Popular Post admiralchew Posted February 28, 2023 Popular Post Posted February 28, 2023 I’ve not written a new bass day post before but if I don’t do it for this bass I’ll never do it. I sold my flat at the end of 2022 and my partner and I are now renting somewhere together (i.e. a home that could house two people and bass gear) while we save for a new place together. I figured that this is probably the only time I’m likely to have the cash balance to justify acquiring my dream bass (even if only for a while) so I went for it. Shortly before Christmas, I was lucky enough to have my prayers/wanted ad answered by a kind member of this forum and acquired my holy grail bass: Please meet the newest member of the family, a beautiful Wal Mk III 5-string with shedua facings. It’s absolutely thunderous and everything I hoped it would be: the preamp is a dream, the B string has the smoothness of my Warwick Streamer’s mixed with the raw aggression of a Stingray, and the gorgeous tiger-esque facings seem to move in the light. I’m sure like many folks on here, I’m a big fan of Justin Chancellor’s playing with Tool (I tried quite hard to avoid saying I am a big Tool fan/fan of Tool there) and the preamp gets me in the tonal ballpark (my playing is miles away from his though, sadly). While not really on topic for the NBD post, I was lucky enough to bump into Justin Chancellor when Tool were in London last year. I was entirely starstruck and stunned into incapacitation for a short while before recovering my senses enough to ask him if he wouldn’t mind signing a wedding card I was carrying for my brother and his now wife as they met owing to a mutual Iove of the band. He was very gracious and my partner and I seem to take it in turns to wear my/her hoodie that he gave to me at the show. Anyway, back to the post… If you happen to see me posting basses and pedals in the classifieds over the next few months, this is the reason why. A big thanks to those that helped make this happen, particularly @dyerseve and @TrevorR. May you all get your holy grails in 2023! 63 Quote
simisker Posted February 28, 2023 Posted February 28, 2023 Good lord - the chatoyance of that shedua! 😲😍 Absolutely gorgeous; a grail bass if ever there was one. Makes me pine for my old one. Congratulations! 1 1 Quote
TrevorR Posted February 28, 2023 Posted February 28, 2023 (edited) So glad it worked out! Enjoy! That is a stunning piece of shedua - well, two stunning pieces, front and back. Shedua used to be one of the standard wood options included in the base price but a few years ago Paul changed it to an upcharge - using zebrano as a standard facing instead. The reason was that good flamed pieces were becoming harder to find and he didn’t want to offer the bog standard plain tops. But the upside is that, since it’s an extra charge he now only sources really special, super funky looking, high quality pieces - like you’ve got on yours. And yes, as the angle of the light changes the flame does move. It’s quite a stunning effect and absolutely gorgeous without being blousy like, say, a PRS-style quilted maple. Gorgeous, gorgeous bass. Enjoy exploring the tones you can get from that preamp! Edited February 28, 2023 by TrevorR Rubish spellign ;) 1 1 Quote
Lw. Posted February 28, 2023 Posted February 28, 2023 Sold a flat (in London?) to buy a bass. I applaud you - that is next level commitment to the gas! Nice bass though - definitely one to hold on to! 3 4 Quote
Owen Posted February 28, 2023 Posted February 28, 2023 2 hours ago, simisker said: chatoyance This is my word of the day! 4 1 Quote
admiralchew Posted February 28, 2023 Author Posted February 28, 2023 16 minutes ago, Lw. said: Sold a flat (in London?) to buy a bass. I applaud you - that is next level commitment to the gas! Haha, that’s not exactly how I would characterise it - I was selling my flat anyway for non-bass-related reasons - but the commitment to the gas is definitely there. Thanks everybody for the kind comments, and to @TrevorR for the endless resources of Wal knowledge! Quote
TheGreek Posted February 28, 2023 Posted February 28, 2023 If you're looking for a new best friend I'm sure that there are lots of willing candidates here. Nice bass. 5 Quote
admiralchew Posted February 28, 2023 Author Posted February 28, 2023 2 hours ago, Owen said: This is my word of the day! Mine too. I had to look it up. I’ll be using that a lot now! Thanks all for the kind words in addition to the vocabulary expanding ones. Quote
TheGreek Posted February 28, 2023 Posted February 28, 2023 12 minutes ago, Supernaut said: Hope you have insurance. a big dog. Fixed 3 Quote
admiralchew Posted February 28, 2023 Author Posted February 28, 2023 59 minutes ago, Supernaut said: Hope you have insurance. Yes, too right. Happily I didn’t pay as much as some of the Wals that have been sold recently in the stores so I insured it for its purchase value. It does mean that I’d struggle to get another though. I also have a non-Wal case for it as walking around with a Wal logo seemed like an invitation for trouble. 2 Quote
admiralchew Posted February 28, 2023 Author Posted February 28, 2023 48 minutes ago, TheGreek said: Fixed I’d be worried about a dog using it as a big stick! 1 Quote
greentext Posted March 1, 2023 Posted March 1, 2023 Unreal bass, the back wood pattern is almost hypnotising Congrats! 1 Quote
admiralchew Posted March 3, 2023 Author Posted March 3, 2023 On 01/03/2023 at 21:11, greentext said: Unreal bass, the back wood pattern is almost hypnotising Congrats! Thanks very much! Quote
visog Posted March 4, 2023 Posted March 4, 2023 Arghhhh! It's like staring into the face of God! Beautiful bass. You won BassChat! 1 1 Quote
DJ '65 Posted March 5, 2023 Posted March 5, 2023 Of all the magnificent super high end basses I’ve seen this is quite simply the one I’d have if I could afford it, you have sublime taste. Enjoy in good health for many years. 1 Quote
NickA Posted March 5, 2023 Posted March 5, 2023 (edited) My case says Wal on it. Most people haven't a clue what it means. I get asked " is that a Warwick"? " Who made that?" Even a professional jazz bass player asked me what it was at a jam session.... before begging a go on it. Disappointing but reassuring lack of recognition! Anyway WE know exactly what it is and are very pleased for you. What year? Did you get it / check it on the Wal database? http://www.nedcom.nl/WAL/ PS: Good to see a tool fan not insisting on Maple facing, only 4-strings, mk2 body. You chose wisely imo 😉 Edited March 5, 2023 by NickA 2 1 Quote
TrevorG Posted March 6, 2023 Posted March 6, 2023 It really does take your breath away. What a stunning bass. Can ask how much it cost? 1 Quote
Crusoe Posted March 6, 2023 Posted March 6, 2023 27 minutes ago, TrevorG said: It really does take your breath away. What a stunning bass. Can ask how much it cost? Id say that if you looked at one of the dangly things hanging from your shoulder and one hanging from your bum, it would be about that expensive. 😄 3 Quote
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