LeftyBassist.com

I'm sure most of us have gassed for this bass at one time or another. I'm no exception. But $6000? Ouch!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wal-Mach-III-Lefty- ... 199wt_1167

I haven't yet, but I do now

Darn, I remember talking to Steve about buying this bass when he first advertised it at the Wal Website about 3 years ago. He was asking $2600, and I passed on it, because, well, I'm just not a fan of Wal, and was just curious. Beautiful thing, though, and it's truly a collectible.

Yup, that was my old bass. I was the one that purchased it directly from Steve a few years back. I got my GAS outta it then had to move it to another person. Thumbslam got it. Only fair to let more lefty's have a play at a Wal. They are very nice basses.

Hello all, Yes it's mine and I paid much, much more than $2,600.00 for it and that's OK because at the time I paid market price and market prices have changed. Also I want to mention I did buy it from Gravebass. Every bass I own at this point I bought from him. I feel more comfortable buying a used bass from him and dealing with him than I do buying a new bass. I trust him more than anyone I have ever dealt with and his judgment of basses and his knowledge of equipment are awesome. Sorry, I'll pull my toung out of your @$$ now. So this bass went from Wal to Steve to Jim to me that am pretty cool too. The market has changed as I see legit sales of older Wals than mine in not near as nice condition, and just simply not as "custom" go for 5,6,and 7K one I thought a month or so ago went for 8K. I did some research and it was as far as I can tell legit. At times even though I own one I feel those prices are unfair and too high. That's why I have a B.I.N. at 6K I don't expect anyone to use it as I have the "make an offer" available. Remember you sell a bass on EBay and they pay you with PayPay it can total 12% of your sale. That's some serious money from an expensive bass. There are just many options it has that you just don't see anywhere on other Wals. At least I haven't, and I had been gassing over a WAl for years before I bought one. I can order a Fodera, an MTD, a Zon and many other great basses but you can't order a 60's Fender or another Wal. That's why I guess they get the $$$ they do. Just my 2 cents. Anyone hear want to ask me about it or have a trade in mind let me know, at this point I'm not ready to sell overseas and maybe it won't sell at all. I was sort of wondering if I was gonna get the bashing hear about it. Maybe I still will and that's O.K. I have posted before about one of my older Tobias Basses being up for twice what I paid and you know I should have kept my mouth shut. I think If I kept that guy who was cool enought to buy it from selling it than I'm an A-Hole and I wish I could have taken that back. This is a cool sight and I would like to be a positive member. Thanks all :)

First of all, I appreciate your honesty. Secondly, market price is a subjective thing, and can be constant, or be constantly changing. Wal basses have a great reputation, and an almost mystic quality to them. Bass players have a reverence for them, and because of that, they hold their value, and can become investments over time.

I'm sure there are some bassists who will agree with your price as being fair, and others who will think your price too high. It's a tough market now, regardless of the quality of the item up for sale these days. Good luck on your sale.

They are incredible basses. I've never played a Mark III, but I have played two Mark I's and was deeply impressed with the craftsmenship and tone (but had to get used a little to the feel, they're surely not for everyone). And I wonder what effect the new production of Wals by Paul Herman will have on market prices over the next few years. He's a reputable guy, and has worked for and with Pete Stevens in the past.

From research I have done noodling around the vast universe of facts and possible B.S. on the web. What I have found is Paul was to complete orders from Bass Central and anywhere else where there are open orders with down payments. There are some parts, nuts, bolts, and electronics available for warrantee issues. The last Wal to come out I believe was for Martin Kemp of Spandau Ballet for their reunion on 4/24/09. This was a sort of frankenbass made with a MK2 body and an old leftover neck. Other threads I have read have said the equipment used to make all the parts for Wal basses and basically the whole shop was fabricated and rigged up by Ian a Pete and all of this equipment would never pass current codes to reopen. All of this would have to mostly be replaced and it doesn't look as if that's going to happen. Whatever they are doing now is done from existing orders but to reopen and start banging them out they haven't figured out to get that done. Now I could be completely wrong but that's what I have read. I aint no authority just cause I got one. But if you could make them and sell them and they are going for what they are going for wouldn't you start doing it as soon as you could with the economy the way it is? I don't think anyone is that rich they can just say well I do it in a couple of years or whatever I got everything ready to roll but I think I'll take a holiday for a few years while I'm getting younger. But you never know. Also from what I have seen when they reissue and build a 60's Fender with newer and better parts in a modernized shop it doesn't affect the prices of the old ones does it? I think that goes for cars and anything else. The mojo can't be recreated. I think if they do make new ones they would be better but I also bet they will be different. 2 more cents..

If it matters to anyone here I did lower it all the way around $500.00 but if it doesn't move I think I will put it in the vault for a while. I know I won't relist right away for sure...Thanks everyone...

Bought my Wal as a used item directly from Pete's workshop for £650 (around $900 at current rates). That was 2002. When I took it to The Bass Gallery in London in June of this year Martin told me £3500 (around $5500) was possible even in the current market. Hard to know which way they'll go from here, but I'd be surprised if they go down much. Yes Paul has been working closely with Pete Stevens for some years, but I have a hunch that pre-Herman instruments will continue to command high prices.

However sales of used Wals are slow right now IME - I think people are waiting for Paul to get the new operation up & running. The information I have is that he's working his way through the (substantial) list of back orders before he even thinks about taking on any more. As time passes things will settle down and production will recommence but I wouldn't hold your breath just yet.

Wal necks do indeed take some getting used to - especially on older instruments. I got my hands on a friend's Mach III a while back and the neck profile was clearly shallower than the chunky item on mine, but still thicker than many.

Hey Thumbslam,

It was definitely not my intention to impugn your good standing on the board when I commented on the price. It was just a general Ouch, $6,000, kind of comment. I understand a lot of the points that you're making. It's definitely one of kind and actually, if I had the scratch right now I would be making an offer 'cause I think it's a really cool bass.

Peace and good luck with the sale.

If a lefty Ric Chris Squire can sell for $5000, why shouldn't the Wal sell for what you're asking for it? Value is all in the eye of the buyer.

Amen to AzWhoFan.... It's all about timing and the right buyer to see what he/she is selling at the current date of listing. Some people re-list and it sells right away (me included many times). This is a great Wal bass and has it's own character. I don't think thumbslam will lose sleep if it does not sell this time around. He is just moving to 5 string specific basses these days.

Yep, didn't move. Your right it's just fine it didn't. I do want to get me a Modulus and I will get one I'll just have to wait a bit. I'm gonna play Wally tonight for an hour or so just because I can. Not a loss by any means. Everything happens for a reason and well I guess I'm supposed gto keep her for a while. Nah, forget all that crap I just said I wish the thing would a moved damn it! No just kidding it's awesome I still have her..:)