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Walter Woods Amps History and Development
- Thread starter Uncletoad
- Start date
Actually , he started in the early 70's. '77 or '78 is when he came out with the new design chassis.
Link Removed
I don't know if this has been posted on this thread but there is a very nice history of Walter Woods amps from the 70's to the present at Link Removed. Great photo's of all the models and a write up and technical stuff about each era and model.
I spoke to Walter a couple of days ago (June 15,2010) to order a new Ultra, he seems in good health and spirits. He says the economic slowdown has hurt him but for his customers it means he has amps in stock - I got immediate delivery of my Ultra.
I spoke to Walter a couple of days ago (June 15,2010) to order a new Ultra, he seems in good health and spirits. He says the economic slowdown has hurt him but for his customers it means he has amps in stock - I got immediate delivery of my Ultra.
By chance, does anyone know the feasibility of upgrading the power section of my old MI-100-8? It's my all-time favorite amp but due to its limited output, it never really leaves the house.
NOTE: I know that this question can be easily answered with a call to Walter, but I hate to bother him since this idea is still in "fantasy" stage)
NOTE: I know that this question can be easily answered with a call to Walter, but I hate to bother him since this idea is still in "fantasy" stage)
I was just looking for info about Walter Woods the other day....he doesn't seem to have a web presence. Did I just miss it? How does one find out about his product line?
bigtiny
Walter has never advertised at all. The only way to find out what he is doing and what products he has is to call. He many times takes a couple months off in the summer.
Haven't priced one in a while. I would guess around $2,600 is pretty close, give or take $100.
Just received my second Ultra today- $2750.00 shipped to NY. My original (2002) just blew up last week 
It's easy to get this kind of power now from less expensive amps, but they work for me.
It's easy to get this kind of power now from less expensive amps, but they work for me.
The price for a new WW Ultra Hi-Power amp is $2749.00 -cashiers cheque on a US bank only accepted.
Just Thumpin'
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There are definitely less expensive ways to get this kind of power nowadays, however, IMHO they all still sound like less expensive ways...
Just received my second Ultra today- $2750.00 shipped to NY. My original (2002) just blew up last week
It's easy to get this kind of power now from less expensive amps, but they work for me.
There are definitely less expensive ways to get this kind of power nowadays, however, IMHO they all still sound like less expensive ways...
Walters still sound great, but as a long time and now former Walter Woods user, I couldn't disagree more with the above statement.
Unfortunately, I agree with Ken on this!
***Off Topic, Ken, I love your tone on your youtube video- it may have persuaded me to play closer to the bridge now!!!!
*** Post back on****
***Off Topic, Ken, I love your tone on your youtube video- it may have persuaded me to play closer to the bridge now!!!!
*** Post back on****
Thanks! Most of my peers playing in the pop/pop-jazz sort of freelance thing that I do tend to gravitate toward the bridge as their 'home base point' when playing. Besides the great articulation and 'string tension' feel, it really works well in a live setting, where many bassists generate a tone that is boomy and non-distinct. In all the years of checking out bassists in clubs, I rarely left thinking 'I wish that bassist had more low end'. Most of the time it was 'I wish I could hear the note definition better'
Just to clarify, I'm not doggin' the Walters. They have a unique sound, and are a classic product. I gigged with various Walters as my primary gigging head for 15+ years. However, the SMPS power supplies have gotten SO much better now (driving small class A/B or class D amps), that I just found some of the newer stuff to be less of a compromise in low end fullness and punch.
I don't doubt that there's good stuff out there that's comparable to Walter's amps, these days.
I've had extensive conversations with Walter. He was a sax player in the Army band, and his first gig with them was at JFK's funeral...somber. After the military, he went to school for engineering, and landed an aerospace gig. He was tasked with working with aerospace audio systems, which is where he got turned on to switching power supply design. This makes sense, as aerospace design constraints require the lightest weight possible along with ultra-reliability. This was around 1969. At that time, there was a significant downturn/recession in the engineering field, so Walter felt that he could make some hay with these switching supplies by making amps. It would also help him because he felt chafed working for a corporation (who doesn't, really!). The rest is history.
The solid state design lent itself to bass amplification, which requires significantly more power than guitar, and little or no distortion. Of course, wonderful tone can be gained from tube designs too, but those designs are not as robust as solid state, and also weigh a lot more. So it's easy to see the aerospace heritage in Walter's stuff.
I went with the Woods because I don't have time or inclination to experiment with an amp. It works, and gets me what I need tonally and power wise, in a small and lightweight form factor. Again, I have no trouble believing that the industry is catching up and even surpassing Walter's stuff. Nothing is static in electronics.
I've had extensive conversations with Walter. He was a sax player in the Army band, and his first gig with them was at JFK's funeral...somber. After the military, he went to school for engineering, and landed an aerospace gig. He was tasked with working with aerospace audio systems, which is where he got turned on to switching power supply design. This makes sense, as aerospace design constraints require the lightest weight possible along with ultra-reliability. This was around 1969. At that time, there was a significant downturn/recession in the engineering field, so Walter felt that he could make some hay with these switching supplies by making amps. It would also help him because he felt chafed working for a corporation (who doesn't, really!). The rest is history.
The solid state design lent itself to bass amplification, which requires significantly more power than guitar, and little or no distortion. Of course, wonderful tone can be gained from tube designs too, but those designs are not as robust as solid state, and also weigh a lot more. So it's easy to see the aerospace heritage in Walter's stuff.
I went with the Woods because I don't have time or inclination to experiment with an amp. It works, and gets me what I need tonally and power wise, in a small and lightweight form factor. Again, I have no trouble believing that the industry is catching up and even surpassing Walter's stuff. Nothing is static in electronics.
The only amps I've played in recent years that come close to the sweet, musical upper mids and highs of the Woods amps, are all MUCH bigger and heavier. MUCH heavier!
