New Quilter bass amp!

[wyleeboxer]

We have a detailed review of both heads (and all six cabs!) which will go live very soon. This will show you what can be accomplished with each tone stack. But in general, I suppose their may be some "unique" tones you could dial in with one that might be harder to dial in with the other, but as for the "usable tone range," they can both cover most of the same ground - though the 802 does allow for more high end boost.

Not able to dial in more high end on my BB800 was my issue, especially on smaller gigs with a 112 cab, I like to roll up the highs on my amps and cut the tone knob on my bass giving me more options while in playing live. Might be grabbing an 802 soon..

 

[pisces_bass]

When I decided on my BB800 one of the factors that sealed it was cost. $599 for something that sounds good on its own left some room to purchase a flavored preamp/DI of my choice, should I want it. Comparable amps with distinct "baked in" flavor run ~$900+.

A couple months ago I picked up an Aguilar TH and have been running it into the front of my BB800. If you want to boost up the treble and scoop mids, it does that. If you engage the AGS for some middy warmth and a little hair, also great. I generally just keep it clean and boost a little bass then find the sweet spot in the mids.

My point is the BB series is a great value and super flexible. Flavor it however you like.

 

[Geri O]

"A while back I read through every page of the two Bass Block threads here and made a list of every recommendation here and we tried to do them all"

Just reading through some of the comments, I'll bet you guys are thinking what a good investment of time and energy that was...

 

[DJ Bebop]

I like the fact that folks want him, Peter to change it now after it has gone into production.

Rather than rag on what it doesn't have, find something that works for you and move on.
I don't think he is going to change it right now. Maybe the next model or he'll send out adaptors.
Not knocking his creation. I have never gotten a chance to play through one. I have no doubt they are excellent.

For me, they didn't offer what I was looking for as far a tone control before I got to the no XLR out, which would have not been a problem for me if everything else fell in line for me.

I went with a Mesa WD-800. Yes, it's more in upfront cost but, it offered for me the tone controls I needed for the foolishness I'd be puttin' down without going and buying a separate external preamp to match with the Quilter. It's all in the Mesa head, for me. I don't have a lot of external gear like pedalboards and such so the little larger footprint of the Mesa is not a problem for me so the small size of the Quilter was not a factor either.

I don't even know why I am saying all of this? Maybe because like most here, I like to hear myself ramble

 

[kasbrey]

I'd have been happy with an 802 with the vintage switch like the Interbass.

However, the BB800 with the Interbass as a pre into the XLR in, gives me a 2 channel amp with one fairly transparent channel and another channel with a woody tubey-ness (Interbass in vintage mode).
Handy if I'm playing EB and my EUB at a gig for an effortless switch.

 

[wizard65]

I was pretty much sold till I saw line in instead of out.

Apparently even the dealers in Oz are getting grief about the line out.

 

[Tugboat]

QUESTION: is anyone using the BB802 as a power amp only, running a ore amp in?? If you are how do you have it set up??

 

[Funkabilly]

Update: I have to say, after using the BB800 for a month or so, I really like this amp! I love the sound, size, looks, and most of all, the simplicity. This is an awesome product! It has replaced 4 of my amps. There is so much headroom with this little powerhouse. The hardest I have pushed it is 400w on the master, and 3 on the gain, and it really performed! I was running 2 SVT210AVs, which is 8 ohms each (4 total), and had to dial it back to 2.5 after 1 song. I think I am going to have a long relationship with Quilter!

 

[tombowlus]

We have finally wrapped up our massive review of the entire Quilter Labs bass lineup! The BB800, the BB802 (InterBass reviewed separately), all four Bassliner cabs, and both BassDock cabs. Needless to say, they made quite an impression.

 

[monkeyxx]

Any new owners? Not interested in the bickering and tiresome debates just wondered if anyone else is actually using an 802.

I'm thinking about picking one up very soon.

 

[redstrand]

Any new owners? Not interested in the bickering and tiresome debates just wondered if anyone else is actually using an 802.

I'm thinking about picking one up very soon.

I have the Interbass with the same EQ, I dig it. Sold my 800, will get an 802 once all gets back to normal

 

[monkeyxx]

Something minor I just thought of. A TRS 1/4" cable with an XLR Male on the other end would serve "double duty" with this amp. It can be your DI output or your XLR line input on the back if you flip it around. There are lots of things with line outputs that have a quarter inch out. Like many bass "preamp" pedals for example. So that simple cable would make these two, seemingly odd connections work a little more to what people seem to expect or in this thread, demand. Or at least what I would personally seem to use. Personally I have a ton of usage for a quarter inch line output. But yes, specifically, with a snake (PA), XLR is much more commonly found. I heard a YouTube demo of the Quilter 802 DI output and I thought it sounded quite good, would be a shame not to use it. You could lift pin 1 of your XLR if you are afraid of ground loop noise.

