Wal Pro bass specifications

Different Pro bass headstock styles

Launched in early 1979, the Pro Series headstocks are characterised by the striking neck laminates which continue through the headstock.  The first ever Pros, between March and May 1979 had plain faced headstocks; from then on hte distinctive Wal stripes became standard.  Early Pro headstocks featured 10 laminations of maple, mukalungu (an Amazonian hardwood) and English hornbeam.  In later Pro basses the (purely decorative) outer mukalungu laminates were dispensed with to create an 8 way lamination.

Pro I body shape and pick-up placement

Pro bass general specs: Solid ash body; maple, mukalungu and hornbeam laminated neck, 21 frets, rosewood fingerboard.

Pro I - one passive pickup, series/parallel switching

Pro II - two passive pickups, series/parallel switching

Pro IE - one active pickup, pick attack switch, low-mid boost switch

Pro IIE - two active pickups, pick attack switch, low-mid boost switch for neck pickup, upper-mid boost/bass cut switch

Controls:  Master volume control (Pro II and Pro IIE), individual volume and tone controls for each pickup.  Chrome hardware with optional XLR output, pickup selector switch (Pro II and Pro IIE).

Pro IIE body shape including scratchplate and contouring

The boards above and to the left are from a Pro 1E bass.  The control panel above and the board pictured below are from my Pro 2E bass.