SlabMan Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 This is a historic Bass, that has been authenticated by Barry Matthews (Author of "Fender Bass For Britain), and this is his assessment : - [font=Eras Demi ITC, sans-serif][u]Authentication of Precision Bass belonging to Wally Waller- October 2012[/u][/font] [font=Eras Demi ITC, sans-serif]By Barry Matthews – Author of “A Fender Bass for Britain” (published 2009)[/font] "In the course of my extensive research for the above book, I examined at least 18 examples of the 1966 slab-bodied Precision bass. [font=Eras Demi ITC, sans-serif]The bass belonging to Wally Waller, formerly of the Pretty Things, Serial No. 48444, comprises of an original 1966 slab body which has been refinished in sunburst over the original blond finish (still visible in the neck cavity). The scratchplate is black/white/black as per the 1966 slab bass. The pot dates are week 12 from 1966 (marked 6612) which is consistent with the other slabs. The neck plate (48444) is a 1960 neck plate and the maple neck with a rosewood slab fingerboard is from 1959/1960.[/font] [font=Eras Demi ITC, sans-serif]In my discussions with Ken Achard (who wrote the Fender Bass book in 1977) he confirmed that Ric Grech of Blind Faith changed the maple neck of his slab for a rosewood-capped neck. This would coincide with what Wally Waller was told when he bought the bass from the Orange music shop in Denmark Street in 1978, that it had belonged to Ric Grech.[/font] [font=Eras Demi ITC, sans-serif]My conclusions on examining this bass- I can confidently say the body is from a genuine 1966 slab bass. The date put upon the neck was obviously added by someone who didn’t know about the 1966 slabs and thought the body was an earlier non-contoured Precision bass. However the date format was not used until 1962. Both the body and the neck are original 1960’s, but not from the same year. The neck and neck plate are 1959/60 and the complete body (pots, pickups, pickguard) are from one of the rare 1966 slab-bodied basses, as played by John Entwistle, Eric Haydock, Chip Hawkes, Ric Grech, Ace Kefford and several other famous players. The circumstances strongly suggest this is the bass originally owned by Ric Grech.[/font] [font=Eras Demi ITC, sans-serif]As this is a unique instrument, it is difficult to put a value on it, but other 1966 slab basses have sold for between £8,000 and £12,000 recently. Of course, some of the value is in the providence, having probably belonged to Ric Grech and latterly to Wally Waller of the Pretty Things.[/font] [font=Eras Demi ITC, sans-serif]This bass is a highly desirable vintage instrument, even though the neck and body are from different years in the 1960’s, and in this combination it is extremely rare. The bass plays beautifully and would deservedly take pride of place for any collector or player."[/font] I am in fact Wally Waller, and I am thinking about selling this instrument if I can get the right price for it. I attach several shots of the Bass (one with Barry Matthews and myself), and some of it in action. There are many clips of it on YouTube, but bear in mind I only bought the Bass in 1977/8, so all the clips that were recorded before then will feature my old white Fender Mustang. Price is £10,000 [attachment=124745:2012_1024retirementwalslab0702.JPG][attachment=124746:P1070098.jpg][attachment=124747:P1070099.jpg][attachment=124748:P1070100.jpg][attachment=124749:P1070105.jpg][attachment=124750:P1070106.jpg][attachment=124751:P1070107.jpg][attachment=124752:P1070108.jpg][attachment=124753:P1070109.jpg][attachment=124754:P1070110.jpg][attachment=124755:P1070111.jpg][attachment=124756:P1070112.jpg][attachment=124757:P1070113.jpg][attachment=124758:VSImage_13_2.jpg][attachment=124759:VSImage_11_1.jpg][attachment=124760:PTS PS 2.jpg][attachment=124761:Offenbach 7.jpg] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 (edited) I know that this is a rare bass but you must comply with the rules for this forum which state that you must name a price for the instrument. This is not an auction site like ebay. Good luck with the sale and welcome to the forum. Edited December 11, 2012 by Hutton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxpop Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Price please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LemonCello Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 [quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1355231652' post='1895634'] I know that this is a rare bass but you must comply with the rules for this forum which state that you must name a price for the instrument. This is not an auction site like ebay. Good luck with the sale and welcome to the forum. [/quote] This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Ok I'll start bidding £1 Seriously though lovely instrument, good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Steve Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Spooky in that I used my slab body Precision with The Pretty Things too. The sound of those things is extraordinary and I'd have it straight away if I had the money. I miss mine and would not have parted with it had I known how rare it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Horton Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 The " holy grail" of Precision's !!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 [quote name='lojo' timestamp='1355244107' post='1895864'] Ok I'll start bidding £1 Seriously though lovely instrument, good luck [/quote] £1.25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlabMan Posted December 11, 2012 Author Share Posted December 11, 2012 Hello Everybody, I'm sorry that I didn't post the price of the 'beast' - it's £10,000. Does anybody know how I can edit my original post so that it includes the price .... thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johngh Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 [quote name='SlabMan' timestamp='1355248051' post='1895930'] Hello Everybody, I'm sorry that I didn't post the price of the 'beast' - it's £10,000. Does anybody know how I can edit my original post so that it includes the price .... thanks [/quote] Done for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 (edited) Wally, welcome to Basschat - I expect that bass could tell a few good stories if it could talk. There should be an 'Edit' button at the bottom of the posting - that should allow you a quick edit to add a price, or you can use the Full editor which has a bit more functionality. Edit - I see Johngh has beaten me to it! Edited December 11, 2012 by pete.young Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlabMan Posted December 11, 2012 Author Share Posted December 11, 2012 Hi Pete, Thanks for the tips - you're right about the stories. In the 35 years since I've owned it, it's seen plenty of action! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick's Fine '52 Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Nice bit of history right there, if not a little modded. Good luck with the sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlabMan Posted December 13, 2012 Author Share Posted December 13, 2012 Hi Rick, Thanks for the post. I was looking around on google earlier today, and came across your BassChat project about building a replica Precision. I found it very interesting, and I thought that I would send you a post on the subject, but now I've logged back into BassChat I can't find your thread - perhaps you could drop me a link. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick's Fine '52 Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 [quote name='SlabMan' timestamp='1355422525' post='1898309'] Hi Rick, Thanks for the post. I was looking around on google earlier today, and came across your BassChat project about building a replica Precision. I found it very interesting, and I thought that I would send you a post on the subject, but now I've logged back into BassChat I can't find your thread - perhaps you could drop me a link. Thanks [/quote] Wally, Here's the link, I've just added some update pics this evening, an interseting read from the beginning, it's been a long labour of love for me, having not managed to get a real one. Not as interesting as yours though!!! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/187288-66-slab-precision-build/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/187288-66-slab-precision-build/page__fromsearch__1[/url] Cheers, Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts