Quilter Bass Block

[Rocksolid]

An EQ pedal would be cheaper, but yeah, probably. I've been thinking about getting one but I'd need to sell some other stuff first. I'd prefer an adjustable hpf, but having everything in one box is indeed quite appealing.



I have one and I tried with the upright, but it didn't do any good : There are very specific frequencies that need to be cut and the VT's EQ didn't really help with that. That being said, the extreme settings I need to use on the EQ pedal lead me to think that there's an issue with my Realist, or that I need to look into an entirely different system for my upright. I haven't gigged the upright in 2 years, so it's not a top priority for me at this point.

TH DI with sweepable mid freq?

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Update on my quest for a usable upright tone with the Quilter : I'm pretty darn close.

I went to my friendly neighborhood music store and rented an EQ pedal (Boss GE-7) for a few days. Turns out it works pretty well! The settings I've used really put in evidence how terribly dark my Realist pickup is : I turned down the 200 and 400 Hz bands all the way down (-15 dB) and turn the "Depth" control on the amp to about 9 o'clock to get a natural-sounding tone. Using these settings I actually get a better sound than with the PJB Suitcase and the hpf.

Now, this particular pedal seems to introduce a fair amount of hiss when it's engaged, so if I'm going to adopt this solution, I'll need to find a better/quieter pedal.

Because of the Quilter’s very transparent nature, you might get good use from a Source Audio Programmable EQ.
Four programmable presets, so you can use it for other applications.

And i might know someone who’s selling one cheap.
(It’s me.)

 

[Frank77]

Because of the Quilter’s very transparent nature, you might get good use from a Source Audio Programmable EQ.
Four programmable presets, so you can use it for other applications.

And i might know someone who’s selling one cheap.
(It’s me.)

All good suggestions. Like I said I'm not in a hurry: My goal at this point was only to determine if there was a way to use this amp for upright with good results, and the answer is yes. If and when I need to gig the upright again, I'll have a few options. I've accumulated a lot of gear over the years (for an apartment dweller, anyway), so I need to move some stuff first.

Speaking of which : Amp for sale

 

[Stu_Bass]

Update on my quest for a usable upright tone with the Quilter : I'm pretty darn close.

I went to my friendly neighborhood music store and rented an EQ pedal (Boss GE-7) for a few days. Turns out it works pretty well! The settings I've used really put in evidence how terribly dark my Realist pickup is : I turned down the 200 and 400 Hz bands all the way down (-15 dB) and turn the "Depth" control on the amp to about 9 o'clock to get a natural-sounding tone. Using these settings I actually get a better sound than with the PJB Suitcase and the hpf.

Now, this particular pedal seems to introduce a fair amount of hiss when it's engaged, so if I'm going to adopt this solution, I'll need to find a better/quieter pedal.

Have you tried the F Deck HPF? You also might consider Broughton.

 

[Frank77]

Have you tried the F Deck HPF? You also might consider Broughton.

I have one, and tried it. It helps some but it's not enough by itself : There is some nastiness around the 200 Hz and 400 Hz marks that need to be tamed, and the fdeck tops out at 135 Hz I think. Plus, I don't necessarily want to take out everything below that. The nasty spots seem very localized around these two frequencies. An EQ pedal and/or a do-it-all preamp will do the trick, though.

 

[Stu_Bass]

I have one, and tried it. It helps some but it's not enough by itself : There is some nastiness around the 200 Hz and 400 Hz marks that need to be tamed, and the fdeck tops out at 135 Hz I think. Plus, I don't necessarily want to take out everything below that. The nasty spots seem very localized around these two frequencies. An EQ pedal and/or a do-it-all preamp will do the trick, though.

I just became aware of this pre. looks interesting.
Mesa Boogie Rosette Acoustic Guitar Preamplifier | MESA/Boogie®

 

[ahc]

I have one, and tried it. It helps some but it's not enough by itself : There is some nastiness around the 200 Hz and 400 Hz marks that need to be tamed, and the fdeck tops out at 135 Hz I think. Plus, I don't necessarily want to take out everything below that. The nasty spots seem very localized around these two frequencies. An EQ pedal and/or a do-it-all preamp will do the trick, though.

The Empress Para EQ gets a lot of love here on TB. It should allow you to "surgically" cut what you want to.

 

[J.Wolf]

thats how i've been using my para EQ for years. Reductive notch EQ on the high and mid band. Find the bass node in any room, sweep till i hear the "whoomp", then narrow cut slightly at that band and viola, no more boomy room node. Sometimes I'll cut a little of the nasal mid frequency the same way. when I toggle it on and off, its almost like hearing a raw bass track vs a mastered bass track, but in a live setting. Its kind of amazing.

 

[J.Wolf]

FWIW I use the Para Eq AND a fdeck HPF, because they serve different purposes and one cannot do what the other does.

 

[Bassometer]

What about a graphic EQ pedal like the Whirlwind FXEQ10BP (although I am not convinced that the constant Q design is superior over other graphic EQ's) or the 10MXR M108 (I think I read somewhere that it colors the tone - I'm not sure how though). Any thoughts? (I only suggest these because they are less costly than the Para).

