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Quilter Bass Block

#321
kasbrey said:
I used to use a Two Notes Le Bass (set to a clean warm sound) before my previous amp and I was very enthusiastic about the result. With the BB800 I feel that the Le Bass doesn't add anything to the tone compared to going straight in to the passive input. It doesn't sound bad, it just doesn't add anything.
The tone of the BB800 is just superb. It has breathed new life into all of my basses.
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Unless one enjoys Le Bass dirty channel, as I do. ;)

I cannot wait to experience the BB800 arriving for me this Friday!
 
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#322
basscapes said:
That's the thing- when plugging into the back (XLR input), the 800 acts strictly as a Class D power amplifier (or any other power amplifier of the same sensitivity)- it would need a line level input.

It's only when one uses the front panel inputs, does the signal get routed through all that preamp/tube-like goodness. My thought on this is that Pat designed the front end to behave (and sound) like a tube amp (a clean one, which IIRC, can be pushed somewhat into crunch for bass). BTW, curious, what is your preferred amp again?

I'm really looking for the overall reviews of this thing driving the Ampeg 810. Some people have tried it and have been blown away so far (both tonally and output level-wise). I am waiting to hear a "real" (?) review of it and a compare/contrast against similar amps (and of course, the "big guns" like the SVT and other tube heads) before I pull the trigger.

BTW, you are just "up the road" from me- I'm near Wichita, KS for now!
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Cool. If you ever want to make a roadtrip feel free to give me a call and I will brew a pot of coffee and we can talk bass.
I guess I better PM you on my "preferred amp" as if I mention specifics I could get in trouble. I think my point was that, in general, an integrated design may prove to be more valuable or just as good as a separate design.
 
#323
bebass said:
Cool. If you ever want to make a roadtrip feel free to give me a call and I will brew a pot of coffee and we can talk bass.
I guess I better PM you on my "preferred amp" as if I mention specifics I could get in trouble. I think my point was that, in general, an integrated design may prove to be more valuable or just as good as a separate design.
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That sounds good. Will have to try and get a Saturday free (arg!). Bring my Bastard Bass with me (early 90's Yamaha BBN4/DiMarzio DP123 w/series/parallel switching/Bad Ass II bridge/Grover Tuners/Rotosound 100-80-60-40). Guess the secret is out now! LOL

Feel free to PM me is you want.
 
#324
OK for the guys wanting to know if the BB800 works with a Ampeg 8x10e IT DOES and it sounds amazing.. I am in love with this amp I spent 6 hours with it last night and with another very experienced bass player to listen and make tweaks.

So the Quick run down goes like this The Hartke LH1000 is now for sale it does not have the tone or the power of the BB800 so thats all I will say about the Hartke. The BB800 just flat out, Out performed the Hartke with every cab we tried last night.

This is all from my ear please do not take any of this for more then it is, It's only my Opinion..
Too start the Ampeg 8x10e has sounded better then ever before but still a bit boomy for my taste but way better then I was ever able to dial it in before.

Then the Eden 2x10 and Avatar 2x12 now this is where I started thinking this amp is magic, I have never been able to dial a tone in for this combo "I even started listening to those guys that say you can't mix speakers". So with the BB800 hoked up to this combo it sounded amazing out of the gate and with in 20 mins I had this combo of cabs sounding better then anything I have played to date, I turned the Eden horn all the way off and set the Avatar horn to level 3, I had the Depth set at 1 O'clock and the Contour Set at 11 O'clock master at 600 watts and the Gain at 5 and this was amazing.

Now here is another cool thing, We had a complete Markbass Rig SD800 amp and Markbass 104hr cab it's a very happy slap bass set up and does it's job great for the funk Fusion type playing. I hooked the BB800 up to the 104hr and it was much warmer sounding then the SD800 but with the Depth and contour knobs I was able to very closely reproduce the sound the markbass sd800 was making.

So the short end of the story is, I believe with a little time this little amp can do it all and if you have a full rig and are very happy with it but just need a back up this would be great.
Or like me save some space and set up time Mount it to the pedal board and have less to haul around.

I could not be happier with my Quilter BB800. If anyone wants more details please hit me up.
Sorry for the run on sentences.
 
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#325
For those who've tried both the bb800 and the mesa subway d800 I am curious as to what your thoughts are between the two. I sold my Gk mb800 fusion in favor of the mesa and like it just not sure and thinking I might like the bb800 better .
 
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#326
johnnybass01 said:
For those who've tried both the bb800 and the mesa subway d800 I am curious as to what your thoughts are between the two. I sold my Gk mb800 fusion in favor of the mesa and like it just not sure and thinking I might like the bb800 better .
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You and I are along the same lines- the BB800 and the D-800 are my two "must get out and hear them" amps. The GK (700RB) and the Ampeg (SVT3) are pretty much out of the running in my books (my Ampeg 810 is enough to carry out to gig!), so I'm thinking light and powerful...

Guitar Center is two blocks away from me (for the D-800), but unfortunately, they don't have one at the store... Typical around these parts; being a dealer for X product s great, but not actually having it to demo in store sucks...

