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Double Bass Alternatives to Walter Woods head

#61
robgrow said:
It's interesting to note that one of Walter's first customers (circa early 1970's) was the pop group The Carpenters, who bought some WW amps to take on tour for use on guitar, bass guitar and keyboards. WW amps were not just intended for DB. One of the first upright bassists to use a WW amp was Herb Mickman.
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Yes, my Ultra sounds great for anything you plug into it, really. You just need to understand the eq and use your ears!

Since the OP was asking about affordable alternatives to WW...yes, since Pattitucci is a long time user of WW, and now uses and endorses the Aguilar TH500, and after auditioning it myself, I feel good about recommending it to him. It's a quality piece using quality components in the build. It isn't a WW, but it's a damn solid piece.

For myself, the discussion of the Demeter Minnie here has got me checking it out more closely..

I own the original '80's Demeter tube pre that the Minne is based on. Great design, medium build quality, I had to get things re soldered to make it dependable. The components and design are great, but assembling quality medium. I had the same problem with the original Demeter tube DI as well as a couple of his pedals. Demeter didn't even have UL status until the early '90's or so...these pieces came with 2 prong plugs!

The new Minnie looks really great, and I hear the problems with assembling quality are past. I hope to purchase one soon! Very soon. :-)
 
#65
MR PC said:
Yes, my Ultra sounds great for anything you plug into it, really. You just need to understand the eq and use your ears!

Since the OP was asking about affordable alternatives to WW...yes, since Pattitucci is a long time user of WW, and now uses and endorses the Aguilar TH500, and after auditioning it myself, I feel good about recommending it to him. It's a quality piece using quality components in the build. It isn't a WW, but it's a damn solid piece.

For myself, the discussion of the Demeter Minnie here has got me checking it out more closely..

I own the original '80's Demeter tube pre that the Minne is based on. Great design, medium build quality, I had to get things re soldered to make it dependable. The components and design are great, but assembling quality medium. I had the same problem with the original Demeter tube DI as well as a couple of his pedals. Demeter didn't even have UL status until the early '90's or so...these pieces came with 2 prong plugs!

The new Minnie looks really great, and I hear the problems with assembling quality are past. I hope to purchase one soon! Very soon. :)
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Mr. PC,
Although I don't see anyone producing an amplifier as reliable and powerful as a Walter Woods Ultra, getting one repaired is an expensive proposition. I'm glad to know that they got the bugs worked of their builds before the Minnie 800D was built. I've talked to a couple of players who own both the Aguilar TH500
and a Walter Woods Ultra. Their take was that although the two amps have different pre amp voicing's, both of them work well for Double Bass, The Aguliar is more affordable, and built by a company has a reliable service reputation. My take is that the Headway EDB-2 works so well for me personally, I'd rather go with the Minnie and an EDB-2, so if something needs servicing, I still have the option of having a standby pre amp or power amp available to use until the unit is repaired.

Ric
 
#66
Robert Strickland said:
I'd at least look at the Euphonics Audio Doubler
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Robert Strickland said:
Or, Phil Jones - very clean, uncolored sound
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Both are fine amplifiers, my concern with the EA Doubler for me is that it's 550 Watts into a 4 ohm load. If you used EA's Wizzy Ten or Wizzy 12 M Line, you have a perfect match for the Doubler, with great tone and power handling. My concern with the EA Doubler for me is that it's 550 Watts into a 4 ohm load

and most of my older EA cabinets are 8 ohms, which drops the amp power output to 310 watts RMS. Since I rarely use two cabinets, the Doubler isn't an ideal match for my speakers. I think that the original poster was looking at heads, so once again the Phil Jones D-600 is rated at 250 watts RMS into a 8 ohm load.

Just my take, as long as you have 4 ohm cabinets, you're good to go with either EA of Phil Jones.

Ric
 
#67
Nathan Levine said:
I picked up a used Minnie, along with a MAS 45, on the other side a little while ago and paired with my old EDB1 it is pretty darn sweet. Sexier than the Focus SA, the Minnie does it's simple job brilliantly.

Before plunging for the EDB2, I wanted to check out the Vintage Revolution preamp that the Gollihurs starting selling a little while ago. I am really liking the separate parametric mid controls on each channel that then get routed to a master eq section. Two separate volume knobs for the DI and the amp is a handy feature too.

Whenever an old WW M100 comes up for sale, I am sorely tempted to snatch it up. Just to try it to see and hear for myself this classic and near mythical amp. But the lack of a mic input, paired with the age and a $600 flat repair fee scares me away each and every time.
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+1 Nathan,
It's nice to know that the Minnie 800D compatible with the Headway EDB-1. For me the EDB-2 is a pretty significant upgrade, from the earlier model. It has so many different improvements, that make it more flexible across a variety of different pickups and microphones. As far as purchasing a Walter Woods
goes, with all these nice pre amps on the market, like the Headway, Vintage Revolution, and the Flex, it would really depend on the price of a used Woods, because you have to factor in the $600.00 repair charge ( that does include overnight return shipping by the way) with the price of the amp. Since most MI-100-8
sell for at least $600.00, that means you've potentially spent $1,200.00 for a used Woods. That's about what my Woods MI-400-8, which has 4 times the power cost new.

