Quilter Bass Block v803

[agedhorse]

I have Mesa WD 800 the headphone has a 'light' cab sim loosely based on 1x15 Subway per @agedhorse [can correct me if I mis-remembered his post on this]

It sounds excellent and Musical no harshness; using Audio Technica ATH-M50X which can be a tad bright

Many recommend when using headphones to turn both Bass and Treble down a notch to somewhat simulate a Cab; which I did with my PJB Bighead before now using Mesa and no need to

Correct.

 

[gtirard]

I'm an early adopter! Don't have too much time to play with it as I'm working, but I did a qucik runb trhough of each voicing on each input. Really liking flat/warm. Like able to have the gain up on modern and not have much break up and the switch it to warm and let it get hairy. First impressions are good. I don't know why one picture is in there twice, lol.
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I just saw this on Instagram today

@KPJ you didn't find one of the 22 Willy Wonka golden tickets?

 

[gtirard]

I've never owned a D class Amp, but I'm looking to replace my Helix with an actual amp. I dont like the amp sounds in the helix but still want variety, so this Quilter seems pretty ideal.

My only concern is how it sounds practicing through headphones. I know there's some cab sim thrown onto the headphone output and the DI, and I know most people here haven't had a chance to play it as the amp just came out, but does anyone have experience with practicing through headphones with an amp like this? Does it work fine? I'd probably throw a little dirt at it too, and I'm worried through headphones it will sound overly "direct" and harsh, if that makes sense?

Like always, the answer is in the Owner's Manual:

The HEADPHONE output has automatic Cab-Sim on the WARM and Q-TUBE positions, with volume controlled by the Master.

 

[David Morison]

In an effort to better understand this though, can anyone answer this: when Pat says resistance rises when cabs are driven hard, does that mean the minimum ohm rating rises? In effect a mechanical, inherent protection from the speaker structure itself? If I have that all wrong, someone please correct me.

It's an electrical thing rather than mechanical but otherwise, pretty much yes.

Loudspeakers are not terribly efficient devices, so a lot of the power that they dissipate is turned into heat, not sound. That heat causes the voice coil's impedance to rise (a natural characteristic of virtually all electrical conductors, and why most superconductors need chilled to near absolute zero temperatures to work).

Therefore, a nominal 8Ω speaker may effectively be 10-12Ω or more when driven hard for a decent length of time. That in turn means it won't draw as much current from the amp and this dissipates less power than when it was cold, easing the strain on the amp.

However to get the voice coils hot enough for that to happen, you have to drive them pretty hard in the first place, which means the amp does have to spend some time driving them at high power before the impedance rises and will still be exposed to the low impedance state for that time. Therefore, without the full testing which the Elderly Equine Explains in post #97, I would not recommend anybody use an amp outside it's published ratings.

 

[6thplanet]

That whole "Pat Quilter throwing stuff in random boxes" is freaking great!

 

[gtirard]

That whole "Pat Quilter throwing stuff in random boxes" is freaking great!

Yes, I really hope that a least one TB member will get a "Quilter badge / Willy Wonka's magic ticket", so we eventually know what's the gift?

@ ALL

If you find this in the package, don't through it away. And please tell us what you won

 

[henryjurstin13]

I have no clue, but in my mind -- I feel like that's a badge for a cabinet & they are gonna send you a cabinet for your badge. Seems fun in my head anyways!!!

 

[lermgalieu]

Bought one. At that price point I couldn't resist. I don't think it will displace my Mesa D-350 or D-800+ but I am looking forward to it. Been eyeing Quilter bass amps for years now.

 

[JJR58]

Curious to hear a comparison with the D-800+.

 

[Michael Vee]

For those of you now with a v803 or about to be, the v803 fits in the Block Case 2.0. The v803 has the same dimensions and footprint as the BB802, so there you have a carry bag solution, albeit at extra cost, a reasonable $49. Of course, some of you will go Invalid Link Removed.

 

[Michael Vee]

Bought one. At that price point I couldn't resist. I don't think it will displace my Mesa D-350 or D-800+ but I am looking forward to it. Been eyeing Quilter bass amps for years now.

