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Quilter Bass Block

The Quilter has more output than the Mini Mega 1000?
View attachment 3087561
Been using mine as a power section for my MAS cabs and it does a great job so far...used it alone for a few gigs but when listening to recordings made from di i much prefferred the sound of my peavey minimega1000 (that amp just cant push these cabs very well)....so im just lugging them both around as this is a simple solution that gets me the sound i love...
 
The Quilter has more output than the Mini Mega 1000?

I've owned a MiniMega since just about day 1 and love it but the BB800 will out-slug it for sure. The mM power amp is definitely no slouch but Pat has put some horsepower in this little box for sure.
I read in a review of one of the Quilter guitar amps that while it’s “rated” at ~100 watts, it actually tests closer to 200 watts.
Pat designed in that extra headroom to help stay clean when we want clean, and get dirty at our control.
Money says he did the same thing with the BB800, and if tested, it wouldn’t surprise me if it tested like a 1200 watt amp.
There’s some serious beef in all the Quilter products.
 
I read in a review of one of the Quilter guitar amps that while it’s “rated” at ~100 watts, it actually tests closer to 200 watts.
Pat designed in that extra headroom to help stay clean when we want clean, and get dirty at our control.
Money says he did the same thing with the BB800, and if tested, it wouldn’t surprise me if it tested like a 1200 watt amp.
There’s some serious beef in all the Quilter products.

Ain't that the truth! I've been bringing my 101 Mini to a monthly blues jam for the past several months, and I've never been happier with my tone. It is amazing what 50 "Quilter watts" into a 4x10 cabinet can accomplish!
 
Quilter BB arrived today!

The story is: My main amp is a SWR Mo' Bass which I LOVE. But between me and the previous owner this amp has been working constantly for - i think - 16 years without a single visit to a tech, but by a pair of months every now and then some noises and squeaking are being heard so I've started searching for a backup amp just in case...
First choices were another mo' bass or an headlite, but since in my area they're nowhere to be found, I've started looking for something small and light.
My final options were:

1) an EBS Redimar 750 for 550 used
2) a quilter amp for the same price new.

Choosed the Quilter, beacuse of warranty and the option of sending it back. Plus videos seemed promising and reviews were great.

Plugged in my trusty SOB (1x15) and Goliath III (4x10).

First impression was not that good. It somewhat recalled the sound I'm used to, but highs were gone. All mids and no highs. Something to make appear Billy Sheean like a scooped sound guy. I've spent some time tweaking the knobs and I've found some cool and vintage sounds, but not something I crave and not sure something I'm going to use a lot.
After the first “meh” impression I've connected a GK Plex first in the line in and then in the input. Well, defintely GREAT result there. Same when tried with a zoom B3n. Lots of lovely sounds and i liked a lot the limiting effect of the Quilter. Just Wow.
As a standalone amp maybe it isn't my cup of tea, but obviously I need to spend more time with it and see how things evolve (and maybe have some suggestion from you? ^^ ). Love it with other pre though.
At first I was thinking of sending it back, but it's small, powerful and sounds great with other pres, plus I diggin' the idea of having around something that sounds totally different from my “regular” sound.

I'm used to run amps flat and make changes with the pre in my bass, but seems these time I need to make an exception. Though I don't know if it's even possible, do some of you know if there is a way to approach this kind of tone with this amp?

And concerning heat. My room is hot, so I've played running a fan just behind the Quilter BB. It gets warm nonetheless. Between the Quilter and the GK Plex seemed like I was playing a tube amp ^^
How much does the Quilter runs hot? Do some of you had any problems playing open gigs in summer or anything heat-releated?
 
^ By itself, the Quilter isn't dark, it's just not bright. There's a difference. People say "dark"or "bright" when describing amps but there is a middle. And imo that's the Quilter: warm and neutral.

Yes to brighten it up throw a preamp in front. Great choice in music. Great Overkill album. Probably won't get DD Verni without a pre infront but that's ok. That GK pre will definitely do the trick
 
Yes, that tone, to me, is very nasally like a lot of PJ basses going through SVTs in the 80’ and early 90’s. A little scooped at 400 hz or so and boosted around 800-1k hz. Very similar tone to some of Bello’s Anthrax stuff.

