Rob Vick Bass Guitar Pix by Andy P.
	Robs' Gear (more stuff to follow) WALCustom  BASS   I found this WAL bass in a guitar shop in Brighton during the summer of 2006 in a neglected state. The jacksocket was faulty with loose controls and tuners but hidden under the grime was something very special.   I spent some time renovating the woodwork and sorting out the electronics and was even able to obtain some replacement screws for the rear coverplate from the original makers, Electric Wood.   The bass was made in April 1989 and the body comprises of a mahogany core with wenge facings whilst the neck has an Indian rosewood fretboard with the original frets.   The wenge facing due to neglect has dried out and the grain of the wood is uneven but gives the bass the look of an antique piece. The woods used in the  construction of this bass makes it rather heavy.   The bass is strung with Elixir Nanoweb strings (Gauge 40-100). Soundwise the electronics on this bass are amazing with semi parametric boost for the tone controls and a unique “pick attack” circuit which gives the bass an incredible modern slap sound. All bass guitar sounds are available from this bass including a great reggae dub sound. This bass sounds like a WAL not an imitation of any other bass.
Norman Watt Roy (NWR)    At the end of January 2007 I had the chance to meet NWR at The Eastney Cellars gig in Portsmouth where we were supporting the Wilko Johnson Band. Part of the support gig agreement was that NWR could use my backline rig which consists of an Alembic F1X preamp, Matrix 300W power amp driving a pair of Alumabass 2x10 cabs.   During the evening I was introduced to NWR and struck up a conversation where I mentioned that I had first seen him at Portsmouth Guildhall in 1974 with his band Glencoe. At that time NWR was using his maple neck Fender Precision through an Acoustic 370/371 rig.   During the soundcheck NWR tried my 1989 WAL Custom bass and was impressed with the sound of my rig. NWR then went back to the dressing room and on his return handed me his 62 Jazz Bass for me to try. The bass was one of the lightest Jazz basses I have ever played and the sound of the bass was stunning. The original shoreline gold had aged into an interesting colour and NWR allowed me to take a picture of his bass.                                        NWR told me that he has been in discussion with Fender on the production of a NWR Custom Shop model of his 62 Jazz Bass.   The actual gig was a bass master class from NWR although I did wonder at one point if my rig might go into meltdown with the intensity of NWR’s playing.