Quilter Bass Block

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Just to repost as I'm not sure anyone responded to it - is anyone's BB800 noisy?

The one I have at the moment has started making louder-than-expected fan noises. I definitely think this is new behaviour as I don't remember hearing it before. Enough that I can easily hear it at idle. It doesn't sound like something's stuck in the fan, more like a bearing or fan wearing out. Which is odd...

There might be some dust building up asymmetrically on the fan blades. That would cause some imbalance and side-to-side vibration as the fan spins.

With the unit turned off, use canned compress air to blow the dust off. But first insert a pin or something else long and thin through the fan to immobilize it as you blow the air through. Otherwise you might overspin the bearings and damage them.

 

[been_effected]

There might be some dust building up asymmetrically on the fan blades. That would cause some imbalance and side-to-side vibration as the fan spins.

With the unit turned off, use canned compress air to blow the dust off. But first insert a pin or something else long and thin through the fan to immobilize it as you blow the air through. Otherwise you might overspin the bearings and damage them.

Champion, thanks Bob. I'll give this a try and report back. Thanks for the fast response.
I noted there was one fan right next to the ventilation slots on the side - are there any other fans in the unit I need to clean?

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Champion, thanks Bob. I'll give this a try and report back. Thanks for the fast response.
I noted there was one fan right next to the ventilation slots on the side - are there any other fans in the unit I need to clean?

I think there's just one fan, but I don't know for sure.

 

[hennessybass]

I noted there was one fan right next to the ventilation slots on the side - are there any other fans in the unit I need to clean?

 

[been_effected]

View attachment 3207115

Ahhh, you legend - thanks for that. I'll check the heatsink in the middle and give that a cleanup too.

 

[BigEarl]

I have been away from the TB party for a while, but I see a few people basically asking the same question "Is the BB worth it", well y'all know my opinion on that subject but let me give you a recent story that drove home the glory of the BB.

Gigs have been sparse this year but I have had a few "old folk's home" gigs and coffee shop duos and I've been relying on either my MB200 or MB500 for these (form factor fits my gig case) but since I haven't been playing my BB that much, I decided to pull it out last week and stack it on top of my Barefaced One10, and lordy did it sound sweet. After three small gigs with it, the GK's are back in the closet!

The one thing that I have rediscovered about the BB is that it FEELS incredible, forget the sound for a minute and think about how you feel when you play, when the amp is just right, pumping in the correct spots and evening out at just the right moment. I dunno folks, it feels like I am dancing with the BB and we are on another plane of consciousness. It literally feels, to me, like it is anticipating my ever move like a living breathing thing! I know that sounds hyperbole, but that was the only way to explain the experience of rediscovering this amp.

Total disclosure, I do not work for Pat Quilter, I have no stake in - or connection to - the company, I am just a totally satisfied customer. You really owe it to yourself to try one out, yes the tone shaping seems a little wonky at first (I have added a QStrip to help shape the mids and keep the BB's controls on noon, which, BTW, is dead-freaking-flat!) but the dual limiters and the overall out-of-the-box design by Mr. Quilter (i.e.: no cookie cutter over the counter power section) have created the most ...musical... amp I've EVER used!

My $0.02 YMMV

 

[engedi1]

I agree with earl. Super musical power section makes this amp 'breathe' in a way that is so fun. You don't have the feeling I've have with most amps I've used, especially Class d ones, where I feel the amp gets puny, or can't keep up with peaks in the band volume. It gives more when asked to do so, and backs off when needed. Musical.

 

[hennessybass]

Musical.

+1

 

[BlushResponse]

I let a buddy use my rig at a show last week. A Greenboy Dually and the BB. He usually plays an old Fender Rumble that doesn't keep up against his guitarist. He kept up this time.

 

[been_effected]

I let a buddy use my rig at a show last week. A Greenboy Dually and the BB. He usually plays an old Fender Rumble that doesn't keep up against his guitarist. He kept up this time.

I bet! What a combo!

 

[Lowendtech]

Friday nights rig consisted of:
Dingwall SP/J -> Broughton P-15 -> BB800 (set flat) -> AudioKinesis C112T/Hathor 1203. The C112T was on the bottom pointed at the audience and the H1203 was on top, pointed at my drummers head.
Tons of compliments were coming from both audience and band members.
I love that little amp for its awesome tone and the ease/simplicity to get it.

