Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass walter woods amps
- Thread starter BYRDMAN
- Start date
Byrdman,
I sent you a private message with Walter's info.
Walter's amps work well with both instruments IME, IMHO, they are high end, hand made, and pricey.
- May 6, 2003
- 5,272
- 160
- 64
- Disclosures
- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
This thread may be interesting.
His current high end model is $2750 direct from him. I don't think he's building anything else new. They do show up used from time to time. I'd suggest waiting for one to show up used.
His current high end model is $2750 direct from him. I don't think he's building anything else new. They do show up used from time to time. I'd suggest waiting for one to show up used.
Phil,
Wow, thats a spicy meatball! Don't get me wrong I don't begrudge Walter his prices, but that's a big chunk of change to shell out for a new Ultra. I'm really glad that I bought mine, "back in the day" when they were considerably cheaper ($1,799.00 the special limited time offer) in in 1997.
Thing is though, I don't think there's another 2 channel digital amp that has that much power and sounds as good with both instruments. There is so much competition from AI and EA with the mid priced lower power stuff that I doubt he gets many orders for the Electro-acoustic red and lights anyway. One interesting thing to note though, is that all of Walter's amps were rated at 8 and 4 ohms and the models that were comparable to the Doubler 310 watts @ 8 ohms and the Claris + 450w@ 8ohms had were more powerful amps. The Amber light was comparable to the Claris + and the Green Light was comparable to the Doubler. In both cases however the newer amps cost less and have more mic friendly features.
Ric
- Jan 25, 2006
- 1,292
- 6
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist; Arnold Schnitzer/ Wil DeSola New Standard RN DB
Phil, I'm regretting not snatching up your Ultra when I had the chance.
Nothing sounds quite as good as the pre on my old WW 2 ch. M-225 (green light, early-mid 80's), but w/ the headroom, light weight and swiss army-like convenience features of the AI Focus the WW just doesn't get out much anymore.
I picked up the Focus 3 or 4 yrs ago out of frustration when I was outbid several times (prolly by a bidding 'bot') on Ultras that came up on Ebay.
..but I think I remember hearing that the newer 21st Century Ultras don't have the same great sounding pres of the older ones.
Is this your experience?
Bri
Nothing sounds quite as good as the pre on my old WW 2 ch. M-225 (green light, early-mid 80's), but w/ the headroom, light weight and swiss army-like convenience features of the AI Focus the WW just doesn't get out much anymore.
I picked up the Focus 3 or 4 yrs ago out of frustration when I was outbid several times (prolly by a bidding 'bot') on Ultras that came up on Ebay.
..but I think I remember hearing that the newer 21st Century Ultras don't have the same great sounding pres of the older ones.
Is this your experience?
Bri
- May 6, 2003
- 5,272
- 160
- 64
- Disclosures
- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
I found myself in a weird spot with the Woods. I preferred the tone and utility of the Focus for my Double Basses over the Woods. I preferred Tube heads for my electric basses over the Woods.
I think the older Woods did sound better than the newer ones but they are also less power and don't have all the modern conveniences of things like the Focus or the Doubler.
Couple that with Walter being completely secretive about his circuits and the difficulty of getting him to service stuff compared to companies like Acoustic Image or Euphonic Audio it made little sense to me to keep that head when it sat around collecting dust. It had become a very expensive backup amp.
Judging for what I had to sell the thing for I'm thinking his amps are loosing mass appeal.
I think the older Woods did sound better than the newer ones but they are also less power and don't have all the modern conveniences of things like the Focus or the Doubler.
Couple that with Walter being completely secretive about his circuits and the difficulty of getting him to service stuff compared to companies like Acoustic Image or Euphonic Audio it made little sense to me to keep that head when it sat around collecting dust. It had become a very expensive backup amp.
Judging for what I had to sell the thing for I'm thinking his amps are loosing mass appeal.
Well, Walter's amps aren't for everyone. Neither is Acoustic Image, GK, SWR, Markbass, Polytone, ect. I've owned and dumped all of those brands (and more), before I purchased the WW.
I purchased my Ultra 7 years ago.It was a HUGE expenditure in my household for an electronic item, $2600 (with shipping and tax) as I recall. It's a great piece of gear, so far the most reliable and **strong** sounded solid state amp ever. I've never regretted it, and I doubt I ever will. If I'd purchased a WW back in the '80's when I first jonesed for one, I would have saved a lot of time and money!
