wal bass - are they really worth the premium?

[gary mac]

I've never heard of a bad Wal. Certainly not in terms of build quality or components.

[Chris2112]

Trends are of course trends, no matter how long they last. I think one day Wal basses will be uncool. Remember the Warwick boom at the turn of the millenium? People realised the old ones were the ones to have and their values rose, people bought the new ones by the shedload and they commanded good prices used. Now they're doing extremely badly on the used market. A good Thumb NT will struggle to make £800, Streamer Stage 1's seem to do pretty badly too. Wal were once in this position themselves!

[Bilbo]

I find that wooden finished basses date less than painted ones.

[philw]

[quote name='Chris2112' post='978689' date='Oct 5 2010, 07:28 PM']Trends are of course trends, no matter how long they last. I think one day Wal basses will be uncool. Remember the Warwick boom at the turn of the millenium? People realised the old ones were the ones to have and their values rose, people bought the new ones by the shedload and they commanded good prices used. Now they're doing extremely badly on the used market. A good Thumb NT will struggle to make £800, Streamer Stage 1's seem to do pretty badly too. Wal were once in this position themselves![/quote]

Apart from fashion, surely the biggest factor in the drop in Warwick used prices is one of supply and demand. And there's many, many more used Thumbs out there on the market than there are used Wals. Used Wal prices at the moment do seem a tad over-hyped to me, but I can never imagine a time when you'll be able to pick one up for £800. Even if they go out of fashion, there'll just never be enough of them around.

Phil

Edited October 5, 2010 by philw

[bassmeg]

While getting some "private time" in my bog yesterday, i noticed in the bassist mag that i was reading (2001, i think) that the bass center had a couple of wals for £600 & £800!
I dont know much about wals or what they might be worth, but apart from the property boom of the 90s, this is definatly a case of - should have got in on the ground floor!
The only reason i noticed is because of the prices some of them have been changing hands for lately,

[AndyTravis]

A Wal is something i need to tick off my list.

I'd love to sit with a Mach 1 for a couple of hours...

Flea used one throughout BloodSugarSexMagic, and his sound is so thick on that album!

I'm led to believe you can get pretty much anything out of them.

I won't be ordering/buying anything for at least 18 months, so i've got time to go searching.

It'll take some balls (and saving) if i do like them, as £3200 is the [i]starting[/i] price, i can only assume they're well worth it, as they don't stick around long, even at silly money.

[chris_b]

I was in the Bass Centre one lunch time in the early 90's and a guy came in trying to sell a 4 string Wal, a Pro I think, and Nick sent him away. They weren't even bothered to take a look at it! How times have changed!

[AndyTravis]

[url="http://www.kijiji.it/annunci/strumenti-musicali/treviso-annunci-treviso/wal-mach-1-custom-4-string-sims-led/3878850"]http://www.kijiji.it/annunci/strumenti-mus...ims-led/3878850[/url]


Do you know what, this is pretty cool, except the bass clef inlay.

"Look, it's a bass clef, i'm a bass player, can i play you a song on my bass? can't you see?! I'm a bass player."

I wonder if Paul Herman would do a Mach 1 with a Maple Fingerboard...did Pete Stevens?

[Mokl]

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='978793' date='Oct 5 2010, 08:42 PM'][url="http://www.kijiji.it/annunci/strumenti-musicali/treviso-annunci-treviso/wal-mach-1-custom-4-string-sims-led/3878850"]http://www.kijiji.it/annunci/strumenti-mus...ims-led/3878850[/url]


Do you know what, this is pretty cool, except the bass clef inlay.

"Look, it's a bass clef, i'm a bass player, can i play you a song on my bass? can't you see?! I'm a bass player."

I wonder if Paul Herman would do a Mach 1 with a Maple Fingerboard...did Pete Stevens?[/quote]

Yes, he did a couple as special orders, although I understand he didn't really like to. Fairly spectacular results in my opinion.

[AndyTravis]

I've been watching videos on YouTube, and trying to get my head away from Tool covers, and fretless versions it's tough to call to be honest.

There's a guy doing Rush covers on there, and his sound is pretty cool.

In some cases they sound great and in others they sound boxy and bad, i think i'd really like to sit with one in the flesh.

Anyhow, The only picture of flea i can find on Google Images with his Wal.

[philw]

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='978743' date='Oct 5 2010, 08:11 PM']A Wal is something i need to tick off my list.

I'd love to sit with a Mach 1 for a couple of hours...

Flea used one throughout BloodSugarSexMagic, and his sound is so thick on that album!