 

[Mushroo]

Anyone see the new Interblock 45?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I can't think of any reason why I need it, but I certainly want it!

 

[Lowendtech]

Anyone see the new Interblock 45?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I can't think of any reason why I need it, but I certainly want it!

Agreed. That looks cool.

 

[Mushroo]

Quilter guitar amps sound amazing with bass. The 101 Mini is my secret tone weapon! I'd compare it favorably to my Ampeg PF20T. My understanding is that Pat Quilter has loosely modeled the Tweed/Vintage voicings based on old Fender tube amps, which are of course, legendary not just for guitar but also for bass.

If I didn't already have the 101 Mini, I'd probably jump all over the InterBlock 45. As it stands, I slightly prefer the form factor of the 101 (a larger unit with a standard power cable, as opposed to the InterBlock, which is smaller but has a sizable power brick).

 

[scottm]

Forgive me if I missed this or not, but I could not find this on their site. Where are the quilter 800 bass blocks manufactured?

Thanks,
-ScottM

 

[hennessybass]

Anyone see the new Interblock 45?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I can't think of any reason why I need it, but I certainly want it!

Saw my buddy (guitar) on a gig last week, and he was using one.
He runs a stereo rig. Quilter 101 on one side and ran the new InterBlock 45 on the other side. Each through a 112 cab.

I think he normally runs some kind of custom built tube rig on the one side, but loves the Quilter stuff. He said he thought it broke up too much for him with the way he runs his rig, but he thought it was pretty cool.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Quilter guitar amps sound amazing with bass. The 101 Mini is my secret tone weapon! I'd compare it favorably to my Ampeg PF20T. My understanding is that Pat Quilter has loosely modeled the Tweed/Vintage voicings based on old Fender tube amps, which are of course, legendary not just for guitar but also for bass.

If I didn't already have the 101 Mini, I'd probably jump all over the InterBlock 45. As it stands, I slightly prefer the form factor of the 101 (a larger unit with a standard power cable, as opposed to the InterBlock, which is smaller but has a sizable power brick).

Interesting. The 800 is way more than I'll ever use....I don't even own a cab it couldn't fry. I've wondered about the Tone Block 201 but thought it wouldn't be enough for every gig and for the extra $100 the BB800 was the obvious choice. I think I'll start looking for a used 101 Mini though.

Forgive me if I missed this or not, but I could not find this on their site. Where are the quilter 800 bass blocks manufactured?

Thanks,
-ScottM

 

[Mushroo]

Forgive me if I missed this or not, but I could not find this on their site. Where are the quilter 800 bass blocks manufactured?

Thanks,
-ScottM

My BB800 (purchased Jan. 2018) says Made in USA. I believe up until this point, Quilter has been using QSC's factory in an "incubator" type business arrangement. Quilter is gradually transitioning their manufacturing to China as the company grows. Not sure what this means for the hypothetical future BassBlock 2.0. Much too early to speculate.

Interesting. The 800 is way more than I'll ever use....I don't even own a cab it couldn't fry. I've wondered about the Tone Block 201 but thought it wouldn't be enough for every gig and for the extra $100 the BB800 was the obvious choice. I think I'll start looking for a used 101 Mini though.


View attachment 3220980

Yup, that Tone Block 201 really hits a "sweet spot" of tone/power/price ratio. If I had to start all over again, I'd probably pick the TB201 instead of 101 Mini. The big advantages being 200w instead of 50w, and built-in XLR out. (Don't be fooled though; those 50 Quilter watts are loud into a big cab, and using the Jazz or Surf voicings doubles it to 100w!) I will say however that, despite its limitations, the 101 Mini is a really attractive form factor. I prefer the sleek black metal look to the Block series "colorful diagonal stripes" sticker. If Quilter ever comes out with a low-wattage bass head in the 101 Mini form factor, I'd be all over it.

 

[hennessybass]

--- I prefer the sleek black metal look to the Block series "colorful diagonal stripes" sticker. If Quilter ever comes out with a low-wattage bass head in the 101 Mini form factor, I'd be all over it. ---

I know some guys will think I'm an absolute idiot, and I'm sure I've voided my warranty, and all that stuff... but curiosity just got the better of me.
Not a huge fan of the "colorful diagonal stripes" either, and really I'm just one of those people that has to have a look under the hood. Couldn't help myself! I started to peel back a corner, and this is my amp now.

I actually REALLY like it.

 

[Hypercaffium]