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Walter Woods Amps History and Development

#142
One thing I remember asking about in the first thread was how much current inrush ocurred with WW amps, specifically the Electro-Acoustic Ultra model. Is there any easy way to measure it?

My Stewart 2.1 trips a breaker nearly every time I connect it to the mains AC. It happens less at clubs but when it does it is not cool. I've never had the WWU do this before. I guess the inrush is low enough that it doesn't bother the breakers, even the touchy ones in my apartment.

Even though the 2.1 is rated for nearly twice as many watts as the Ultra, should it still be tripping breakers like that? Also, has anyone had their WW trip any breakers either at initial mains connection or during power-up?
 
#143
VintageBT6Lover said:
One thing I remember asking about in the first thread was how much current inrush ocurred with WW amps, specifically the Electro-Acoustic Ultra model. Is there any easy way to measure it?

My Stewart 2.1 trips a breaker nearly every time I connect it to the mains AC. It happens less at clubs but when it does it is not cool. I've never had the WWU do this before. I guess the inrush is low enough that it doesn't bother the breakers, even the touchy ones in my apartment.

Even though the 2.1 is rated for nearly twice as many watts as the Ultra, should it still be tripping breakers like that? Also, has anyone had their WW trip any breakers either at initial mains connection or during power-up?
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I've never had any amp (including my WW Ultra nor massive Glock HR), nor have I heard of any amp except the Aguilar DB750 ever trip a breaker when turned on. Sounds like something is amiss with your amp.
 
#144
KJung said:
I've never had any amp (including my WW Ultra nor massive Glock HR), nor have I heard of any amp except the Aguilar DB750 ever trip a breaker when turned on. Sounds like something is amiss with your amp.
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I had an incident once in the 16 years I've used WW. It was this summer for an outdoor show at a fair, kept tripping the breaker, but it turned out to be too many things were plugged into the main panel source and the WW for some reason put it over the edge. Plugged into another source and no problem.
 
#146
I've taken down breakers and in fact full PA's on gigs with my bass amps many times before. 15 years or so ago in Peabody's Down Under in Cleveland I layed out a fantastic low loud note that shook the house followed by complete silence and pitch darkness as I took out the main house breaker. Pretty cool stage effect. Crowd went nuts.

Current draw by these digital amps is pretty heavy and can spike an already encumbered line past a circuit breaker's rating in a hurry. It is especially troublesome with badly executed electrical systems or temporary outdoor setups.

Those things have happened to me regardless of the health of my amps. The AI Focus was doing that on an outdoor gig I played this summer on the back of a flatbed truck. Couldn't play very loud at all without killing the breaker. Didn't happen the night before or since. Luck of the draw. I played quiet and danced around a bit more. Nobody cared really.

If they are broken they can kill breakers so if it continues I'd have it looked at. Also if it happens with no sound input on powerup with an otherwise unencumbered circut load it's broken for sure.
 
#147
Uncletoad said:
I've taken down breakers and in fact full PA's on gigs with my bass amps many times before. 15 years or so ago in Peabody's Down Under in Cleveland I layed out a fantastic low loud note that shook the house followed by complete silence and pitch darkness as I took out the main house breaker. Pretty cool stage effect. Crowd went nuts.

Current draw by these digital amps is pretty heavy and can spike an already encumbered line past a circuit breaker's rating in a hurry. It is especially troublesome with badly executed electrical systems or temporary outdoor setups.

Those things have happened to me regardless of the health of my amps. The AI Focus was doing that on an outdoor gig I played this summer on the back of a flatbed truck. Couldn't play very loud at all without killing the breaker. Didn't happen the night before or since. Luck of the draw. I played quiet and danced around a bit more. Nobody cared really.

