EssentialTension Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 [media]http://youtu.be/0zEzHPsi87w[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Never seen that live clip ... absolutely glorious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grafen Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 [quote name='DavidMcKay' timestamp='1444809360' post='2886147'] For me it is the look. I think they look home made [/quote] In fact Paul lives just a stone's throw away from his workshop so there is some merit to your argument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Saw this and thought of this topic https://www.google.co.uk/search?redir_esc=&hl=en-GB&safe=images&oe=utf-8&q=what+to+do+with+your+opinion&source=android-browser-suggest&qsubts=1444465131423&gws_rd=ssl#imgrc=AzyxiCR5Ij-18M%3A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 http://basschat.co.uk/topic/271553-wal-mk1-fretted-l1200/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobodysprefect Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) Had a fair few high quality basses in my time. Filter preamps have their own thing going. I think you could get a reasonable facsimile of Wal pickups from, say, Armstrong? And afaik some people on this very forum have gone for wal-like ACGs? But no, nothing I've had or played has totally nailed the Wal tone. You want that tone, you need a Wal? Altho lots of Flea stuff was recorded on his Alembic Epic and Spector NS2. But what I want is Geddy's tone on Show of Hands anyways. And the ergonomics or intonation -- of the Wals I used to own -- aren't really comparable to MTD or Skjold and such. Edited October 20, 2015 by nobody's prefect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 [quote name='nobody's prefect' timestamp='1445379902' post='2891145'] Had a fair few high quality basses in my time. Filter preamps have their own thing going. I think you could get a reasonable facsimile of Wal pickups from, say, Armstrong? And afaik some people on this very forum have gone for wal-like ACGs [/quote] I've got one if the "Wal-like ACGs". The Multi-coils pickups on them are excellent. Mega responsive and can get a pretty damn close "Wal tone". Saying that it's not a one trick pony which I think people seem to think of Wals. Can't think of a musical setting where the ACG would be out of place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Jus Lukin' timestamp='1444818540' post='2886288'] ...That distinctive and and rich growl is something I can mentally recall to this day. It was thoroughly inappropriate for 90% of the material he was playing, but it was one hell of a tone... That 'All Growl' tone would be very useful as part of a toolbox of basses but, even as a player by trade, the cost would outweigh the benefits for me... [/quote] Imported from an entirely different thread but it seemed aposite over here too... [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1445421669' post='2891294'] I am doing a Rock Blues gig with a Wal fretless next Tuesday that is going out live on local radio. The drummer is Brendan O'Neill, ex-Rory Gallagher, and it's going to be 'kin loud Anyone who thinks Wal's are one trick ponies is a eejit. Mine has done Jazz, Latin, Rock, Funk, Blues, Pop, Big Band, pit orchestra work live, studio etc etc. I have never had a negtative comment and have had plenty of positive ones. Wals deliver. End of. [/quote] Yes, that's another strange Wal bass urban myth that you hear lots. "Well, Wals great for that growl thing they do but I wouldn't want that sound all the time and they're a bit of a one trick pony." Inexplicable. Well, of course I can dial up a Wal growl tone on my Mk1 (and I find that the real growl seems to reside more in left hand technique than anywhere else) but they're so much more versatile than that. However, I've never found a situation where I couldn't dial in a sympathetic or appropriate tone. The covers band I used to play in covers a wide range of styles from Britpop to Motown, Beatles to Laurel Canyon singer songwriter, rock to easy listening, rock and roll to white reggae. With the Wal filter based controls I never had a problem finding a perfect sound for each song. The changes in tone derived from a whole mix of different factors - pickup blend and tone settings, how hard I attached the strings, plucking over the bridge pickup or neck pickup or over the end of the fingerboard. I recall one wedding gig where for the first two sets I had noticed a late teenage boy watching my playing very intently. After the second set he came over, said he was a bass player and asked what those effects pedals that I was using to get all those different sounds were. I looked down at my feet... They were a Boss TU2 tuner and a Lehle 3@1 which I was using to switch between basses. That's it. All the tonal shifts were from altering pickup choice, tone settings and playing technique. If you listen to a range of Wal players they achieve a huge range of tones. Laurence Cottle on the album Gaudi (Alan Parsons Project) sounds smooth and round and, while still retaining a certain Walness is a gazillion miles away from Flea's BSSM tone or Geddy's Power Windows sound. If there is one thing that a Wal is not, it's a tonal one trick pony... Edited October 21, 2015 by TrevorR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deep Thought Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 They've always looked home-made to me too. And I've always hated the shape of the ? Mark 1 (the one with the short horns). The later one with the longer horns looks better, but I still don't like the over/under headstock. If I had the huge amount of money they cost, I wouldn't spend it on a WAL, but each to their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1444760694' post='2885746'] Loved my Wal - bought it new if 1986 for £750, sold it because I was an idiot. Aesthetically not for everyone, but the best sounding bass i ever owned in 36 yrs of playing [/quote] Exactly what I would have posted, right down to the year and Scotland too. Especially the idiot part. Except mine was second hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelee Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Every bass is Marmite to some people. There is no 'one size fits all' solution. This forum would be rather boring if that was the case. lol. If wal bass guitars are of no interest just dismiss and play an alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zawinul Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Have you ever played a Wal? If you haven't then you have nothing to say. I used to own one. They are exceptionally well built, beautifully made, and a deep rounded sound. I had a fretless it was sweet and no I didn't sound much like Mick Karn as I am not him but it did sound wonderful.criticisms are they are very heavy at least mine was, and a pain to play for a long time standing up. No other criticisms, they are very high quality and quality costs. I think you seem to not like the fact that Wal have a kind of aura around them that's somehow unjustified. Sorry but it is justified they are amazing instruments in the same way a minimoog is. They are legend. Deal with it. Are they worth the money? They are worth what people are prepared to pay and people vote with thier ears. A good rant, but you're passing in the wind, Wal are the dogs...regret selling mine. Getting a ACG which I hope will sound as sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 What a brilliant coup this thread is - your mum would be proud 7 pages to discover that a particular bass is liked and not liked. Something which could be said about every bass made, from a £40 Chase Guvnor * ( yes i owned one ! see Bee low ) to a £5k Ritter bootick slab. Of course, you have to pick the right bass to conjur up such a thread. 10/10 for that. A rollercoaster of a chit chat and should be out in paperback very soon Talking of real estate going spare, check this baby * The offending Chase. PS i made money on this, seriously. About £15 [url=http://postimage.org/][/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 [quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1446823394' post='2902687'] * The offending Chase. PS i made money on this, seriously. About £15 [url="http://postimage.org/"][/url] [/quote] I quite like it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 (edited) Case proven m'lud Actually, it sold for £45 and on here some moons ago, and i made a tenner, not fifteen IIRC. Wish i still had it really Edited November 6, 2015 by fleabag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1446824344' post='2902700'] I quite like it... [/quote] Me too. It looks pretty cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 Its starting to look like in 20 years, someone will be posting ' Chase Guvnors - what's all the fuss ? " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 Hey, they're really going for it.. http://www.chasedirect.co.uk/guitars/bass-guitars/guvnor-gb-704-four-4-string-bass-electric-guitar-new?cPath=1_15& Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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