I have not bought from him for years as I do not go through cables! His site is up, so I believe he is still working.
His site says he is also an Allparts dealer too.
His site says he is also an Allparts dealer too.
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Walter Woods Amps History and Development
- Thread starter Uncletoad
- Start date
I got a call back from Walter yesterday (Monday) about 8:00 AM his time. A pleasant surprise to say the least. He is doing well, and seemed very positive about life in general.
To contact Walter, call his land line @ 760-772-7952. There's no answering service, but evidently he looks at the caller ID numbers and returns calls as time permits.
To contact Walter, call his land line @ 760-772-7952. There's no answering service, but evidently he looks at the caller ID numbers and returns calls as time permits.
Another call from Walter to report - he called me back today after I had left a message last week. As mentioned, no voice mail kicks in, but he's keeping track of missed calls since he is making call backs. I have an Ultra that may have static / loss of output - has been fine for the last two years, but the cat I bought it from on ebay didn't do the best job of packing the amp (one of the side panels was slightly bent) and I've been thinking about contacting WW about bench testing it to be sure it's all good. I didn't get a chance to talk to him for long because I was at work and about to go into a meeting. He's usually very happy to chat for a while, but maybe next time. I'm sending the Ultra tomorrow and he said he could get it back out the door in a day or two - great service!
Given the calling constraints with Walter (no voice mail and looking at caller ID), as I'm in Europe and rely on skype, I'm out of luck in getting through directly. Can I ask anyone here who will be talking to him to ask a question for me and either post or PM what he says?
I have a hi-power 2 channel electracoustic "green light" that I ordered from Walter directly (completed on schedule in Sept of 98 - serial #1002XX).
On the bottom of the amp case it says: "8 Ohm min bridged (4 Ohm min ch)".
However, the documentation that came with it says: "...total impedance of all speakers must never be less than 4 OHMS per power amp and 4 OHMS, bridge mode."
So, which is it? Safe to use bridged to a 4 Ohm cabinet or not?
I'd obviously like to confirm with Walter before experimenting....
Thanks!
I have a hi-power 2 channel electracoustic "green light" that I ordered from Walter directly (completed on schedule in Sept of 98 - serial #1002XX).
On the bottom of the amp case it says: "8 Ohm min bridged (4 Ohm min ch)".
However, the documentation that came with it says: "...total impedance of all speakers must never be less than 4 OHMS per power amp and 4 OHMS, bridge mode."
So, which is it? Safe to use bridged to a 4 Ohm cabinet or not?
I'd obviously like to confirm with Walter before experimenting....
Thanks!
I am virtually positive that it is safe only at 8ohms bridged (assuming you actually have one of the relatively rare 'stereo' models). That must be a typo (and a very dangerous one). If the amp was safe to run at 4ohms bridged, then by definition each side would be safe to run at 2ohms, since that is what happens when you bridge into a 4ohm nominal impedance.
Hopefully, someone can check for you, but I would NOT experiment with bridging at 4ohms until you get a 'yes' from Walter. Again, pretty sure he will say 'no'.
- Jan 12, 2011
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Way back in 1998 I had the pleasure of playing through a Walter Woods head, SWR Goliath II 4x10 with a Yamaha RBX 270 (no Joke) while I was stationed in Hawaii. Two of my bass Buddies Tim Lee (Alembic owner) and Vance Keever (Ken Lawrence owner) said I sounded great and I agreed with them. That amp made my little inexpensive 4 banger sound huge. I have wanted a Walter Woods head ever since.
Thanks, that's what I would think!
And, yes, it is a 'stereo' model. On the invoice:
"HI-PWR dual input 2 CH Stereo Electracoustic Bass Amp"
And, yes, it is a 'stereo' model. On the invoice:
"HI-PWR dual input 2 CH Stereo Electracoustic Bass Amp"
I gigged a Walter and a Goliath III for years back in the day. Special heads. I prefer other micro's now (the industry has definitely 'caught up' with Walter at this point IMO), but like most heads, the Walter has its own tone (bright, clean, transparent, with a unique, airy upper midrange). Not particularly the fattest heads out there (at least the current Electracoustic models), but just a beautiful voicing for DB, and for those who like it more 'articulate' than 'fat and big' for their EB.