If they are broken they can kill breakers so if it continues I'd have it looked at. Also if it happens with no sound input on powerup with an otherwise unencumbered circut load it's broken for sure.
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Man, UncleToad.... you are blowing up Walters, killing breakers, etc. You must REALLY play loud!!!!:D :cool:
 
#152
i'm enjoying this thread. i visited walter today in fact and he confirmed he had amassed enough of a list of stereo-wanters to consider building a batch. i have 2 ultras (one late 2005 and one very recent) and a stereo green light. the stereo green light is nice and goes pretty loud but the transient low end control of the ultra is significantly better. i feel like i get plenty of low bass with my euphonic cxl112s. granted, the ww doesn't sound like an SVT, but i don't expect it to. walter said there is no real difference between current ultras and previous ones. i got from our conversation that he feels that a lot of the conjecture about differences in the sound throughout the years of current production is just a lot of rumor-milling and mythology.

i think the the ww amps are extremely useful tools that sound great and work great. and i've never blown one up. leave that to phil ;) -- perhaps he should share the story about the sadowsky 'wrecking ball' bass and the "cellulitic" bar clientele.....?
 
#153
landru64 said:
i'm enjoying this thread. i visited walter today in fact and he confirmed he had amassed enough of a list of stereo-wanters to consider building a batch. i have 2 ultras (one late 2005 and one very recent) and a stereo green light. the stereo green light is nice and goes pretty loud but the transient low end control of the ultra is significantly better. i feel like i get plenty of low bass with my euphonic cxl112s. granted, the ww doesn't sound like an SVT, but i don't expect it to. walter said there is no real difference between current ultras and previous ones. i got from our conversation that he feels that a lot of the conjecture about differences in the sound throughout the years of current production is just a lot of rumor-milling and mythology.

i think the the ww amps are extremely useful tools that sound great and work great. and i've never blown one up. leave that to phil ;) -- perhaps he should share the story about the sadowsky 'wrecking ball' bass and the "cellulitic" bar clientele.....?
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I've gotten a new found love for my Ultra with the Bergantino cabs.. very nice match-up. IMHO, regarding the differences in Ultra's throughout the years of current production, since many of us feel the earlier Ultra models sound somewhat different and somewhat better, and also that the design of the 2001-2003 units looks very different when you compare the construction to the 2003 and later designs, it seems that there is at least something subtle that is different. Since some of us feel Walter has moved to a 'less robust sounding' design recently, it would make sense that he would downplay differences.

However, they all sound good in their own way, and are still somewhat unique in the industry regarding features, wattage, size and sound IMO
 
#154
My question isn't directly related to WW history, etc. but here goes anyway.

I just acquired a WW Stereo Hi-Power made in 2000. It is in pristine physical and functional condition, except for one thing. About 2-3 seconds after I turn off the power the amp makes a hideous noise lasting about 0.5 seconds. The best way I can describe it is like a duck being castrated. This happens whether or not I turn down the volume before switching off the power. It does not sound normal :-), but it does not seem to have any damaging effect on the amp or speakers.

Anyone have any ideas about this? Should I send it to Walter and have him take a look at it? Incidentally, judging from the lack of markings on the interior chassis, this amp has not been at Walter's since it was built.

Thanks in advance for any input/ideas...

Kevin
 
#155
interp said:
My question isn't directly related to WW history, etc. but here goes anyway.

I just acquired a WW Stereo Hi-Power made in 2000. It is in pristine physical and functional condition, except for one thing. About 2-3 seconds after I turn off the power the amp makes a hideous noise lasting about 0.5 seconds. The best way I can describe it is like a duck being castrated. This happens whether or not I turn down the volume before switching off the power. It does not sound normal :-), but it does not seem to have any damaging effect on the amp or speakers.

Anyone have any ideas about this? Should I send it to Walter and have him take a look at it? Incidentally, judging from the lack of markings on the interior chassis, this amp has not been at Walter's since it was built.

Thanks in advance for any input/ideas...

Kevin
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The Ultra's made around that period will make a slight 'crackling' sound right after turn off, so I don't think this is a problem. The best thing to do is to call Walter and ask him to make sure.
 
#156
This is an interesting thread. I had a MI-100 two-channel amp that was the best-sounding amplifier I have ever had. Unfortunately, I needed more power and Walter could not upgrade the power amp because it was an old design. I would have been very happy with a 400w version of that amp.
 
#157
Just won an auction for a WW Ultra off of Ebay for $2325. Not sure what year it is going to be, I will let ya'll know once I get it. Do you think I did okay on the price? It is supposed to be in good condition. Is the turn-around time on sending an amp to Walter for upgrades generally a week or two?

