Quilter Bass Block

[LeonD]

True that if you turn the gain up, you will start to kick in the compressor. And true that if you turn the gain up really high, it will start to distort.
IMO and IME, it is not a tube like distortion. ...

I would agree with this. I would not use the gain for overdrive or distortion.

But there is a point between where the compressor kicks in and where it distorts that's very musical. Before this point, I feel the amp is fairly "quick". Once your past that point, it turns "softer". Not sure how much is audible but you can definitely feel it when you're playing.

I think between setting gain or power first, both ways are valid. You just need to try it yourself and decide.

 

[hennessybass]

But there is a point between where the compressor kicks in and where it distorts that's very musical. Before this point, I feel the amp is fairly "quick". Once your past that point, it turns "softer".

For me (passive jazz bass), that point is around 6-8 that the compressor is working. From about 8-10, I start to hear "clipping" - what to me sounds like a very square wave almost mechanical noise.
Most time, I will set my gain around 4-5, high enough to give me some great play in the maser, but just before the compressor starts kicking in.

IMO you will get a different feel from the amp with different gain setting, more than you get different tone.

You just need to try it yourself and decide.

This. Tone is like colors that you get to paint with. Yellow and green make blue. Only you get to decide how much yellow and how much green you want to mix together to get the shade of blue that is right for your painting.

No substitute for putting in the time playing with your amp, getting to know it, finding out what you like and don't like.

 

[Mushroo]

How do you guys regulate the Gain-Power ratio? I read the instructions, and it says to regulate the Gain first and then adjust the Power (watts). But in the next page it says to adjust the Power first, based on cabinet, and then the Gain.

What do you guys think it would be best?

In my experience the Gain and Master controls are interactive, so adjust them both until you find the "sweet spot."

 

[J_Bass]

I'll give a different opinion. I like setting the power first and using the gain to control volume.
I think this gives the amp a more round and full feel.
The amp was designed to be clean, and the compressor is there to help keep the amp sounding clean at high volume.

True that if you turn the gain up, you will start to kick in the compressor. And true that if you turn the gain up really high, it will start to distort.
IMO and IME, it is not a tube like distortion. It says in the manual that you are overdriving the compressor at this point. There is no tube breakup emulation or OD built into this amp. I don't think the distortion - overdriving a SS compressor - is a great sound (for me), but lots of guys like it and you should do what sounds good to you.

Again, IMO, this amp excels at big clean tone, and does very well taking pedals to get things like overdrive and tube sounds.

I would agree with this. I would not use the gain for overdrive or distortion.

But there is a point between where the compressor kicks in and where it distorts that's very musical. Before this point, I feel the amp is fairly "quick". Once your past that point, it turns "softer". Not sure how much is audible but you can definitely feel it when you're playing.

I think between setting gain or power first, both ways are valid. You just need to try it yourself and decide.

Thank you.

So, being the cab 400 watts, the power doesn't need to be on 400, yes? It could be more, or 180 or even less?

Ok, thanks, I got it. Try to find the sweet spot in the Gain, and then adjust the Power, or set the power in 400 and then use Gain to regulate the volume. Both ways are valid.

 

[J_Bass]

For me (passive jazz bass), that point is around 6-8 that the compressor is working. From about 8-10, I start to hear "clipping" - what to me sounds like a very square wave almost mechanical noise.
Most time, I will set my gain around 4-5, high enough to give me some great play in the maser, but just before the compressor starts kicking in.

IMO you will get a different feel from the amp with different gain setting, more than you get different tone.



This. Tone is like colors that you get to paint with. Yellow and green make blue. Only you get to decide how much yellow and how much green you want to mix together to get the shade of blue that is right for your painting.

No substitute for putting in the time playing with your amp, getting to know it, finding out what you like and don't like.

In my experience the Gain and Master controls are interactive, so adjust them both until you find the "sweet spot."

Thanks, very helpful!

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I set the Gain at noon, and use the Master for volume.

 

[ahbass2500]

Thank you.

So, being the cab 400 watts, the power doesn't need to be on 400, yes? It could be more, or 180 or even less?

Power does not need to be on the value of the cabinet. You can go below your cabinet maximum. You probably should not exceed the value of the cabinet though. In your case the C4 is an 8 ohm cab (confirm for yourself but it should be), so you can really set it pretty much anywhere other than right at the max since BB800 is rated to 450 @ 8 ohms (knob is labeled for 4 ohm load). For home use, my BB800 running into an 8 ohm PJB C8 never goes above 40W on the master. Gain is generally between 4 and 7 depending on how hot of a bass I have plugged in. If/When I take it out, it will certainly go above the 40W value depending on the needs of the stage/room.

 

[J_Bass]

I set the Gain at noon, and use the Master for volume.

