mark76 Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 Did you get a short scale model made then? Because I'm close to your height (about 3/4¨ shorter) and a 34" scale P bass neck looks longer on me than that Wal's does on you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZilchWoolham Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 (edited) [quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1498543533' post='3325310'] [/quote] A thing of beauty, this one! How heavy is it, by the way? With a European ash body I suppose it's not the lightest. Edited June 28, 2017 by ZilchWoolham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 [quote name='mark76' timestamp='1498636425' post='3325964'] Did you get a short scale model made then? Because I'm close to your height (about 3/4¨ shorter) and a 34" scale P bass neck looks longer on me than that Wal's does on you. [/quote] Nope, standard 34" scale. Must be a camera/bass angle trick of the eye going on or something. [quote name='ZilchWoolham' timestamp='1498650649' post='3326091'] A thing of beauty, this one! How heavy is it, by the way? With a European ash body I suppose it's not the lightest. [/quote] Ha! Both my Wals weigh in at about 10lbs. Note three 4" wide soft leather Italia Leathers strap! But anyway, my first ever bass was an Aria SB700 which also weighed... you guessed it, 10lbs! So when I bought the Wals I just thought that was what basses were supposed to weigh!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 Yup. Ultimately it was the weight that ended my love affair with Wals. I've had four and would dearly love to still have them all ... but I just never gigged them. The Mk.III 5-string weighed 5Kg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 Paul makes some lovely feather-light ones now. Did you try the walnut 5-er at the SEBB? Lifted it off the stand and nearly threw it through the ceiling!!!! Just saying... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeswals Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 Yes, Paul makes them lighter! Yes I can see that 5kg = 11.02 lbs, yup that's rather heavy. My three Paul era Mk3's: the maple 4 string; 8.6 lbs = 3.92kg the silver 5 string; 9.9 lbs = 4.49kg the purple5 string; 10.0 lbs = 4.55kg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommorichards Posted June 29, 2017 Author Share Posted June 29, 2017 Wow mike. Thats some dam collection you have. Looking at the comments it seems as though they improved balance over the model series. Still, i had a go of one at the last bass bash. And i must say i qas highly tempted to get one, were it not for the price tag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I'm still waiting to try a Mk3. One day! I've heard good things about them. The Mk1 shape never sat comfortably on the lap: it was chronically unbalanced with neck dive and the temptation was to drag it towards you and attempt to pivot it on the lower horn to prevent it happening - but that didn't work so you'd have to lift up the neck while playingor lean on the upper bout to raise the angle. The best sounding bass in the world with one of the worst ergonomic body designs. Never understood that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeswals Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1498823439' post='3327326'] I'm still waiting to try a Mk3. One day! I've heard good things about them. The Mk1 shape never sat comfortably on the lap: it was chronically unbalanced with neck dive and the temptation was to drag it towards you and attempt to pivot it on the lower horn to prevent it happening - but that didn't work so you'd have to lift up the neck while playingor lean on the upper bout to raise the angle. The best sounding bass in the world with one of the worst ergonomic body designs. Never understood that. [/quote] Have you visited the shop? Paul seems to have a few lately to test. Seemed like I heard he had a Mk3 4 string one can check out. The Mk3 balances best, especially on my lap. I can let go of mine with both hands and it will stay balanced on my lap on its own! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 [quote name='mikeswals' timestamp='1498867840' post='3327723'] Have you visited the shop? Paul seems to have a few lately to test. Seemed like I heard he had a Mk3 4 string one can check out. The Mk3 balances best, especially on my lap. I can let go of mine with both hands and it will stay balanced on my lap on its own! [/quote] I'd certainly like to visit but I think that Mk3 demo bass you refer to was sold last year. Dangerous to visit though...because if I ordered a new fretted MK3 that means two years of hard saving plus digging into existing savings...or selling my car or a kidney or two. At £5500 for the standard model it's nudged into that area I consider overpriced - especially as they are made like bolt-on Fenders without angled headstocks. Incredible pickups and electronics and well built of course but now a bit too pricey IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark76 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Man, Wal basses are spendy. Have they any intention of ever bringing out a budget line in the £2,000 range? Also. How much is the fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 [quote name='mark76' timestamp='1499005191' post='3328502'] Man, Wal basses are spendy. Have they any intention of ever bringing out a budget line in the £2,000 range? Also. How much is the fish? [/quote] They used to do a budget line, I know because I had one, Pro 1. I paid about 300 quid for a used one in about 84. Those seem to retail now for about 2k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2112 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1499000366' post='3328449'] I'd certainly like to visit but I think that Mk3 demo bass you refer to was sold last year. Dangerous to visit though...because if I ordered a new fretted MK3 that means two years of hard saving plus digging into existing savings...or selling my car or a kidney or two. At £5500 for the standard model it's nudged into that area I consider overpriced - especially as they are made like