Stunning Wal on ebay

[dyerseve]

Pricey but just wow! 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264427326214

 

[bagsieblue]

Nice bass

Edited July 17, 2020 by bagsieblue

[AndyTravis]

Not for me that. Everything barring the facings is perfect.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

I love me a Wal, but no. That top 🤮

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

Not exactly selling it in the description either. Doesn’t seem to know whether it’s active (it is, obvs) nd states it’s had an ‘overhaul’ 😂. Not posting from either. Good luck sir.

[Shaggy]

Nicer one IMO - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1985-Wal-Mk1-Active-4-String-Bass-Guitar-with-Hardcase/164296079819?hash=item2640cf39cb:g:BEsAAOSwI-5fEw3j

are they really fetching £5K + these days? 

[AndyTravis]

39 minutes ago, Shaggy said:

Nicer one IMO - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1985-Wal-Mk1-Active-4-String-Bass-Guitar-with-Hardcase/164296079819?hash=item2640cf39cb:g:BEsAAOSwI-5fEw3j

are they really fetching £5K + these days? 

I’ve just asked the wife for £5k

”I don’t get it Trav, I just don’t...”

[Happy Jack]

16 hours ago, Shaggy said:

are they really fetching £5K + these days? 

I've owned three Wals. Two of them I sold for £2k each which - at the time - seemed pretty ballpark. They were a Custom Fretless and the original Pro II used by Nick Beggs on Too Shy, and that was maybe 8/9 years ago.

The third one, a Wal Mk.III 5-string, I sold for over £3k five years ago and at the time I felt that was an outrageous amount. I reckoned I'd paid too much for it in the first place, and I was genuinely astonished that someone else would pay the same to take it off me.

In hindsight he got a bargain ...

 

[MacDaddy]

It's a good job I think most Wal's are fugly, so I'm not affected 😝

[oldslapper]

Seeing Alan Spenner play one with Kokomo some 40 years or so ago, I wanted one for years after. But could never afford, my desire waned commensurate with my bank balance. 😳

[prowla]

8 hours ago, MacDaddy said:

It's a good job I think most Wal's are fugly, so I'm not affected 😝

I've never been that keen on them either.

[edstraker123]

On 20/07/2020 at 17:50, prowla said:

I've never been that keen on them either.

Hideous things that remind me of 70's wardrobes.  I'm sure they must be endowed with some kind of magical power to command the prices they do. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder !

 

Edited July 22, 2020 by edstraker123

[Reggaebass]

I can’t say I like that one and I don’t think I’ve ever played one but they do look ergonomically comfortable, Kulit17 has a few beautiful black ones in the black bass thread. 

[oldslapper]

Not a massive fan of the look.
I like a boring P shape personally. But the tone that Spenner got, has stayed with me ever since those sweaty nights at Dingwalls. 

[Kev]

Buying a Wal is better than keeping money in the bank, it’s daft.  I sold mine for £3.4k 4 years odd ago, and I’d easily get £5k for it now.  It’s so odd really.  There is no vintage value to them as they are made identically today, I think it’s just impatience for a new build! 

[graphics1988]

I am more of a MK3 fan (looks and weight) - - but i turned down 8K USD a few weeks ago that someone offered me - not sure the currency diff for you good folks - but hindsight, 5 yrs ago i should have bought a few! Its the electronics that sets these apart from all other brands - thats it. Quality is on par with many boutique builders, the necks are chunky and not overly likeable - but the electronics are just crazy good. 

[Happy Jack]

11 minutes ago, graphics1988 said:

... but the electronics are just crazy good. 

And that's just about the size of it. You can get a staggering range of totally useable, musical tones from a Wal.

I sold my first Wal when I realised that I spent all my time making it sound like a Precision ...

 

[TheGreek]

1 hour ago, graphics1988 said:

the necks are chunky and not overly likeable

I found this too...

[graphics1988]

I don't think the nut width is wider than a P bass nut - but the thickness front to back with the V shape, takes some getting used too. If i strictly play that bass daily - i get used too it - then, if i play any of my other ones - i think i 'sigh' out loud. lol - regardless...NOTHING sounds as good as my Wal. (if you want active tones)

[fleabag]

On 22/07/2020 at 15:25, edstraker123 said:

  I'm sure they must be endowed with some kind of magical power to command the prices they do. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder !

 

Same could be said of vintage Fender JB's  and Wals are built properly and by craftsmen

[fleabag]

Having said that, i love that Wal exactly because of its oddball body facings.  The price is stupid.  And they have baseball bat necks so i'd never buy one

[NickA]

Yes they do sell for £5000+ at dealers.  This one is at a dealer (elite Vintage guitars) not a genuine private sale.

They don't sell for £5750, certainly not this one.  Probably worth £4250.

Replicas of Geddy Lee's Black one or Justin Chancellor's maple one go for silly money to USA based fan boys who then play along with rush and tool recordings.  Beats me.  Especially as the rush fans are now arguing about whether geddy's had a face-wood under the plack paint or not .... and now it transpires that he recorded an album called power windows on a brown one!!!   Arghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!  Madness.

I have two, one cost £800, the other £4150.  Doing much better than my pension fund despite a £500 service last year.

The four string fretless is the bass I'll never part with, sounds great and nice to play.