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Double Bass Walter Woods static

natbers78

natbers78

Supporting Member
Jun 3, 2006
427
402
Ohio
#1
Just went to practice tonight and my Woods has constant static coming from it (out of both my cabs...I have a EA VL208 on top of a VL110). It gets louder when I turn up the post and pre, but more so with the post. I tried it with different cabs, basses, and outlets, so I'm pretty sure I've isolated the problem to the amp. Help?
 
#4
As fdeck said, try different cables, also a different pickup or different instrument. Don't assume it's the amp until you've eliminated everything ahead of it. If the problem is with the amp, contact Walter directly. He should be able to help you troubleshoot things and tell you if your amp needs repair. PM me if you need Walter's contact info.
 
#5
natbers78 said:
Just went to practice tonight and my Woods has constant static coming from it (out of both my cabs...I have a EA VL208 on top of a VL110). It gets louder when I turn up the post and pre, but more so with the post. I tried it with different cabs, basses, and outlets, so I'm pretty sure I've isolated the problem to the amp. Help?
Click to expand...

It's the pots, the knobs for vol. treble, mids, bass etc.

On WW amps they crackle when they get dirty.

It's an easy fix. Get yourself some electronics spray cleaner/ lubricant at Radio Shack or similar. Remove the top and bottom panels only (not sides or knobs) on WW and be sure to save all the washers and screws.

Direct small, short bursts of spray precisely into the pot shafts and their housings and work in by turning knobs back and forth. Dry excess spray cleaner and remove any visual dirt or lint that you can get at with a small brush or compressed air. Repeat with all the knobs and replace panels, w/ washers and screws. This will do the trick and crackle should be gone.

I thought something was very wrong with my old WW when it crackled like that. There was a period that I didn't use it for a long time thinking I had to send it in to Walter for repair. Then a luthier/guitar tech friend told me to try this process and it worked like a charm. Nothing was wrong but some dirty pots.

Good luck, BG
 
#6
bribass said:
It's the pots, the knobs for vol. treble, mids, bass etc.

On WW amps they crackle when they get dirty.

It's an easy fix. Get yourself some electronics spray cleaner/ lubricant at Radio Shack or similar. Remove the top and bottom panels only (not sides or knobs) on WW and be sure to save all the washers and screws.

Direct small, short bursts of spray precisely into the pot shafts and their housings and work in by turning knobs back and forth. Dry excess spray cleaner and remove any visual dirt or lint that you can get at with a small brush or compressed air. Repeat with all the knobs and replace panels, w/ washers and screws. This will do the trick and crackle should be gone.

I thought something was very wrong with my old WW when it crackled like that. There was a period that I didn't use it for a long time thinking I had to send it in to Walter for repair. Then a luthier/guitar tech friend told me to try this process and it worked like a charm. Nothing was wrong but some dirty pots.

Good luck, BG
Click to expand...
Brian, I am sorry, but this is very bad advice. Do not use the Radio Shack contact cleaner. This is exactly what Walter will tell you. (This is kinda like someone recommending Elmer's glue instead of hide glue for bass repair.) You can use the Caig Deoxit that is available at RS, but their store brand contact cleaner should be avoided. Don't ruin the pots on your amp.

Finally pots will usually only crackle when they are moved, not when they are stationary. If the noise is present when you're not touching the controls, the problem is probably not with the pots.
 
#7
robgrow said:
Brian, I am sorry, but this is very bad advice. Do not use the Radio Shack contact cleaner. This is exactly what Walter will tell you. (This is kinda like someone recommending Elmer's glue instead of hide glue for bass repair.) You can use the Caig Deoxit that is available at RS, but their store brand contact cleaner should be avoided. Don't ruin the pots on your amp.

Finally pots will usually only crackle when they are moved, not when they stationary. If the noise is present when you're not touching the controls, the problem is probably not with the pots.
Click to expand...

You're right about the RS cleaner. Sorry, I didn't mean their brand cleaner, but that RS was a store where you could find some. As a matter of fact Caig Deoxit is the brand I bought there and it worked well.

"Finally pots will usually only crackle when they are moved"

Most of the time this is true, but when mine got really dirty on my WW they actually prevented signal from going thru the speaker and at times there was a constant crackle w/o turning the knobs. FWIW
 
#8
Typically, dirty/corroded pots will produce static only when you rotate them and not continuously. Still, it's quite possible for that to happen.

+1 on using DeOxit. Great stuff. I use it exclusively for both laboratory equipment and on vintage hi-fi equipment.
 
#10
Just thought I'd give you all an update, as I'm sure you were on pins and needles. Well, after having Walter on the phone close to 45 minutes with him giving me instructions and my amp half taken apart, I sent it off to California. He thinks it might need a new pre...$500:bawl:. Oh well...should get it back in a couple of weeks...hopefully with the $500 still inside the amp!
 

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