Quilter 52 years later..

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My very first bass rig consisted of a Quilter 455 head and matching 215 cab with Altecs, purchased direct from the Quilter shop in Costa Mesa, CA in early 1971, when I was 13. It was kind of a beast and didn't have a ton of clean power, so once I was keen enough to be aware if its limitations I moved on to something else. The 455 pictured here is not mine but identical to it.

Having recently picked up a Bass Block 802, I guess I'm a repeat customer of sorts, although the Quilter brand was put on ice after it morphed into QSC in the mid '70's and not resurrected until 2011 or so. I participated in some early R&D for the Quilter MicroSlant 200 guitar amp just before the brand was relaunched, though at the time I had no idea Pat Quilter was even considering adding bass amps to the line. I'm happy that he did.

I used the Bass Block on a gig last night for the first time (with Genzler BA 115 cab) and it sounded amazing. Thanks, Pat!

 

[Jim C]

Thanks for this.
I had no idea Quilter existed before the BB-800.

 

[Michedelic]

Here a pic of Dave the Wizard I snuck at NAMM in ‘16

 

[Jefenator]

Looks like roughly the same knob quantity as my BB800. (Low - just how I like it.)

 

[ad9000]

Thanks for this.
I had no idea Quilter existed before the BB-800.

This page covers some of the history of the earlier iteration of Quilter and also has some pictures of the amps:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Because I grew up in the area where they were located and played with some older musicians that were associated with them, I was pretty well aware of Quilter as a local operation, and I was able to exploit that connection after QSC got going as well.

 

[ad9000]

Looks like roughly the same knob quantity as my BB800. (Low - just how I like it.)

I also like the simplicity of the Bass Block amps. but I really find it a lot easier to work with the more conventional tone control layout on the 802 vs. the 800. YMMV of course.

 

[Michedelic]

Here a pic of Dave the Wizard I snuck at NAMM in ‘16View attachment 4943409

Jeez, “Dave”? Where did I get that? Brain Fart. That should be “Pat”.

 

[Grinderman]

Thanks for this.
I had no idea Quilter existed before the BB-800.

And that they started in Costa Mesa.

 

[Redbrangus]

The first 'real' audio console I ever mixed on was 12-channel Quilter -- that was in '72 and it was 'seasoned' by then. I think it had a single transistor mic pre and the EQ section was all passive, since IC op-amps were not really a thing at that point. But Pat Quilter was well known in the PA business by then.

 

[ad9000]

And that they started in Costa Mesa.

Probably one reason that I ended with a Quilter amp was that I could ride my bike to their shop.

 

[Michedelic]

Probably one reason that I ended with a Quilter amp was that I could ride my bike to their shop.

Whenever I’m down in that area, I drive by present day QSC corporate on my way from IKEA to the Fountain Valley GC, and I always feel like I contributed because I bought, new, a power amp in 1981 that I used in my first rack bass amp set-up. It had that weird little shelf where the inputs/outputs were.

 

[Passinwind]

Thanks for this.
I had no idea Quilter existed before the BB-800.

You do know that QSC = Quilter Sound Company though, no?

 

[MIMike]

Wow; I’m pretty good in the trivia department and didn’t know about this history at all.
Now I do. Thanks for the post!

 

[Jim C]

You do know that QSC = Quilter Sound Company though, no?

Yes, I've been a bit of an expert since about 3:20 today...

 

[Gizmot]

Pat Quilter can play “Sleep Walk” on slide guitar better than anyone. He used to demonstrate this to crowds at the NAMM Show every year.

 

[calypsocoral302]

You do know that QSC = Quilter Sound Company though, no?

Wait-- really?

 

[REV]

As a young man before I actually started playing I remember seeing some Quilter amps at local shows that were metal flake tuck and roll like custom amps.

 

[jamro217]

Never heard of them until now. Thanks for the info!

 

[Mastermold]

And that they started in Costa Mesa.

Near where I live. Wonder if they have a showroom.

 

[lowendrv]

Near where I live. Wonder if they have a showroom.

They are almost across the street from GC Fountain Valley on Euclid .