Thanks,

-Chris
 
#158
thechristopher3 said:
Just won an auction for a WW Ultra off of Ebay for $2325. Not sure what year it is going to be, I will let ya'll know once I get it. Do you think I did okay on the price? It is supposed to be in good condition. Is the turn-around time on sending an amp to Walter for upgrades generally a week or two?

Thanks,

-Chris
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If you live outside of the US, that's a great deal, since you can't buy a new one. Otherwise, if you are in the US, I assume you called Walter and there was a backlog. If that's the case.... hey saving a few months for delivery and a few hundred bucks versus a new one is probably worth it!

Regarding the upgrade.... you would only need that done if it's a very specific serial number and year (I think from 2000-early 2003... not sure). When you get the unit, just call Walter and give him the serial number... he will let you know if it needs the very minor 'fix'.... I got mine back in under a week a few years ago, and it was around $100 or so for the work (which included replacing a scratchy pot).
 
#159
The Ultra arrived, it definately sounds different then other amps I've played through. You can hear the slightest noise coming from your bass, fret noise, sliding of your fingers etc. Which I like, however it sheds light on any imperfect technique. It's super clear when you play really quite, it actually seems to sound better when I play super light, so I will probably mess with the gain's to figuire that out. I swear it pushes my cabs way louder than my PLX-2402, this thing is REALLY 800 watts at 8 ohms. The Effects send definately tweaks the low mids which is really interesting. Could re-label that knob 'low mid boost'. The serial is 040801, so I take it that's 2001. Would that mean this one is from the the 'more robust' lowend generation? The only weird thing, this one being used, is that it smelled funny, like WD40 or some musty smell. I opened the top and the removable lid had some kind of liquid resedue on the inside of it. I hope some previous owner wasn't a dumb ass and sprayed something weird in it to clean it (like WD-40). I also noticed there was absolutely no dust whatsoever inside, which concerned me that someone may have totally washed it out with some solvent or something. The liquid resedue is odd as most electronics cleaner evaporates. Anyways, this is the downside of used gear, you never know what type of ignorant/weird thing some previous owner did to it. Anyways, it works and sounds killer so I guess that's what counts.

Chris
 
#160
thechristopher3 said:
The Ultra arrived, it definately sounds different then other amps I've played through. You can hear the slightest noise coming from your bass, fret noise, sliding of your fingers etc. Which I like, however it sheds light on any imperfect technique. It's super clear when you play really quite, it actually seems to sound better when I play super light, so I will probably mess with the gain's to figuire that out. I swear it pushes my cabs way louder than my PLX-2402, this thing is REALLY 800 watts at 8 ohms. The Effects send definately tweaks the low mids which is really interesting. Could re-label that knob 'low mid boost'. The serial is 040801, so I take it that's 2001. Would that mean this one is from the the 'more robust' lowend generation? The only weird thing, this one being used, is that it smelled funny, like WD40 or some musty smell. I opened the top and the removable lid had some kind of liquid resedue on the inside of it. I hope some previous owner wasn't a dumb ass and sprayed something weird in it to clean it (like WD-40). I also noticed there was absolutely no dust whatsoever inside, which concerned me that someone may have totally washed it out with some solvent or something. The liquid resedue is odd as most electronics cleaner evaporates. Anyways, this is the downside of used gear, you never know what type of ignorant/weird thing some previous owner did to it. Anyways, it works and sounds killer so I guess that's what counts.

Chris
Click to expand...

Very cool.... you might want to PM TBer Reefer about the serial number and year. It sounds like that is one of the 'good one's... i.e., the circuitry that some of us hear as having a little more low end punch... but also from the batch that needs that minor 'fix'.

It sounds like he might have used some cleaner to clean the pots.... probably not anything horrible, but all the more reason to possibly send the unit to Walter for that minor fix and a good looking over. He is VERY quick on the turn-around.

I assume you have Walter's number... if not, PM me.

Congrats... yeah, that send return knob is a low mid type thing... very strange, but can really help fatten the very pristine tone when needed. The balance control is subtle but nice also, to just slightly revoice the head from the deep lows to the upper mids depending on the cab and bass. I rarely move that more than from 11 to 1 o'clock, but it does make a difference in the way that head reacts with certain cabs and basses.

Enjoy!

K
 

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