Happy Jack Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 [quote name='shizznit' timestamp='1331654172' post='1576645'] Just to balance things up... [url="http://www.walbasses.co.uk/Gallery?img_id=110&gallery=17"]Wal 5 String Fretless[/url] Ding-dong!! [/quote] That's the oddest-looking 5-string I've ever seen. I think it's something to do with having six strings ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Horton Posted March 14, 2012 Author Share Posted March 14, 2012 [quote name='Gwilym' timestamp='1331727418' post='1577749'] There a some sound clips here [url="http://www.basssandiego.com/mtdbass.html"]http://www.basssandi...om/mtdbass.html[/url] of various MTDs which might be of some help. [/quote] Thanks for the link gwilym, most helpful. Based in hearing the basses in the link , i am prefering the tone of the rosewood fingerboard bass guitars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1331731324' post='1577851'] That's the oddest-looking 5-string I've ever seen. I think it's something to do with having six strings ... [/quote] This is the one I meant to post! I did notice as soon as I posted that message and I did correct it, but obviously still shows the 6-string! [url="http://www.walbasses.co.uk/Gallery?img_id=83&gallery=17"]http://www.walbasses.co.uk/Gallery?img_id=83&gallery=17[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Horton Posted March 14, 2012 Author Share Posted March 14, 2012 Does anyone have any sound clips or video clips of any Wal 5 fretted bass guitars that they could post ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Horton Posted March 14, 2012 Author Share Posted March 14, 2012 Am i right in thinking that the core tone of a Wal bass is slightly more walm / creamy / less edgy sounding compared to an MTD ? It could just be the sound clips that i have heard so far though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwilym Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 [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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Horton Posted March 14, 2012 Author Share Posted March 14, 2012 Thanks gwilym , your right ............................... that is a good clip ..... groooovin That sound clip is slightly "safe" sounding as it sits in the mix and i wonder if that is more "me" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 Chris - keep an eye on the Bass Gallery website. Martin usually always has a Wal in stock and every now again a MTD. When that happens jump in the car and head to London to try them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 Chis, I bought a 5-string fretless Wal Custom from the Gallery last year ... and immediately had it fretted. It sits alongside a 4-string fretless Wal Custom in my studio. It's virtually impossible to judge the "tone" of a Wal Custom or the "sound" of a Wal Custom, especially from someone else's soundclips. The filter-based preamp and the interactive controls mean that the range of "tones" and "sounds" is simply astonishing, and that's before you factor in the three pull-switches, not to mention your own playing style and position. I haven't played a MTD 535 so I'm not going to try to offer comparisons, but I'll be very surprised indeed if a Wal Custom 5-string can't provide all the tonal range you might want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 I appreciate that you're way out West but, if you're coming up to London at all, please feel free to drop in and see me. I love having people play with my toys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 [quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1331736539' post='1577989'] That sound clip is slightly "safe" sounding as it sits in the mix and i wonder if that is more "me" [/quote] You need to check these basses out for yourself I think, I don't think clips from YT are going to be representative of what you like from an instrument. For example, the MTD's I've played didn't sound anything like that one in the clip posted up at the top of the page (great instruments by the way!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Horton Posted March 14, 2012 Author Share Posted March 14, 2012 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1331737397' post='1578007'] I appreciate that you're way out West but, if you're coming up to London at all, please feel free to drop in and see me. I love having people play with my toys. [/quote] Thanks so much for all the great offers that I have been given in this thread and via PM it is very much appreciated I think that the only way for me to decide properly is to play these things . I shall plan a trip soon and get in touch with you. Thankyou all for the great posts so far it has been great to hear your views on these bass guitars. Everyones ears and playing styles are different and I need to check em out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Horton Posted March 14, 2012 Author Share Posted March 14, 2012 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1331737325' post='1578002'] Chis, I bought a 5-string fretless Wal Custom from the Gallery last year ... and immediately had it fretted. It sits alongside a 4-string fretless Wal Custom in my studio. [/quote] what is the difference between a Wal & a Wal custom ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 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.trevorandthea.eclipse.co.uk/wal_specifications.