Wal style pickups and new pickguard Q's

[the101er]

It it possible to buy Wal style pickups? I want to mount them in my RD to replace the ****ty Seymour Duncan P and J's I have in it, and add some more beef.

This is the style btw.

http://walbasses.homestead.com/files/flmaple4.jpg


Also, I want to make a new pickguard for it, the current one has warped and is very messy. Where can I get this done, or can I get the materials to do it?

Bear in mind I'm in the UK :thumb:

Cheers

-Will

[Tryxx]

A H/H Bongo is said to mimic the Wal tone quite well. I would assume a normal MM pickup would do the trick.

Where do you live? There's tons of places for pickguards online- Warmoth, etc. You can google it.

[the101er]

I'm in the UK, so Warmoth really isn't an option for me, as I don't have the funds to pay import and customs etc.

And as stupid as this is gonna sound, I think the look of Wal pickups would look better on my RD, MM's would look really out of place.

[Tryxx]

I was decently sure you weren't on the US. Wal makes their own pups... so that's kind of your only chance to get those. (In which case just having a Wal bass would be awesome.)

Do a search on Bongo's and Wal's at talkbass though -- the results may suprise you. And if nothing else, you could try and get some pick-up covers.

I'd say just google it and try to find an online store for pickguards.

[the101er]

So some covered MMs?

A company here, GSR Guitars, used to do custom pickguards, but they went out of business last year :upset:

[Tryxx]

I mean you could get some wooden pickguards made for you etc. You might be able to get some made for you, or just come across some plastic ones. Bartolini's don't have the exposed poles if that's what you're worried about.

Not sure if it's a longshot or not, but could you try Shuker? He's got some traditional style basses with pickguards... maybe he could help out?

[the101er]

That's a point, pickguard wise

I've found out Wal is located in Berkshire, pretty near me. Would they be happy to sell some pickups you reckon?

I know I would have to contact them first, but I just need a good idea on it

[Tryxx]

I've no idea. I thought they stopped production?

[peeted]

hmmm. i herd you could actualy buy wal pups. im reletivley shure you can get your hands on wal preamps any way. i presume there fairly hard to get your hands on though.

[edgebass5]

^^^I'm not convinced that you can get them individually. Furthermore, I don't think Wal is accepting any orders right now.

[zink182]

a musicman pickup is pretty close..

Justin Chancellor used a stingray on 46&2 so you can hear the tone there.. just imagine it without the flanger..

[Chris K]

hmmm. i herd you could actualy buy wal pups. im reletivley shure you can get your hands on wal preamps any way. i presume there fairly hard to get your hands on though.

I'm pretty sure you can't, theyre patented and I don't think they sell them on.