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Double Bass Acoustic Image repair?
- Thread starter fovea1959
- Start date
- Dec 13, 1999
- 11,736
- 8,941
- 70
- Disclosures
- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
Which is interesting, because Gollihur sells the Fuchs Amplification Walter Woods Clone. I guess this is just a case of.the “right hand not,knowimg what the left hand is “capable of doing” weird.
- Dec 13, 1999
- 11,736
- 8,941
- 70
- Disclosures
- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
- Jul 19, 2000
- 2,014
- 2,224
- Disclosures
- Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
Fuchs has not officially offered to take on repair of the AI gear, but is reportedly trying to help people on an ad-hoc basis when they have the resources/ability. As such, I don't want to commit them to anything on my website and overwhelm them - rather, I have mentioned them occasionally as a possible source of assistance to customers on a 1 on 1 basis. Another customer also recently told me that they were able to get certain amp repairs done for their Coda at Nashville Amplifier Service (Home | Nashville Amplifier Service) - though I have not independently verified that, they might be worth contacting as well.
FUCHSAUDIO
Commercial User
We have about a 50% repair success with Woods and AI amps.
In the case of AI, the son of the late owner has been kind enough to send schematics when we request them, but wasn't willing to simply share the entire library with us. In a number of cases, these amps required board replacement and the family has nothing except the documentation. Some models used ICE modules (which we stock and use in our own amps), but many had their own proprietary Class-D amps in them, which used microscopic SMD parts that make repair often impossible. It did seem a little weird that there wasn't some kind of parts stock around when the company closed, but I don't know the inside skinny.
In the case of Woods amps, there are a few issues I've mentioned before: Walter won't share anything technical, period. That is perhaps the biggest issue with fixing Woods amps. Secondly, he scraped-off the numbers on chips and transistors to protect the details from prying eyes. Thirdly, even if the numbers are there, many of the chips and transistors he used were from bygone days and are no longer available, unless you can find them surplus somewhere. Yes, Walter is still alive. No, he doesn't often pick up the phone. He's not on the internet (that I'm aware) and a letter I mailed to him went ignored a few years back.
Yes, Gollihur is a Fuchs dealer and we're happy to have him.
In the case of AI, the son of the late owner has been kind enough to send schematics when we request them, but wasn't willing to simply share the entire library with us. In a number of cases, these amps required board replacement and the family has nothing except the documentation. Some models used ICE modules (which we stock and use in our own amps), but many had their own proprietary Class-D amps in them, which used microscopic SMD parts that make repair often impossible. It did seem a little weird that there wasn't some kind of parts stock around when the company closed, but I don't know the inside skinny.
In the case of Woods amps, there are a few issues I've mentioned before: Walter won't share anything technical, period. That is perhaps the biggest issue with fixing Woods amps. Secondly, he scraped-off the numbers on chips and transistors to protect the details from prying eyes. Thirdly, even if the numbers are there, many of the chips and transistors he used were from bygone days and are no longer available, unless you can find them surplus somewhere. Yes, Walter is still alive. No, he doesn't often pick up the phone. He's not on the internet (that I'm aware) and a letter I mailed to him went ignored a few years back.
Yes, Gollihur is a Fuchs dealer and we're happy to have him.
It’s been said by many a repair technician I know locally that it’s far easier to repair a 50 year old Ampeg B-15 or a Vintage Fender Bassman
than a Walter Woods or any or any other discreet component solid state amplifier. Markbass had to abandon the F1, F500 and LMK dual channel, because the company that built the amps folded.
than a Walter Woods or any or any other discreet component solid state amplifier. Markbass had to abandon the F1, F500 and LMK dual channel, because the company that built the amps folded.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
It’s kind of sad. I picked up a series 3 AI combo this summer and really like it, but every time I use it I’m aware that due to Rick’s passing it may be the last time it powers up. There are no perfect amps but AI pretty much amplifies what comes from the pickup. His customer service was legendary. If FUCHS or anyone else comes close we will all be better off.