Go, Lerm!!

 

[Michael Vee]

I just now noticed that you can order directly from Quilter instead of using a retailer. The direct option probably always has been there but I hadn't noticed.

Looks like Quilter offers free shipping and doesn't charge state sales taxes! Plus, you can order your Block Case at the same time, and even a cool Quilter T or beanie!

If anyone wants to order from a retailer, zstringmusic.com has v803 in stock and also has free shipping and no taxes.

As gtirard noted below, these ship only to USA customers.

 

[bherman]

I just now noticed that you can order directly from Quilter instead of using a retailer. It probably always has been there but I didn't notice.

Looks like Quilter offers free shipping and doesn't charge state sales taxes!

If anyone wants to order from a retailer, zstringmusic.com has v803 in stock and also has free shipping and no taxes.

Good info, thx! Always better in my opinion to order direct - more money in a small business's pocket.

 

[gtirard]

I just now noticed that you can order directly from Quilter instead of using a retailer. It probably always has been there but I didn't notice.

Looks like Quilter offers free shipping and doesn't charge state sales taxes! Plus, you can order your Block Case at the same time.

If anyone wants to order from a retailer, zstringmusic.com has v803 in stock and also has free shipping and no taxes.

Good info, thx! Always better in my opinion to order direct - more money in a small business's pocket.

Quilter & zstringmusic don't ship in Europe.

Thomann have them now, but it's 777 € and I don't think we'll get the "First 100" Certificate and the Willy Wonka golden ticket

 

[lermgalieu]

For those of you now with a v803 or about to be, the v803 fits in the Block Case 2.0. The v803 has the same dimensions and footprint as the BB802, so there you have a carry bag solution, albeit at extra cost, a reasonable $49. Of course, some of you will go Invalid Link Removed.

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1) Assuming the Quilter bag fits, does anyone who has one have any feedback on it's quality, dimensions, etc?
2) For the Harbor Freight cases (and Vault cases it mimics), does anyone have a good shoulder strap solution? The only thing I don't like about the Vault I use for my Mesa D-350 is that it requires a hand (and that you can't get the damn sticker off).

 

[lermgalieu]

Curious to hear a comparison with the D-800+.

I think a more apt comparison might be with the D-800 (which I am actually even more familiar with, having owned and gigged one for years before I got the +). Will report back once I get acquainted with the V803.

 

[JJR58]

I think a more apt comparison might be with the D-800 (which I am actually even more familiar with, having owned and gigged one for years before I got the +). Will report back once I get acquainted with the V803.

I know it's a bit unfair to even ask for a comparison because of the different voicings of each amp.
I'm eyeing the 803 because of possible budget restraints.
And i'm moving overseas soon.

 

[KPJ]

I just saw this on Instagram today

@KPJ you didn't find one of the 22 Willy Wonka golden tickets?



View attachment 7044419

Sadly, no.

 

[bherman]

1) Assuming the Quilter bag fits, does anyone who has one have any feedback on it's quality, dimensions, etc?
2) For the Harbor Freight cases (and Vault cases it mimics), does anyone have a good shoulder strap solution? The only thing I don't like about the Vault I use for my Mesa D-350 is that it requires a hand (and that you can't get the damn sticker off).

I had a Quilter bag when I had an 800 and it was quite nicely made, well-padded too

 

[KPJ]

From the monthly jam I hosted last night. Super happy after its maiden voyage. I used the warm voicing on flat for most of the night and warm on scooped for one set. I was told to bring my "tiny amp" so I used the Trace 2x8. Sounded awesome. The scoop was very evident and there was an SVT type slam, even through the 2x8. There were two other players and I got to hear it in the crowd. The guitarist in the band also plays bass so he played my 73 Jazz and because he likes a more Jaco type tone I set the voicing to modern and boosted treble and high mids and cut back the bass to 10 o'clock. Very pronounced tone and it realy stood out in the trio that he was playing with. The other player had an active 5 string and I left it on the warm voicing. I'll be mounting it in one of my BD12s, but it really pairs nicely with the 2x8. Everyone should have at least one of those cabs, lol.