You will get addicted to the power and slam the BB has regardless of its diminutive size.

You’ve also discovered another incredible feature on the Quilter and that is the limiter. When pushed, the amp remarkably sounds and FEELS like a big, fat, juicy tube amp.
 
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I just had some alone time with my Jazz Bass and custom double P bass playing through the Quilter and my pedalboard...got about 2 hours in while my twins napped and girlfriend took our 2 other kids swimming. Precious and few are the moments that I get to shed with my rig and today was exceptional.
I’ve had my BB800 for over a year now. Until today, I’ve never really taken the gain past 12 o’clock. After playing with the pedals for awhile I decided to turn them all off and mess with what I’d read about for awhile now about the gain control. Oh, Lordy! Have mercy! That’s where all the good stuff lies waiting. I found my sound and realized how much I don’t really have to have any pedals. For over 25 years I never used them but started buying some for having a board for gigs I play that have a house rig. Then I got obsessed looking for the perfect pedalboard. Now I’m cured of gas...temporarily probably, but even with what I found today with the gain, I’m going to still employ a board regardless. The Quilter and my AudioKinesis cabs take to pedals well. Recently I used them at a gig where I didn’t want a pedalboard on the floor. I was positioned by the door of this club on ground level with constant, and mostly drunk, foot traffic. Used a Polytune clip on tuner and brought a Tech 21 VT Bass pedal running on a 9v battery. Great ability to get different tones for different tunes quick with that pedal. I’m sure I could get that Overkill tone with the Quilter and the VT Bass...it is after all an Ampeg inspired pedal.
Can’t do it this year but early next year I’ll be buying another BB800. And then maybe even another one. I love this amp that much...wish I could pass them out to all my bass buddies. Haha! Oh, well... it’s the thought that counts
 
I just had some alone time with my Jazz Bass and custom double P bass playing through the Quilter and my pedalboard...got about 2 hours in while my twins napped and girlfriend took our 2 other kids swimming. Precious and few are the moments that I get to shed with my rig and today was exceptional.
I’ve had my BB800 for over a year now. Until today, I’ve never really taken the gain past 12 o’clock. After playing with the pedals for awhile I decided to turn them all off and mess with what I’d read about for awhile now about the gain control. Oh, Lordy! Have mercy! That’s where all the good stuff lies waiting. I found my sound and realized how much I don’t really have to have any pedals. For over 25 years I never used them but started buying some for having a board for gigs I play that have a house rig. Then I got obsessed looking for the perfect pedalboard. Now I’m cured of gas...temporarily probably, but even with what I found today with the gain, I’m going to still employ a board regardless. The Quilter and my AudioKinesis cabs take to pedals well. Recently I used them at a gig where I didn’t want a pedalboard on the floor. I was positioned by the door of this club on ground level with constant, and mostly drunk, foot traffic. Used a Polytune clip on tuner and brought a Tech 21 VT Bass pedal running on a 9v battery. Great ability to get different tones for different tunes quick with that pedal. I’m sure I could get that Overkill tone with the Quilter and the VT Bass...it is after all an Ampeg inspired pedal.
Can’t do it this year but early next year I’ll be buying another BB800. And then maybe even another one. I love this amp that much...wish I could pass them out to all my bass buddies. Haha! Oh, well... it’s the thought that counts

Nice! You have stumbled on (later than sooner :) the magic of that limiting that the Quilter does so well in spades.
 
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Quilter BB arrived today!

The story is: My main amp is a SWR Mo' Bass which I LOVE. But between me and the previous owner this amp has been working constantly for - i think - 16 years without a single visit to a tech, but by a pair of months every now and then some noises and squeaking are being heard so I've started searching for a backup amp just in case...
First choices were another mo' bass or an headlite, but since in my area they're nowhere to be found, I've started looking for something small and light.
My final options were:

1) an EBS Redimar 750 for 550 used
2) a quilter amp for the same price new.