I to struggle with the lack of high end coming from my BB800. I love the brick wall power in the bottom and mids, I just wish there was more sheen on the top end. I have read numerous post that it responds very well to pre-amps an EQ's and it does respond very well to my on-board pre-amp. I guess what I am looking for is almost GK' ish sheen.

 

[malpasso]

After some problems wit a busted tube that damaged the svt IIP preamp I run before the QBB, I can finally share my opinion about this thing:

The quilter is an amazing piece of equipment. The Ampeg pre, BB800 and 2x Markbass 122 Ninja is a tone moster combination. A real slammer with guts, presece and clarity as I had never experienced. Oh mammmaaaa!

 

[svtb15]

That is the BEST preamp that AMPEG ever released.. Sounds MUCH closer to an actual 70s SVT than the pro edition..
I remember seeing these used for $75.. They are coming high $$ now.
I need to find one of those one day..

After some problems wit a busted tube that damaged the svt IIP preamp I run before the QBB, I can finally share my opinion about this thing:
View attachment 2896623
View attachment 2896624
View attachment 2896625
The quilter is an amazing piece of equipment. The Ampeg pre, bb800 and Markbass +2x Markbass 122 Ninja is a tone moster combination. A real slammer with guts, presece and clarity as I had never experienced. Oh mammmaaaa!

 

[grimmchaos]

That is the BEST preamp that AMPEG ever released.. Sounds MUCH closer to an actual 70s SVT than the pro edition..
I remember seeing these used for $75.. They are coming high $$ now.
I need to find one of those one day..

I need to as well, and I have an SVP Pro myself

 

[malpasso]

That is the BEST preamp that AMPEG ever released.. Sounds MUCH closer to an actual 70s SVT than the pro edition..
I remember seeing these used for $75.. They are coming high $$ now.
I need to find one of those one day..

I need to as well, and I have an SVP Pro myself

I love it. Together with the QBB, I have the feeling that I have an 800 watts SVT in a 14 Pound package!!!

 

[bdplaid]

I have used an Ampeg SCR-DI in front of mine, and it gives me the Ampeg vibe in spades.

 

[grimmchaos]

Mine. I now have my compressor and Broughton HPF/LPF that are always on mounted to the shelf.

 

[Russell Bergum]

What about a graphic EQ pedal like the Whirlwind FXEQ10BP (although I am not convinced that the constant Q design is superior over other graphic EQ's) or the 10MXR M108 (I think I read somewhere that it colors the tone - I'm not sure how though). Any thoughts? (I only suggest these because they are less costly than the Para).

I to struggle with the lack of high end coming from my BB800. I love the brick wall power in the bottom and mids, I just wish there was more sheen on the top end. I have read numerous post that it responds very well to pre-amps an EQ's and it does respond very well to my on-board pre-amp. I guess what I am looking for is almost GK' ish sheen.

I’ve only had mine for a couple weeks, but I too feel like I’m missing the high end. For all the talk of the BB800’s transparency, I’d say my Acoustic Image is much more transparent. To my ears, the BB800 has more of a tube-like baked in sound.

 

[Bassometer]

To my ears it sounds like the highs start gradually rolling off at around 5k. I am reassured by posts from others that have had good results adding the highs back in, either through the 1/4" signal chain or the XLR line-in (or both at the same time in some cases). I am eager to try this simply because the lows and low-mids that come from this amp are wunderbar! I just have to find the right tool, be it a graphic EQ (constant Q or otherwise), a parametric or a plain ole pre-amp pedal.

 

[Frank77]

Brought my BB to rehearsal last week, to drive a 4 ohm 2x15 normally hooked up to an Ampeg B4R. The BB wins in my book: With the gain at level 3-4 and master volume only halfway up, this thing is just as loud as 40 lbs of SS Ampeg with the gain set just below the clipping point and master volume at 8-9 out of 10...plus it's easier (for me, anyway) to dial in my tone. I continue to be thoroughly impressed with this amp : I never thought I'd adopt Class D with such enthusiasm!

I just sold one of my cabs, so I think I'll use the money to get a preamp (the Q Strip is on the short list) to use with my upright and then I'll be all set with a one cab, one amp, loud and lightweight solution! The missing piece of the puzzle is the AudioKinesis cab I should receive sometime in April.

 

[PDavis]

Quilter's Facebook page shows 3 new products announced at NAMM: 112 guitar cab, 110 guitar cab, and of most interest to me, 110 bass cabinet! It looks like a skinny version of their 2x10W Bassliner cab, with one 10" driver, a high-freq horn, and a docking station to use the BB800 head as a combo amp. The speaker is 16 ohms so it pulls about 250 watts from the BB800. Pat Quilter says on the Facebook video that "this little guy puts out enough to power a real 60's band in a real club."

Did they say when the 110 bass cabinet would be available? I made a small 1x10 out of a janky ole Fender Rumble 30 combo I had but this is EXACTLY what I want and need now.