 

[1bassplayinfool]

Any new owners? Not interested in the bickering and tiresome debates just wondered if anyone else is actually using an 802.

I'm thinking about picking one up very soon.

If we ever come out of this and get back to work I'll be using mine...

 

[DJ Bebop]

Any new owners? Not interested in the bickering and tiresome debates just wondered if anyone else is actually using an 802.

I'm thinking about picking one up very soon.

What, no bickering?

You're no fun

 

[monkeyxx]

What, no bickering?
View attachment 3797863

You're no fun

It was seriously a hard thread to get through, LOL! But I did.

Still thinking about this Quilter. Also some microphones... a preamp... something's gonna win.

 

[DJ Bebop]

It was seriously a hard thread to get through, LOL! But I did.

Still thinking about this Quilter. Also some microphones... a preamp... something's gonna win.

I know it was a hard thread to get through and, I did contribute to the bickering

So, I stopped as I had no dog in the fight.

I'm not getting one and what do I care if folks don't like the, no XLR out, that's their thing.
Like you, I can get by without it but, as I said, I'm not getting one.

I've got a Mesa WD-800 to worry about and whether I'm going to sell a kidney to get an SW 115 to go with

 

[monkeyxx]

Yeah I have an LH1000 here and it's a great amp. I need an easy to move amp for a second room, a small amp as well. I could go silly and get the $250 TC 500 but I don't think ultimately that would make me happy. If you already have the Mesa I wouldn't worry too much about another amp! I think the Quilter is all about simplicity though, kind of opposite the Mesa style. Even simpler than a Mark Bass, the other ones I was looking at.

It really is kind of funny though. If Mr. Quilter had simply used TRS for the line in, and XLR for the line out, it would have made everyone so much happier. Don't even worry about the headphone amp feature. Maybe the 803 will have these features someday, if there ever is one. I guess there is no "perfect" gear even the 99% great stuff is still 1% wild at heart, you have to live with some of it I guess.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Yeah I have an LH1000 here and it's a great amp. I need an easy to move amp for a second room, a small amp as well. I could go silly and get the $250 TC 500 but I don't think ultimately that would make me happy. If you already have the Mesa I wouldn't worry too much about another amp! I think the Quilter is all about simplicity though, kind of opposite the Mesa style. Even simpler than a Mark Bass, the other ones I was looking at.

It really is kind of funny though. If Mr. Quilter had simply used TRS for the line in, and XLR for the line out, it would have made everyone so much happier. Don't even worry about the headphone amp feature. Maybe the 803 will have these features someday, if there ever is one. I guess there is no "perfect" gear even the 99% great stuff is still 1% wild at heart, you have to live with some of it I guess.

Something about the XLR on the back interfering with the bass dock feature and not enough room on the front.

 

[Funkabilly]

The Bb800 with a preamp is the my choice. I plug the Ampeg SCR-DI in and I have my sound. If you don't like the Ampeg sound, then get some other kind of preamp. I don't think you cant beat the reliability and power of the Quilter.

 

[lomo]

I just picked up an 802.....I must admit I didn't read through all the thread(s) about it....I simply loved the idea of a small, powerful unit I could put under my Mesa 800+ preamp stomp box (which sits on top of the 802 like a custom tailored hat). To my delightful surprise, this thing is a killer, toneful, flexible integrated bass amp all on its' own (sorry-I realize that's old news to others).....the onboard "limiter" provides a very musical touch of compression if desired, and when the input is pushed, the distortion/compression sound fantastic for rock/blues (if/when desired). I also read that the 800 FX loop is in series, and was very happy that the 802 FX loop is parallel, so its' return can be used as an aux in, or as a separate input for another preamp, which effectively adds a complete 2nd parallel channel. The variable fan is also most welcome....zero noise when solo practicing. Overall, it far exceeds my (poorly informed) expectations. This head is a bargain in today's market IMHO. As far as DI goes, it's no biggie to grab an adapter 1/4">>>xlr, and I rarely need it for my hobbyist applications, so it's no biggie for me.....but clearly a design fail/ head scratcher IMHO.