Power does not need to be on the value of the cabinet. You can go below your cabinet maximum. You probably should not exceed the value of the cabinet though. In your case the C4 is an 8 ohm cab (confirm for yourself but it should be), so you can really set it pretty much anywhere other than right at the max since BB800 is rated to 450 @ 8 ohms (knob is labeled for 4 ohm load). For home use, my BB800 running into an 8 ohm PJB C8 never goes above 40W on the master. Gain is generally between 4 and 7 depending on how hot of a bass I have plugged in. If/When I take it out, it will certainly go above the 40W value depending on the needs of the stage/room.

Thanks guys, great help!

The cab is already at home, can't wait to get home from work!

 

[J_Bass]

 

[sonofshel]

I’m still in love with mine and it been a great 2 years of running it. The occasional amp GAS occurs but it passes and I try to keep it to myself

 

[d3mcgee]

Thanks! That must be a typo. There are no plans for a 2x12 wedge, but the 2x10 wedge was in the both.

As for new stuff, we've also got something in the works so cue further cryptic "they're up to something" feelings.

I have no idea when the next bass thing will be out. The Bass Block 800 took around 3 years to develop. It was started long before I started working here and several revisions we thought were done were scrapped in the process. Whatever comes out next will be ready when it is ready and even we will be surprised when we decide whatever it is is finally done.

How do I connect my computer too Bass Block so I hear through headphones So Bass and computer are both in headphones ??

 

[John D Harris]

Power does not need to be on the value of the cabinet. You can go below your cabinet maximum. You probably should not exceed the value of the cabinet though. In your case the C4 is an 8 ohm cab (confirm for yourself but it should be), so you can really set it pretty much anywhere other than right at the max since BB800 is rated to 450 @ 8 ohms (knob is labeled for 4 ohm load). For home use, my BB800 running into an 8 ohm PJB C8 never goes above 40W on the master. Gain is generally between 4 and 7 depending on how hot of a bass I have plugged in. If/When I take it out, it will certainly go above the 40W value depending on the needs of the stage/room.

I disagree with not exceeding the rating of the cab with the master setting, depends on your gain staging, including how hot your bass guitar output is, how hard you attack the strings, & where the gain & EQ on the BB is set.
How robust your cabinet is matters as well. Some will let you know audibly when you're pushing the cab close to its limit & some will give little or no warning before physical damage occurs.

 

[ahbass2500]

Fair points. I assume he was maximizing his gain staging (like I do) which was a poor assumption. I also assumed he did not want to hit limiting that can occur at max (though some will be fine with it). Poor assumptions on my part. While neither of those are fab related hitting amp max while at the cabs max rating is probably going to sound terrible. Maybe not though.

 

[redstrand]

View attachment 3362055

Leave it to PJB to make a BB800 look massive. That’s gotta be a punchy beast

 

[J_Bass]

Leave it to PJB to make a BB800 look massive. That’s gotta be a punchy beast

Yes it is! Sounds so good, and it's so small it's almost unbelievable!

 

[wyleeboxer]

Yes it is! Sounds so good, and it's so small it's almost unbelievable!

Would to know how that sounds and works in a live band situation with light handed drummer?

 

[J_Bass]

Would to know how that sounds and works in a live band situation with light handed drummer?

Check this thread:

From Combo to Head and Cabinet. Need some advice.

 

[Xad]

How do I connect my computer too Bass Block so I hear through headphones So Bass and computer are both in headphones ??

Without knowing the specifics of your computer, I’d guess you will need a 2.5mm male TRS-to-XLR male cable, like this one. The 2.5mm TRS side will plug into the headphone jack on your computer. The XLR side will plug into the LINE-IN on the back of the BB800. Your headphones will plug into the headphone jack on the front of the BB800 (below the Passive/Active instrument inputs).

 

[d3mcgee]

Without knowing the specifics of your computer, I’d guess you will need a 2.5mm male TRS-to-XLR male cable, like this one. The 2.5mm TRS side will plug into the headphone jack on your computer. The XLR side will plug into the LINE-IN on the back of the BB800. Your headphones will plug into the headphone jack on the front of the BB800 (below the Passive/Active instrument inputs).

yes thx line in jack thats what I thought

 

[rsint]

Without knowing the specifics of your computer, I’d guess you will need a 2.5mm male TRS-to-XLR male cable, like this one. The 2.5mm TRS side will plug into the headphone jack on your computer. The XLR side will plug into the LINE-IN on the back of the BB800. Your headphones will plug into the headphone jack on the front of the BB800 (below the Passive/Active instrument inputs).

is the xlr input a stereo summing connection?
If not you will need one of these The Stereo-to-Mono Summing Cable That No One Makes | Late Reflections – the Silent Sky Studios Blog