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Quilter Bass Block

#821
Okay, I've had some time with the BB800 and I have found one significant piece of info I want to share.

When I was hear Pat Q talk about the output section, he said to initially set the output volume to match the power rating of your cabs, then adjust the overall volume with the pre-gain control. I did this but was not happy with the sound I was getting.

I continued to do this for the first half dozen gigs and was getting a bit frustrated that I wasn't achieving the buttery smoove sound I was expecting.

Since my Barefaced One10's are rated at 250w, I set the output to a skosh over the 400w mark, but I was not bowled over.

Last Sunday I decided to go with a pair of SVT210AV cabs and this time I set the output to about the 160w mark (instead of 400w as the two cabs together are rate) and OMG what a difference! Like warm liquid chocolate pouring in my ears. The combination of the BB and the 210AVs just was magic.

Last night I tried the same thing the BF cabs, and again, thick buttery orgasms of bass delight!

So a hint, if you're not knocked out by your BB800 sound, back off the main volume a bit and see if that opens things up.
 
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#822
BigEarl said:
Okay, I've had some time with the BB800 and I have found one significant piece of info I want to share.

When I was hear Pat Q talk about the output section, he said to initially set the output volume to match the power rating of your cabs, then adjust the overall volume with the pre-gain control. I did this but was not happy with the sound I was getting.

I continued to do this for the first half dozen gigs and was getting a bit frustrated that I wasn't achieving the buttery smoove sound I was expecting.

Since my Barefaced One10's are rated at 250w, I set the output to a skosh over the 400w mark, but I was not bowled over.

Last Sunday I decided to go with a pair of SVT210AV cabs and this time I set the output to about the 160w mark (instead of 400w as the two cabs together are rate) and OMG what a difference! Like warm liquid chocolate pouring in my ears. The combination of the BB and the 210AVs just was magic.

Last night I tried the same thing the BF cabs, and again, thick buttery orgasms of bass delight!

So a hint, if you're not knocked out by your BB800 sound, back off the main volume a bit and see if that opens things up.
Click to expand...

I've found that my One10's are fussy about input gain settings with the BB800. Too little and the sound is weak and too much and the cabs seem to "limit".
I haven't had the same problem when pairing with my full range TKS 1126 cabs (much deeper cabs though).

I think there are limits to what such a small 15lb cab can project but they do have great tone.
 
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#823
BigEarl said:
Okay, I've had some time with the BB800 and I have found one significant piece of info I want to share.

When I was hear Pat Q talk about the output section, he said to initially set the output volume to match the power rating of your cabs, then adjust the overall volume with the pre-gain control. I did this but was not happy with the sound I was getting.

I continued to do this for the first half dozen gigs and was getting a bit frustrated that I wasn't achieving the buttery smoove sound I was expecting.

Since my Barefaced One10's are rated at 250w, I set the output to a skosh over the 400w mark, but I was not bowled over.

Last Sunday I decided to go with a pair of SVT210AV cabs and this time I set the output to about the 160w mark (instead of 400w as the two cabs together are rate) and OMG what a difference! Like warm liquid chocolate pouring in my ears. The combination of the BB and the 210AVs just was magic.

Last night I tried the same thing the BF cabs, and again, thick buttery orgasms of bass delight!

So a hint, if you're not knocked out by your BB800 sound, back off the main volume a bit and see if that opens things up.
Click to expand...
Experiment with the gain! Turn it up until you start to get some hair on it! Turn it all the way up and then back it off until you are happy! To me that is the secret to the amp. With a passive J Bass I like it between 6 and 8, then I set the master to the appropriate (?) volume.
 
Last edited:
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#824
Stu_Bass said:
Experiment with the gain! Turn it up until you start to get some hair on it! Turn it all the way up and then back it off until you are happy! To me that is the secret to the amp. With a passive J Bass I like it between 6 and 8, then I set the master to the appropriate (?) volume.
Click to expand...
100% agree. With other amps I have owned I have the gain at like 9 or 10 and the masters pretty high. But with the quilter I get amazing tone with the gain at 2 or 3 oclock and the master around the 160 watt point or a little higher.
 
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#828
BigEarl said:
Okay, I've had some time with the BB800 and I have found one significant piece of info I want to share.

When I was hear Pat Q talk about the output section, he said to initially set the output volume to match the power rating of your cabs, then adjust the overall volume with the pre-gain control. I did this but was not happy with the sound I was getting.

I continued to do this for the first half dozen gigs and was getting a bit frustrated that I wasn't achieving the buttery smoove sound I was expecting.

Since my Barefaced One10's are rated at 250w, I set the output to a skosh over the 400w mark, but I was not bowled over.

Last Sunday I decided to go with a pair of SVT210AV cabs and this time I set the output to about the 160w mark (instead of 400w as the two cabs together are rate) and OMG what a difference! Like warm liquid chocolate pouring in my ears. The combination of the BB and the 210AVs just was magic.

Last night I tried the same thing the BF cabs, and again, thick buttery orgasms of bass delight!

