EMERGENCY QUERY: WHY DID YOU DUMP YOUR Eden World Tour 800

S

Swiss Frank

Dec 29, 2016
85
58
4,531
#1
There's one available local to me for stupid-cheap for about FIVE HOURS. (It may just be relisted once the auction is over so still please give me a response even if it's more than 5 hours since I posted this.)

Is there any reason people decide they don't like this amp? Bad reliability, bad tone, etc?

Are the replacement models--I think the WT900??--substantially better?



My main interests are:

-- probably sounds better than class D, though class D is very good these days

-- I ***think*** it probably sounds equally great at volume 0.1 as 5, unlike my PF-50T

-- I plan on running 115 and 410 cabs off it, whereby the 410's sensitivity is like twice the 115. (twice is 6dB, in my case 5dB difference) So, it looks like the World Tour 800 has a balance for two outputs, so I can give more juice to the 115 if I want. Also, just the easiest way to A/B two cabs is to spin a balance knob. A distant second is that it also has a crossover frequency; I might possibly want to cross over between two cabs but I doubt it given that 210's can be flat down to 30Hz these days.

-- I've heard that at least a decade ago, Eden World Tours were super reliable as well as great sound: "if you showed up at a festival and saw the back line had Eden bass gear you'd know the show would be fine" etc.

-- I plan on using my Ampeg PF-50T as a pre-amp when I want the warming (or even distortion) and compression of POWER tubes working hard, plus transformer and rectifier nearly maxed out and on the point of sagging. I'd take it's aux out into the WT800's poweramp in or some such. Anyone have bad experience or know from the voltage ranges or something that this wouldn't work well?

-- but when I don't need the tube sound I hope to just use it as is. Can anyone confirm it sounds fine even when turned down to conversational volume, e.g. late night goofing around when the baby's asleep? In a way even a 50W tube amp probably doesn't?

-- I like the sweepable EQ

If it matters, my current cab is an Eden D210XST. I'm getting a Glockenklang Uno Rock Art and Take Five Neo, I think. Eventually an Ampeg 810 for that 70s tone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hachimitsu Pie
#5
OK, my investigations tell me there were A B and C models. The later C models were made in China and there are two guys saying they had each had three 800C's start smoking on them. And they're not the only ones complaining about the 800C's not working. It seems like the firm's reputation was built on the made-in-Melrose MN models, and that's what we should look for. It says lower-right front if its made in Melrose, as well as upper-right back.

Can anyone outline the pros and cons of the A and B models?

The $475 C model relisted here, so I can still buy it. I'm thinking, if it was going to catch fire, it probably would have done so in the first ten years...

Also, a $525 made-in-Melrose making "scratching noises" (when the pot is turned? Unclear, it's not sold by a music store who'd understand that stuff but a general-purpose reseller).

But there's also a $650 made-in-Melrose model, a bit more wear, but no contra-indications. I never worried about spending an extra $175 on a bass, so I guess I shouldn't worry about paying that for the amp.

The one big reservation I have is that the Quilter 800's are 4lbs, have an XLR in that would match my PF-50T's XLR out. But those are nearly the same money used as the WT800's are, and despite microscopic size they obviously don't have the flexibility and as class-D amps might not ultimately have quite the sound quality.
 
#7
WT800 is a great, modern classic of a pro bass amp, but your decision should not be an emergency, please take some time, save up some money, keep researching, and buy something great. Maybe that will be WT800, or maybe something else. Avoid pocket amps with limited functionality until u already have your main rig together.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swiss Frank
#9
Bought a 800B in the late 90's and played the snot out of it for 3 years. I was gigging 3 nights a week at that time and never needed a backup (but always had one in the trunk of the car). Loved the tone, hated the weight of a 4U rack and it had way more headroom than I ever needed. It's one amp that I really miss, weight aside.

The Montrose shop is where the magic was, the stuff from China is crap. I didn't dump mine, I got offered a fair price for it and moved on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swiss Frank
#10
Swiss Frank said:
There's one available local to me for stupid-cheap for about FIVE HOURS. (It may just be relisted once the auction is over so still please give me a response even if it's more than 5 hours since I posted this.)

Is there any reason people decide they don't like this amp? Bad reliability, bad tone, etc?

Are the replacement models--I think the WT900??--substantially better?



My main interests are:

-- probably sounds better than class D, though class D is very good these days

-- I ***think*** it probably sounds equally great at volume 0.1 as 5, unlike my PF-50T

-- I plan on running 115 and 410 cabs off it, whereby the 410's sensitivity is like twice the 115. (twice is 6dB, in my case 5dB difference) So, it looks like the World Tour 800 has a balance for two outputs, so I can give more juice to the 115 if I want. Also, just the easiest way to A/B two cabs is to spin a balance knob. A distant second is that it also has a crossover frequency; I might possibly want to cross over between two cabs but I doubt it given that 210's can be flat down to 30Hz these days.

-- I've heard that at least a decade ago, Eden World Tours were super reliable as well as great sound: "if you showed up at a festival and saw the back line had Eden bass gear you'd know the show would be fine" etc.

-- I plan on using my Ampeg PF-50T as a pre-amp when I want the warming (or even distortion) and compression of POWER tubes working hard, plus transformer and rectifier nearly maxed out and on the point of sagging. I'd take it's aux out into the WT800's poweramp in or some such. Anyone have bad experience or know from the voltage ranges or something that this wouldn't work well?

