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Quilter Bass Block v803

#581
Well I've been able to mess around with it a bit for the past few days and I love it. It just does everything I was looking for.

I was searching for an amp that was built to last and reliable, portable, versatile, does a pretty convincing SVT impression, flexible in the mids, can provide some nice saturation, and has a DI out with the option of a cab sim.
.
The V803 checks all those boxes, I couldn't be happier. I can't get a bad sound out of it.

I feel like there's something special going on with the bass knob. Every other amp I've used the bass knob usually gets pulled back at gig volume. It's usually just a "boomy" knob that I always pull back. This one feels different for some reason. It thickens up the sound somehow without getting boomy.

My Venture 212 is mid pretty mid forward so I think it pairs perfectly with the scooped input. I'll most likely be here all the time.

I really liked my P bass and ATK cutting a bit at 1k, and my J sounded great boosting around 300.

I really like the grind I'm getting with a pick in the qtube mode, it's a sound I have had a hard time finding through other various pedals and amps.

I recorded a little sound sample on my phone, it definitely doesn't do it justice but I definitely am happy with the sound. I included a picture of the settings, the bass I used was an Ibanez ATK.

 

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#582
Elmstreet said:
Well I've been able to mess around with it a bit for the past few days and I love it. It just does everything I was looking for.

I was searching for an amp that was built to last and reliable, portable, versatile, does a pretty convincing SVT impression, flexible in the mids, can provide some nice saturation, and has a DI out with the option of a cab sim.
.
The V803 checks all those boxes, I couldn't be happier. I can't get a bad sound out of it.

I feel like there's something special going on with the bass knob. Every other amp I've used the bass knob usually gets pulled back at gig volume. It's usually just a "boomy" knob that I always pull back. This one feels different for some reason. It thickens up the sound somehow without getting boomy.

My Venture 212 is mid pretty mid forward so I think it pairs perfectly with the scooped input. I'll most likely be here all the time.

I really liked my P bass and ATK cutting a bit at 1k, and my J sounded great boosting around 300.

I really like the grind I'm getting with a pick in the qtube mode, it's a sound I have had a hard time finding through other various pedals and amps.

I recorded a little sound sample on my phone, it definitely doesn't do it justice but I definitely am happy with the sound. I included a picture of the settings, the bass I used was an Ibanez ATK.

Click to expand...

Wait, we've got a problem. Normally, the Quilter is the kind of amp we get to love more and more with time.
So if you start with that level of love from day one, I don't want to think about the weird gearophile relationship you'll have with it when you retire.
 
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#584
gtirard said:
….much better legibility in a dark stage (label above the knobs, written in white on a black enclosure). Yesterday evening I played a gig with the 803 on a very dark stage, I had to bend and use the light from my iPhone to adjust the settings…
Click to expand...
For years I used a GK MBF 500 that had the rear connections' names screened along the top panel - very helpful with such a skinny little amp in a dark space. I wonder if small paper stick-on dots with letters might work on the top of the 803: maybe just letters like G, T, M, F etc would be useful ??
 
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#585
TomB said:
For years I used a GK MBF 500 that had the rear connections' names screened along the top panel - very helpful with such a skinny little amp in a dark space. I wonder if small paper stick-on dots with letters might work on the top of the 803: maybe just letters like G, T, M, F etc would be useful ??
Click to expand...
Yes, with phosphorescent letters :hyper:

1741524600446.png
 
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#587
gtirard said:
Wait, we've got a problem. Normally, the Quilter is the kind of amp we get to love more and more with time.
So if you start with that level of love from day one, I don't want to think about the weird gearophile relationship you'll have with it when you retire.
Click to expand...

Haha well I haven't even gigged it yet so I'm sure I'll love it even more when I get to really crank it. Should be able to get it loud enough to piss off my drummer EASILY with how much power this thing has ;)
 
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#589
Elmstreet said:
I really like the grind I'm getting with a pick in the qtube mode, it's a sound I have had a hard time finding through other various pedals and amps.
Click to expand...
Great setup! I also use a 212 cab with the V803 and agree with your take on the qtube voice + pick play. Sounds like rock :bassist:

I'm also finding useful sounds with warm voice + pick with tone rolled back. Close enough to a punchy flats sound for my needs.
 
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#592
sc_precision said:
How is the Quilter 803 compared to the earlier bass blocks? Is the made in China thing affecting reliability at all?