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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwilym Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 [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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwilym Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 (edited) 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] Edited March 14, 2012 by Gwilym Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 Thanks Gwilym ... I'll stick to Hofners in future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwilym Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 [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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndroWal Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 (edited) [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] If you go to my myspace page.... [url="http://www.myspace.com/androkotula"]http://www.myspace.com/androkotula[/url] , all the bass tracks except for the one entitled "Ocean" are played on 5-string Wals. Mostly Mark IIs....a couple on a Mark III. I used fretted Wals on "Protected", "Falling Face the Sun" (both on a Mark III with Shedua facings) and "Cathedral" (a Mark II with Maple facings)....others of course fretless, a Mark II with English Sycamore facings. And I do have a Mark III fretless once owned by someone posting here! FYI...I keep my filter controls flat...no adjustment. Fretless always just the bridge pick-up. Fretted I favor the bridge pick-up. Edited March 15, 2012 by AndroWal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleal Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I've tried 2 mtd's, owned 4 wals including the 6 string wal in the yt clip "that used to be fretless originaly & I had Martin at the gallery fret it for me, Of all the basses I've owned & tried including the smith bt6 I currently own, the wal seems to have the most powerful punchy low mid I've ever heard, if you can find a wal to try give it a go but remember a little goes a long way with those tone filters, You need to spend a bit of time with a wal to understand how the preamp does its thing, they are seriously exquisite instruments & I have big regrets that I sold my sixer, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Horton Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 (edited) [quote name='littleal' timestamp='1331796206' post='1578839'] but remember a little goes a long way with those tone filters, You need to spend a bit of time with a wal to understand how the preamp does its thing, [/quote] I have seen the term "tone filtes" mentioned before , could you please explain what the do a little more ? I have a had a look on the Wal website , are the tone filters part of / built into the tone asjustment knobs ? or is it an adjustment that is done inside the control cavity ? Edited March 15, 2012 by Chris Horton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Horton Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 [quote name='AndroWal' timestamp='1331790460' post='1578821'] If you go to my myspace page.... [url="http://www.myspace.com/androkotula"]http://www.myspace.com/androkotula[/url] , all the bass tracks except for the one entitled "Ocean" are played on 5-string Wals. Mostly Mark IIs....a couple on a Mark III. I used fretted Wals on "Protected", "Falling Face the Sun" (both on a Mark III with Shedua facings) and "Cathedral" (a Mark II with Maple facings)....others of course fretless, a Mark II with English Sycamore facings. And I do have a Mark III fretless once owned by someone posting here! FYI...I keep my filter controls flat...no adjustment. Fretless always just the bridge pick-up. Fretted I favor the bridge pick-up. [/quote] Thanks for posting the link Is there much differance between the MK2 & MK 3 Wal bass guitars ? Looking at the Wal website , it hints that the differance is mainly body shape ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 The trim pots are built onto the pots in the cavity. They allow you to alter the character of each control. Have a look at the electrics section on the web site. Mine are set to full bass, I don't use the pick attack and the volume is full on. I think the mk3 body was initially designed for the 5 string and it's slightly smaller and lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndroWal Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Chris Horton' timestamp='1331804380' post='1578996'] Thanks for posting the link Is there much differance between the MK2 & MK 3 Wal bass guitars ? Looking at the Wal website , it hints that the differance is mainly body shape ? [/quote] Thanks for listening! Yes a pretty big difference. Not only different shapes, but the strap buttons are in different locations and there is a difference in weight. The Mark IIs are generally heavier than the Mark IIIs. My Mark IIs are from the very early '90s and they are heavy. Also they have heavy tuners. I've actually communicated with Paul about sending my two to him to change the tuners to light weight ones and doing the necessary cosmetic fixes. Not an inexpensive process...just my shipping from the US for the two basses in their flight cases will be $920! The Mark IIs are bigger bodied, and my experience is that this provides a bit more bottom, a bit more tone overall....bigger body for bigger sound body. I'm not saying the Mark IIIs lack anything, it's just that the Mark IIs are fatter. This written, they are also bigger to wear and as said heavier and with the old style tuners, there is some neck-dive. Now the Mark IIIs are the most comfortable basses I've ever played. Fantastic! Easy access to every note, the fantastic Wal sound in a lighter, smaller more comfortable package. As far as the differences in the two shapes....for me the Mark IIs seem to fit on ones body more up and under my arm attached to my plucking hand, whereas the Mark IIIs seem to fit more to the center of my body. My Mark II feels more stabile for slapping, with its bigger body....not that I slap very much! Edited March 16, 2012 by AndroWal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Horton Posted October 11, 2012 Author Share Posted October 11, 2012 Just thought i would update this thread. I have now got a very tasty 535 that i got from Harry. Ash body & neck with birdseye maple fingerboard with walnut burl top with matching headstock ! mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Tasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.