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Quilter Bass Block v803

#761
It seems very low-mid heavy. Like so many amps, "noon" can hardly be considered flat, if flat is literally a horizontal line. It also suggests that my roll-off of the bass and mid-boost at around 500 is an attempt to "flatten" the response to my taste. I agree it would be interesting to compare it with a para-mid amp, like a Subway. Maybe it will keep on raining (but I hope not for Tour de France fans) :).
 
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#762
TomB said:
It seems very low-mid heavy. Like so many amps, "noon" can hardly be considered flat, if flat is literally a horizontal line. It also suggests that my roll-off of the bass and mid-boost at around 500 is an attempt to "flatten" the response to my taste. I agree it would be interesting to compare it with a para-mid amp, like a Subway. Maybe it will keep on raining (but I hope not for Tour de France fans) :).
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I'm new to this frequency analysis thing, so I may interpret incorrectly, but I think the low-mid heavy content comes from my instrument, not from the amp. I'm playing a C scale from the low E to C (2 octaves up). The bass is a Nordstrand Acinonyx, with both pickups on and no treble roll-off. My strings aren't new (but bot completely dead either)

Before re-amping, I first recorded a track with my bass direct into the audio interface (in green).
Then I re-amped with the Quilter 803 flat (in white).
Then with the scoop input (in pink).

You can clearly see that the low-mid content comes from the original track, recorded direct without the amp.
When re-amping with the Quilter 803 flat, the frequency curve show comparatively a little less lows and a little more highs.
And with the scoop input, we see less content in the 600 hz region, comparatively.

My interpretation is that whis all EQ knobs at noon, the amp is not completely flat like I thought: it reduces the frequencies bellow 200 hz and increases the frequencies above 200 hz.

study-Quilter-frequncies.jpg


Feel free to correct me if I'm not interpreting correctly.
 
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#766
Simon Day said:
Just acquired one as an emergency purchase to replace an Ashdown ABM 600 that failed on me last night. Sounded sweet at low volumes at home just now. We'll see how it performs at gig volumes tonight through a Barefaced Super Twin.
Click to expand...

Looking forward to the follow-up...and which sounds best?

Regular > Modern / Warm / QTube OR

Scooped > Modern / Warm / QTube

Riis
 
#768
John D Harris said:
DSFDF - I like equipment that generates the sound that I want the audience to hear and that is what I want to send the FOH soundperson.

To me that gives them less room to screw my tone up - of course, they still can if they try.

I always send Post-EQ, except for those people who demand I use their DI box and I will argue and contend for not doing so, but ultimately I will concede if they won't budge (although in the past, I've had rigs that did not need PA support in most situations).
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What you are missing here is that your rig on stage sounds nothing like what you THINK it sounds like in the house.

In many cases, when you send a post-eq signal to the house, it ends up being a bigger compromise within the mix compared with a pre-eq signal that the sound guy can more effectively translate to "your tone" out front and in the context of a band mix.
 
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#769
agedhorse said:
What you are missing here is that your rig on stage sounds nothing like what you THINK it sounds like in the house.

In many cases, when you send a post-eq signal to the house, it ends up being a bigger compromise within the mix compared with a pre-eq signal that the sound guy can more effectively translate to "your tone" out front and in the context of a band mix.
Click to expand...
I always trust the sound guy and do whatever he asks me to.

But I wonder: what's the difference between a pre-EQ DI from the amp, and a DI box between the instrument and the amp (with a DI out going to FOH and the "Through" output going to the amp)?
 
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#770
gtirard said:
I always trust the sound guy and do whatever he asks me to.

But I wonder: what's the difference between a pre-EQ DI from the amp, and a DI box between the instrument and the amp (with a DI out going to FOH and the "Through" output going to the amp)?
Click to expand...
In general, very little to nothing.
 
