Double Bass Fuchs discontinuing Walter Woods and Acoustic Image service

[bassically_eli]

I am just surprised at the prices people ask for for used, unserviceable amps. I always thought the customer service at AI was one of the big selling points for them, so when they closed.... It's always been a pretty easy choice for me because I basically treat head amps as a power amp for upright; I use the effects loop or aux input or find something with a flat EQ setting and use an outboard preamp.

 

[Ketbass]

I love my AI Coda rig and it still functions well. But I also acquired it when I bought my EUB. The seller really didn't want it anymore and basically threw it in the deal for a couple hundred bucks. I had no idea what it was , but he swore it was the amp my EUB should be played from. Honestly, the old Fender Rumble 75 at rehearsal is far superior for that. No idea why…But for upright and electric bass, Bon Ami! When it dies, I'll miss it, but on the bright side, it will give me an excuse to buy something new! Research, testing, fiddling; all the things that aren't music, but fun.

 

[ardgedee]

I'm not judging others choices but the local thing is definitely compelling.

Hereabouts AI was the local choice... until it wasn't

 

[rickwolff]

Is it a Holley? Knowing you, ( james ), it is a 4-barrel. (just one? Doubt it.)
Probably mounted on an Edelbrock manifold, sitting over an Isky camshaft, dumping noise into some Hooker headers.
Amirite?

Wow. Don Kasper the Gearhead. Who knew?

 

[james condino]

Maybee I was bit excited in my last post; can't blame it on coffee or alcohol as I don't use either.

The local thing was fantastic for me- I could drive over to the AI headquarters and back if needed, but I never needed it.

Around here, it is pretty easy to find mint condition AI equipment for very fair prices and almost every bass player I know has one. I actually brought my 1966 Ampeg fliptop to a gig last year. For the first set it worked ok, but by the second when it warmed up well, there was magic in the air, aside from handling it like a newborn the entire night at the show and during transport.

Carburetors? For big domestic iron, definitely 4bbls, but I've owned a few with twin SUs and my FIL had a 1963 XKE with triple SUs that was fun to drive...when it worked, and quite a challenge to sync all of them together.

That is funny because I have been thinking about starting an Asheville based podcast, calling it "Carburetors and Kombucha".

 

[Don Hergert]

Maybee I was bit excited in my last post; can't blame it on coffee or alcohol as I don't use either. ...

You know you're among friends here James. We may not all agree about every single little thing, but we'd rather be sharing thoughts and time together than missing each other.

-- Don

 

[Jefenator]

There's a lot of things to like about the new "micro" head form factor; lifetime serviceability doesn't seem to be one of them.
The vintage tube heads seem more like "forever" units. Unfortunately they often require an extra trip (sometimes to the chiropractor).

 

[bassically_eli]

There's a lot of things to like about the new "micro" head form factor; lifetime serviceability doesn't seem to be one of them.
The vintage tube heads seem more like "forever" units. Unfortunately they often require an extra trip (sometimes to the chiropractor).

Yes, forever units only if you plan to have roadies around forever. They are also much more likely to fail on a gig, right? A little bit of rough handling on the way there, and you may have problems...?

I don't actually have any real experience with old tube heads, which is probably pretty obvious haha

 

[ardgedee]

There's a lot of things to like about the new "micro" head form factor; lifetime serviceability doesn't seem to be one of them.
The vintage tube heads seem more like "forever" units. Unfortunately they often require an extra trip (sometimes to the chiropractor).

Retubing an SVT can cost more than an entire class-D amp. SVT fans are also fairly lucky that Ampeg started with fairly common tube types that continue to be manufactured; there are a lot of vintage amps that have been end-of-lifed by their dependence on obsoleted tubes.

Serviceability for any product depends on the manufacturer -- some companies making class-D amps, like Mesa, are equipped for long-term care (and well-positioned to provide it), other cheaper vendors are not.

 

[Jefenator]

I should back-pedal a little bit. My current class D heads are by Quilter and Bergantino and both of those companies are still active, with good reputations for CS. If either unit were to start acting up, I'd probably give the factory service option a try.
OTOH after another thousand or two duty cycles, I might just retire them and give the Fuchs a try!

 

[Bruce Calin]

I'm going to keep using my MI100-8 until it dies. I had it gone over and cleaned up internally a couple of years ago and have used it on many gigs since. I'll carry a spare amp and cabinet just in case but won't use them unless there's a problem. I bought the WW in the early 80s so I know it was built to last. It's still my standard.

 

[statsc]

I think I'm all set with non-serviceable amps: 2 working AI Claruses + 1 working WW Electracoustic Amber Light + 1 non-working WW stereo green light. But then again, there's the Fuchs…

 

[Hasty]

I think I'm all set with non-serviceable amps: 2 working AI Claruses + 1 working WW Electracoustic Amber Light + 1 non-working WW stereo green light. But then again, there's the Fuchs…

The Fuchs looks cool, but I'm not in love with the idea of a new production 700W amp using a 1/4" jack to go to the cab.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Apropos of nothing, my WOODS seems to have healed itself. Actually it looks like the fuse cap had become slightly loosened and lost connection. Was just dicking around with it and mirable dictu…

 

[Ric Vice]

Apropos of nothing, my WOODS seems to have healed itself. Actually it looks like the fuse cap had become slightly loosened and lost connection. Was just dicking around with it and mirable dictu…

Sometimes things take care of themselves.

 

[Don Kasper]

Well, WW's amps are Fantastic, but they're not Idiot Proof.
Sheesh.
Thx.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Does that make me the proof that exceptionals the rule?

 

[Endlesssolo]

I own two amps, a WW I bought about 30 years ago and an AI Clarus SL I bought about 3 years ago. Looks like I'm not getting either of those fixed if they ever break down! Fortunately, I have never had a single problem with them.

Actually, I lied, I have 3 amps. I still have my old polytone mini brute. Every so often I'll plug into it and am reminded in about 10 seconds how much better amps have become since those days.

 

[Ric Vice]

I own two amps, a WW I bought about 30 years ago and an AI Clarus SL I bought about 3 years ago. Looks like I'm not getting either of those fixed if they ever break down! Fortunately, I have never had a single problem with them.

Actually, I lied, I have 3 amps. I still have my old polytone mini brute. Every so often I'll plug into it and am reminded in about 10 seconds how much better amps have become since those days.

"Just consider it a Vintage heirloom collection. Walter's amps were designed to vent and wick heat through their vented top and massive heat sink.
Keeping the pots and jacks clean with small amounts of DeOxit 5 on s cotton swab and gently blowing dust of the circuit boards will help keep the amps running.

 

[statsc]

"Just consider it a Vintage heirloom collection. Walter's amps were designed to vent and wick heat through their vented top and massive heat sink.
Keeping the pots and jacks clean with small amounts of DeOxit 5 on s cotton swab and gently blowing dust of the circuit boards will help keep the amps running.

And if you have a stereo amp, don't use it bridged into 4 ohms! Ask me how I know!