....too much guys! 
drool Just ordered one!
drool Just ordered one!
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This past Friday was my first gig with the BB800 and a couple Genzler BA12-3s. The short version is, I’ve never been happier with my tone. Great dispersment and thickness and nothing but compliments from the band and audience.
The long version:
The load in was basically ideal. One trip with a cab in each hand and the bass on my back with the head in the pocket of the gig bag. One more trip for all my cables and pedalboard. The gig was at a smallish dive bar; a dirty but fun rock and roll place. I’ve played there before with various rigs so I know what to expect.
I was using this in a trio setting (drums, guitar, bass) playing mostly classic rock, funk, and jamband stuff. I was playing my main (and only) bass, a 2007 Rickenbacker 4003. Since this was my first gig with it I just dialed the Gain, Depth, and Contour knobs all at 12 o’clock and set the master to taste. I’ve had amps that were full, but not clear (Fender Rumble), amps that were clear, but not full (multiple Carvin rigs), and amps that were neither full or clear enough (looking at you, Aguilar TH500...). We did a little sound checking and I immediately noticed how clear it sounded, but still very full.
I have a modest pedal board that goes like this: polytune>Maxon CP9 Pro+>OC2>Aguilar Octamizer>Digitech Whammy (brand new addition, still figuring out how to best use it)>Aguilar Agro>MXR M81 preamp/DI. Every pedal had new life and clarity through this new rig. Both octavers had some serious MEAT on them bones and the overdrive was grindy and thick. It sounded glorious.
Throughout the gig I never adjusted the depth, contour, or gain. I noticed halfway through that I was a little loud in the mix. Our drummer hit very hard so this mix was already very loud. I looked over to see where the master was set...40 watts.
I’ve owned the Aguilar TH500, Fender Rumble, and GK mb500 Fusion, Ampeg PF500, and PF800,and Carvin B2000. The Quilter is noticeably “better” than any other class D head I’ve used for straight up tone and feel. It’s more full, more clear, has more slam, and needs little to no EQing to sound great. It took everything I threw it including boosted sub octaves with lots of distortion from my Argo pedal, fast and funky slap passages, huge dubby hip hop lines, and just asked for more.
To say I’m happy with this rig is an understatement.
The long version:
The load in was basically ideal. One trip with a cab in each hand and the bass on my back with the head in the pocket of the gig bag. One more trip for all my cables and pedalboard. The gig was at a smallish dive bar; a dirty but fun rock and roll place. I’ve played there before with various rigs so I know what to expect.
I was using this in a trio setting (drums, guitar, bass) playing mostly classic rock, funk, and jamband stuff. I was playing my main (and only) bass, a 2007 Rickenbacker 4003. Since this was my first gig with it I just dialed the Gain, Depth, and Contour knobs all at 12 o’clock and set the master to taste. I’ve had amps that were full, but not clear (Fender Rumble), amps that were clear, but not full (multiple Carvin rigs), and amps that were neither full or clear enough (looking at you, Aguilar TH500...). We did a little sound checking and I immediately noticed how clear it sounded, but still very full.
I have a modest pedal board that goes like this: polytune>Maxon CP9 Pro+>OC2>Aguilar Octamizer>Digitech Whammy (brand new addition, still figuring out how to best use it)>Aguilar Agro>MXR M81 preamp/DI. Every pedal had new life and clarity through this new rig. Both octavers had some serious MEAT on them bones and the overdrive was grindy and thick. It sounded glorious.
Throughout the gig I never adjusted the depth, contour, or gain. I noticed halfway through that I was a little loud in the mix. Our drummer hit very hard so this mix was already very loud. I looked over to see where the master was set...40 watts.
I’ve owned the Aguilar TH500, Fender Rumble, and GK mb500 Fusion, Ampeg PF500, and PF800,and Carvin B2000. The Quilter is noticeably “better” than any other class D head I’ve used for straight up tone and feel. It’s more full, more clear, has more slam, and needs little to no EQing to sound great. It took everything I threw it including boosted sub octaves with lots of distortion from my Argo pedal, fast and funky slap passages, huge dubby hip hop lines, and just asked for more.
To say I’m happy with this rig is an understatement.
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Yeah, that's kind of a problem - The Quilter is so clear it lets you know when your pedals aren't cutting it. In my case, I got the best sound turning everything off. I'm not using my Ampeg SCR-DI (not needed with this amp). And the gain/comp circuit may replace my Diamond Bass comp. And I think I need a new chorus.
In other words, the amp might replace all my pedals, too.
That’s a good problem to have, sir! If I was using pedals to shape my overall tone I’d probably be doing the same thing. My preamp pedal is only there for the DI or if there’s a super weird room tone that I can’t fix with the amp EQ. The Quilter sounds great by itself!
Yes, and I was being facetious in that it was a problem.
Using a GK MB800 is what generated the need for the pedalboard. I like the GK mind you, just that it's lack of mids makes it sometimes get lost audibly onstage; it can be felt, but hearing the GK for me is/was always a problem. The SCR-DI helped with that, and although the MB800 can generate a lot of bass, the SCR-DI gave it the Ampeg heft I was looking for. With the BB800, it's not only overkill, but actually detracts from the Quilter's clarity.And seriously, where I like my chorus (TC mini Flashback, set up to be a chorus only) on the MB800, the BB800 turned it into a little bit of a phase shifter in the low end. It's weird. The only explanation I can think of is that the Quilter is more faithfully reproducing what the chorus is actually doing in the low end, or just changing the low end of the chorus, which generates phasing issues on some stages. It's just a guess, however. I'll try dumping some low end from the program in the chorus and see if that helps.
