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Quilter Bass Block

#41
tombowlus said:
We are hoping to get one in for review. :thumbsup:
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I thought that was part of UL certification now (for bass amps, anyway). I just assumed that you personally played, well, everything.

EDIT: Okay, serious. I don't know how easy it would be to do this (don't know how much the "tubey" behavior of the amp is integral to it and how much it's something that can be switched on/off or dialed-in) but if the amp could function both as its tubey self (whatever rendition of tubey that happens to be) and as a clean poweramp, that'd be cool. Something that could function as a small-but-potent, clean poweramp, a harmonically-rich bass amp with simple but effective tone-shaping controls, and an unvoiced (in the sense of having no baked-in EQ) but harmonically rich power-amp with musical, tube-power-amp-inspired behavior could be cool.

Not saying that a simple and good-sounding 800 Watt bass amp wouldn't be cool, in and of itself, but I think the above, done well, would make for a compelling trifecta.
 
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#42
I find it disappointing to see the new Bass Block more modeled after a micro bass amp rather than Quilter's existing Tone Block 201 and Pro Block 200 products that clearly target post pedalboard/preamp setups.

I say this because the Bass Block features 2 instrument inputs and a MUTE button (not found on either the TB and PB), and does not feature an FX SEND/RETURN loop (as found on the TB and PB.)

Certainly, one can still connect their pedals/preamp to the Bass Block as a micro amp, but I am doubtful as many would plug their Active/Passive instrument directly into the appropriate front panel input and be content with the BB's preamp section alone, which is not as comprehensive as other micro amps. Having an FX loop could have helped to offset this, but the BB does not feature one. IMHO, consistent I/O and functionality between all Tone Block products would have been better for the product line. Additionally, the lack of an FX SEND/RETURN loop now most likely means the inability to tap the clean power section of the amp alone and bypass the built-in tonal coloration.

The existence of a MUTE switch again underscores the Bass Block as a micro bass amp and I am curious to see if Quilter provided a TUNER OUT jack on the rear of the amp, especially since no other Tone Block products feature one.

I am quite certain this new Tone Block will sound great, but I really wish it were more like its siblings! ;)

Cheers!
 
#44
tombowlus said:
Personally, I have never thought of either dual inputs or a mute switch as being indicative of a micro bass amp. They are great features, welcome on any bass amp, IME/IMHO. Especially so with regard to the mute switch.

YMMV, of course.
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In re-reading my post, my apologies for not being more clear, but it was simply "bass amp" I meant in comparison and preceded it by the word "micro" because of the amp's form factor.

Certainly, while dual inputs and mute switches are appreciated features not exclusive to any one amp size, on an amp in a product line targeting pedal board setups their value is questionable, IMHO. ;)

Cheers!
 
#45
CharlieC said:
In re-reading my post, my apologies for not being more clear, but it was simply "bass amp" I meant in comparison and preceded it by the word "micro" because of the amp's form factor.

Certainly, while dual inputs and mute switches are appreciated features not exclusive to any one amp size, on an amp in a product line targeting pedal board setups their value is questionable, IMHO. ;)

Cheers!
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Understood! Thanks for the clarification. :thumbsup:
 
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#46
An image search today resulted in pics that show the Bass Block 800 now featuring:
  • Front panel 1/8" headphone out
  • Rear panel XLR line input
  • A single SpeakON out (and 2 x 1/4" speaker outs)
As suspected, no TUNER OUT was provided to accompany the front panel MUTE switch.

This further morphing into a bass amp and further deviation from the existing Tone Block line has further saddened me, but I am still hoping it sounds great!
 
#47
CharlieC said:
An image search today resulted in pics that show the Bass Block 800 now featuring:
  • Front panel 1/8" headphone out
  • Rear panel XLR line input
  • A single SpeakON out (and 2 x 1/4" speaker outs)
As suspected, no TUNER OUT was provided to accompany the front panel MUTE switch.

This further morphing into a bass amp and further deviation from the existing Tone Block line has further saddened me, but I am still hoping it sounds great!
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When we met with Quilter at Summer NAMM, I did not get the impression that they were targeting pedal board setups. Rather, I think "bass amp" is, indeed, their target (with the Bass Block 800). They also mentioned the two bass cabs they have in development.
 
#48
There's plenty of bass players who use massive pedalboards through conventional amps. In what way does a lightweight micro amp deviate from the Tone Block series? I have a TB200 for guitar and I would happily play a gig with just that or maybe add an overdrive pedal just for flavor.
 
#49
tombowlus said:
When we met with Quilter at Summer NAMM, I did not get the impression that they were targeting pedal board setups. Rather, I think "bass amp" is, indeed, their target (with the Bass Block 800). They also mentioned the two bass cabs they have in development.
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Thanks for the additional new product news from NAMM, Tom, and good on Quilter for the bass product development!

