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Double Bass Walter Woods? Or not...

#222
Bruce Calin said:
A question for multiple WW owners: Which model do you consider the overall best? I have the MI-100-8 which I've had since the 80s but it's the only one I've ever owned. It's been a real workhorse but I've wondered if the other models have any particular advantages since Walter tried so many different designs. I don't plan on ever getting another one but am curious.
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The MI-225
 
#223
Povl Carstensen said:
On a side note, another singular experience: Playing my DB (forgot which pickup) through a Fender valve guitar combo with perhaps 6 10" speakers (open back). Sounded great, but I would not want to schlep it around...
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Might have been a Super Reverb, but it’s a 4x10. Interestingly enough, it was based on the original Fender Bassman 4x10 which was open backed. In a side by side comparison that Woods MI 100 8 through a properly ported cabinet would have been more to our tastes. Just my take though.
 
#227
Ric Vice said:
Might have been a Super Reverb, but it’s a 4x10. Interestingly enough, it was based on the original Fender Bassman 4x10 which was open backed. In a side by side comparison that Woods MI 100 8 through a properly ported cabinet would have been more to our tastes. Just my take though.
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Fender Super Six Reverb!
lf.jpeg

super 6.jpg
 
#230
Going through this thread it reminded me that they are a lot bigger & heavier than new AI or similar head. That should be taken into account as well. Humping gear with a double bass gets old faster than BG. When you figure that in with the extra cost, the difficulty in repairs it doesn't balance unless you are a serious gear collector.
Being able to put my tiny Clarus head in a backpack or messenger bag and get on a plane with it has a lot of value in itself.
Not mention just having a lighter, quick schlep to concerts in general - that helps take the sting out of not even wanting to use an amp in the first place!
 
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#231
In the 1980’s a 7.5 lb 100 watt bass amp was revolutionary. Had Walter had access to a Hypex or other high quality Class D power section
his amplifiers could have been as light as the Fuchs or Acoustic Image amps Other than the analog GK 200MB and RCB he had the market to himself until the Markbass F1’s were released. So, from 1975 to 2005 his amps were the go to. Just my take.
 
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#232
I dunno. A metal box that weights around ten pounds is just right for me. It fits easy in my backpack and I can throw it around without worry. I replaced (on gigs) my Woods with a Felix and a GSS power amp and both are missing knobs now. I used my Woods hard for 20 years and it never showed the wear. (Also, the Woods sounded a little better IMO. The Felix beats the newer Woods but not the MI series for me at least. The Grace Designs customer service is worlds better though...)

When AI was new I tried their stuff but it felt like I could never get the low mid information I like, no matter what I did with the eq etc.

I guess where I am going with this is if a WW MI clone becomes available in the same form factor, I'll buy it.
 
#233
I quit using my MI100-8 after about 25 years because I couldn't clean the pots enough to get rid of serious noise and was afraid it would give out because of age. I recently had a professional cleaning and checkout done, no real repairs, and it sounds like it did back in the day. I'm going to use it for everything I ever used it for but bring a small spare just in case. There still is no amp like it for me.
 
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#234
crd said:
I dunno. A metal box that weights around ten pounds is just right for me. It fits easy in my backpack and I can throw it around without worry. I replaced (on gigs) my Woods with a Felix and a GSS power amp and both are missing knobs now. I used my Woods hard for 20 years and it never showed the wear. (Also, the Woods sounded a little better IMO. The Felix beats the newer Woods but not the MI series for me at least. The Grace Designs customer service is worlds better though...)

When AI was new I tried their stuff but it felt like I could never get the low mid information I like, no matter what I did with the eq etc.

I guess where I am going with this is if a WW MI clone becomes available in the same form factor, I'll buy it.
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You might want to look at my post just a few back above. I don't know Fuchs, but it sounds - interesting.
 
#235
CryingBass said:
You might want to look at my post just a few back above. I don't know Fuchs, but it sounds - interesting.
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Yeah - I'm interested! A couple pages back Fuch's said they were modeled after the Electroacoustic amps rather than the MI ones. The MI ones are the closest you can get to a hi-fi tube amp without carry 40+ pounds. I love clean for a mic preamp but not so much for a piezo.
 
#236
If you think about it: WW made amps in the pre-ICE days that us guys are going to compare head-to-head against amps being announced like ( today? or close ) above.

Man, I wish I was that smart!
 
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#237
Years ago I had a WW MI 100-8 single channel amp. I sold it because I kept reading about how WW amps couldn't be fixed anymore. I wanted to sell it while it was still working. Unfortunately, I think this model probably was one of the "fixable" ones and therefore I could (should) have kept it :(

Is there a list of models that can and can't be repaired?

On a side note, I still have the schematic from that amp. If it would be helpful, I can post it here.
 
#238
rwkeating said:
Years ago I had a WW MI 100-8 single channel amp. I sold it because I kept reading about how WW amps couldn't be fixed anymore. I wanted to sell it while it was still working. Unfortunately, I think this model probably was one of the "fixable" ones and therefore I could (should) have kept it :(

Is there a list of models that can and can't be repaired?

On a side note, I still have the schematic from that amp. If it would be helpful, I can post it here.
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RW,
The schematic for the MI-100-8 you have is readily available in the talk bass threads and various websites. It dose not include a internal diagram of
Walter’s SMPS on the schematic it just says “power supply” or something like that. The only amp that Walter mentioned he could not repair was the original
MI-225-8 that had two separate 100 watt analog power amps ganged to a single SMPS power supply.
 
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#239
Bruce Calin said:
I quit using my MI100-8 after about 25 years because I couldn't clean the pots enough to get rid of serious noise and was afraid it would give out because of age. I recently had a professional cleaning and checkout done, no real repairs, and it sounds like it did back in the day. I'm going to use it for everything I ever used it for but bring a small spare just in case. There still is no amp like it for me.
Click to expand...
My solution to this is similar. Woods on the gigs, and an emergency TC BAM200 stashed in my car for emergencies. I'm covered for any amp failures with that little guy!
 

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