TrevorR

7:29am... maybe I was getting ready to catch the train...

Well, what do you know... I’ve not searched for that track for ages but look what just popped up...

Hmmm, that makes sense of something I’ve been pondering. Way way back, I recall being off work with a virus and veg-Ing in front of daytime telly. I remember seeing a Wal bass on (probably) Lorraine. Gareth Gates was trying to make a comeback and was doing his latest single backed by a “himbo” backing band who barely knew which end of their instruments they were holding. Except that “bass player” was “playing” a banana yellow Mk 1 Wal bass. I often wondered whether it really WAS and actual a real bass player or just a male model and, if the latter, where the yellow Wal had come from/gone to. I suspect we now know the answer. What’s the betting Gates’ management/stylists popped down to the West End and Camden and rented some telegenic instruments for the hired totty to “play”. If they’d gone into The Gallery and seen that bass hanging on the wall it would have screamed TV bass”! Never have managed to find a YouTube clip of that performance. Back to the bass itself, I love that the yellow uses a white undercoat to enhance its brightness. Garish but in a lovely way!

Are you on Facebook? Pop along to the Wal Bass Club there and join in the fun. There’s a sticky post which lists various players’ fave tone settings. A lot of good tones to try out as you explore the preamp...!

I was looking for a specific D-tuner for my Wal a year or so ago which seemed to be as hard to find as hens teeth. I emailed their customer serviced dept to ask if that model was still being manufactured. Got an email back saying that they had discontinued them a couple of years previously. However, they had some bagged spares and they would be happy to sell one direct. They sent it direct from the States. All in all, including postage, it cost no more than buying one off Stringbusters or similar. Once again. Really great customer service and attitude.

I’ll third it. Had a MAG300 and 4x10 for a year and ended up hating it. Could never get a sound I was happy with.

No you haven't. Well, not until we see the photos to prove it... Hint hint hint!!!

Couldn't agree more. It would be between those two for me. Was Orange Friday's me(n)tal orange swirly thing a 2017 build or earlier. It even out weirded the Psilos at the SE Bass Bash - and that's saying something! It does lose some points, though for seemingly being made out of dark matter.

5-string basses... only ever played 4-strings and sometimes wondered, “Should I?” Funnily enough it was the much ridiculed SBL “Why you shouldn’t play a 5-string bass” video that crystallised for me that I actually neither want nor need one. Fretless basses - defretted a Jazz many, many moons ago and soon realised I was never going to put the hours (days, weeks, months) in to become anywhere near competent on it. Rickys - love the look, love the sound, hate everything else about them. Warwicks - as above except without the loving the looks and sound. Oh and, like others, cabs seemingly made out of solid lead. #lovemymarkbass

Not to mention Headspace, Rick Wakeman and That Oceanic Feeling. Top player. Gord the blu-ray/CD package for Crimble. Really looking forward to it!

Nice! And on the choice of body shape I’d have to heartily agree!

Lovely bass. Simon and Andy do make some amazing instruments. I’ve often gazed longingly at their Otter basses but would never be able to justify the outlay, though. I do have a Tamar 6 string which I adore. That will have to do... would love to see the full bass.

And any I’ve seen have a pretty awful/unique tone... there is a different vibe and sound to acoustic basses beyond just the look. They are great to tinkle on around the house without worrying about amps and stuff. As others have said, for and ensemble playing a small amp is a must. There’s a huge variation in cost and quality in the sound (esp of the pickup) so try before you buy is pretty much a must. Ive got a Faith acoustic bass which I got a great deal on new at £500 and it'sgreat fun in more acoustic settings. For your jam session an electric bass and small amp would, of course, work fine. But if it’s also about the vibe and the look and a less electric tone and you just fancy one then definitely try some out. Then you can make an informed yes or no decision.

Ditto.

PS no idea what happened to the font and no amount of selecting and resizing seems to make a difference!

Four to mention for me... To My Roots by Emma Stevens. Sparkly, uplifting country-tinged pop with an edge. A lovely positive album which manages that without any cheese. Gordon Giltrap and Paul Ward’s Last Of England was my personal highlight showing that Gordon is very much still at the top of his game. The last tune on the album is a track my wife and I commissioned as a 50th gift to each other so it’s particularly special for us. Sonny Landreth, Live in Louisiana gives you two great CDs of swampy, Cajun flavoured blues. One disc acoustic one electric. Some great playing on there. Finally Legends of the Shires by British prog-metal veterans, Threshold. Loved this band for ages and this is some top heavy prog.

My whole family lived in a 4 x 10. You know, the classic old two up, two down.

Indeed... in fact this pic of “one of the basses they can make for you” (yeah, sure!)... ...is actually scanned from Wal’s own promotional leaflet. You can even see the writing on the other side through the paper! Here’s the original scan from my website with all the same wrinkles in the paper!

He said that he had set himself a random date of around the new year after which he'll presume that no-one's coming out of the woodwork and count it as properly his... Patience Mr Fox!

Can’t help you on the treasure hunt but they are wonderful basses. I love my 700 - my first ever bass and I’ll never make the mistake of selling it. Does it have to be your actual SB700? You see them coming up pretty regularly. Would a brother or sister bass scratch that itch?

Gordon did three prog albums in the 70s - all great but this is my absolute fave (Perilous Journey and Visionary are the others). His more recent fingerstyle stuff is great too. Check out Last Of England and Shining Morn.

Absolutely. I’m going to sit here at home playing my absolutely genuine Custom Series Wal that I got brand new for just $400! What a classy piece of work by Paul, eh? http://www.rareguitarheaven.net/mobile/goods.php?id=1018

Sorry, sorry... FIVE! Five albums! I can whittle it down to five albums. How could I have forgotten this one? One of my all time favourite albums. My all time favourite guitar player. A band that features a teenage Simon Phillips on drums, John G Perry of Caravan on Wal bass, Morris Peart on percussion... Plus one of the UK’s most accomplished fingerstyle folk guitarists rocking in full on prog mode... Gordon Giltrap - Fear Of The Dark

Oh, I’ve whittled it down to four and I can’t choose between them so here goes... Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous. But if only studio albums were to count I’d choose Jailbreak Electric Light Orchestra - Out Of The Blue. So many great pop songs on that album, and not just the ones you know. Horslips - The Book Of Invasions (probably - The Tain would be a close run thing). Folk influenced Celtic rock from the 70s. Tribes, Scribes and Vibes - Incognito. Not a single less than amazing track on it. Perfect acid jazz and funk with some sublime playing from Randy Hope-Taylor!

Not as awful as I expected but still entirely unnecessary.