Only thing keeping me from buying it. I had the 802 in the past but sold it. Mostly interested in the new Qtube/Warm settings.
Click to expand...
It's obviously too early to speak about reliability, for the moment all I can say is that it « feels » as sturdy and robust as the 800, but only time will tell (I personally trust Quilter on the topic, but it's just my initial feeling)
 
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#593
gtirard said:
It's obviously too early to speak about reliability, for the moment all I can say is that it « feels » as sturdy and robust as the 800, but only time will tell (I personally trust Quilter on the topic, but it's just my initial feeling)
Click to expand...
Also Quilter has a solid reputation regarding reliability, I don't think they would take the chance to ruin that asset. Add the fact that we had to wait long between the end of the 800-802 and the availibility of the 803, I assume they took the time to control everything seriously.
 
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#595
I need some help with EQ on the quilter 803. I've been playing bass for almost 30 years, gigged in many situations, but I have never had the eq problems I'm having in my current band's small rehearsal room. I'm using my v803 with the Quilter Bassdock 12 cab, and Am Pro II P bass with cobalt flats. The room is fairly small, low ceiling, several large windows, wood floors. I struggle to get a tone resembling anything with punchy fundamental clarity. I get booming lows on the E string, a lack of volume on the A string, and honky tones on the D and G strings.

I have the amp set to the warm setting, eq is flat, tried turning down the bass eq, but then I just lose all punch and everything sounds too grindy. The band has two guitars who play at reasonable volumes, and a drummer who can occasionally get loud.

Please help.
 
#596
Tony G said:
I need some help with EQ on the quilter 803. I've been playing bass for almost 30 years, gigged in many situations, but I have never had the eq problems I'm having in my current band's small rehearsal room. I'm using my v803 with the Quilter Bassdock 12 cab, and Am Pro II P bass with cobalt flats. The room is fairly small, low ceiling, several large windows, wood floors. I struggle to get a tone resembling anything with punchy fundamental clarity. I get booming lows on the E string, a lack of volume on the A string, and honky tones on the D and G strings.

I have the amp set to the warm setting, eq is flat, tried turning down the bass eq, but then I just lose all punch and everything sounds too grindy. The band has two guitars who play at reasonable volumes, and a drummer who can occasionally get loud.

Please help.
Click to expand...
Hi Tony,
First, is your cab standing directly on the wooden floor? If yes, disconnect it from the floor; use a stand, a crate, preferably an Auralex Gramma or similar.
Second, eq: turn down the bass a bit and turn up the low mids instead.
Third, tell all other band members to adjust the volume to the size of the room.

Have fun!
 
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#597
Hnz said:
Hi Tony,
First, is your cab standing directly on the wooden floor? If yes, disconnect it from the floor; use a stand, a crate, preferably an Auralex Gramma or similar.
Second, eq: turn down the bass a bit and turn up the low mids instead.
Third, tell all other band members to adjust the volume to the size of the room.

Have fun!
Click to expand...
Yes, it has been on the floor. I will definitely bring my Gramma pad and Amp Wedge to our next rehearsal. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
#599
Tony G said:
I need some help with EQ on the quilter 803. I've been playing bass for almost 30 years, gigged in many situations, but I have never had the eq problems I'm having in my current band's small rehearsal room. I'm using my v803 with the Quilter Bassdock 12 cab, and Am Pro II P bass with cobalt flats. The room is fairly small, low ceiling, several large windows, wood floors. I struggle to get a tone resembling anything with punchy fundamental clarity. I get booming lows on the E string, a lack of volume on the A string, and honky tones on the D and G strings.

I have the amp set to the warm setting, eq is flat, tried turning down the bass eq, but then I just lose all punch and everything sounds too grindy. The band has two guitars who play at reasonable volumes, and a drummer who can occasionally get loud.

Please help.
Click to expand...
One other thought: try the scooped input (warm), then roll back the bass control a bit. I found the combination gave a nice low-mid punch and sweetened the highs, which gave me room to play with the mids and treble controls to fine tune the upper end. It sounds counter intuitive, but it's working for me.
 
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#600
TomB said:
One other thought: try the scooped input (warm), then roll back the bass control a bit. I found the combination gave a nice low-mid punch and sweetened the highs, which gave me room to play with the mids and treble controls to fine tune the upper end. It sounds counter intuitive, but it's working for me.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I thought I mentioned but yes I use the scooped input with the warm setting. When I roll back the lows the tone just gets to grindy for the kind of music we play, which is one the side of Motown style.
 

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