Walter Woods
Walter Woods
Also known as: Walter Woods Amps, Walter Woods Amplification
UnclaimedWalter Woods is a boutique bass amplifier brand founded by its namesake in Southern California, with operations historically based in Van Nuys and later Palm Desert. The amps first appeared in the early 1970s and are widely credited as among the earliest compact, lightweight amplifier heads designed specifically for bassists — particularly upright/double bass players — predating the mainstream ...
Walter Woods is a boutique bass amplifier brand founded by its namesake in Southern California, with operations historically based in Van Nuys and later Palm Desert. The amps first appeared in the early 1970s and are widely credited as among the earliest compact, lightweight amplifier heads designed specifically for bassists — particularly upright/double bass players — predating the mainstream adoption of switch-mode power supplies and class-D designs by decades. Each unit was hand-built in small numbers and sold directly by Walter Woods himself rather than through dealer networks.
The product line centers on small-format, high-power amp heads offered in one-, two-, and four-channel configurations, including the long-running MI-100-8 two-channel head and higher-wattage Ultra models. The amps are prized for a warm, natural tone and a near-indestructible reputation among working musicians, and they remain a reference point in the boutique bass-amp world despite being produced in very limited quantities. Because the amps were never mass-produced, used examples change hands primarily through specialty shops such as Bass Southwest and on the secondhand market via Reverb and TalkBass.
Walter Woods amps have a following among jazz and session bassists, upright players, and acoustic guitarists looking for a transparent, high-headroom head, though the builder has historically kept a low public profile and does not maintain an official website or social media presence.
Walter Woods has 5 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Bass Amplifier Heads, Guitar Preamps, and Guitar Power Amplifiers. Their gear is featured by 3 artists, with the strongest followings in Jazz, Rock, and Electronic. Notable users include Steve Khan, Ami Kusakari, and Tal Farlow.
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