Walter Woods Question
Travis Harrell
I'm a jazz guitarist who dabbles in bass. I recently purchased a
used Walter Woods head ($600 TTL), model MI225-8 to do double duty.
Of course it helps that one of my favorite guitar players uses Walter
Woods heads (which model I don't know naturally).
Anyway, this head features two input channels with pre-amp gain which
in turn feed into a master volume. There are two speaker outputs
but I don't know if they're electrically separate, i.e., each is a
different power source for driving a speaker. The power rating
someone other than Walter Woods wrote on a stick-on label attached to
the bottom of the head is 350W into 4 Ohms and 220 W into 8 ohms.
Although there were some scratchy pots and the unit looked like it had
been around, the tone is very nice which is why I bought it.
Unfortunately, after the material lust wore off and I got home with
it, I've noticed some quirks that may be designed in or which may be
the first stages of trouble.
Here's the quirks:
First, I can't have the pre-amp volume past a half turn on Channel 1
before I start getting a very slight distortion. It's not unpleasant
but I like it clean for both bass and guitar. Channel 2 is worse
(better?) in that it can only go a 1/4 turn before the distortion
becomes noticeable. I thought (without proper research I'll admit)
that WW heads were CLEAN. What gives?
Second, Channel 2 is noticeably a higher gain that Channel 1.
Channel 2 is also MUCH (and I mean a lot!) brighter in tone that
Channel 1. Is this the way this amp was designed?
Third, I bought a stand alone cabinet (8 Ohms) for this head which I
received yesterday. I figure this combination is rated a 110 Watts
(220W@8Ohms divided by two since I'm using one speaker output only).
When I compare the WW/cabinet combination to my plain jane Polytone
MegaBrute IV rated also at 110 Watts, the Polytone is considerably
louder and is clean all the way, however the WW still sounds "warmer"
or better to my ears.
I'd call WW himself if I knew how to contact him. But in any case,
I'd like to hear from WW users out there to set me straight. So if
anyone out there in net land can give me WW phone number or their 2
cents, I'd sure appreciate it.
Many thanks in advance.
--
Travis
Ft. Worth, TX
For email, neuter my return address.
Boomich
92201. He is a bit eccentric about replying but he will. The last phone # I
had for him is 760-347-7099. I too play through a WW amp and swear by it.
Travis Harrell
Boomich wrote:
Thanks for the response. I'm am embarrassed to confess I found the problem and
it was me. I didn't adjust the master volume all the way up and consequently the
preamps were saturating the master volume. When I adjusted the master volume all
the way up the distortion went away.
With the distortion gone, I could crank louder cleanly so I'm no longer concerned
about a possible impedance mismatch between the head and the cabinet. The
combination gets louder than I care to play anyway. The cabinet BTW is a
Raezers Edge, 12" spkr, 8 Ohm, 150W, 31 lb, ported enclosure. It truly sounds
great. This cabinet is designed for guitar but Raezer also makes equivalent
bass enclosures. Check him out.
The difference between the channels is still there but since everything is clean,
its possible that this was designed in.
Comments about the Walter Woods head are still welcome. Sorry about the false
alarm.
Mark107
the phone for three months and never finding him there, or getting a call back,
I thought better of it.
I ended up with an Eden WT400, which weights 15 lbs instead of 7.5, but sounds
way better and costs way less.
That plus what I envisioned as non-existent tech support was it for me.
My two cents...
Dave Holmes
in the channels is intentional: Channel one is EQ'ed for
electric bass, channel two for upright.
D.
Travis Harrell
Dave Holmes wrote:
Hey thanks for the information! I was beginning to suspect that the
difference was intentional. BTW, Channel 1 is great for jazz guitar -
I'm a believer now.
Sugarbass
Sugarbass
>sounds
>way better and costs way less.
>
>
I doubt if it does sound way better
Mtdimin
I would have to concur. In fact I would doubt it sounds better at all.
Mike Dimin
mtd...@aol.com
Mark107
Everybody is entitled to their opinion, of course. I have a friend with a
Woods, and, for me, I way prefer the Eden. It sounds more hi-fi and warmer to
me. The Woods sounds clear, but somewhat sterile. And the tone controls are
very Neandethal. All I can say about the Woods amp is that it is small and
light. That's a big plus in my book. The Eden WT400 strikes a great balance
for me, because it sounds great, is only 15 lbs, and doesn't sound like a Woods
amp, is is the only reason I didn't buy one. That, and the fact that only
Walter can fix them, and he never returns phone calls.
Try an Eden and a Woods side-by-side. You may well have a different opinion.
But I have done many A/B tests with amps side by side, I think most people do
not. Nothing like a side-by-side test to dispel myths!
Ninn Langel
instrument. I think thats what high end should be about...
But of course, its true only with good instruments. A shitty bass might
sound horrible with a very pure, clean amp.
Just my point of view
NInn
Gordon Rustvold
on
>the phone for three months and never finding him there, or getting a call
back,
>I thought better of it.
>That plus what I envisioned as non-existent tech support was it for me.
>Mark107 <mar...@aol.com>
I suggest that maybe you do not have a correct phone number for Walter
Woods. Or perhaps you are calling at non normal business hours and/or you
may not be available for call backs during normal business hours. I have
been a Woods Amp user for 20 years and can vouch for Walters excellent tech
support. Also full support to a player who purchased an older Woods amp I
sold. After a week of owning the amp it blew-up, this player called Walter
explained that he had just bought the amp used from me. Walter repaired the
amp which was delivered back with in 4 days! That has ALWAYS been the case
when I've need all my Woods amps serviced.
Gordon Rustvold
gordo...@musician.org
Boomich
extremely busy since he does not delegate the manufacture or service of his
amps. Keep trying because it is worth it.
Mark107
Woods. Or perhaps you are calling at non normal business hours and/or you
may not be available for call backs during normal business hours. I have
been a Woods Amp user for 20 years and can vouch for Walters excellent tech
support. >>
I know it was the right number because it was his voice giving his name. In
any case, if I had been a woods amp owner, and had need his help. There was a
three month period last summer where he could not be found. Maybe even longer,
but I gave up trying to reach him...
Gordon Rustvold
extended vacation/retreat/excape I'm not really sure. I have also learnd
that
these were the times when there was all new design or great upgrades made
to his amps.
Gordon
Bob Chandler
<gordo...@musician.org> wrote:
I've had great luck getting service from Walter. He did a 4 day turn
around for me when I plugged into an improper power drop on a gig and blew
up the power supply. I now have TWO Walter Woods amps and I love them. I
also have an Eden 400 and an SWR Redhead---the lattere two are for sale.
Bob