New Quilter bass amp!

[The Rage]

The reason I ask is I'm thinking of getting a new head to run a Helix Stomp in to a Fearless F112.

I first bought it to have have a light amp to use live, but after using it for some time, I've found I like to have an amp with a different voicing.

Now I use the BB800 to run an Helix LT into a PJB8x5 cab and it works great. Once tried this combination with a guitar and it seems to work great anyway.
Lots of power in a small size, an unusual but effective eq and the great "limiter" effect are all good points that prevent me from selling the amp...

 

[dave_bass5]

Thanks for the replies to my question. Although id prefer the BB802, if i can find a cheap secondhand 800 im sure i would be fine.
I do think that although i dont need a preamp section i would feel better having it. As stated it can be a quick fix rather than delving in to the Stomps menus, and if something did happen to the Stomp id still have some tone control.
Although i get what the BB800 has to offer, i think having 4 individual tone controls might be more versatile.
Food for thought though. Thanks again.

 

[Heisenbass]

Ok, the BB802 is listed as available at Thomann, and I'm willing to take the plunge. There's one question I have, and you might help me with this one:

I understand lots of the BB800's charme lies within the simplicity of its tone controls. It may sound like a dumb question, but will I be able to dial in the same sound using the BB802?

Thanks for helping me on this

 

[Low Class]

Ok, the BB802 is listed as available at Thomann, and I'm willing to take the plunge. There's one question I have, and you might help me with this one:

I understand lots of the BB800's charme lies within the simplicity of its tone controls. It may sound like a dumb question, but will I be able to dial in the same sound using the BB802?

Thanks for helping me on this

Since no one seems to have one yet you might ask here : i[email protected]

 

[Heisenbass]

Since no one seems to have one yet you might ask here : i[email protected]

thanks. Maybe @peteratquilter can chime in

 

[Hypercaffium]

Ok, the BB802 is listed as available at Thomann, and I'm willing to take the plunge. There's one question I have, and you might help me with this one:

I understand lots of the BB800's charme lies within the simplicity of its tone controls. It may sound like a dumb question, but will I be able to dial in the same sound using the BB802?

Thanks for helping me on this

That's a very interesting question. My guess is that even with everything set flat, there will be some differences.

 

[1bassplayinfool]

Just pulled the trigger on a BB802

 

[Brad Johnson]

That's a very interesting question. My guess is that even with everything set flat, there will be some differences.

There wasn't when I A/B'd them. But I can't comment on going tweak for tweak since I run mine flat. It could be a case of two different paths to the same results.

 

[Heisenbass]

Since no one seems to have one yet you might ask here : i[email protected]

Here's what Pat Quilter wrote me:


<QUOTE>
Yes, both products are equally flat with their respective EQ controls in the 50% position.

The left side of the BB-800 Contour control, a low-mid scoop, is covered by the BB-802's 300-Hz "Woof" low-mid control, and the right side of the BB-800, a deep treble rolloff, can be covered by using the 1000Hz "Bark" and 2KHz "Snap" controls. And of course there are lots of additional adjustments available using the 4-band EQ. Once we realized we could put a large I/O jack array on the lower section of the faceplate we opened up room for extra EQ knobs, but the amp is still easy to use and start off with. In addition, we have improved fan noise and background hiss, among other subtle upgrades.
</QUOTE>

Needless to mention I pulled the trigger.

 

[hennessybass]

Here's what Pat Quilter wrote me:


<QUOTE>
Yes, both products are equally flat with their respective EQ controls in the 50% position.

The left side of the BB-800 Contour control, a low-mid scoop, is covered by the BB-802's 300-Hz "Woof" low-mid control, and the right side of the BB-800, a deep treble rolloff, can be covered by using the 1000Hz "Bark" and 2KHz "Snap" controls. And of course there are lots of additional adjustments available using the 4-band EQ. Once we realized we could put a large I/O jack array on the lower section of the faceplate we opened up room for extra EQ knobs, but the amp is still easy to use and start off with. In addition, we have improved fan noise and background hiss, among other subtle upgrades.
</QUOTE>

Needless to mention I pulled the trigger.

That sounds pretty great.
Kind of like a suggestion I made way back when. When Quilter was taking feedback, I had said something to the effect of breaking out the Contour control into two knobs - so you could scoop OR boost the mids (left side of contour), and roll off OR increase the treble (right side).

Looks like they took the high end sculpting even further with the Bark and Snap - probably based on suggestions for other users. I'm imagining the 802 has some incredible tonal flexibility with the new eq. Can't complain about improving noise either.

