Wal (bass)

Last updated

Wal / Electric Wood
Company type Private
Industry Musical instruments
Founded1974
FounderIan Waller, Pete Stevens
Headquarters Surrey, England
Area served
Global
ProductsBass guitars
OwnerPaul Herman
Website walbasses.co.uk
Wal Mk II Fretless Bass Wal front small.jpg
Wal Mk II Fretless Bass

Wal is a brand of electric bass guitar manufactured by Electric Wood Ltd, first in High Wycombe, Buckinghanshire, and later in Fetcham, Surrey, England. The company was started in 1974 by guitar builder and electronics expert Ian Waller and luthier Pete Stevens. Since 2009, the company has been run by Paul Herman.

Contents

History

Wal 5-String Bass Wal5stringkauri.jpg
Wal 5-String Bass

The company's founder, Ian Waller, was a bass player in the 1960s Manchester pop music scene. In the late 1960s he moved to London to pursue a career as an electronics engineer, and with his electronics and woodworking skills he quickly became involved in the film and music industry. He became known to players on the London session scene for his guitar-making abilities and was commissioned to build bass guitars. [1]

Waller's early custom basses were purchased by leading players from the London studio circuit, such as John Gustafson (at the time of Roxy Music) and John G. Perry, (formerly of Caravan), who commissioned the first instrument branded as a "Wal" bass. Another early commission was for a triple-necked bass, which was purchased by Rick Wakeman for his bass player, Roger Newell, to use in "The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table" concerts. This bass guitar was later given to Chris Squire of Yes, and is now on loan to the Hard Rock Cafe. [2]

A short run of semi-custom models, designated the JG series after the owner of one of the first models, John Gustafson, featured hand-tooled leather scratch plates. The company introduced distinctive eight-coil humbucking pick-ups and proprietary bridge hardware which became a feature of all future Wal bass models. Future owners included John Entwistle, Paul Simonon, Gary Tibbs, Alan Spenner, and Percy Jones. [3] [4]

The first full production range of Wal basses appeared in 1978 as the "Pro Series". These basses followed the basic design specifications of the JG series (solid ash body, maple, hornbeam and Amazonian hardwood neck and rosewood fingerboard), with plastic rather than leather scratchplates. The Pro series offered a range of electronics options, such as one or two pick-ups and passive or active wiring. The active models introduced switchable filters for each pick-up, allowing certain frequencies to be cut or boosted to provide a wider range of tonal options, and they featured a "pick attack" feature, which boosted a narrow band of upper-mid range frequencies to simulate the attacking tone of a plectrum when playing fingerstyle. [5]

The Pro Series was superseded by the Custom Series in 1983. This series introduced the laminated bodies which are now standard on all Wal basses, and various woods such as American walnut, schedua, hydua, padauk and wenge were offered as facings over a mahogany core. The range was expanded during the 1980s, and 5-string and 6-string models and three distinct body shapes were introduced. These are referred to as Mark 1 (the original Custom 4-string style, developed from the shape of the JG and Pro Series); and the Mark 2, (introduced with the 5-string model, a larger body with a rounder profile at the bridge end of the body and a more asymmetric upper cutaway than the Mark 1). The Mark 3 body style was introduced with the arrival of 6-string models in the early 1990s, these being essentially slimmer versions of the Mark 2 body style. Other rare models were also available periodically, including a MIDI-bass (the MB4 & MB5) and a simplified passive model. [6]

The popularity of the brand grew through the 1980s, and the company expanded while retaining its custom builder ethos and approach. Paul Herman, who would later take over control, began working for the company. During this period, Wal basses were widely used by UK session players and "name" bass players such as Paul McCartney, Bruce Thomas, Geddy Lee, John Illsley, Martin Kemp, Flea, Justin Chancellor, Mick Karn, and others.

Death of founder, restart

Waller died of a heart attack in 1988 at the age of 43, and Pete Stevens took over the running of the business. [7] After 2000, there was a significant contraction of the company, which culminated in Stevens working as a sole trader with little or no additional workforce, and the supply of Wal basses becoming increasingly limited. Around 2005, Stevens's failing health and changes to the company's workshop premises caused him to fall behind on the order book. By the end of 2007 his health problems forced him to retire, and the future of the brand was in doubt.

On 20 August 2008, it was announced that business would resume under the control of luthier Paul Herman, who had worked at Wal during the late 1980s and 1990s, [8] with production moved from High Wycombe to a workshop in Fetcham, Surrey. Herman cleared outstanding back orders, [9] and on 5 October 2009 the company began inviting orders again with the launch of a new Wal basses website.

Stevens died on 28 December 2011, shortly after his 65th birthday. [10] [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bass guitar</span> Electric plucked string instrument

The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and scale length. The bass most commonly has four strings, though five- and six-stringed models are also relatively popular, and basses with even more strings or courses have been built. Since the mid-1950s, the bass guitar has largely come to replace the double bass in popular music due to its lighter weight, the inclusion of frets in most models, and, most importantly, its design for electric amplification.

Ibanez is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass-produce the seven-string guitar and eight-string guitar. Ibanez manufactures effects, accessories, amps, and instruments in Japan, China, Indonesia, and the United States. As of 2017 they marketed nearly 165 models of bass guitar, 130 acoustic guitars, and more than 300 electric guitars. After Gibson and Fender, Ibanez is considered the third biggest guitar brand.

Rickenbacker International Corporation is a string instrument manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California. The company is credited as the first known maker of electric guitars – a steel guitar in 1932 – and today produces a range of electric guitars and basses.

