TrevorR Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) ...and look and play and feel. In an attempt to counter the recent levels of Wal-focused negativity which has been in these 'ere parts over the last week I thought I would post up some examples of the glorious sound which these amazing basses make. As part of theWal History talk I did at the SE Bass Bash recently I put together a brief playlist of examples of Wals record. Anyway the devil makes work for idle hands so this, naturally, grew into a bit of a mixtape. So anyway, to redress the balance here is a YouTube playlist featuring some classic Wal tones and some top Wal players. Enjoy... http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGIYNBxcSZ3uo0Dv4GUoVf-4yKXu7xmKT And for some further listening pleasure a somewhat different and longer Spotify playlist to soundtrack your day... https://open.spotify.com/user/11166282603/playlist/0MOUCZomh0RzYPQjndREOU Edited October 20, 2015 by TrevorR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Well done Trevor, good work Will have a proper listen later, just had a whizz through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Plus any song by Tool (Aenima (1996) -present) Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 If only they were on Spotify Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Power Windows by Rush is also a great example of the Wal tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 My Wal, a Mk3 5 string, sounded glorious. I've been going over some old recordings and you can hear the tracks where the Wal was used. They have a better quality and an authority to the sound. Wal basses are a 40 year old design that is still in the top 5 basses ever made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) Can I just add Flea's stellar performance on 'Naked in the rain' into the mix? [url="https://youtu.be/OY1ufFfo3tw"]https://youtu.be/OY1ufFfo3tw[/url] Top marks all round! Edited October 20, 2015 by paul_5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 For the ones who say that a Wal can't be used for rock/blues [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsMO6kQ96XM[/media] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 [quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1445337056' post='2890600'] If only they were on Spotify [/quote] Just buy the albums Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 [quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1445353534' post='2890838'] Just buy the albums Si [/quote] Pay for music What do you think this is, before the year 2000 or something? ... the very thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SingleMalt Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 [quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1445336452' post='2890594'] Plus any song by Tool (Aenima (1996) -present) Si [/quote] That sound was literally what made me buy my first bass. Absolutely massive tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drTStingray Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I agree wholeheartedly with this. I am a great fan of the late Alan Spenner, listed in your tracks with a Roxymusic track. I loved Alan's work on Kokomo's albums in the 70s - such greasy soul/funk (on a Precision) with a feel not unlike Pino's. I was lucky enough to see him in his Wal days playing at the Roundhouse in a Kokomo reunion concert in the late 70s - now if he sounded good on a Presicion, the Wal sound was a revelation - absolutely fantastic and really displayed the finer nuances of his playing as well as sounding fat and funky - and I further became a Wal fan on seeing Percy Jones' fretless magic with Brand X in that era. I've since played one quite recently at some length in the Bass Gallery and what a bass!! Feel and sounds are perfect - a bass which really creates GAS for me!! Now the wait to save up enough and for one that really appeals visually (the range of facings really look quite different). Ideally I'd love a JG one (as Alan Spenner and John Gustavson) but as there were only 46 made this is probably a tall order. Does anyone know who played bass on the Avalon album by Roxy and particularly the track Jealous Guy - from the notes and style it sounds like Spenner to me and likely a Wal?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 [quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1445408272' post='2891194'] . Ideally I'd love a JG one [/quote] You and me both... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 [quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1445353534' post='2890838'] Just buy the albums Si [/quote] This. They'll sound much better, and you're not reliant on someone else's equipment. Also the artist gets a better cut of the royalty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Doc Stingray & Rob Afraid I've got it worse cause I'd like my JG back. Normally I convince myself I don't mind selling it,other times who the hell am I trying to kid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 [quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1445418221' post='2891264'] Doc Stingray & Rob Afraid I've got it worse cause I'd like my JG back. Normally I convince myself I don't mind selling it,other times who the hell am I trying to kid [/quote] It's difficult isn't it... decisions get made for whatever reason at various points in life we later come to regret for whatever reason.. I've made loads! Not alot we can do about it and life goes on If you did still have it I'd make a tidy offer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Ah to be honest Rob the chances of me still having it would be slim to nil. What bothers me most is it's dropped off the map, I asked the owners group a few years back for some info. They knew who had 37 of them but mine was one of the missing ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted October 21, 2015 Author Share Posted October 21, 2015 [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] Hallelujah! Preach it, brother! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 [quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1445408272' post='2891194'] Ideally I'd love a JG one ([/quote] What's JG? Probably something obvious and I'm now looking like a wally... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1445428449' post='2891358'] What's JG? Probably something obvious and I'm now looking like a wally... [/quote] It was Wals first full production model in the late 70s, had a fetching leather scratchplate. Named after the first guy to order one john gustafson I beleive... i think they only made 46 (or maybe 48?). Quite a few notable names amongst the original owners as shown on this list from Trevors website. Edited October 21, 2015 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Do you remeber the serial number of yours KB? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I've used my Wal for punk, funk, reggae, rock, jazz and mixtures of all of those! Ad here's some multi-Wal shredding fun: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=IKNSkprZVvo"]https://www.youtube....e&v=IKNSkprZVvo[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest McBass Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Just done a Dub album for Moonshine Records and a Remix for Caspa, the Wal Mk2 V, tone at 0 and on the front pick up sounds mighty. Also been using my Mk1 IV for some hip hop and that sounds awesome too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivansc Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Wal all happened whilst I was not in the UK. They look a bit odd/naff like the JayDee things. What makes them that special? Good to play? Sound doesnt seem anything special from these examples. Enlighten me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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