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Quilter Bass Block v803

#321
Finally had some time to really sit down with the 803 and compare to my Mesa WD-800. I've tried running both through DI as well an Ampeg SVT212AV cabinet. I wanted to compare through the Subway 115 as well, but have that in a different location. Anyway, the 803 appears very well built and pretty solid, although all the jacks on mine seem to be a bit of a tight fit. It was suggested that a Monster cable might be the culprit, which I do have, but I've also tried a D'Addario and LiveWire (GuitarCenter) cable as well...all of them seem a bit tight. Everything works fine though.

I do like toggle switches in general, although I would agree with Stingray5 that the ones on the 803 feel a bit too easy to move. In comparison, the toggles on the Mesa have a more satisfying snap to them (maybe because it's a two-selector vs three?). Not a dealbreaker though, as you can easily feel the selection. At first I wasn't sure I would like the power button being on the front, but I found it very convenient.

It does seem easier to find an immediate sound I like with the Quilter. It definitely feels somewhat Ampeg-ish with the minimal controls and the sweepable mids. When I set the knobs to the same settings as on an Ampeg V4B or SVT Classic for example, it's not too far off, especially with the Warm and qTube settings. No, it's not exact, but it's a nice sound. Using fingers or with a pick I find myself gravitating towards the Warm setting most of the time, in both the Flat and Scoop jacks…I might slightly like the Warm Scoop more just from solo playing, but I think Warm Flat works better for me with the band. I don't really dislike any of the settings though; its hard to find a bad sound with this head.

That being said, do I like it more than the Mesa? I'm not really sure that I do. I love the 803's minimalist features and it feels very much like "instant gratification." But I think the Mesa WD-800 can definitely be dialed in to produce similar sounds and I do still like the sound from its pre-amp tube...it just sounds like it has more beef to it, but with clarity to boot. But BOTH are killer amps for sure.

I do like the 803; I think it truly succeeds with its cost, simplicity, and all around excellent sound. The Mesa WD-800 may be more versatile with its own feature set and also has an excellent sound, but it's also almost twice the cost. I guess at the end of the day it depends on finances, what you're after, and how many sounds you need. Even with the Mesa, I tend to be set-it-and-forget-it; with that in consideration, I think I could find a nice sound from the Quilter 803 and just play. If nothing else, it makes a great little power amp setup for running a Quad Cortex/Helix.

All in all, the 803 is a great amp and I definitely think it's worth checking out.

I will say that I previously spent some time with the new Ampeg v12 (before the V7 came out) as well as an Aguilar ToneHammer, and I would definitely choose the Quilter over either of those. There's just a lot going on here for $699.
 
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#322
Yesterday I player my P-Bass with La Bella flats into the warm setting, EQ almost everythin at noon and through a PJB 8x5 C8 cab. The sound was awesome!!! There is something special about that Quilter power section, it really feels and sounds special to me. I felt it with the BB800 and the 803 has it too. I do prefer the warmer tone of the 803 but will definitely keep the 800!
 
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#323
Kayvan S said:
Finally had some time to really sit down with the 803 and compare to my Mesa WD-800. I've tried running both through DI as well an Ampeg SVT212AV cabinet. I wanted to compare through the Subway 115 as well, but have that in a different location. Anyway, the 803 appears very well built and pretty solid, although all the jacks on mine seem to be a bit of a tight fit. It was suggested that a Monster cable might be the culprit, which I do have, but I've also tried a D'Addario and LiveWire (GuitarCenter) cable as well...all of them seem a bit tight. Everything works fine though.

I do like toggle switches in general, although I would agree with Stingray5 that the ones on the 803 feel a bit too easy to move. In comparison, the toggles on the Mesa have a more satisfying snap to them (maybe because it's a two-selector vs three?). Not a dealbreaker though, as you can easily feel the selection. At first I wasn't sure I would like the power button being on the front, but I found it very convenient.