bolt-on Fenders without angled headstocks. Incredible pickups and electronics and well built of course but now a bit too pricey IMO. [/quote] I could weep for the days when you could find a decent used Wal for less than £1000. I recall seeing a good mk2 at the Gallery in London for £1250! Sadly, the priced rocketed into the stratosphere when the original Wal operation closed it's doors. Now that it has restarted, prices haven't adjusted to counter that inflation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1499000366' post='3328449'] I'd certainly like to visit but I think that Mk3 demo bass you refer to was sold last year. Dangerous to visit though...because if I ordered a new fretted MK3 that means two years of hard saving plus digging into existing savings...or selling my car or a kidney or two. At £5500 for the standard model it's nudged into that area I consider overpriced - especially as they are made like bolt-on Fenders without angled headstocks. Incredible pickups and electronics and well built of course but now a bit too pricey IMO. [/quote] To be fair I think you'd still sound appreciably better than the rest of us with a bit of 2 by 4 strung up with chIcken wire... 😕 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Prefer the mk1 body. The others have to much top horn. Although the mk3 look good for access to higher frets. There all awesome looking basses. And I know they sound awesome too. Would love to have a go of one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeswals Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1499000366' post='3328449'] I'd certainly like to visit but I think that Mk3 demo bass you refer to was sold last year. [/quote] There was more like three unsold Mk3 four strings he had done since that one last year. The one amazing one was purpleheart faced. When word gets out, they get nabbed. Edited July 3, 2017 by mikeswals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommorichards Posted July 3, 2017 Author Share Posted July 3, 2017 [quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1499013347' post='3328573'] I could weep for the days when you could find a decent used Wal for less than £1000. I recall seeing a good mk2 at the Gallery in London for £1250! Sadly, the priced rocketed into the stratosphere when the original Wal operation closed it's doors. Now that it has restarted, prices haven't adjusted to counter that inflation. [/quote] I thought i remember that they closed up shop. Theres just nothing quite like a wal. The electronics are out of this world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 [quote name='tommorichards' timestamp='1499115426' post='3329362'] I thought i remember that they closed up shop. Theres just nothing quite like a wal. The electronics are out of this world. [/quote] Yes from about 2004-2007 Pete had lost his staff and got progressively more ill and faced two or three consecutive workshop moves until he could no longer cope with the business. He handed the reins over to Paul who relaunched the brand after the move from High Wycombe to Fetcham in about 2009. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommorichards Posted July 16, 2017 Author Share Posted July 16, 2017 Dam. But im glad to see theyre back up and running. However, this thread, and all the lovely pictures on instagram have given me the bug for a wal. If i sell enough basses i can get one. Anyone got a load on a mk1 4 string for sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1_Pro Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 The Wal Mark 1 would be the one for me. I tried a fretless one in Livewire in Cardiff in 1984 ish. It was £800 (ish) brand new iirc. Lovely it was. Prices have ascended into the stratosphere in the last few years, and I'm not particularly convinced - with all due respect to what remains a very fine bass- that they are worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Wishbone Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 (edited) It always seemed to me that the "Justin Chancellor Factor" had a massive effect on the prices, but that may have just been coincidence with the timing of the brand relaunch and his emergence as a bass demi-god. Edited July 17, 2017 by Johnny Wishbone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 (edited) [quote name='Johnny Wishbone' timestamp='1500304366' post='3336791'] It always seemed to me that the "Justin Chancellor Factor" had a massive effect on the prices, but that may have just been coincidence with the timing of the brand relaunch and his emergence as a bass demi-god. [/quote] Can't say he had too much influence on me buying a Wal having only found out who he was a couple of months ago... If I'm entirely honest I wouldn't say his tone has that much to do with the Wal anyway... sounds to me like any active bass with new strings through a sansamp? Edited July 17, 2017 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Wishbone Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 (edited) [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1500304812' post='3336795'] Can't say he had too much influence on me buying a Wal having only found out who he was a couple of months ago... [/quote] I don't mean for [i]everyone[/i], obviously. I would however suggest that their profile and sales have been significantly affected by the proliferation of Tool fanboys over the last 20 years. Edited July 17, 2017 by Johnny Wishbone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 I don't know about Wal sales but it's certainly had a huge impact on the number of "How can I get the Tool tone without buying a Wal?" internet forum threads! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Wishbone Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 [quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1500310934' post='3336861'] I don't know about Wal sales but it's certainly had a huge impact on the number of "How can I get the Tool tone without buying a Wal?" internet forum threads! [/quote] Haha that's certainly not in doubt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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