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Quilter Bass Block

#2,864
Mushroo said:
I've been playing "pedalboard tetris" trying to put together a small pedalboard designed specifically to compliment the BB800. No disrespect to the Quilter, but there are a few nice-to-have features that would dovetail nicely with the BB800's minimalism. I started making a "wish list" for my pedalboard:
  1. Pre-master XLR DI
  2. Traditional Bass/Mid/Treble EQ
  3. Real tubes
  4. Overdrive
  5. Cab sim
After a few rounds of buying/selling/trading pedals, I thought, hmmm, why not ditch the pedalboard altogether, and find a tube preamp in the same half-rack format as the BB800?
View attachment 3285300
(Arkham Abyss was the runner-up, but they are currently out of stock.)

And the full stack "Quilter sandwich":

View attachment 3285322
Click to expand...
A Shiftline Olympic mklll pre works really good with the Quilter and compact. Arkham Zephyr is my other pre and also great.
 
#2,865
groovaholic said:
The reason I got this BB800 from GC was that the price was even lower - course, no bag and no locking AC cable
Click to expand...

As I recall when I was in the QSC Technical Services Group, the locking AC cable is pretty inexpensive. Call Quilter Labs; they might even comp it.
 
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#2,868
YAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSS
573FB582-DE63-4CD2-AC53-C28BA6D29A51.jpeg
 
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#2,869
Hypercaffium said:
The "click" comes from the BB800 built-in limiter squashing the signal beyond threshold. Using the passive input with an active bass (or preamp) sends a hot signal that triggers the compression easier compared to the active input which is padded. Some people do that on purpose because it sounds good, I've done it for a while and even get rid of my compressor pedal, but eventually ended up using the active input with preamps.
About preamps, I'm in the market for a tube preamp so I'll post some questions in the dedicated topics, feel free to post your suggestions there or here, since I'm planning to run the preamp straight into my BB800.
Click to expand...

I use active basses with Bartolini pre amps with the internal gains almost cranked and volume controls full on and I don't experience this. My basses are hotter than most 18v setups I've heard. Doesn't sound at all compressed.
 
#2,871
Really liked what I heard out of the BassBlock last night, but the XLR out on the amp has no signal.

So the question is: use as is (a DI box pre input) or return this one to Guitar Center?

Other than the DI, the amp sounds great and looks like new, and I got a really great deal on it...

[Edit: there was nothing wrong with the Quilter - I think the XLR cable was intermittent]
 
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#2,872
groovaholic said:
Really liked what I heard out of the BassBlock last night, but the XLR out on the amp has no signal.

So the question is: use as is (a DI box pre input) or return this one to Guitar Center?

Other than the DI, the amp sounds great and looks like new, and I got a really great deal on it...
Click to expand...
Return it for sure. The line out is invaluable.
 
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#2,874
Rocksolid said:
Return it for sure. The line out is invaluable.
Click to expand...
I might take a look under the hood to see if it might be anything simple, like a wire that’s come loose.

I got a really great deal on the amp, and based on the DI being post-master with no ground lift, I foresee many times when I’d be using an external DI anyhow.
 
#2,876
groovaholic said:
Really liked what I heard out of the BassBlock last night, but the XLR out on the amp has no signal.

So the question is: use as is (a DI box pre input) or return this one to Guitar Center?

Other than the DI, the amp sounds great and looks like new, and I got a really great deal on it...
Click to expand...

No signal out means it's not operating properly. I use the line out with excellent results so I don't get the DI debate.
 
#2,877
groovaholic said:
I might take a look under the hood to see if it might be anything simple, like a wire that’s come loose.

I got a really great deal on the amp, and based on the DI being post-master with no ground lift, I foresee many times when I’d be using an external DI anyhow.
Click to expand...

In two years of gigging I haven't needed a ground lift a single time. Luck?

The post-master thing was my only nit and hasn't been an issue. I don't adjust it after soundcheck so... no big deal in practical use. I would prefer to adjust my stage output independent of FOH but I don't dwell on it.
 
#2,878
Brad Johnson said:
Typically 11 to 12 o'clock. At church the master is slightly above 40w with most basses and it's loud and clean with a single 4 ohm small 212 cab.
Click to expand...
I found that 40w with my ampeg 2x12 last night is deep and full, with the gain at noon. Even a couple notches up it just sounded great. Wife is at work when I get home this afternoon....I'm gonna peel some paint today :D
 
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#2,879
I found a good pic on the Bass Block 800 Internals threadBB800 internals.jpg

There IS a ribbon cable going to the front panel, and sometimes those work loose or aren't fully seated.
But other than that, it's all connected to the PCB, so if it isn't the ribbon cable, I'm unlikely to find any easy fix.

I'll take a look nonetheless...I'd like to get the XLR out working.
 
#2,880
redstrand said:
I found that 40w with my ampeg 2x12 last night is deep and full, with the gain at noon. Even a couple notches up it just sounded great. Wife is at work when I get home this afternoon....I'm gonna peel some paint today :D
Click to expand...

I've cranked mine at soundchecks just to scare the horses and then bring the master down to not obliterate the mix. I can't recall a single sound person who wasn't extremely impressed with my tiny rig... volume, tone, stage and room fill... it's all there.

20180216_193646.jpg
 
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