 

[hennessybass]

I really get the whole XLR DI out thing and agree with a lot of what has been said. I think an balanced XLR out, and a 1/4" line in makes a lot more sense in terms of what is kind of "industry standard" in terms of connector types.
I also get the whole Quilter system thing, and access when the BB is docked, especially in a smaller cab.

I'm totally in the camp of not wanting to carry one more thing... but a short 1/4"TRS to XLR(m) is not that big of a deal. I would pick that over an adaptor, cuz with a 3-6' cable you can run your cable down to the floor to make your connection and wouldn't have a long/heavy adaptor + XLR sticking out of your amp.

I actually have several of those cables laying around anyway, because many (most?) mixers have 1/4" outputs (for mains and especially monitor/aux outs), and most powered speakers have XLR inputs. Although more and more speakers are now using XLR/1/4" combo jacks. I think in general I'm seeing more and more use of the 1/4" TRS cable these days.

As a former AV guy, I have to say I prefer a XLR for a balanced connector and a 1/4" for unbalanced. I think TS and TRS 1/4" cables can cause a lot of confusion. Is it balanced, is it stereo, is it a speaker cable... It's easy to tell a XLR and 1/4" apart and it makes it not easy to use the wrong cable - in a square peg / round hole kind of way.
In the AV days, we actually used to use 4 pin XLR connectors in room installs to prevent someone from plugging a mic, guitar, phone, or what ever directly into the room audio. It was an unbalanced connection, and we just didn't use two of the pins. There are a number of different connectors we could have chosen, but the 4 pin XLR is really uncommon, and I suspect it saved a lot of blown speakers.

 

[1bassplayinfool]

Just a heads up, the BB802 does not come with a carry bag like the BB800. The new 2.0 bags from Quilter are very nice and the front pocket will hold more than the power cable.

 

[Downunderwonder]

a short 1/4"TRS to XLR(m) is not that big of a deal. I would pick that over an adaptor, cuz with a 3-6' cable you can run your cable down to the floor to make your connection and wouldn't have a long/heavy adaptor + XLR sticking out of your amp

good idea. By the time you plug your XLR into the adapter it's a fair old lever for the cable to hang on.

 

[Heisenbass]

New dream team arrived today:

Just a quick try today, will be able to really play with it not before next Tuesday at rehearsal. Fan is nicely silent. Looking forward to how the BB802/BB2 combo will sound in the band setting.

One source of aggravation though:

Just a heads up, the BB802 does not come with a carry bag like the BB800. The new 2.0 bags from Quilter are very nice and the front pocket will hold more than the power cable.

^^ this. Found it out at unboxing. Hey Quilter, I fully acknowledge that it's a new product, and it comes with a price markup (70€ at Thomann). The bag is another 37€. This sort of hidden price increase is something I expect from major players, but here it caught me unprepared. Frankly I would have accepted an even bigger markup, but these marketing shenanigans are p***ing me off.

 

[Hypercaffium]

So, the BB800 still comes with the bag while the 802 don't?

 

[Heisenbass]

So, the BB800 still comes with the bag while the 802 don't?

Exactly

 

[Hypercaffium]

This sounds as strange as other choices regarding the 802 model. Honestly, I don't understand any of these choices by any means. I still love my BB800 though, it's a keeper!

 

[hennessybass]

The new 2.0 bags from Quilter are very nice and the front pocket will hold more than the power cable.

The bag that came with my 800 holds pretty much nothing in the front pocket. New bag looks more user friendly.

 

[Heisenbass]

This sounds as strange as other choices regarding the 802 model. Honestly, I don't understand any of these choices by any means. I still love my BB800 though, it's a keeper!

I think from a manufacturing point of view, it makes sense. In the light of Pat Quilters reply I posted above, I would think the BB800 as a try to put as much power as possible into a case as small as possible. This came at the cost of being limited in terms of controls. Then they figured out that they could put the jacks at the lower panel of the body which freed up space for a conventional EQ design. At the same time they came up with the dock idea, also trying to nudge customers into buying their cabs. DI out had to be on the front panel then, again calling for a compromise in using a TRS jack. Then again, if your BB is smugly in the dock, there's no need for a bag. May not make sense for you, but I bet for Quilter it does.

 

[Hypercaffium]

Then they figured out that they could put the jacks at the lower panel of the body which freed up space for a conventional EQ design.

The dock system was already present when the BB800 came out, if I remember correctly. Or they came out a the same time, maybe.

Then again, if your BB is smugly in the dock, there's no need for a bag.

Yes, IF it's in the dock. I'm sure there are plenty of situations in which pretty much anyone would bring just the head and not the cab, or I would say not the Quilter's cab (IF you have one in the first place). I mean, it's just a little bag that doesn't cost that much, I think they should inlcude one in the package.