Red Heart Quilt Top On Makore Body, Maple Neck-Rosewood Board, Matching Headstock, Matching Truss Rod Cover To Body

[quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1331641646' post='1576309'] I am not sure , but the serial number is - 2291 [/quote] then no. more history here: http://mtdbass.com/pages/company.html by the way, I just sent you a PM

I had a Wal mach 3 5 string fretless a few years ago, and now an MTD. I very briefly picked up a Wal Mach 2 at the Gallery a few months ago, and the neck felt like a baseball bat. I much prefer the ergonomics of the MTD. However, Mike Tobias carves the necks by hand, so the necks can be slighly different e.g. PTB's 535 used to be mine, and has a slightly thicker neck front-to-back than my 535. A couple of millimeters as I recall, but I prefer the slimmer neck. The other thing about MTD is that the sound can differ quite a lot depending on the woods in the bass. again, my ash/maple 535 has a much more pronounced mid-range compared to the poplar/wenge 535 I used to have. The other advantage of MTD is that you can probably get a nice used example cheaper than an exquivalent Wal, although it might mean importing it from the US. EDIT: I imagine that the MTD's sound quite different to the Tobias basses too, although I've never played one myself. Was the one at Mansons a "pre-Gibson"?

lol nice one. couldn't get much further the other end of the scale from a 635

[quote name='apa' timestamp='1330864013' post='1563886'] Now this has been bugging me for quit some time. Being a designer / engineer its something that catches my eye so take a look at these pictures............... They all have one thing in common which I consider ugly and old fashioned and while being emensly practical and functional it detracts from all that ergonomic and esthetic blood sweat and tears that goes into the design of these beautiful creatures. Im talking about [b][size=4]THIS[/size][/b]........................ Even when great lengths are taken to make something esthetic they plonk a thread and nut into it...... There are some designs out there, mostly for acoustic guitars like the ones that double are strap pins and this one........ But 99% of electric instruments that you buy from the £150 Squier Affinity to Mr Ritters £15,000 jobs they all have a thread and a nut stuck on them!! And yes I understand the manufacturing practicalities of such things but its not rocket science to put a similar design to the Neutriks on them. Mr Ritter has no excuse!! That is all. Have a good Sunday A [/quote] The other thing (not including the Ritter) that they have in common are scratch plates. Ugly bits of plastic, that presumably only existed (originally) to cover up the routing underneath. I despair everytime I see an otherwise good looking bass with a cheap bit of pastic screwed into what is often a much better looking piece of wood.

The only thing I bought during last year's show was custom ear plugs. After reading some months back that it was going to be a quieter there this year, I thought I might go again - after all, it's only 10 minutes walk from my flat to the venue. After hearing that the noise issue hadn't changed, I'm glad I stayed at home playing my own gear in a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere not having to wear ear plugs Sound proof booths are the answer for all the exhibitors of amps/cabs, headphones for those exhibiting guitars only, and maybe a separate room entirely for those exhibitors without amps/basses?

I bought a couple of sets of Dunlop 40-120 nickel strings last week, and strung them up on my MTD (35" scale and they fit no problem) and Sadowsky (34" scale). Both basses were previously strung with Galli nickels and DR Lorider nickels respectively, and I've had Loriders on the MTD too. Initial impressions are very good. To my ears, there is a stronger mid range emphasis/presence (good!) to them then either the Galli strings and the DR's, without any harsh treble-iness. I've a feeling that there's slightly less bass extention compared to the DRs, but the effect is that the B comes out sounding just a bit more balanced tone-wise with the E string. B string clarity on both sets were consistent (and excellent), and was better than the Galli's and equivalent to the DR's which I've found to always yield a very solid B. None of the strings are tapered at the bridge end. They feel slighly more rough to the touch than the DRs and about the same as the Gallis, and I think there's some kind of residue on the strings that's put on there to keep them fresh in the packet, because they initially feel a little bit sticky? Maybe my imagination, and I'm sure that will go away as I play them a bit more. The blurb on the packet mentions them being "low tension", but they don't feel particularly low tension, and I've gone to a lighter gauge than I usually use (i.e. from 45-125 to 40-120). They are less stiff than the Loriders and Gallis, but I'd attribute that more to the lighter 40 gauge set. My main concern was that they would be too slack, but they feel perfect to/for me. I guess I liked them enough to have just bought another couple of sets. If the prices remain reasonable, and if they last a decent amount of time I'll keep on buying them I think!