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- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,516
- 19,950
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Not sure. Keep in mind, the BB800 has two 1/4" speaker outs, in addition to the one speakon.
I just put an order in with ZZounds for a BB800. I'm hoping that it, combined with the Mr Black Bass OD, can help ease my Mesa 400+ toward retirement, shaving about 75lb off of my rig. Updates to follow!
Gave my BB800 a brief trial run last night. So far I'm really impressed. With all controls set flat it gets a warm transparent tone that lets the sound of your bass come through. I played all 4 of my basses through it, Zon, active jazz, passive p and passive p with flats and they all sounded great, but especially the P basses! I can't wait to hear this amp in a live situation.
How many of you have ran the BB800 atr 2ohms? or a 4ohm cab and 8ohm cab combination this should work out too 2.6ohms? does it work with a 2ohm load or does it clip out?
I'll find out as I have two Audiokenesis 4 ohm cabs that I intend to use with my BB800.
I've run it with 3 x 8 ohm cabinets (2.67 ohm load) with no issues.
That seems very strange as it is just making the 800W available at that setting (everything in front impacts, I realize).Whew! For a minute I thought you were insane
All kidding aside, I find that the BB800 starts to get sloppy north of 3 o'clock on the MASTER should there be some decent approach on the limiting circuitry (i.e. GAIN knob.) YMMV.
Anyone else have this experience?
I used to run my QSC PLX1602 wide open almost all the time - adjusted the output SPL with the preamp.
I had my first session with the BB800 and my production rig last night (Barefaced SuperTwin) and I have to say I'm fully impressed. I gave the 400+ a decent workout beforehand in order to establish some expectations and then let it rip. The amount of headroom this thing has is just silly. Most of the playing happened with a variety of pre-amps/dirt boxes, primarily the Mr Black Bass OD. The BB800 spit out everything I threw at it flawlessly and the EQ controls were for the most part spot-on. I'm using the EQ to finish the tone, not sculpt from the ground up, and it shone in this role. I could quibble a bit and say that it would be nice to have a bit more granular control over midrange/treble rather than choosing between a scooped contour sound and a low-treble sound, but this could always be accomplished via an EQ in the signal chain. I've ordered a larger pedalboard in order to get it on the ground and move to a 2 piece rig. I can't say enough about this amp, besides how many other amps can you buy these days that come with their own purse?
Here's the BB800 sitting on top of the behemoth that it's relegating to the bench. I'll post another once it's living on my pedalboard.
Here's the BB800 sitting on top of the behemoth that it's relegating to the bench. I'll post another once it's living on my pedalboard.
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I am intrigued with the two tone controls of the BB800, since I could not care less for tweeters or anything over 10k Hz it sounds perfect for my old school applications. I don't pop, slap, tap or spank so needing anything remotely resembling "bite" is not in my vocabulary. I do like some transient highs that make a fuller, more rounded tone, but the are not the focus. Great review man!I had my first session with the BB800 and my production rig last night (Barefaced SuperTwin) and I have to say I'm fully impressed. I gave the 400+ a decent workout beforehand in order to establish some expectations and then let it rip. The amount of headroom this thing has is just silly. Most of the playing happened with a variety of pre-amps/dirt boxes, primarily the Mr Black Bass OD. The BB800 spit out everything I threw at it flawlessly and the EQ controls were for the most part spot-on. I'm using the EQ to finish the tone, not sculpt from the ground up, and it shone in this role. I could quibble a bit and say that it would be nice to have a bit more granular control over midrange/treble rather than choosing between a scooped contour sound and a low-treble sound, but this could always be accomplished via an EQ in the signal chain. I've ordered a larger pedalboard in order to get it on the ground and move to a 2 piece rig. I can't say enough about this amp, besides how many other amps can you buy these days that come with their own purse?
Here's the BB800 sitting on top of the behemoth that it's relegating to the bench. I'll post another once it's living on my pedalboard.
I think you would love the BB800. For the guy who likes to plug in and play, with minimal fiddling, this is a good choice. I can plug in my P bass with its passive volume and tone control, set the BB800 with all controls at 12 oclock and get a simply wonderful rock n roll P bass tone. And then one needs to spend about 45 seconds on the two tone controls if one needs to dial some mid out, or some boom out for the room. Perfect! Especially for the working bass player playing clubs. Hard to beat imho. And then if I really want to get nutty with tone manipulation, I have my Darkglass vintage ultra which is a 4 band eq with two variable mid range control. Between the two of these things, I've got it covered, whatever 'it' happens to be.
Here's the BB800 resting in its new home on my pedalboard, thanks to the miracle of 24" zip ties. I had to leave the feet on as they're attached to metal posts that extend downward from the chassis. I suppose this makes sense as there are vents on the bottom of the unit, and it still fits nicely in the pedalboard case. Rules!
That's effing brilliant! I need to do this.Here's the BB800 resting in its new home on my pedalboard, thanks to the miracle of 24" zip ties. I had to leave the feet on as they're attached to metal posts that extend downward from the chassis. I suppose this makes sense as there are vents on the bottom of the unit, and it still fits nicely in the pedalboard case. Rules!
I was looking at the Quilter website and saw this little MicroBlock 45 - now that's cool - pedal sized amp - hmmmm - a bass version maybe? I'm sure Pat can figure out how to do an 800W version for bass 
I've been using an EHX Magnum 44 for a few years to power an old Hartke 115 in church which has been ace. Think the Quilter will be better though based on peoples experience of the BB800I was looking at the Quilter website and saw this little MicroBlock 45 - now that's cool - pedal sized amp - hmmmm - a bass version maybe? I'm sure Pat can figure out how to do an 800W version for bass