Nice find on that one. I'm sure others will post up with the exact correct answer. Just don't bridge into 4ohms until you get a true 'OK'
Nice find on that one. I'm sure others will post up with the exact correct answer. Just don't bridge into 4ohms until you get a true 'OK'
I've waited this long without experimenting
It's more that I've just been curious since noticing the discrepancy.I actually bought it at a rare time when Walter had them "on sale" (discounted - but still built to order).
Thanks for your advice.
That's the green light with the red top, right?? If so, that's exactly what I have.
Yes, it does 700 watts into 8 ohms, and 1000 into 4. Just do not go below that. It is in bold print in the manual.
Thanks, Tim!
that's exactly the one, yes: green light/red top - and I believe those are the same specs it says in the catalog I have from that time (1998).
What does it say on the bottom of your amp? I just wonder if there was a date/serial number that represented a before/after for this feature being incorporated into the design.
You bring up an interesting point. Mine is a late 1995 model. But I've never had a problem. All my blown speakers have never been while in bridge mode. This amp has never broken a sweat.
Yeah, looks pretty much the same as mine. Interesting that the power specs are lower on the amp itself than what is printed in the manual as well (same on mine again).
You've actually used yours bridged? It sounds like it but just want to be sure. I'm guessing if you have, then mine is ok for it as well as it's a slightly later model.
The MI 200-8 is the model Walter made right before the current Electracoustic series came out in '96. These amps are sometimes referred to as "Sweepers."
Note the red bottom panel on the stereo MI 200-8 clearly says the minimum load impedance in bridge mode is 8 ohms.
Note the red bottom panel on the stereo MI 200-8 clearly says the minimum load impedance in bridge mode is 8 ohms.
Mine is also marked MI 200-8 (and "Electroacoustic" on the faceplate). It was made in 1998.
As you say, it does clearly say the minimum load impedance in bridge mode is 8 ohms on the amp itself - and this is contradicted by the manual (same with the discrepancy in power rating).
Regardless, I'm not going to test it until/unless I get confirmation from Walter as to what the straight dope really is.
Robgrow,
I'm curious what yours says on the bottom? Mine is an Electracoustic. I'll post a picture of the front in a bit.
I have bridged it a bunch of times. I don't think I've ever run it 4 ohms though...all my big cabs have been 8 ohms, and when I run 2 cabs I always go stereo.
Like others say, it is interesting the discrepancy between the manual and the bottom cover. The manual does say clearly bridged 700-1000 watts 8-4 ohms.
I'm curious what yours says on the bottom? Mine is an Electracoustic. I'll post a picture of the front in a bit.
I have bridged it a bunch of times. I don't think I've ever run it 4 ohms though...all my big cabs have been 8 ohms, and when I run 2 cabs I always go stereo.
Like others say, it is interesting the discrepancy between the manual and the bottom cover. The manual does say clearly bridged 700-1000 watts 8-4 ohms.
Bridging at 8ohms is never an issue, since both of the power amps run at 4ohms when bridged into an 8ohm cab. It would be HIGHLY unlikely that a 4ohm bridge mode would be safe, since each power amp would then run at 2ohms (and all of Walters power modules are limited to 4ohm operation).
Who knows though (Walter does some unique stuff that often doesn't quite follow the 'typical' designs), but I would again believe the 'bottom of the amp' and not the manual on this, at least until someone verifies with Walter.
The front of my amp. Ordered in November 1995. Walter said he was in his off season and not building but that he'd build it for me anyway. I had it 2 weeks later. I tried calling him today but no answer and no machine.