So a hint, if you're not knocked out by your BB800 sound, back off the main volume a bit and see if that opens things up.
Click to expand...
So in theory if running the BB800 into 2 genzler 12x3 Arrays at rating of 350 w each =700w then 700 should be the max to start backing of and keeping the gain about 2 o'clock until workable volume is reached. I tried it with one cab at 350 max and gain about 2 and it's explosively loud and punchy warm.
 
#829
dinoadventures said:
What did you get to replace it and why?
Click to expand...
I bought one of the first 50 when they came out. I returned it after a week or so. I really liked it overall. I loved the Depth knob but didn't quite have the control over the mids and highs that I wanted. Also, mine had a hissing/white noise issue that I believe got squared away in later units. Overall, I thought it was quite dry sounding in comparison to the Walkabout I've been using for the last several years. I've bought many amps and preamps since I've had my Walkabout but I end up selling them all. I'm kind of married to the WA tone and feel by now I think. Everything else just feels boring to be honest.
 
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#830
I keep setting my B|Amp (which I bought to play acoustic instruments out of) up with an "electric" setting using some compression, a little o/d and some EQ but when plug the 800 in it's instant gratification. Crank the gain up a bit, knock a click or two of top end off and "bam" rock'n'roll!
 
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#831
Stu_Bass said:
I keep setting my B|Amp (which I bought to play acoustic instruments out of) up with an "electric" setting using some compression, a little o/d and some EQ but when plug the 800 in it's instant gratification. Crank the gain up a bit, knock a click or two of top end off and "bam" rock'n'roll!
Click to expand...
Can you get the B|Amp to sound about the same or are you still working on it❔
 
#832
John D Harris said:
Can you get the B|Amp to sound about the same or are you still working on it❔
Click to expand...
I haven't tried to match the sound of the Quilter but the Quilter just seems to have a more rock/blues quality without trying. The B|Amp is an awesome amp in it's own right but is more polite. I have just started messing with the new beta release of the drives on the Bergie so who knows. It is not the reason I own it so I don't much care but will investigate each upgrade.
 
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#833
Stu_Bass said:
Quilter has made some interesting news available to their Facebook friends. It concerns some new guitar oriented gear but the design of the front panel and feature set has me hoping a next gen Bass Block might have a few more knobs and jacks. Can't share with you but if you add them as a friend you can see for yourself or wait until the official release this Friday.
Click to expand...

The new Quilter 101 Reverb is unfortunately not a bass product, but I just love the continual product refinements I see coming out of Quilter Labs!

In particular, this new version did away with the flimsy 1/8" headphone jack which I similarly suggested for the BB800. Also, the inclusion of an effect loop and placement of all 1/4" I/O on the lower front panel is another thing I would like to see evolve on the BB800.

At this rate, we bass players are only a revision or two away from total Bass Block perfection! ;)

bb_101r.png
 
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#834
Stu_Bass said:
I haven't tried to match the sound of the Quilter but the Quilter just seems to have a more rock/blues quality without trying. The B|Amp is an awesome amp in it's own right but is more polite. I have just started messing with the new beta release of the drives on the Bergie so who knows. It is not the reason I own it so I don't much care but will investigate each upgrade.
Click to expand...
I didn't care for the B amp at all. That's just my opinion, but it lacks balls compared to the Quilter. It may be your cup of tea. Night and day improvement in tone when I A/B'ed them with my precision bass.
 
#835
Stu_Bass said:
I haven't tried to match the sound of the Quilter but the Quilter just seems to have a more rock/blues quality without trying. The B|Amp is an awesome amp in it's own right but is more polite. I have just started messing with the new beta release of the drives on the Bergie so who knows. It is not the reason I own it so I don't much care but will investigate each upgrade.
Click to expand...
Keep us in the loop as you learn more about the B|Amp.
I assume you're posting on the B|Amp NAMM thread, might be a better place than on a BB800 thread (sorry for the derail)?
 
#836
CharlieC said:
The new Quilter 101 Reverb is unfortunately not a bass product, but I just love the continual product refinements I see coming out of Quilter Labs!

In particular, this new version did away with the flimsy 1/8" headphone jack which I similarly suggested for the BB800. Also, the inclusion of an effect loop and placement of all 1/4" I/O on the lower front panel is another thing I would like to see evolve on the BB800.

At this rate, we bass players are only a revision or two away from total Bass Block perfection! ;)

bb_101r.png
Click to expand...
Gain-Bass-Low Mid-High Mid-Treble-FX Mix-Master
 
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#838
B-line said:
I would love to hear it through the Berg 410. I bet that really kills.
And agree with your speculation.
Yes, and Yes! The HS410 lends itself very very well to the BB800, Previously, this cab was "assigned" to a TFB-750A and/or the MB LM800 Tube, (limited edition no less!). Both very nice amps, it goes without saying I think.
But- The Quilter puts out something extra, and at that size & that price...
I'm a fan.
Click to expand...

I am curious if you still felt the Quilter "bests" the MB LM800 Tube. I got to play through the LMT800 recently, and was really impressed with its output and tone shaping (pretty stout even at 8 ohm). That said, I really like that the Quilter is USA made, simple, compact. Thanks for any further thoughts :)
 
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