It does seem easier to find an immediate sound I like with the Quilter. It definitely feels somewhat Ampeg-ish with the minimal controls and the sweepable mids. When I set the knobs to the same settings as on an Ampeg V4B or SVT Classic for example, it's not too far off, especially with the Warm and qTube settings. No, it's not exact, but it's a nice sound. Using fingers or with a pick I find myself gravitating towards the Warm setting most of the time, in both the Flat and Scoop jacks…I might slightly like the Warm Scoop more just from solo playing, but I think Warm Flat works better for me with the band. I don't really dislike any of the settings though; its hard to find a bad sound with this head.

That being said, do I like it more than the Mesa? I'm not really sure that I do. I love the 803's minimalist features and it feels very much like "instant gratification." But I think the Mesa WD-800 can definitely be dialed in to produce similar sounds and I do still like the sound from its pre-amp tube...it just sounds like it has more beef to it, but with clarity to boot. But BOTH are killer amps for sure.

I do like the 803; I think it truly succeeds with its cost, simplicity, and all around excellent sound. The Mesa WD-800 may be more versatile with its own feature set and also has an excellent sound, but it's also almost twice the cost. I guess at the end of the day it depends on finances, what you're after, and how many sounds you need. Even with the Mesa, I tend to be set-it-and-forget-it; with that in consideration, I think I could find a nice sound from the Quilter 803 and just play. If nothing else, it makes a great little power amp setup for running a Quad Cortex/Helix.

All in all, the 803 is a great amp and I definitely think it's worth checking out.

I will say that I previously spent some time with the new Ampeg v12 (before the V7 came out) as well as an Aguilar ToneHammer, and I would definitely choose the Quilter over either of those. There's just a lot going on here for $699.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I was waiting for this comparison - it makes a lot of sense.
 
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#324
Also waiting to hear this comparison.
Makes it a clear choice which route I can go now.
As much as I'd love a WD800.
Price is my driving factor.
But since all the reviews of the V803 have been consistently positive, I don't see how I could go wrong.
 
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#330
Couple of comments and questions about using the 803 with an HX Stomp.

Comments:
I'm new to the Stomp and still on the fence about keeping it or not. The goal was to simplify my already simple board. Tuner —> SA Ultrawave —> EQD Disaster Report —> SA Zio —> Mooer Groove Loop.

  • I only got the looper for practice, but never really use it so that's an easy one to kick off.
  • The Ultrawave is so fun, but I'm getting close to finding some substitutes for fuzz from the Stomp and that's mostly what I use the Ultrawave for.
  • EQD Disaster Report is also cool but I think it's more complicated than I need as a bass player and the Stomp has plenty of delays and other modulations so that's an easy kick off too.
  • The SA Zio Bass is a really nice pedal and is so easy to dial in great tones on. I'm torn on this one because I'm getting close with both the 803 and the Stomp, but I see a lot of people with a Stomp and then a pre of choice — very often a flavor of Sushi Box. Beyond just personal preference, is there any technical reason for this? I have taken a DI from the 803 and it sounded great, and I've heard the DI (with adaptor) from the Stomp is usable as well.

So I've just yammered on about the Stomp in a thread about the Quilter BB 803. What gives? Well, here it is: probably the most valuable thing I've learned while messing around with the stomp is just how versatile the BB803 is. I've tried nearly all the bass amps and pres and lots of other effects on the Stomp and anything that's bread and butter bass (ie not delay, reverbs, filters, etc) I'm able to get really close to with the 803! Same goes for the the tones from SA Zio.

Question:
So there's a caveat to all the gushing above. I've been running the Stomp into the input of the 803. Today I thought I should probably try to bypass the Quilter's pre to get a better idea of what the Stomp can/can't do on it's own. I went in through both the send and return of the Quilter's FX and the output dropped significantly. For it to work properly, do I need to run send AND return from Stomp to 803? Is that how it's always done, or just advisable or. . .?
 
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#332
mikeynets said:
I went in through both the send and return of the Quilter's FX and the output dropped significantly. For it to work properly, do I need to run send AND return from Stomp to 803? Is that how it's always done, or just advisable or. . .?
Click to expand...
This is from the general questions area on Quilter's site:

If the FX Return signal seems rather low, you can boost it by putting a dummy plug in FX Send, which disconnects the internal preamp and raises the input impedance of the FX Return.