Choosed the Quilter, beacuse of warranty and the option of sending it back. Plus videos seemed promising and reviews were great.

Plugged in my trusty SOB (1x15) and Goliath III (4x10).

First impression was not that good. It somewhat recalled the sound I'm used to, but highs were gone. All mids and no highs. Something to make appear Billy Sheean like a scooped sound guy. I've spent some time tweaking the knobs and I've found some cool and vintage sounds, but not something I crave and not sure something I'm going to use a lot.
After the first “meh” impression I've connected a GK Plex first in the line in and then in the input. Well, defintely GREAT result there. Same when tried with a zoom B3n. Lots of lovely sounds and i liked a lot the limiting effect of the Quilter. Just Wow.
As a standalone amp maybe it isn't my cup of tea, but obviously I need to spend more time with it and see how things evolve (and maybe have some suggestion from you? ^^ ). Love it with other pre though.
At first I was thinking of sending it back, but it's small, powerful and sounds great with other pres, plus I diggin' the idea of having around something that sounds totally different from my “regular” sound.

I'm used to run amps flat and make changes with the pre in my bass, but seems these time I need to make an exception. Though I don't know if it's even possible, do some of you know if there is a way to approach this kind of tone with this amp?

And concerning heat. My room is hot, so I've played running a fan just behind the Quilter BB. It gets warm nonetheless. Between the Quilter and the GK Plex seemed like I was playing a tube amp ^^
How much does the Quilter runs hot? Do some of you had any problems playing open gigs in summer or anything heat-releated?


To get brighter have you tried decreasing the depth and increasing the gain?

I've never had a heat issue with mine, indoors or out.
 
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I just had some alone time with my Jazz Bass and custom double P bass playing through the Quilter and my pedalboard...got about 2 hours in while my twins napped and girlfriend took our 2 other kids swimming. Precious and few are the moments that I get to shed with my rig and today was exceptional.
I’ve had my BB800 for over a year now. Until today, I’ve never really taken the gain past 12 o’clock. After playing with the pedals for awhile I decided to turn them all off and mess with what I’d read about for awhile now about the gain control. Oh, Lordy! Have mercy! That’s where all the good stuff lies waiting. I found my sound and realized how much I don’t really have to have any pedals. For over 25 years I never used them but started buying some for having a board for gigs I play that have a house rig. Then I got obsessed looking for the perfect pedalboard. Now I’m cured of gas...temporarily probably, but even with what I found today with the gain, I’m going to still employ a board regardless. The Quilter and my AudioKinesis cabs take to pedals well. Recently I used them at a gig where I didn’t want a pedalboard on the floor. I was positioned by the door of this club on ground level with constant, and mostly drunk, foot traffic. Used a Polytune clip on tuner and brought a Tech 21 VT Bass pedal running on a 9v battery. Great ability to get different tones for different tunes quick with that pedal. I’m sure I could get that Overkill tone with the Quilter and the VT Bass...it is after all an Ampeg inspired pedal.
Can’t do it this year but early next year I’ll be buying another BB800. And then maybe even another one. I love this amp that much...wish I could pass them out to all my bass buddies. Haha! Oh, well... it’s the thought that counts

The gain and master are the key IMO, along with understanding how the tone controls work, which is... not like "normal" tone controls. Even with them set "flat" if you throw enough power at a good cab you'll likely end up with strong highs, lows and mids. If you don't let it stand out, it won't... but that's more about the operator than the amp ;)
 
To get brighter have you tried decreasing the depth and increasing the gain?

I've never had a heat issue with mine, indoors or out.

Thanks.
Tried. That and scooping a little gave good results :)

Today I've spent some time with the BB as a standalone amp. I'm definitely going to keep it. I can see that despite the simple controls there must be a bit of a learning curve.