Although I have yet to find any specific to the Bass Block 800, there is verbage and other product description on Quilter's website regarding the existing Tone Block products:

"For players who get their tone from pedals or rack mount effects, the Tone Block 200 delivers huge power to any speaker ..."

"... the Pro Block is sure to replace a great many standalone heads for players the world over."​

I perhaps have over-inferred on the above, and confused by the term "Block" in all the product names, but given that the existing products look to be power amps with some added tube-emulating circuitry, I assumed the new Bass Block would also be along those same lines.

In particular, the stripped-down front panels of the Block products for guitar and suggested placement on pedal boards led me further that these products were to be an alternative power amp solution for players achieving tone via pedals or other external preamp devices. This made sense and greatly interested me.

But as the great Benny Hill once said, I guess one should never assume! :D

Cheers!
 
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#50
CharlieC said:
"For players who get their tone from pedals or rack mount effects, the Tone Block 200 delivers huge power to any speaker ..."

"... the Pro Block is sure to replace a great many standalone heads for players the world over."​

I perhaps have over-inferred on the above, and confused by the term "Block" in all the product names, but given that the existing products look to be power amps with some added tube-emulating circuitry, I assumed the new Bass Block would also be along those same lines.

In particular, the stripped-down front panels of the Block products for guitar and suggested placement on pedal boards led me further that these products were to be an alternative power amp solution for players achieving tone via pedals or other external preamp devices. This made sense and greatly interested me.

But as the great Benny Hill once said, I guess one should never assume! :D

Cheers!
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I totally see where you're coming from now. Reading those descriptions I probably would've deduced the same thing! Still excited for it nonetheless.:thumbsup:
 
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#51
ric4682 said:
There's plenty of bass players who use massive pedalboards through conventional amps. In what way does a lightweight micro amp deviate from the Tone Block series? I have a TB200 for guitar and I would happily play a gig with just that or maybe add an overdrive pedal just for flavor.
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I agree completely and also would be happy to gig with a Tone Block product for bass with just a pedal or two in front of it.

The Tone Block 201 and Pro Block 200 products tick all the boxes for me except for the low wattage.

Instead of just increasing the above products to 800 watts, Quilter has chosen to add features to the BB800 that now make it more like a full-fledged bass amp. Certainly, the BB800 can be used as above in the exact same way as the TB201 and PB200, but I am not keen on the features they added and/or omitted over the other products in the product line. This is the deviation I was referring to.

Cheers!
 
#52
I'm definitely gonna get one. I have the Pro Block 200, 101 head, and two Tone Block 200s. The Tone Blocks get fed through a Radial Bones Twin City switcher. Then I can have the fuzz and mids go to my Bag End 12 and the clean lows to my Bag End 15. My neighbors hate me..
My son has a Quilter Micro Pro head and the two matching Quilter 12s. It'll take your head off. He said it has the best overdrive he has ever used..
I think Quilter will be around for a long time. And the price will climb soon..
They are the black box I've been waiting for..
 
#55
basscooker said:
K.I.S.S. (Does anybody remember this?!?)

-Small micro/half rack/ large pedal sized.

-High power output @ low THD

-Instrument and line level in

-Hit the sub $400 price point


Get rid of all that other stuff. HPF is cool, DI is great, tone controls are a bonus, but suddenly it just becomes another head. NOT what some of us want. Sure, it isn't the largest segment of the market. But there IS a market. And the power section is already ON the market. And somebody will make it sooner or later. Why not be the first?

You don't need to impress other engineers with it. Just make it deliver reliable high power with as little THD as you can in a dependable, light, small and sturdy package. Leave the bells and whistles for Rev 2.0 when you make a head with the same power section in it for a higher price point. I just want a power amp that doesn't have to be put in a rack and doesn't have a preamp I'll not be using, but pay for.

Flame suit engaged. Won't change my opinion on this one. Where is my black box? I ended up here at TB while looking for a MFR to make this near exact thing FOR ME TO SELL. Time after time told there's not a market, or that MI is too crowded for new products. At the right price point, this thing could become, IMO, much like the obligatory DI in the bag. You may not need it, but you have one with you for every gig. That seems like an awful lot of sales if gigging players view it as a great thing to have on standby with only a little space and a couple of pounds in their backpack. Nobody needed an Ipad before it came out. I think that product did okay.
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Bingo! Give that man a cupie doll!!! I'd even raise the price point a bit for a reliable, no thermal shutdown, compact, single channel power amp with power and slam like a lead sled. I know about Jule's M700 and the Demeter Minnie, but those price points are pretty high. Shall I keep on dreaming???
 
#58
Interceptor said:
This thing has me interested. I'll likely be an early adopter. I'm ready for what it does in that sized package.
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I thought about a power amp/pre-amp rig for years, and never pulled the trigger. I will be getting this thing.
I have Quilter guitar stuff and it is really well thought out, excellent sounding stuff. And tiny. Three year warranty.
So now I can have my QSC-based rig in a tiny head the size of "The Stand".
 

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