And this is from the general Troubleshooting section on their site:

Sometimes we'll hear from a customer that the FX Loop in their amp isn't working. The signal is weak, the signal cuts in and out, or there may not even be a signal at all.

This is a very uncommon issue and rare that the FX Loop itself is the problem. In this case, you should start by troubleshooting everything in your rig. It's likely that either a pedal you're using, or a cable is the culprit.

However, if you've tried that and you still suspect that your FX Loop isn't passing a signal, here's the way to check to see if it's doing its job:

Take a cable and plug the FX Send directly into the FX Return. Set your instrument up and play as normal.
  • If you hear your instrument, then it can be ruled that the FX Loop is working fine and the issue is caused by an external factor.
  • If there is no signal, then there might be an issue with the FX Loop.
It is also best to try this with different cables to ensure the problem isn't with the cable.

Sounds like you're on the right track. I'm not really sure myself if the above applies to all Quilter amps, but it's worth a shot.
 
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#334
mikeynets said:
Couple of comments and questions about using the 803 with an HX Stomp.

Comments:
I'm new to the Stomp and still on the fence about keeping it or not. The goal was to simplify my already simple board. Tuner —> SA Ultrawave —> EQD Disaster Report —> SA Zio —> Mooer Groove Loop.

  • I only got the looper for practice, but never really use it so that's an easy one to kick off.
  • The Ultrawave is so fun, but I'm getting close to finding some substitutes for fuzz from the Stomp and that's mostly what I use the Ultrawave for.
  • EQD Disaster Report is also cool but I think it's more complicated than I need as a bass player and the Stomp has plenty of delays and other modulations so that's an easy kick off too.
  • The SA Zio Bass is a really nice pedal and is so easy to dial in great tones on. I'm torn on this one because I'm getting close with both the 803 and the Stomp, but I see a lot of people with a Stomp and then a pre of choice — very often a flavor of Sushi Box. Beyond just personal preference, is there any technical reason for this? I have taken a DI from the 803 and it sounded great, and I've heard the DI (with adaptor) from the Stomp is usable as well.

So I've just yammered on about the Stomp in a thread about the Quilter BB 803. What gives? Well, here it is: probably the most valuable thing I've learned while messing around with the stomp is just how versatile the BB803 is. I've tried nearly all the bass amps and pres and lots of other effects on the Stomp and anything that's bread and butter bass (ie not delay, reverbs, filters, etc) I'm able to get really close to with the 803! Same goes for the the tones from SA Zio.

Question:
So there's a caveat to all the gushing above. I've been running the Stomp into the input of the 803. Today I thought I should probably try to bypass the Quilter's pre to get a better idea of what the Stomp can/can't do on it's own. I went in through both the send and return of the Quilter's FX and the output dropped significantly. For it to work properly, do I need to run send AND return from Stomp to 803? Is that how it's always done, or just advisable or. . .?
Click to expand...
I think if you keep the gain lowish and use the 'Modern' setting, it should be fine to run the HX Stomp into the instrument input.

I'm curious how the "Cali Bass" amp model sounds run through the 803 - have you tried it by any chance?
 
#335
John D Harris said:
I think if you keep the gain lowish and use the 'Modern' setting, it should be fine to run the HX Stomp into the instrument input.

I'm curious how the "Cali Bass" amp model sounds run through the 803 - have you tried it by any chance?
Click to expand...
I tried it briefly and from what I rememer (I was trying many at that moment) it was similar to the 803 but maybe a little rounder.

I'll give it a more thorough run through today and report back.
 
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#336
bigshiny said:
I purchased a Quilter BB803 after your recommendation. Compared it to my Sisma on a gig . It's already being shipped back to the distributor. I guess we all have different ears. Just my .02
Click to expand...

I mean in fairness the Sisma is double the price of the Quilter, but that said, did you just not like the Quilter at all, or was it fine but, just not as good as the Jad Freer?
 
#337
mikeynets said:
I tried it briefly and from what I rememer (I was trying many at that moment) it was similar to the 803 but maybe a little rounder.