I'm led to believe you can get pretty much anything out of them.

I won't be ordering/buying anything for at least 18 months, so i've got time to go searching.

It'll take some balls (and saving) if i do like them, as £3200 is the [i]starting[/i] price, i can only assume they're well worth it, as they don't stick around long, even at silly money.[/quote]

Andy,

If you're ever down Brighton way you're welcome come and sit with my old Mk 1 fretless (bought new for £595 in 1984) for at least a couple of hours.

Phil

[AndyTravis]

Thanks mate, if i am, i'll let you know.

[JTUK]

From my recollections.

Sound-wise .? they do a good job in that it is all there. Not my preferred tone personally though.
Typical twin soapbars can be too poweful to the detriment of the sound character. In the case of the Wals I have tried, this is true, IMO.
Feel...?? it is substantial and blocky and heavy..which again is not my thing.
Well-made is a given.

Cosmetics...nah..!!

[Marlat]

[quote name='JTUK' post='978890' date='Oct 5 2010, 10:00 PM']From my recollections.

Sound-wise .? they do a good job in that it is all there. Not my preferred tone personally though.
Typical twin soapbars can be too poweful to the detriment of the sound character. In the case of the Wals I have tried, this is true, IMO.
Feel...?? it is substantial and blocky and heavy..which again is not my thing.
Well-made is a given.

Cosmetics...nah..!![/quote]

+1

That was my experience with playing them. Although I do regret not purchasing a WAL Mk 2 5 string for $2000AUD in 1998. At the time that was about £750 and it was a spectacular bargain. Wals were very uncommon in Australia and it just wasn't selling.

I can't imagine you'd lose a lot of money "Investing" in a Wal, but the market does seem quite varied. Sometimes they go for a premium, sometimes they seem to be more reasonably priced. I have an ACG on order with the filter based preamp. I'm keen to see how close it sounds to a Wal. I have similar electnics on a bass that has the Alembic SIgnature series electronics, they are very flexible, but I generally prefer basses with simple or no EQ.

As for whether they are worth the price? Well, if you want a Wal, you have to pay the price of admission. You can get just as well made basses and similar electronics packages for less, but if you want a Wal, there is no other way to do it!

Edited October 6, 2010 by Mark Latimour

[BigRedX]

[quote name='blind pilot' post='978456' date='Oct 5 2010, 03:33 PM']Time to bring this one back -Why, well, I finally played a Wal, and I was not impressed, maybe it was a bad'un, who knows?

The sound was massive for sure, but as for satisfying my tone chasing - nope, Sansamp Bddi, new strings got me the tone I was looking for.

I still love the look of the MK2, but now i am happy to wait until they become more affordale or money more abundant!

Just to say thanks again to you lot for your advise - very glad I did not buy one blind! (I bid up to 1500 on ebay before re-thinking!)[/quote]
Good thing you were able to try before buying then!

IME the more expensive basses are the more "specialised" they become so you shouldn't be surprised if you don't like a bass even if it does cost a lot of money.

Most of the time an expensive bass will be good quality, however it might not have all the qualities that you are looking for. In fact I would defy anyone to suggest a bass that is suitable for everyone no matter how much it cost.

It's not a problem these days as there are so many different basses available there is the right bass for you somewhere - you might have to look a bit harder though.

[chris_b]

[quote name='JTUK' post='978890' date='Oct 5 2010, 10:00 PM']....Sound-wise .? they do a good job in that it is all there. Not my preferred tone personally though.
Typical twin soapbars can be too poweful to the detriment of the sound character. In the case of the Wals I have tried, this is true, IMO.
Feel...?? it is substantial and blocky and heavy..which again is not my thing.
Well-made is a given.
Cosmetics...nah..!!....[/quote]
Sorry but this doesn't describe my Wall at all. I don't even recognise a Wal from that description. Some of the early 5 string Wals were very heavy but that's the only down side that I've heard of.

I would describe a Fender as an old nag, my Lakland as a cart horse and the Wal as an Arabian thoroughbred.

[blind pilot]

[quote name='Mark Latimour' post='979124' date='Oct 6 2010, 09:22 AM']+1

That was my experience with playing them. Although I do regret not purchasing a WAL Mk 2 5 string for $2000AUD in 1998. At the time that was about £750 and it was a spectacular bargain. Wals were very uncommon in Australia and it just wasn't selling.

