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Quilter Bass Block v803

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!👍
 
Am I missing out on the main features of the v803 if I primarily use the modern setting and flat input? Seems like the majority here praise the warm setting and scooped input, and while I've had really good results on that with my jazz bass, I have not liked these options for my p-bass and stingrays. Thoughts?
 
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Am I missing out on the main features of the v803 if I primarily use the modern setting and flat input? Seems like the majority here praise the warm setting and scooped input, and while I've had really good results on that with my jazz bass, I have not liked these options for my p-bass and stingrays. Thoughts?
Use what sounds good to you. The V803 didn't include modern or flat because Quilter thought those suck. :laugh: Specifically for the jazz, it's got a built-in scoop if both pickups are on, so maybe not needed in the amp. How's the P sound on the scooped input to you? Might be more usable on the P.

FWIW, as a home player I usually use warm/flat. Sometimes modern/flat.
 
Am I missing out on the main features of the v803 if I primarily use the modern setting and flat input? Seems like the majority here praise the warm setting and scooped input, and while I've had really good results on that with my jazz bass, I have not liked these options for my p-bass and stingrays. Thoughts?

Not really - it's still running processing on your signal in the background to do what it's designed to do. But just because you fancy yourself a modern player, doesn't mean you shouldn't spend some time with all the controls and learn what sounds good to you in any situations you play in. Sometimes an atypical group of settings gets you there.
 
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Am I missing out on the main features of the v803 if I primarily use the modern setting and flat input? Seems like the majority here praise the warm setting and scooped input, and while I've had really good results on that with my jazz bass, I have not liked these options for my p-bass and stingrays. Thoughts?
I'd say the main virtue of the 803 is that there are so many options to try, along with a very effective but easy-to-use EQ section. I would expect the choices to vary from bass to bass and maybe even room to room.
 
Use what sounds good to you. The V803 didn't include modern or flat because Quilter thought those suck. :laugh: Specifically for the jazz, it's got a built-in scoop if both pickups are on, so maybe not needed in the amp. How's the P sound on the scooped input to you? Might be more usable on the P.

FWIW, as a home player I usually use warm/flat. Sometimes modern/flat.
Sorry, maybe I didn't describe correctly my preferences so far. I actually like the warm setting with the scooped input when using my Bartolini equipped MIJ '75 reissue jazz bass. It seems to really fit the tonal profile of that bass in the music I play. However, when using the warm setting and scooped input while playing my American Professional II P Bass or my Stingray Special 5H, I don't like the tone at the high end of the eq. It sounds too clanky and ganky and I can't seem to eq it out. However, I am starting to find some progress with the P Bass and the Stingray using the modern setting and flat input. The eq controls using these settings seem more intuitive for these basses and I get better control over the high end clack I dislike.
 
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Am I missing out on the main features of the v803 if I primarily use the modern setting and flat input? Seems like the majority here praise the warm setting and scooped input, and while I've had really good results on that with my jazz bass, I have not liked these options for my p-bass and stingrays. Thoughts?
You answered your own question: what works well with one bass may fall short with others. You have essentially 6 very distinct voicing options...the world is your oyster!

Side note: the "Modern" (original) voicing has a higher damping factor which reins-in the attack envelope....your observations make perfect sense.

Riis
 
You answered your own question: what works well with one bass may fall short with others. You have essentially 6 very distinct voicing options...the world is your oyster!

Side note: the "Modern" (original) voicing has a higher damping factor which reins-in the attack envelope....your observations make perfect sense.

Riis
That's great, thank you for confirming what I thought I have been hearing. Makes me feel better, lol. I'll continue to experiment and report back in time.
 
That's great, thank you for confirming what I thought I have been hearing. Makes me feel better, lol. I'll continue to experiment and report back in time.
To my ears, it's a cleaner attack with quicker decay BUT missing the "heft" of the Warm and QTube settings. The Scooped input, per manual, emulates the infamous Fender 2-10-2 tone stack but without the tone-suck of conventional contour processes.

Riis
 
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.
Sounds like a band I was in back in the early eighties... ;)
 
Could anybody describe the "Modern bottomless" ? Is it somewhat like jam band , Otiel /Epifani type of tone?
I think if you want that kind of sound you can get it. I would describe it as neutral voicing, your bass with minimal color from the amp. Also a great pedal platform. Quilter uses the "bottomless" description when talking about the limiters.
 
Am I missing out on the main features of the v803 if I primarily use the modern setting and flat input? Seems like the majority here praise the warm setting and scooped input, and while I've had really good results on that with my jazz bass, I have not liked these options for my p-bass and stingrays. Thoughts?
I use all the voices and both inputs, depending on the gig. The modern/flat setting is perfect for my low volume acoustic shows. The warm and qtube with scoop input are my preferences with my j-bass in rock band scenarios. All the voices do interesting stuff when pushed with extra gain, like with a boost or preamp pedal. If the sound gets overly clanky, rolling off the tone knob usually addresses it. In the V803 manual there's language about the amp providing a sense of effort when using the warm and qtube voices and I think that's appropriate. Finding those sweet spots that really sing at gig volume is something I am still figuring out.
 
A fresh new look at an unbeatable price:

WhatsApp Image 2025-08-18 at 14.48.25.jpeg
 
Exactly, they're cream. I got these and the red ones too (a bit bold). The mounting hole (full post) isn't exactly like the stock half-post ones, so they sit a little loose at first, but once you tighten the included screw, they hold firmly.
 
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