-- but when I don't need the tube sound I hope to just use it as is. Can anyone confirm it sounds fine even when turned down to conversational volume, e.g. late night goofing around when the baby's asleep? In a way even a 50W tube amp probably doesn't?

-- I like the sweepable EQ

If it matters, my current cab is an Eden D210XST. I'm getting a Glockenklang Uno Rock Art and Take Five Neo, I think. Eventually an Ampeg 810 for that 70s tone.
Click to expand...


I inherited a WT800 and a D210XLT and a D410XLT when one of our bass players moved to another military band. I know it will be taken as heretical, but I always had a hard time dialing in the high mids to my liking. The problem was partly with the voicing of the cabs, and partly with the voicing of the amp.

When the amp went down and needed to be repaired, I moved on to an Ashley MX508 rack mixer and a QSC power amp because I needed the flexibility. I sometimes switch between three instruments, so it's nice to have mute, gain, and tone controls for each axe. The tone with the MX508 wasn't perfect, but I liked it better; I was able to dial in a bit smoother high mids. This was very important since part of my job was playing bowed string bass.

The previous custodian of the rig had to put the WT800 in the shop a couple of time as well. I don't remember if it was an A, B, or C model. I continued to use the Eden speakers for several years.

I wouldn't necessarily consider $475 for a WT800 and incredible bargain. YMMV.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swiss Frank
#11
I owned one when they first came out. Plenty of power and a flexible EQ section. The thing I HATED about it was the DI was post. I called Eden once on a Fri afternoon and actually got David on the phone. He told me they would gladly switch my DI to pre if I sent them $150. I voiced my displeasure with the cost and asked if there was any way to lessen the price of the switch. Let's just say his answer to me had me post it for sale that evening.
I've been around this site for years, and have seen and had personal experience with absolutely AMAZING customer service by some of the best builders and owners in the business. Many are here on TB daily interacting with the consumer community not only problem solving, but looking for help and suggestions from actual users to make their products the best and most sought after they can be. I've talked with several on the phone and almost every single one could not have been more friendly and accommodating. Let's face it, there are some great products on the market and continue to be even better ones through innovation, but mainly it often comes down to personal choice. IMO what separates the good from the great is customer service!
 
Last edited:
#12
I have a WT800B that I still use for outdoor shows without FOH support when I have to move a lot of air. I use it with my Mesa Powerhouse 4x10 and it sounds really good. Once I added a 2nd 2x10 cab for a 4 ohm load and that was crazy loud.

Main difference between the A and B models is that the B can bridge mono 4ohms. It will produce something like 1200 watts in this mode. As I say it was crazy loud with a 4x10 and a 2x10. The WT800A can only bridge mono 8 ohms.

I've had mine over 10 years, works great. I think I bought it from someone here on TB.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Swiss Frank
#14
Thanks all for your feedback, as mysterious as it was in a few cases :-)

OK, so the $475 amp was a made-in-China WT-800C. Based on the horror stories of these made-in-China C-series I decided to pass. (There are multiple guys claiming they had three catch fire in a row, and so on.)

There is a $550 or so WT-800B on the local auction site that is making "crackling noises" and "no return." Could just be dirty pots. I'm not a gambling man. I decided to pass.

Now this is probably starting to sound like I'm paying too much but I settled on a $625 or so used WT-800B that is autovolt. All the WT-800's I see of any generation are just one voltage: 120, 100, or 240. This one is the only one I've seen that can take any of them. Now maybe it's not that rare in the great scheme of things, but as an American, living in 100V Japan, but potentially moving to 120V US or 240V Europe in the next couple years, this was kind of a deciding factor.
 
#15
WT800C may be worth checking out, IMO. The Chinese made models had the circuit optimized and have less idle noise/hiss than earlier US units, plus they bridge into 4 ohms, or 2 ohms per side, which comes in handy for many folks.

From what I gather, many people stopped using them because they prefer the convenience of lighter class D models.
 
  • Like
Reactions: agedhorse, mlowe and Swiss Frank
#16
WT800A is banana plug/TS outputs. Amp channels are 4 ohm capable and will do 8 ohms bridged.
WT800B is a factory-modified 800A upgraded to 2 ohms/channel, 4 ohms bridged, and has Speakon connectors.
WT800C is an 800B built from scratch.

I sold my WT800A because I didn't need that much power anymore. I use a WT405 (among others) now.

EDIT: The crackling noise in WT800s, if not just the pots, tends to be fractured solder joints on the power transistor emitter resistors (the large power resistors on the PA board). Resoldering usually takes care of that.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Swiss Frank
#17
Additionally, earlier US-made units commonly have problems with the solder joints failing on the power resistors which are on the preamp board. The imported units have a redesigned circuit which uses proper voltage regulators instead of zener diodes and power resistors to drop the main supply voltage for the preamp section, which means that they are immune to the bad solder joint problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pocket_groover
#20
12bass said:
WT800C may be worth checking out, IMO. The Chinese made models had the circuit optimized and have less idle noise/hiss than earlier US units, plus they bridge into 4 ohms, or 2 ohms per side, which comes in handy for many folks.
Click to expand...

If this manual is correct, the 800B definitely 1) can run each half into 2 ohms and 2) can bridge into 4 ohms (both on page 7)

Eden WT800 Operation Manual (Page 7 of 21)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back