There is a vendor that carries Quilter and is a few hours away (and has it there!). Will most likely be hitting him up in the not so distant future.
 
#328
I tried a D-800 in a store once but I was not immediately struck with the quality of the tone in comparison to the amp I already had, and certainly not in comparison to the BB800. The introduction of warmth via the voicing control seemed to be accompanied by a compression that I found unpleasant. I might feel different if I tried it with a band but I'm comfortable with my purchase of the Bass Block :).
 
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#329
I Have been with Gk for a couple of years strayed to genz Benz but didn't like it very much.with my 800 fusion I always dialed back the high and low mids along with the treble. I did like the power the GK had but do like running the mesa flat . It doesn't seem to have as much huevos as the GK not that I ever needed it all anyway.
 
#330
Well I will find out soon enough, I pulled the trigger so I will see how well each one works with my homebuilt cab I call it the beast . It's a slightly smaller fearful 15/6/1 style design, tuned to 50hz with a 3015lf 4 ohm, fatal pro 5" mid with a compression horn and a Patterson crossover. I liked the idea of the mesa being able to handle a 2 ohm load but if I ever need more I have a fearful 12/6 at 8 ohms that should pair up nicely. Given the quilter can handle a 2.6 ohm load.
 
#331
Works pretty well with my fEARfuls.
14522764_10207299000173859_7863685753169934303_n.jpg
 
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#333
I got to try the Quilter with a Berg NV610 and a Pre Fender SWR 15 and 2x10 and a Mesa PH 2x10 And I was blown away buy the results.
1st thing is 1st I never changed any settings on the amp or my bass no pedals on just Bass into Quilter and out to the cabs.

1st I thought I would plug into the berg and be blown away and I was not I was actually a bit disappointed based on the price of the cab. but the Quilter powered it fine with no problems.

2nd the Mesa, now I have never been a mesa fan anyway but again the BB800 made it sound good or at least better then my Hartke it just was flat or not color full.

But then I plug into the SWR cabs and holly crap the sound I have always been looking for Bass you can feel with out any flutter nice tight bass and very good definition with out sounding Hifi or driving a bunch of mids in the mix.

Anyway this all comes back to personal taste and flavor But I have ran the BB800 with a good size list of cabs and it always has done it's job plenty of power and tone shaping ability, I am very happy with my BB800 and now very happy with the SWR mini stack I just pick up last night.
 
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#334
Jacobflyin said:
I got to try the Quilter with a Berg NV610 and a Pre Fender SWR 15 and 2x10 and a Mesa PH 2x10 And I was blown away buy the results.
1st thing is 1st I never changed any settings on the amp or my bass no pedals on just Bass into Quilter and out to the cabs.

1st I thought I would plug into the berg and be blown away and I was not I was actually a bit disappointed based on the price of the cab. but the Quilter powered it fine with no problems.

2nd the Mesa, now I have never been a mesa fan anyway but again the BB800 made it sound good or at least better then my Hartke it just was flat or not color full.

But then I plug into the SWR cabs and holly crap the sound I have always been looking for Bass you can feel with out any flutter nice tight bass and very good definition with out sounding Hifi or driving a bunch of mids in the mix.

Anyway this all comes back to personal taste and flavor But I have ran the BB800 with a good size list of cabs and it always has done it's job plenty of power and tone shaping ability, I am very happy with my BB800 and now very happy with the SWR mini stack I just pick up last night.
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Those are great impressions and observations!

My "old rig" was an SWR Workingman 4x10 and a Peavey Scorpion 15 in a DIY slotported cabinet. They rocked well and hard for what they were. My current speaker is an Ampeg 810E Classic. Ironically, my very FIRST rig was a Traynor 2x15 powered by an SLM Ampeg V2 (yes, a guitar head! I was 16 and had been playing a few months and had no idea there was a difference!). It wasn't loud, but if pushed just enough, there was a "magic" to the tone (probably being a tube head).

I'm not into "hi-fi/studio monitor sound at band volume level" speakers like fEARful and that genre. I respect those types of systems and I know they have their place and their fans, but I like the "rock out" sound of an SVT-like/big rig. That's why the idea of the Quilter appeals to me. Interesting that you mention the "Mesa sound". While the only real player I know (and have HEARD extensively on record and live) that used any Mesa gear is Justin from Tool (and he's using GK amps driving Mesa bottoms now...), so I don't know exactly what the Mesa "house sound" is yet... Hoping to compare the two (D800 against the BB800) soon enough to actually put down the coin on one of them...

Thanks again for your observations!
 
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#336
I checked out the BB800 last week at a local store (post-lesson), which started carrying Quilter amps. In short, I was extremely impressed of the BB800 sound thru a Mesa 15. No, I should say, I looooved this friggin' box. Sweet Chocolate Jesus, this amp is amazing!!!!! I may have to go back just to demo it again. I may bring my Aggie GS 112T to see of it can handle it, but dunno if a single 300 W/8Ohm cab can handle the BB800. I saw the price at $600...AND made in USA (see gif), enuff said!

mindblown_st.gif
 
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