Replacement Tuners for Wal

[JohnR]

Hi All.

I have just broken one of the Schaller tuners on my 1988 Mk1 Wal Custom and am considering replacing the entire set with Hipshot Ultralites. Can anyone tell me if I need the 1/2" or 3/8" Ultralite variants?

Thanks

John

[franzbassist]

Hi John

How about fitting the light version of the Schallers instead? They're about 40% less than the regular versions and you get to keep the Wal aesthetic.

Cheers

Gareth

[JohnR]

Thanks Gareth. Yes, I was looking at that option when my head was turned by the Ultralites. I will probably end up going down this path. I need a replacement quick as this is my only bass at the moment so it will come down to what I can obtain quickly.

Terrible timing as I ordered a Sandberg back in April to use as a second bass and it it due in the next few weeks.

John

[chris_b]

How about an email to Paul Herman at Wal for a replacement?

[CamdenRob]

I bought a set of the ultraligh schaler ones for an mk1 a while back... I'll dig out the order.

Edited August 26, 2016 by CamdenRob

[JohnR]

Thanks so much for the help. I have emailed Paul and hopefully will get this sorted quickly. The irony is that this bass is due to go back to Paul shortly for a service and I was just waiting for the backup Sandberg to arrive before sending it off.

[JohnR]

Final update. I have managed to fix (bodge) the broken machine head so panic over.

For future reference the Wal Mk1 has a 17mm bore. The Schaller M4S light (thanks Gareth) looks like a drop in replacement at 71 grams. The existing Schaller is 103 grams.

I also learned that the 1/2 inch variant of the Hipshot Ultralite would fit albeit with an additional hole having to be drilled for the screw.

Neck dive has never been an issue with this bass but it would help my back to reduce the weight where possible.

It will be going back to Paul as soon as my Sandberg arrives so I will avoid doing anything rash until then.

Thanks

John

[JohnR]

Final, final update.

On impulse I sent a message to Schaller this evening using their webform. I got a reply a short while later from Dr Lars Bunning who is the Schaller managing director and owner asking me to send a picture of the damaged machine head and he would try to source a spare part.

This is stunning service from Schaller in trying to support a part purchased over 28 years ago.

It has completely made my day.

John

[TheGreek]

This forum is going a long way towards finding out which companies provide proper customer service - thumbs up to Schaller.

[JohnR]

I got a lovely email from Dr. Lars this evening to say the parts I need will be in the post next week. Outstanding.

[markstuk]

Great service... I had a similar experience with hipshot recently

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1472841252' post='3124754']
Great service... I had a similar experience with hipshot recently
[/quote]
Same - had a query over saddles, screws and springs.... They said it would be a lot easier for them to just send me a load of stuff... which they did for free. Unbelievable service.

I've heard great things about Schaller too. These hardware guys are on it!

[JohnR]

Case closed. A lovely little package from Schaller arrived in today's post.

[attachment=227568:IMG_1345.jpg]

[The Scuba Cult]

[SOLVED]

Hey All— do know the exact model of the Schallers on the WAL MK3? According to the technical drawings, these aren't M4 or M4S. I ordered this bass 18 years ago and stuff's wearing out. . .  

Edited February 13, 2019 by The Scuba Cult
solved

[Monkey Steve]

Drop Paul or Philip at Wal an e-mail - the address is on their website

funnily enough the last exchange I had with them was over which tuning heads I wanted on the Mk 2 I’ve ordered...I can confirm that the standard for those is the M4 or M4 light, but that may not help for. Mk 3

[The Scuba Cult]

@Monkey Steve Congratulations on the new order! I just referenced the old trifold pamphlet that came in the flight case when I ordered it 2 decades ago! And that lead me down the rabbit hole b/c nothing matched. Didn't know they switched up for various reasons. Hipshot guys lined me up. Good people. Thank you for the help tho! How far out is the build estimated for completion ?

[Monkey Steve]

15 minutes ago, The Scuba Cult said:

@Monkey Steve Congratulations on the new order! I just referenced the old trifold pamphlet that came in the flight case when I ordered it 2 decades ago! And that lead me down the rabbit hole b/c nothing matched. Didn't know they switched up for various reasons. Hipshot guys lined me up. Good people. Thank you for the help tho! How far out is the build estimated for completion ?

that's a lovely stripey beast!

I'm about a year away from getting my hands on mine - placed the order last Jan/Feb, when the estimate was two years, but I see that the website is now saying 27 months...  That may suit me if it stretches to March/April as that's when my annual bonus arrives which will be paying off the balance!

Edited February 13, 2019 by Monkey Steve

[The Scuba Cult]

@Monkey Steve Thanks! We've seen battles together. Slain foes. Ha! It's funny how the universe works out the math when it comes to important things like Wals etc. So the 2.5+ year build time is true afterall. .