WAL lookalikes...? Shergold Marathon - Loooong gone UK brand name...

[Highlander]

Thank you, Ilan... and the Mustang predates them all... 

I can only recall seeing a WAL in use the once...



... and the middle pic is a spare... 

So what are these pups and the bridge...?

(Can't remember if I saw Geddy Lee use one... seen Rush on most of their UK tours, back to the 1st in '77)

[Dave W]

So what are these pups and the bridge...?

Ken, I believe those were made in-house.

Disclaimer: I've only seen and played one Wal, I know very little about them.

[Chris P.]

wow! a Gibson "Evertilt" and a Guild "Sludgebucker" on a Fender "Mustang"

Love it!

[Hornisse]

When I caught Bow Wow Wow at the long gone Club Foot back in January 1983 Leigh Gorman used a Wal similar to the one pictured above.  He had 2 large Mesa Boogie stacks for bass while Matthew Ashman (RIP) used a huge White Falcon Gretch with 2 large Marshall stacks.  Needless to say they were very loud! (and I loved it!)

[nofi]

bow wow wow was my eldest sons first concert. i think but am not sure that the wal bass may be in the "i want candy" video.

[Nocturnal]

I think Nofi is right about the Wal being in the "candy" video.

[ilan]

Looks like a 70's Wal Pro II.

[chromium]

This thread got me looking around at Shergolds, Haymans, etc..  In my virtual travels, I found this pic of a 4040 with a good shot of the pickups, and the tinted cover that nofi described:





Neat lookin' bass... endearing looks.  I might have actually been tempted by that Shergold 8string at the top of the thread had it fallen into a "I'll take a chance" price range.


For the proggie fan(s)  - I also happened across an old Dutch band called Supersister, whose bassist apparently played a 4040 (you can see it in a small photo at 0:05):

[ilan]

The guy in Buzzcocks also had a Hayman.

[Dave W]

That's Steve Diggle, who soon switched to guitar.

[Pekka]

Thank you, Ilan... and the Mustang predates them all... 

I can only recall seeing a WAL in use the once...

... and the middle pic is a spare... 

Hey, Johnny Gustafson! Is that also the mighty Mark Nauseef on drums (guessing the pics are from Ian Gillan Band gig)?

[Highlander]

Yep... that's from a set of pictures I took at the Marquee club way back when... saw Mr Gillan quite a few times there, three seperate sets of pictures, but rather gutted to have not had the camera there the night a certain mr Blackmore came on for a couple of encores...

[Pekka]

Was Gus' other Wal (on a stand) a fretless? I recall reading that he had two JG's, a fretted and a fretless.

His P-Bass tone is great, especially on those Roxy Music albums and Shawn Phillips' "Furthermore".

[Highlander]

I'd have to dig out the pics, but from what I recall they were both fretted, and he only used the one you can see him playing...

[Highlander]

John Gustafson's other WAL was a fretless...

Main reason for resurecting this is ongoing re this brand and look...

This must be quite rare - a lefty Hayman... starting at a very silly price... won't stay that way for a project bass...



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