I'll give it a more thorough run through today and report back.
Click to expand...
Spent some time with the Cali amp in the stomp with the settings on my BB803 as follows: Modern voicing and all EQ flat (at noon) It was the only block I put in the chain on the Stomp and I swapped back and forth between that single block and the 803 flat and then also EQd to taste.

I played a MIM P with LaBella LTFs at a moderate level through a Barefaced 1x10 so YMMV based on cab, volume, bass, etc.

The default setting for the Cali is voicing 4 which I did not like at all. Overdriven, but in a very unappealing way — nasally, harsh, all high mids and up w/o much bottom end at all. Making adjustments to the settings like turning down the drive and cutting the treble and boosting bass and mids helped, but IMO it was like throwing good money after bad. Doable, but not worth it when there's better options, even right in the same amp itself.

What did sound really good to me was Voicing 1. Sounded good with default settings and even better after fiddling with the EQ a bit. Noticeably, it had a tone and roundness to the bottom end that the 803 does not have on its own.

Voicing 1 was by far the best to my ear, and from there it went down in order. Note though that the lows in 1 and 2 are big and might need some HPF taming.

Thanks for the suggestion to check it out! I really didn't expect to use any amp blocks in the stomp since I'm really happy with the variety from the 803 on its own, but I see these amp blocks not so much as sims (especially since I've never played through most of the real amps anyway) but just as sonic tools like a pedal or effect to change tone as needed.

The more I tinker with the Stomp, the more I'm convinced I'll keep it. I also think part of the formula for it working for me is the 803 is a very solid platform to build off of. It can be colored when needed and pretty neutral when not.

Oh, and in response to the previous post about troubleshooting the fx loop — I ran a cable between the FX send to RTN inputs and got full volume same as going into the input so that's step one confirming no issue with the loop itself. I don't have any dummy plugs to do the other test, though.
 
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#339
mikeynets said:
Spent some time with the Cali amp in the stomp with the settings on my BB803 as follows: Modern voicing and all EQ flat (at noon) It was the only block I put in the chain on the Stomp and I swapped back and forth between that single block and the 803 flat and then also EQd to taste.

I played a MIM P with LaBella LTFs at a moderate level through a Barefaced 1x10 so YMMV based on cab, volume, bass, etc.

The default setting for the Cali is voicing 4 which I did not like at all. Overdriven, but in a very unappealing way — nasally, harsh, all high mids and up w/o much bottom end at all. Making adjustments to the settings like turning down the drive and cutting the treble and boosting bass and mids helped, but IMO it was like throwing good money after bad. Doable, but not worth it when there's better options, even right in the same amp itself.

What did sound really good to me was Voicing 1. Sounded good with default settings and even better after fiddling with the EQ a bit. Noticeably, it had a tone and roundness to the bottom end that the 803 does not have on its own.

Voicing 1 was by far the best to my ear, and from there it went down in order. Note though that the lows in 1 and 2 are big and might need some HPF taming.

Thanks for the suggestion to check it out! I really didn't expect to use any amp blocks in the stomp since I'm really happy with the variety from the 803 on its own, but I see these amp blocks not so much as sims (especially since I've never played through most of the real amps anyway) but just as sonic tools like a pedal or effect to change tone as needed.

The more I tinker with the Stomp, the more I'm convinced I'll keep it. I also think part of the formula for it working for me is the 803 is a very solid platform to build off of. It can be colored when needed and pretty neutral when not.

Oh, and in response to the previous post about troubleshooting the fx loop — I ran a cable between the FX send to RTN inputs and got full volume same as going into the input so that's step one confirming no issue with the loop itself. I don't have any dummy plugs to do the other test, though.
Click to expand...
I don't remember which youtube video had a sampling of the HX Stomp with the Cali Bass model - I have no idea how it was set, but it had such a memorable "SLAM" to it, after I heard it, I just said, "Holy crap!"
It made me want an HX Stomp just to have that model (& cheaper than a used M6 / M9).
If I can find that video again, I'll send up the link, so maybe you can catch the settings!
Thanks for giving it a whirl!
 
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