Quilter Bass Block

[engedi1]

What’s you guy’s favorite settings to run on the bass block, I like to run the depth at about 1-2 o clock. And the contour around 9 o clock.

pretty much what I do exactly, especially with a passive P.

 

[redstrand]

There's a place close to me that has one, finding time to play it has been a PITA.

 

[greggory garner]

Yeah I’m playing a usa p bass, and a fender rumble 410 cab. Sounds great.

pretty much what I do exactly, especially with a passive P.

 

[GreyBeard]

Let me see if I've got this. If you are into the "Water Colors" type bass sound, (SeriousXM radio light Jazz) the BB800 doesn't embrace it.

 

[redstrand]

Let me see if I've got this. If you are into the "Water Colors" type bass sound, (SeriousXM radio light Jazz) the BB800 doesn't embrace it.

Then it sounds perfect for me

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Depth straight up, Contour one click to the right.
Perfect. I use a Pbass and a modern 5string Jazz type.

Also, i have a fixed frequency H/LPF on my board. High pass at 60Hz, Low pass at 4kHz.

The goal is to send the flattest signal to the board, and all the sound guy has to do to it is turn me up. My basses sit exactly where they’re supposed to, and nothing’s in the signal chain that shouldn’t be.
Perfection.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

About a year ago I was looking at this amp hard, as well as some others. I ended up buying the PV MM1000 instead mainly because I got a return with full warrantee for less than $450. Finally a few months ago a friend loaned me his BB800 for a couple of weeks and after playing it at home rehearsal and gigs I could not bond with it. The distinct lack of mid control was a deal breaker. I had the same issue with the Mesa subway800, which was addressed with the plus model. Without great mids control I'm out, that's where the money freqs are for me. I really wanted to love it. I could gig it just fine but wouldn't buy it. For reference I've used Glockenklang and Genz SM amps in recent years.

When my Brubaker still had an active preamp, i could use that to dial in all the extra mids and highs if I needed to. (I’ve since converted it to passive)
The amp’s main goal (IMO) is to put out exactly what you put in.

Still I can see how some wouldn’t like the BB’s “EQ” setup.

Strokes for folks, as they say.

 

[John D Harris]

About a year ago I was looking at this amp hard, as well as some others. I ended up buying the PV MM1000 instead mainly because I got a return with full warrantee for less than $450. Finally a few months ago a friend loaned me his BB800 for a couple of weeks and after playing it at home rehearsal and gigs I could not bond with it. The distinct lack of mid control was a deal breaker. I had the same issue with the Mesa subway800, which was addressed with the plus model. Without great mids control I'm out, that's where the money freqs are for me. I really wanted to love it. I could gig it just fine but wouldn't buy it. For reference I've used Glockenklang and Genz SM amps in recent years.

If rolling off the lows & highs doesn't get to your tone, there's units like the Empress ParaEQ.
...j/s...

 

[bdplaid]

I currently have a Ampeg pf-500 and a Rumble 500. Both are like new and I like them equally well. What possible excuse can I give my wife for needing a Quilter BB? Come on guys, help me out here.

The BB800 is more reliable than the PF and sounds oodles better than the Rumble, and is smaller and lighter. I had a PF800 that died, and currently have a Rumble 500, BTW, so I know of what I speak. But once you get the BB800, I bet you'll want to unload at least the PF. THAT the wife will love to hear.

 

[bdplaid]

Closest place that has them is in Parkersburg which is about 2 hrs away. I'm gonna have to schlep my cab down there, hook it up, and see and hear what happens.

Take the wife to dinner along the way. ;-)

 

[bdplaid]

About a year ago I was looking at this amp hard, as well as some others. I ended up buying the PV MM1000 instead mainly because I got a return with full warrantee for less than $450. Finally a few months ago a friend loaned me his BB800 for a couple of weeks and after playing it at home rehearsal and gigs I could not bond with it. The distinct lack of mid control was a deal breaker. I had the same issue with the Mesa subway800, which was addressed with the plus model. Without great mids control I'm out, that's where the money freqs are for me. I really wanted to love it. I could gig it just fine but wouldn't buy it. For reference I've used Glockenklang and Genz SM amps in recent years.

It's not a question of adding mids (which is always a crapshoot, because adding too much mid in the amps's factory-set frequency can generate some foul tone), but rather removing the frequencies around the midrange so that the mid freq's that are left shine through. I do that easily with the BB800 and I can get a very middy sound from it.

I had both a D800 and a D800+. I couldn't get the sound I liked from the D800, as it had the baked-in Mesa sound, and anything with parametric mids is too complex for use onstage, IMO. But of the two, I like the D800+ better.

Mo better, tho, is the BB800. I just don't need much of anything to make it sound good. To me that's the point: if one has to do EQ acrobatics to get the sound he likes, he should look for an amp that sounds better to him.

 

[bdplaid]

The BB800 is not shy in the mid range. In fact, thats its strong point IMO. Gorgeous mid range that just sits so great in a mix. That said, if you are into a modern tone this isn't necessarily the ideal amp. Its not going to sound even close to the Glock with its glassy high end. To me, it nails that classic bass sound.

Last night I played one of my active basses through the BB800 and it was spitting modern high end like nobody's biz. So it's more versatile than I thought. It really pushes the true bass tone through.

 

[GreyBeard]

Then it sounds perfect for me

Every time I accidentally punch in "Water Colors" it sounds like they are playing the same song with some "Slap Happy" bass player.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Replacement BB800 arrived today, noise floor now sounds as it should. What a great company, no issues with communication, information requested or getting taken care of! Just in time for a high volume gig tonight, looking forward to putting it to the test.

 

[redstrand]

I actually have time this afternoon, I'm going to try and demo one.

 

[jazzbass_5]

That magic moment when your BB800 fits perfectly in 2 of the holes on your 8X10 cabinet.

 

[redstrand]

Gotta say I was a bit underwhelmed this afternoon, they had a Mesa d800 sitting below it, tried it with two different basses. I can see the neutral comments about the sound, just lacked "soul" for a better word. Played both amps through the same cab and was like....hmmmmm. Like anything else I'd like to try it again and with a different cab and bass to have a better perspective.

 

[svtb15]

Which amp lacked soul?

Gotta say I was a bit underwhelmed this afternoon, they had a Mesa d800 sitting below it, tried it with two different basses. I can see the neutral comments about the sound, just lacked "soul" for a better word. Played both amps through the same cab and was like....hmmmmm. Like anything else I'd like to try it again and with a different cab and bass to have a better perspective.

 

[redstrand]

The quilter

 

[AMJBASS]

What was the cab? I've played or owned most of the micro amps on the market, and lacking soul is the last thing I'd say to describe the quilter. It has some midrange magic going on.