I purchased my Ultra 7 years ago.It was a HUGE expenditure in my household for an electronic item, $2600 (with shipping and tax) as I recall. It's a great piece of gear, so far the most reliable and **strong** sounded solid state amp ever. I've never regretted it, and I doubt I ever will. If I'd purchased a WW back in the '80's when I first jonesed for one, I would have saved a lot of time and money!
Agreed,
The MI series with the analog power amp sounds like a tube amplifier. It had FET's in the pre amp that probably contributed to that.
Yeah, I hear you. The last guy who tried to get his MI-400-8 repaired had some difficulty getting through to Walter and the charge to fix it, I believe the power supply had to be replaced, was $500.00. When a EA Doubler only costs $750.00 it's kind of a no brainer.
I think the Walter Woods got terribly inflated in the ebay internet boom just like a lot of other things did. I'm not sure the amps ever had what you would call mass appeal, just a loyal following from customers who liked how they sounded. I really like mine but, I'll never be able to afford a replacement Walter Woods. The Headway EDB-1 sounds pretty close to the MI series Pre-amp series anyway.
Ric
few months ago i bought the acoustic image ten 2 so i could have a combo instead of carrying around the woods and a speaker. now i wish i just got the extension speaker instead. the woods sounds so much better through that cabinet than the AI head. and to me, it has more useable tone controls (i have an external high pass filter that i use) and just a warmer sound in general. the AI sounds sterile and cold to my ears when played side by side.
keep your eyes out, my ten 2 may end up in the classifieds soon. if you like the typical AI sound, you'll like the ten 2, i just prefer the woods.
keep your eyes out, my ten 2 may end up in the classifieds soon. if you like the typical AI sound, you'll like the ten 2, i just prefer the woods.
I once A/B'd a Focus Series II with my Walter Woods Ultra. IMHO there was a pretty marked difference between the two pre amps. Personally, I preferred the Woods, but I didn't dislike the AI, it just didn't have the warmth, definition, and midrange the Woods had. Although Walter's amps do not have high pass filters, mic inputs, and variable phase shift, they do have the Vari and Ballance controls that will compensate issues in the midrange, and correct booming bass and screaming treble easily. All it takes is a slight tweak of those two controls. That said, because they are hand built, they cost more. I got an exceptional deal on my Ultra. Otherwise I'd never been able to afford it.
Ric
I had a MI series Woods for a while . . .
. . . I like the Doubler better . . .
The Woods has a very characteristic sound, but the Doubler is more natural to my ears, IMO, IME, etc etc
I never owned an ultra but I have borrowed one from a friend quite a bit. To me it sounds better then the Focus but the Focus has all the usable features. It all seems to not matter now that the Doubler is out and has great tone and all the usable features at $750...
In any case I've admired the WW stuff from afar for years.
In any case I've admired the WW stuff from afar for years.
I had a MI series Woods for a while . . .
. . . I like the Doubler better . . .
The Woods has a very characteristic sound, but the Doubler is more natural to my ears, IMO, IME, etc etc
That's good to know since I can't get my hands on a Doubler in St. Louis to demo it. You could buy what, three Doublers and still be far under the price of an Walter Woods Ultra.
Peter,
Like I said, I like mine and the sound is great, but as you point out, if it's features and flexibility you're after, then both the AI Focus (Clarius +) and the EA Doubler cost less and have all the features DB players need. Plus amazingly the Doubler is half the weight of a Walter Woods.
Ric
My local shop currently has two used Walter Woods heads:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Go ahead and sink your teeth into those.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Go ahead and sink your teeth into those.
M Vilmany,
My take the price for the MI-100-8 is reasonable, but I'm not as fond of that series of amps as I am
the ones that precede it and the Electroacoustic amps that follow it. The internal design is different.
However they are from a small group of Walter's amps that have a DI out. He quit doing that.
Ric
My take the price for the MI-100-8 is reasonable, but I'm not as fond of that series of amps as I am
the ones that precede it and the Electroacoustic amps that follow it. The internal design is different.
However they are from a small group of Walter's amps that have a DI out. He quit doing that.
Ric