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#771
6thplanet said:
You can do an actual frequency response measurement with freeware REW. It's how I do the graphs for my amp.
View attachment 7279868
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Just a word of caution here… never measure the power amp output:

1. On a non-bridged amp, the high output voltage can destroy the input protection on many interfaces.

2. On bridged amps (most class D amps are internally bridged), the minus terminal is driven (not grounded) and the high currents can destroy the interface and even the computer's internal grounding network (depending on the type of interface).

This can be a very expensive lesson to learn.
 
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#772
agedhorse said:
Just a word of caution here… never measure the power amp output:

1. On a non-bridged amp, the high output voltage can destroy the input protection on many interfaces.

2. On bridged amps (most class D amps are internally bridged), the minus terminal is driven (not grounded) and the high currents can destroy the interface and even the computer's internal grounding network (depending on the type of interface).

This can be a very expensive lesson to learn.
Click to expand...
Forewarned is forearmed; it can be very difficult to buy a sweater when you have four arms! ;)
 
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#774
agedhorse said:
What you are missing here is that your rig on stage sounds nothing like what you THINK it sounds like in the house.

In many cases, when you send a post-eq signal to the house, it ends up being a bigger compromise within the mix compared with a pre-eq signal that the sound guy can more effectively translate to "your tone" out front and in the context of a band mix.
Click to expand...
If you only knew the power of the level of control of the Darkside!!!

How much control could a control freak control if a control freak could freakin' control crap?

The band I was in for twelve+ years, and we did a very wide variety of musical styles.
On most of them, I did my best to match the original notes and tone.
I had a bass guitar (StingRay 5) with onboard EQ that I used to change tones on the fly.
I can't imagine if I'd had a passive bass, having a soundperson who would have EQ'ed each individual song to fit the tone of the original song - I'm sure they exist, but not in my experience (not that I was ever doing major shows).

I think the main consideration with the sound from a bass guitar rig is the overall SPL level &/or the level of the low end frequencies, which seems would be simple enough for a soundperson to handle given either a PreEQ or PostEQ signal (unless the bassist was totally bonkers with his EQ).

I understand what you are saying, I'm just living in denial (my favorite state - LOL...j/k...).
 
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#775
The worst acts in the world for a sound guy to have to work with consists of 4 or 5 control freaks, each at odds with the others. Unrewarding and exhausting all around.

This type of band rarely plays together with each other, they typically play at each other. Very uninspiring experiences IME.
 
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#777
Gig yesterday was at an art space with a nice outdoor stage and PA + board. We set up and ran through two sets of classic rock and Americana. Afterwards I was talking with a couple of excellent local players. They were asking about how I got the growly low mids and bite at the front of the notes. The funny part is they both use quilter amps too. The difference is I use a Tone Hammer pedal to push my 803. Of course it's nice to run a barefaced cab to get the most of the setup. It was cool to get validation because I was thinking I was dialed during the show. And that's not always the case! :laugh:
 
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#779
tundra434 said:
My exact same cab is arriving this week and I'm very close to clicking "buy" on the 803. How does it feel after nearly a year?
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I'm a big fan of the Quilter brand. I have used the BB800 and now the 803 as a backup head for many years and sometimes my main. Super lightweight and small footprint for easy hauling. My primary is my MESA WD800 and the Quilters are always with me as well. They sound great and the new 803 has a bunch of cool additions. They don't break the bank. Great purchase.
 
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#780
57pbass said:
I'm a big fan of the Quilter brand. I have used the BB800 and now the 803 as a backup head for many years and sometimes my main. Super lightweight and small footprint for easy hauling. My primary is my MESA WD800 and the Quilters are always with me as well. They sound great and the new 803 has a bunch of cool additions. They don't break the bank. Great purchase.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback!

I'm currently deciding between a Little Mark ii for $300, an Ampeg PF800 for $400, or the Quilter brand new for $700 (plus tax), and I recently ruled out a Mesa D800 used for $750 though its sooo tempting. I'm fairly tight on budget and I could get a keyboard amp with what I save by going used.. SIGH.

Thanks for the reply!
 
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