The five string bass is a by-product of the hi-tech synth bass line. Until a few years ago, bassists were quite happy playing a straightforward four string bass. Bass lines went down as far as E, the bottom end was held down, the bass player had his precision and all was well with the world. Then one day in Los Angeles or Detroit somebody (probably Stevie Wonder or Bernie Worrell) thought it might be a good idea to play the bass line on a synth — bass lines descended to a low D or even C. Normal bass players shifted uncomfortably on their seats.

Cue the Wal five string, this one with a low B. Nothing particularly revolutionary about that, but most other five string basses are virtually unplayable. The Wal brings a new degree of playability to this esoteric field, because Electric Wood have designed it with the fifth string in mind, not just added one extra to a four string. On other five strings the lowest string has tended towards a rubbery floppiness rendering the lowest notes virtually useless. The Wal doesn't have this problem, the lowest notes are piano-like and clear.

The Wal came in a wicked fibreglass plush-lined case that would set you back £80. A lot of money for a case but if you're shelling out close to a grand for a bass then £80 is neither here nor there. The review model came in a natural satin finish unlike any other I've seen before. The body is a laminate of dark brown mahogany at the core and pale English ash front and back, finished in a sexy textured criss-cross surface. The neck is a triumph, because it needs to be wide to accomodate the fifth string, while providing adequate spacing between all the strings, and yet still remain playable. This it does, with a lovely neck made of exotic (Hornbeam, Masandaruba) and prosaic (Rosewood and Rock Maple) woods, with a brass nut and five beautifully-actioned Schaller machines. You can't quite call it beautiful, but it's certainly impressive.

Electrics-wise, the Wal has the now-familiar balance pot for sweeping between front and back pick-ups, an idea I've always liked, and has extensive active eq on board — the volume pot, as are all the pots, is a push-pull, with treble boost in the upper position and the two tone pots, one per pick-up provide normal active response in the down position and a parametric sweep in the up.

Even before you plug it in the Wal springs to life in your hands. At first the neck is rather awkward, slapping being a rather strange experience on five strings. But the neck is so smooth that readjustment is quick, and once the initial disorientation is overcome, it feels as though it's been played in for years, begging to be played at all hours. Once plugged in, it gets even better. I felt quite at home with the low string (so at home that the neighbours complained). The pick-ups have been re-designed for extended bass response and respond they certainly do. The low B never sounded awkward, sloppy or incongruous and tonal response was even across the five strings. The bass reacted well to slapping — at least it hasn't hit me back yet — ringing out like a Steinway.

With five strings and two octaves the Wal five string gives you a lot of notes, but it also costs you a lot of notes. You could argue whether any guitar was worth a grand, but then that would be missing the point. The Wal is an excellent instrument. What you have decide is whether that extra string is worth the £193 you pay over the price of the standard four string. But, as far as I'm concerned, it's not much to pay for the bass equivalent of Nastassia Kinski.

WAL 5 STRING BASS £966