Ric
 
#68
Ric Vice said:
As far as purchasing a Walter Woods goes, with all these nice pre amps on the market, like the Headway, Vintage Revolution, and the Flex, it would really depend on the price of a used Woods, because you have to factor in the $600.00 repair charge ( that does include overnight return shipping by the way) with the price of the amp. Since most MI-100-8 sell for at least $600.00, that means you've potentially spent $1,200.00 for a used Woods. That's about what my Woods MI-400-8, which has 4 times the power cost new.

Ric
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Ric, I've pretty much decided a Woods is not in my future. Too costly ultimately to just appease a slight curiosity. Ultimately not too big a deal in the grand scheme of things. :)
 
#70
robgrow said:
FWIW, I heard from Walter Woods today. He called me back after I called him about a month ago. Although he wasn't specific, he just said he wasn't available for awhile. Anyway he's still around and making and repairing amps. Hope he's still around for a long time.
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Bob,
Well, I'm glad you got to talk to him, glad to hear that he's still doing repairs, since he fixed my Electroacoustic Ultra it's doing just fine. Sorry to hear he's out of circulation for a while though, things start to back up when he's
not available to do repairs. Here's all the best to Walter. Sitting at a bench, day in and day, out building and repairing amplifiers, you have to have a very singular disposition, I couldn't do it, so hats of to him. My only wish is
that we could convince him to release schematics to the owners of his amps. Hopefully some day, he'll see fit to do that. When he repaired my amp, he was complaining about the problems he was having sourcing reliable replacement
parts. I think that since the demise of the component stereo industry, it's getting harder and harder for him to find a source of reliable parts, and his stockpiles aren't infinite. The truth in the matter is ,that it's easier to repair my Ampeg B-15N that was built in 1964, because of their simplicity, and parts are readily available. Discrete component solid state amps like Walter's are becoming more and more unique. I'm glad I have a backup Woods and I'll be purchasing a Demeter Minnie 800D before to long. Walter's amps have amazing longevity, but nothing lasts forever. :whistle:

Ric

walterwoods_mi400_00011.jpg
Walter Woods Ultra Front.jpg
 
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#71
MR PC said:
The new Minnie looks really great, and I hear the problems with assembling quality are past. I hope to purchase one soon! Very soon. :)
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Scratched the Minnie purchase for now. I just bought a Crest Pro Lite 2.0 power amp (something like 11 1/2 lbs, can be used at 8, 4, and 2ohms (per side), easily bridged (mono) at 4 ohms for something like 1970 watts . . . will be pairing it with my old Demeter tube pre for an alternative acoustic bass rig, as well as using it for occasional PA duties with a Mackie 1402.

Of course it won't have the footprint or weight of my WW, but it won't be a back breaker to move either. Something tells me that pairing the Crest with a great pre amp like the Headway would make for an affordable alternative to the WW. Again, not the small footprint of WW, but you could easily plant the Crest behind your cabinet and place the Headway within reach for adjustments.
 
#72
So far, I've been happiest with a Michael Pope MPP2 pre into a power amp, which is wonderful for doubling gigs as well as a terrific upright pre. Sadly, they're a bit tough to find. I've heard a few DB players here in Nashville getting surprising results with the Aggie TH500. The GK MB500/800 are getting some good reviews too.
 
#73
dukeorock said:
So far, I've been happiest with a Michael Pope MPP2 pre into a power amp, which is wonderful for doubling gigs as well as a terrific upright pre. Sadly, they're a bit tough to find. I've heard a few DB players here in Nashville getting surprising results with the Aggie TH500. The GK MB500/800 are getting some good reviews too.
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Duke-O-Rock
I seriously considered the Michael Pope, until he stopped building them. I've heard really good things about the Aguilar TH 500. The GK's aren't what I'm interested in, as either a DB amp or Doubling rig. They tend to not have the kind of EQ section I'm looking for. I loved the warmth of the older 200MB's and 400RB's but those amps are long gone.

Ric
 
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#74
Ric Vice said:
Duke-O-Rock
I seriously considered the Michael Pope, until he stopped building them. I've heard really good things about the Aguilar TH 500. The GK's aren't what I'm interested in, as either a DB amp or Doubling rig. They tend to not have the kind of EQ section I'm looking for. I loved the warmth of the older 200MB's and 400RB's but those amps are long gone.

Ric
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I understand that, for sure :)
 

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