FUCHSAUDIO
Commercial User
We do pride ourselves on going above and beyond with regard to supporting our customers. Ricks son has sent schematics, but made clear that they have zero parts, and sometimes you need a board to repair something, which is sadly not available.
We are always looking for and soliciting feedback from players for future models they would like to see us make. The new hybrid guitar amp we make has gotten Guitar Player editors pick, and we're certainly looking at more guitar and bass variant models.
- Dec 13, 1999
- 11,736
- 8,941
- 70
- Disclosures
- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
Well since you asked - having a similar flexibility as the S4+ for microphone use would be great for those of us who prefer using a mic, either without or in conjunction with a pickup. Phantom power, -10db cut, low end filter, etc.
FUCHSAUDIO
Commercial User
Quoting Ed, “We’ll since you asked” 
the AI Series S4+ (not to put too fine a point on it) was a full dual channel preamp.
Walter Woods Electroacoustic amps had two full channels and unique EQ controls “Balance” and “Vari” those controls are there for Double Bass.
Unlike EB that benefits from “additive” EQ ( increasing bass, midrange, and treble) DB generally needs to be “reductive” EQ. DB low end can get out
of control, bloom, and quickly feed back while proper midrange requires balancing, low midrange and high midrange to retain the character
of the instrument. Acoustic Image and Walter Woods Amps handle these EQ challenges well. As the volume increases with Double Bass bass emphasis needs to lower bass and treble needs increase in small increments. Walter Woods and Acoustic Image both achieved this. Just my take of course. I’ve owned three Walter Woods Amplifiers a MI-100-8, a MI-400-8, and an early Woods Electroacoustic Ultra. I currently use a Grace Felix Preamp into powered MAS 1/8 and 4x5.5 Speakers or this Combo.
The RedEye dual preamp cleans all the low end garbage from the Ehrlund EAP pickup.
the AI Series S4+ (not to put too fine a point on it) was a full dual channel preamp.Walter Woods Electroacoustic amps had two full channels and unique EQ controls “Balance” and “Vari” those controls are there for Double Bass.
Unlike EB that benefits from “additive” EQ ( increasing bass, midrange, and treble) DB generally needs to be “reductive” EQ. DB low end can get out
of control, bloom, and quickly feed back while proper midrange requires balancing, low midrange and high midrange to retain the character
of the instrument. Acoustic Image and Walter Woods Amps handle these EQ challenges well. As the volume increases with Double Bass bass emphasis needs to lower bass and treble needs increase in small increments. Walter Woods and Acoustic Image both achieved this. Just my take of course. I’ve owned three Walter Woods Amplifiers a MI-100-8, a MI-400-8, and an early Woods Electroacoustic Ultra. I currently use a Grace Felix Preamp into powered MAS 1/8 and 4x5.5 Speakers or this Combo.
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devnulljp
Supporting Member
Found this thread as my Coda has also developed an issue. Went to the website and sad to hear of Rick's passing and that AI is no more.
Any suggestions for repair in Canada?
The input on channel 1 is finnicky. No signal, then crackels and some signal but distorted, eventually it kinda settles down ... sometimes.
Seems to work OK on the XLR input, so I suspect it's just an issue with the 1/4" input jack.
But I'd like to get it repaired.
Any suggestions for repair in Canada?
The input on channel 1 is finnicky. No signal, then crackels and some signal but distorted, eventually it kinda settles down ... sometimes.
Seems to work OK on the XLR input, so I suspect it's just an issue with the 1/4" input jack.
But I'd like to get it repaired.
Shouldn’t be a tough fix for just about any electronics tech. You’ve had at that jack with a healthy dose of DeoxIT/
Get in touch with Gollihur. It has been reported in the past that he had some stock of spare speakers.
Resident engineer @agedhorse has recommended using Deoxit quite sparingly and only in localized places, as it can do collateral damage.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
I emailed and Rick's son, Chris, emailed back with some suggestions -- deoxit on the jack and the Filter on/off switch (had to open it to get at the switch contacts), and it seems to have done the trick.
Acoustic Image will be missed, a real class act.
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