I can't imagine you'd lose a lot of money "Investing" in a Wal, but the market does seem quite varied. Sometimes they go for a premium, sometimes they seem to be more reasonably priced. I have an ACG on order with the filter based preamp. I'm keen to see how close it sounds to a Wal. I have similar electnics on a bass that has the Alembic SIgnature series electronics, they are very flexible, but I generally prefer basses with simple or no EQ.

As for whether they are worth the price? Well, if you want a Wal, you have to pay the price of admission. You can get just as well made basses and similar electronics packages for less, but if you want a Wal, there is no other way to do it![/quote]

Please keep me posted on that ACG pre, was looking at putting one in my Nez.

[blind pilot]

[quote name='chris_b' post='978655' date='Oct 5 2010, 06:22 PM']Being unimpressed doesn't make it a bad instrument. Wal's will not suite everyone, no one bass does, but that’s hardly the fault of the bass.[/quote]


Dont get me wrong I wasn't saying it was a bad instrument. Infact the tone was huge and it sounded beautiful, but.....it was not the tone I thought it would be if that makes sense. Maybe given more time with it, I would have got closer, who knows?

Ive had a few conflicting reports, one bass player told me that the wal IS the key to Justin's tone, and nothing else get close, another player told me, they are not, and a sansamp is all you need.

In the end I bought a Bddi, @ £180.00 a lot less than a Wal, and I am more then happy, last night we rehearsed, playing many Tool songs, and playing schism and 46&2 was just unreal, everyone commented on how much I have nailed the tone.

I do still really want a Wal though, as i love the look of them if nothing else, but just now, for me its not the "holy grail" that I thought it would be!

[BigRedX]

[quote name='blind pilot' post='979228' date='Oct 6 2010, 11:07 AM']Please keep me posted on that ACG pre, was looking at putting one in my Nez.[/quote]
The ACG pre-amp is a wonderful thing. However IMO the one with the most benefit and flexibility is the EQ01 model which has individual filters for each pickup. At the moment the only way you can get one is by buying an ACG bass - although they're such good basses this isn't really a disadvantage.

[JTUK]

[quote name='chris_b' post='979221' date='Oct 6 2010, 11:01 AM']Sorry but this doesn't describe my Wall at all. I don't even recognise a Wal from that description. Some of the early 5 string Wals were very heavy but that's the only down side that I've heard of.

I would describe a Fender as an old nag, my Lakland as a cart horse and the Wal as an Arabian thoroughbred.[/quote]

Chris, it might not reconcile with your opinion of them, but it describes the ones I have demo'ed to a tee, which is why I said it.
Not so sure of the model types, but my friend has a 5 and it is nice to play....but you really know it is there.
How many have I played over the years..? more than good few, but never owned one.

Stylistically, it is an individual thing and although the woods they use are 'nice' and it is very well put together,
I think they could have made a bit more of those features. You can pick one up and think this is a good solid instrument
but they have been too bland overall. I guess they aren't for me. The sound I might be able to get along with...but even then it wasn't something that shouted 'buy me' at any point and certainly not for the money they were asking.

Obviously a decent instrument but there is not much about them that do anything for me... not sound, not feel, not looks.
All come up short, IMO. Nicely put together though and serve some people well as they have their fans.

[Chris2112]

As much as I love Wals, they can lean towards being "boat anchors". The MKII and III were suitably trimmed down and look much more stylish though. They play well (IMO) but the curious V shaped neck profile can be disconcerting to some. Watching Jonas Hellborg playing his Wal double neck can sometimes make [i]me[/i] feel exhausted!

[deksawyer]

I'm sitting here playing my ACG as I write this and to those wondering if the pre can make it sound like a Wal, then the answer is almost, and that's probably the answer Alan would give you as well as don't think he set out to make a Wal clone.

I say almost as there's the sound of a Wal, on bridge pickup with the tone knob at ten that's hard to match. I've never heard any other make of bass make that tone. The ACG can give those growly mids and a sparkling top end (sometimes too much is available) and can come quite close, but it's much more flexible than the Wal EQ circuit.

My ACG just blows me away every time I pick it up, sure it's heavier than most Wals, but the Neotech strap makes me forget in an instant.

I love them both though...

D.

[TheGreek]

[quote name='BB2000' post='674223' date='Dec 4 2009, 03:58 PM']Why do people comment on the £2000+ price tag of a Wal but nobody blinks an eye at a £2000 late 60's Fender? I know which one I'd rather (and do) have!


And +1 to everything Bilbo said.[/quote]
I'm in full agreement...

[anty]

always thought a stringray with a treble boost on it would get you close-ish

[Soliloquy]

No, they're really not worth it.

There are plenty of better builds for less money.