Warwick is a German bass guitar manufacturing company. Warwick basses were originally a premium brand offering a small range of models built from high quality and exotic tonewoods. The company also produces valve and FET amplifiers, speaker cabinets, bass guitar strings, and is the owner of the Framus trademark. Their headquarters and custom shops are located in Markneukirchen, Shanghai, and Nashville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender (company)</span> American musical instrument manufacturer

The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is an American manufacturer and marketer of musical instruments and amplifiers. Fender produces acoustic guitars, bass amplifiers and public address equipment; however, it is best known for its solid-body electric guitars and bass guitars, particularly the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Precision Bass, and the Jazz Bass. The company was founded in Fullerton, California, by Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender in 1946. Andy Mooney has served as the chief executive officer (CEO) since June 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Höfner</span> German manufacturer of musical instruments

Karl Höfner GmbH & Co. KG is a German manufacturer of musical instruments, with one division that manufactures guitars and basses, and another that manufactures other string instruments, such as violins, violas, cellos, double basses and bows for stringed instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music Man (company)</span> American guitar and bass guitar manufacturer

Music Man is an American guitar and bass guitar manufacturer. Originally formed in 1971 by Forrest White and Tom Walker, along with Leo Fender as a silent partner, the company started manufacturing electric and bass guitars under the Music Man name in 1974. In 1984 it was acquired by Ernie Ball, the subsidiary of which is branded as Ernie Ball Music Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Precision Bass</span> Model of electric bass

The Fender Precision Bass is a model of electric bass guitar manufactured by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. In its standard, post-1957 configuration, the Precision Bass is a solid body, four-stringed instrument usually equipped with a single split-coil humbucking pickup and a one-piece, 20-fret maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fender Jazz Bass</span> Fender model of bass guitar

The Fender Jazz Bass is the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. It is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental frequency. The body shape is also different from the Precision Bass, in that the Precision Bass has a symmetrical lower bout on the body, designed after the Telecaster and Stratocaster lines of guitars, while the Jazz Bass has an offset lower bout, mimicking the design aesthetic of the Jaguar and Jazzmaster guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadowsky</span> American guitar manufacturer

Sadowsky Guitars Limited is an American high-end guitar, bass guitar, and preamp manufacturer based in Long Island City, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B.C. Rich</span> American brand of acoustic and electric guitars and bass guitars

B.C. Rich is an American brand of acoustic and electric guitars and bass guitars founded by Bernardo Chavez Rico in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shergold</span>

Shergold Guitars, or Shergold Woodcrafts Limited, is an English guitar manufacturing company established in October 1967 by former Burns London employees Jack Golder and Norman Houlder. Based in East London, the company moved from Forest Gate to Harold Wood in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alembic Inc</span> American audio equipment manufacturer

Alembic is an American manufacturer of high-end electric basses, guitars and preamps. Founded in 1969, the company began manufacturing pre-amps before building complete instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parker Guitars</span> Defunct American guitar manufacturing company

Parker Guitars was an American manufacturer of electric and acoustic guitars and basses, founded by luthier Ken Parker in 1993. Parker guitars were distinguished for their characteristic light weight and the use of composite materials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modulus Guitars</span>

Modulus Graphite is an American manufacturer of musical instruments best known for building bass guitars with carbon fiber necks. The company, originally called Modulus Graphite, was founded in part by Geoff Gould, a bassist who also worked for an aerospace company in Palo Alto, California, and coworker Jerry Dorsch. When they split, Jerry started Graphite Guitar Systems in Washington state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson Thunderbird</span> Electric bass guitar

The Gibson Thunderbird is an electric bass guitar made by Gibson and Epiphone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multi-neck guitar</span> Guitar that has multiple fingerboard necks

A multi-neck guitar is a guitar that has multiple fingerboard necks. They exist in both electric and acoustic versions. Examples of multi-neck guitars and lutes go back at least to the Renaissance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schecter Guitar Research</span> US guitar, bass and amplifier manufacturer

Schecter Guitar Research, commonly known simply as Schecter, is an American manufacturing company founded in 1976 by David Schecter, which originally produced only replacement parts for existing guitars from manufacturers such as Fender and Gibson.

Lakland Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric bass guitars based in Chicago, Illinois. The company's first bass combined elements of the Fender Jazz Bass and the Music Man StingRay. The company's current line-up includes basses inspired by classics like the Fender Precision Bass and Jazz Bass as well as Lakland's own original designs. Lakland's line of signature models includes basses designed in collaboration with well-known bassists Joe Osborn, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Jerry Scheff, Darryl Jones and Bob Glaub. Lakland basses are manufactured in the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suhr Guitars</span>

Suhr Guitars is an American company that manufactures electric guitars and basses, guitar amplifiers, and effect units. The company is based in Lake Elsinore, California and was founded in 1997 by John Suhr, who "has a reputation for building exquisitely crafted guitars" and Steve Smith.

References

  1. "SPECIAL FEATURE – Wal Basses, the Early Years". walbasshistory.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  2. ""Chris Squire" Custom Triple Neck Wal feature – "Bassist" magazine 1999". walbasshistory.blogspot.co.uk. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  3. "JG series basses". walbasshistory.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  4. "Wal Basses handwritten JG series bass order/customer list". walbasshistory.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  5. TrevR (19 April 2013). "1970s Wal Pro Series Brochure" . Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  6. www.pldproductions.com. "Wal Bass Models". walbasses.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  7. "Published obituaries for Ian Waller and Pete Stevens". walbasshistory.blogspot.co.uk. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  8. www.pldproductions.com. "Wal Basses and Electric Wood History Page". walbasses.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  9. "Wal Basses". Walbassist.blogspot.com. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  10. "Electric Wood Ltd. Homepage" . Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  11. "Published obituaries for Ian Waller and Pete Stevens". walbasshistory.blogspot.co.uk. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.