Next step try my amp as a pre for the BB ^^
 
20180721_122105.jpg


I gigged the BB800 today at the county fair with our alternative/hard rock band. Man, did it slay. I ran my L-2000 through the Meatsmoke pre into the active input with depth and contour two clicks right. I have to say honestly I was a little on the fence with the BB until today when I was able to turn it up loud. Thats when the magic happens. Once the master is halfway up, things get real very fast. As you can see I had to have it on the ground beside the cab because even in its bag it wanted to bounce off the cab like a ping pong ball. Thats maybe partially due to the homebuilt unbraced cab. With the BB800 and the 2 Kappalite 3015s I seriously thought the cab was going to fly apart. After today, I'm adding some bracing to the cab.

The BB800 is no joke. With a tube pre and the master halfway and gain about 4 it had nice authoritive punch with great harmonic overtones, slightly compressed. This setup will give any all-tube a run for the $. Very pleased.
 
Ain't that the truth! I've been bringing my 101 Mini to a monthly blues jam for the past several months, and I've never been happier with my tone. It is amazing what 50 "Quilter watts" into a 4x10 cabinet can accomplish!
Yeah. I recently got a 101 Mini Reverb, and it gets terrific tone through a tweed cab with a Cannabis Rex speaker. REALLY resonant and warm, NOT like other solid stat amps I've used. I'm gonna try it with some sort of vintage-y pedal to heat it up a tad, but it sounds great clean. I love the thought of a somewhat similar tone for my bass playing, tube-y but clear, warm but present. The more I play the Quilter, the more I like it ... I'm a fan!
 
btw I got my bass block back

the hiss is less than I remembered but still there. they said it's normal. i guess it's just a normal operating hiss that's only audible with a tweeter on. pretty much cannot hear it unless you're not playing.

makes me really wish it had an effects loop so I could run an always on low pass filter in it. or I could just turn the tweeter all the way off. but I like my tweets :(. literally other than this noise the amp is perfect, so it's a bit frustrating. I didn't like how high gain (limiting) sounded on my mustang but it sounds fannnnntastic on my kiesel.
 
btw I got my bass block back

the hiss is less than I remembered but still there. they said it's normal. i guess it's just a normal operating hiss that's only audible with a tweeter on. pretty much cannot hear it unless you're not playing.

makes me really wish it had an effects loop so I could run an always on low pass filter in it. or I could just turn the tweeter all the way off. but I like my tweets :(. literally other than this noise the amp is perfect, so it's a bit frustrating. I didn't like how high gain (limiting) sounded on my mustang but it sounds fannnnntastic on my kiesel.
Mine has the same hiss. I went back to the store to compare it to the others they had in stock and they were the same. So I decided to live with it. For bedroom practice or mic-ed recording it's annoying /unusable with the tweet on. But for band level stuff it's not an issue. Shame though, for an otherwise awesome piece of kit...
 
btw I got my bass block back

the hiss is less than I remembered but still there. they said it's normal. i guess it's just a normal operating hiss that's only audible with a tweeter on. pretty much cannot hear it unless you're not playing.

makes me really wish it had an effects loop so I could run an always on low pass filter in it. or I could just turn the tweeter all the way off. but I like my tweets :(. literally other than this noise the amp is perfect, so it's a bit frustrating. I didn't like how high gain (limiting) sounded on my mustang but it sounds fannnnntastic on my kiesel.

Mine has the same hiss. I went back to the store to compare it to the others they had in stock and they were the same. So I decided to live with it. For bedroom practice or mic-ed recording it's annoying /unusable with the tweet on. But for band level stuff it's not an issue. Shame though, for an otherwise awesome piece of kit...

Guys, the solution is easy!
Kill the tweeters!
Tweeters are of the devil!
See, with no evil tweeters bringing death and decay into this world, you'll have no hiss problems! ;)

In all seriousness, a LPF should fix that, assuming you put it at the right frequency. Might I suggest 5kHz?
 
^^what he said. Try going no tweets for a week. You might not go back. Mine would probably make a hiss....but I gots no tweets, so dead silent.

IME the cons for tweeters do not outweigh the pros. They bring out high frequency hiss, pick noise against the strings, strings against the frets, fretbuzz, radio stations, alien communication etc etc.
 
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