Double Bass WW100 a boomy mess at high volume

[B String]

You want to set the PREAMP generally below 12:00. Much higher will tend to deliver a distorted signal, depending on how hot your pickup is and what you EQ is like etc.
Run the master volume as high as you need to to get your sound out.


I would have to agree with this. I've owned a number of
Woods amps. (and others) The cleanest sound with the most
headroom is with the master at full gain, then use the preamp
volume as needed.

 

[Tbeers]

Hmm... Walter's directions seem to be wrong then.

I had been told that WW amps were the opposite of the standard in that regard, favoring lower master volume and higher pre....

I'll call Walter about that, thanks for bringing up the discrepancy.

 

[mje]

In general- and this is very general- increasing the preamp gain reduces noise, but decreases dynamic range. My usual formula is to crank up the input until it clips when playing hard, then back off a little. Then I control volume with the master. This is true for any instrument or amp.

 

[Ric Vice]

Hmm... Walter's directions seem to be wrong then.

I had been told that WW amps were the opposite of the standard in that regard, favoring lower master volume and higher pre....

I'll call Walter about that, thanks for bringing up the discrepancy.

TBeers,
I would definitely call Walter Woods and get the skinny, because
how you set the pre amp vs master evidently varries depending upon what model Walter Woods you have. My MI 400 which was built before yours, has instructions to set it as B String indicated, with the master all the way up and then increasing the preamp until you get the right volume. However my Walter Woods Ultra,
instructions are different in that you set the Master Volume at around 12:00 and then adjust the preamp to the desired volume.

Ric

I sure hope Walter can clear this up once and for all, it's rather confusing.

 

[tombowlus]

However my Walter Woods Ultra,
instructions are different in that you set the Master Volume at around 12:00 and then adjust the preamp to the desired volume.

That's how I do it. And let me add that you really do need to keep active instruments (or piezo's with a preamp before the amp) in the "active" range on the pre-gain knob.

Tom.

 

[Tbeers]

Exactly how I do it with my WW as well... master at 12, pre where needed. And Walter's directions seemed to suggest as much.

Haven't had a chance to call him yet, I've been out of town.