I'll keep the Diamond Bass comp because I like the tilting tone control on it.
maybe that's why I didn't "like" the quilter at first try...I'm demoing again this afternoon is that I was comparing it to the slightly mid heavy Mesa 800+, that sounds great in the store. I have my own cables and bass this go around...better armed and will be better informed 
I really like the Diamond Comp with through the Quilter, with my passive p bass at least, and my Q strip as well for more midrange tone shaping. With my stingray I feel less need for pedals to be sure, but will still probably always keep the diamond in there at it is just so tasty. Cab pairing makes a huge difference of course. Many bass cabs have frequency response curves with lots of low mid boost or muted highs or some such. I use audiokenesis cabs which are very neutral and let ALL the mids and highs come through. So using the q strip let's me tame the situation down a bit, and dial out the specific midrange honk my p bass has just a bit.
- Apr 29, 2003
- 9,078
- 9,800
- Disclosures
- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
I love that Diamond.... For fender style instruments. For active/modern basses, I didnt like it as much as the Empress, which is my go to/always on comp.
I find I have much less desire to use a comp with the Quilter, as it has a very pleasing "front edge" envelope that sort of mimics the job of a compressor, when the gain is up a little anyways.
I find I have much less desire to use a comp with the Quilter, as it has a very pleasing "front edge" envelope that sort of mimics the job of a compressor, when the gain is up a little anyways.
All excellent points. I used to use an empress with my active jazz setup, but now that i mostly use a passive P I am finding the Diamond is the business. My other bass is a stingray and it sounds really good straight into the quilter. I just plug it into the passive input and let the naturally higher gain get that quilter envelope. I'm in bass heaven either way
I almost always use passive basses, maybe that's why I like the Diamond so much.
As for comparison with the Mesa Subway, I had both a D800 and a D800+. I found both to be sounding on the dark side, and I had trouble dialing in the midrange that I liked. Killer amps tho, to be sure, if you like the baked-in sound. And since Mesa has now upped the price of the D800+ to $900, the Quilter looks mighty good.
Sorry to sound like a fanboy, maybe I yam...
As for comparison with the Mesa Subway, I had both a D800 and a D800+. I found both to be sounding on the dark side, and I had trouble dialing in the midrange that I liked. Killer amps tho, to be sure, if you like the baked-in sound. And since Mesa has now upped the price of the D800+ to $900, the Quilter looks mighty good.
Sorry to sound like a fanboy, maybe I yam...
A HPF is my secret to using chorus and delay.Yes, and I was being facetious in that it was a problem.
And seriously, where I like my chorus (TC mini Flashback, set up to be a chorus only) on the MB800, the BB800 turned it into a little bit of a phase shifter in the low end. It's weird. The only explanation I can think of is that the Quilter is more faithfully reproducing what the chorus is actually doing in the low end, or just changing the low end of the chorus, which generates phasing issues on some stages. It's just a guess, however. I'll try dumping some low end from the program in the chorus and see if that helps.
I'll keep the Diamond Bass comp because I like the tilting tone control on it.
I just snagged the Flashback 2, so my toneprints are a tape echo with HPF, a Crystals-style echo with HPF, and a chorus with HPF.
Seriously, who knew that rolling off low end was the secret to great bass tones?
I just realized my car stereo volume knob has detents. They are fine enough that I barely notice them, and the volume transition and divisions are fine enough for my needs. I guess I need to try a Quilter to see for myself
I just realized my car stereo volume knob has detents. They are fine enough that I barely notice them, and the volume transition and divisions are fine enough for my needs. I guess I need to try a Quilter to see for myself
Jule dig it the most..
I'm a little behind on this thread, but...
I remember reading somewhere that the detents were there so that you could slave two amps, and have them set exactly the same. That's the deal with the line out (instead of DI out) too... The BB800 (along with the cab) is designed to be part of a scalable system and the detents provide consistency across the system.
As far as diming the gain vs master... I've been running my gain at about 4 and adjusting the master. I don't really think I'm getting into the compression zone yet at that setting. When I put the gain at about 9+ I start to get what I think is a little fur. This thing has a lot of clean headroom!
I remember reading somewhere that the detents were there so that you could slave two amps, and have them set exactly the same. That's the deal with the line out (instead of DI out) too... The BB800 (along with the cab) is designed to be part of a scalable system and the detents provide consistency across the system.
As far as diming the gain vs master... I've been running my gain at about 4 and adjusting the master. I don't really think I'm getting into the compression zone yet at that setting. When I put the gain at about 9+ I start to get what I think is a little fur. This thing has a lot of clean headroom!
Second time is the charm, went back with proper cables and my Darkstar.
HOLY.
MOTHER.
OF.
MERGATROID.
It killed through a Rumble 2x10 and a Mesa 15...the Ampeg 8x10...well my ears are still grinning. Like anything with a proper setup and good quality cables, the amp really shined. Had a guy play while I adjusted the amp, so many good sounds. I dug in and really liked how the gain works. Flat was great and with both knobs slightly off center I found multiple good settings. I'm sold. next paycheck and I'm Quilter bound. The clarity and sound was stellar, they agreed to trash the crappy cables they were using, we A/B'd them and no wonder I didn't like it the first time.
HOLY.
MOTHER.
OF.
MERGATROID.
It killed through a Rumble 2x10 and a Mesa 15...the Ampeg 8x10...well my ears are still grinning. Like anything with a proper setup and good quality cables, the amp really shined. Had a guy play while I adjusted the amp, so many good sounds. I dug in and really liked how the gain works. Flat was great and with both knobs slightly off center I found multiple good settings. I'm sold. next paycheck and I'm Quilter bound. The clarity and sound was stellar, they agreed to trash the crappy cables they were using, we A/B'd them and no wonder I didn't like it the first time.
