Quilter Bass Block

[Jefenator]

Looking more and more like the Quilter isn’t gonna be my thing. It’s been nice, but I’m after something a little brighter, and I’m currently holding two other amps which I feel more connected to, so I can’t really justify hanging on to it much longer. That said, it is a nice amp, and I can understand the popularity, and what folks like about it.

I tried a few EQ tweaks to get more brightness and edge, but it didn’t get me what I was after. I opened the master up, using the gain to regulate volume, which helped some. I also scooped the mids and cut the lows all the way down, so the highs were really emphasized. Again, it helped but didn’t get me to my goal.

It's looking like my all-tube Ampeg PF-50T is going to stay on as my main workhorse. (Something about that tube power section - just can't shake it...)
I got the Quilter for micro-amp duty and it will definitely stay on for that. I still want to pit it against the big pre/power rack amp and also see if I can't add inject more mojo via external preamps. (The Ampeg has an XLR line that taps into the output transformer - might be fun to pair all that unruly personality with the Quilter's terrific headroom...)

 

[KDK]

Got the bb800 with 2 Phil Jones bass c4 cabs last week. After 25 years I finally have the tone and I've been searching for. Can't be happier. I fully Reccomend all these products.. I have also run the bb800 through my ampeg 8x10 at practice and switched back to the c4's in less than a song.

 

[armybass]

I just got the BB800 today. I wanted to get the PJ cabs but held off. Thanks for posting. I’m gonna look into them again.

 

[KDK]

I just got the BB800 today. I wanted to get the PJ cabs but held off. Thanks for posting. I’m gonna look into them again.

I can't recommend them more..all their cabs are great, you'll be able to find what you're looking for

 

[hennessybass]

14.1" deep (def. not cheap):
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Not cheap, and way over the top. There are a few other ones out there too, but also not cheap and way over the top.
I get that it's a niche market thing, but for me personally, it would dig it.

 

[hennessybass]

is anyone using the cabs that would like to report on them?

 

[Inara]

For me, this is a no. If you could do this, and put it in a 1U rack format that would fit in a shallow rack, then I guarantee I would buy one.

Just a form factor thing for me. I have a 1U pre, and would love to have a 2U rack vs the 3U I have now.

Love the quilter! Best micro I've ever played.

This! Yes, that would be perfect. The old Stewart World 1.2 tried, but seemed to need the extra ventilation of a 3 space rack anyway. Being able to have a 1u pre and a 1u poweramp in a shallow 2u rack would be awesome. I'd match it with an Alembic F1X and just cry happy tears all day, lol. It would be a great option, along with my BB800, which is not going anywhere.

 

[Jefenator]

This! Yes, that would be perfect. The old Stewart World 1.2 tried, but seemed to need the extra ventilation of a 3 space rack anyway. Being able to have a 1u pre and a 1u poweramp in a shallow 2u rack would be awesome. I'd match it with an Alembic F1X and just cry happy tears all day, lol. It would be a great option, along with my BB800, which is not going anywhere.

+1 this.
When I hear folks wanting a lighter, smaller BB800 for a second I roll my eyes (because it is so very small and light already, as is).
But then I get to thinking: what real world use might there be for an amp that is even smaller and lighter than the BB800 and two things come to mind: 1) the gig bag pouch friendly form (like the tiny GK or Trace Elliot ELF) and 2) power amp in the effects rack. The latter form could prove handy to a pretty wide range of users, from guitarists to live sound and not least of all bassists who could shrink their big, deep, heavy pre/power setup into a small, light, shallow effects rack.

 

[zorf]

have to say...
love my 101 and would love an amp same size but more power.
Willing to trade watts for less features.
Single input, gain, master. Maybe simple eq. Or not.
Except i really need a second line input in a robust format; no 1/8 inch mini jacks please.

 

[PhatBasstard]

is anyone using the cabs that would like to report on them?

I believe someone in the classifieds has two different models of their 2x10 cabs for sale (if memory serves).

 

[hennessybass]

When I hear folks wanting a lighter, smaller BB800 for a second I roll my eyes (because it is so very small and light already, as is).

Agree.

...not least of all bassists who could shrink their big, deep, heavy pre/power setup into a small, light, shallow effects rack.

Exactly. The 2u shallow rack, IMO, is a great and still relevant format. It would be awesome if there was a light, powerful, reliable, and affordable 1u power amp on the market.

 

[Russell Bergum]

Well, I just pulled the trigger and bought one on Ebay for $518 shipped. I will see how it compares with my 2007 Markbass LM II (I'm guessing favorably).

 

[armybass]

I just got one yesterday and it compares very favorably to my Markbass Big Bang which I love. The Markbass obviously has more of a baked in tone but it’s a good one that I like. The Quilter is a similar amp but is more transparent and more easier to dial in in my opinion.

 

[peteratquilter]

Hi Peter, I am going to give you some free product suggestions that I think could make the company a lot of of money! I don't think any of these ideas (except maybe the 3rd) would require major chassis redesign or extensive retooling. But maybe these aren't such good ideas; just brainstorming...

1. Quilter Tone Block 800. Same form factor as the Bass Block 800, but a simpler, more general purpose preamp: 1/4" in, XLR in, gain, contour, master. BB800 is a successful hit product, so why not grow the market beyond just bass players? A powerful mono block power amp suitable for guitar, pedalboards, keyboard, PA, subwoofer, home audio, etc. MSRP (Mushroo's Suggested Retail Price) $599.
2. Quilter Bass Block Mini. Same form factor as the Mini 101 (the most aesthetically appealing Quilter product in my opinion, measuring 8 3/8"W x 3 1/8"H x 5 1/2"D), but with a preamp voiced for bass and at least 100 watts (but preferably 200 watts or more) of power. I'd love to see what Quilter could come up with in a small, lower-wattage bass head, for bassists who don't need the full 800 watt BB800. MSRP $399.
   
3. Quilter Bass DI. The BB800 preamp section in pedal format. Send "the Quilter sound" to the mixing board, front of house, in ear monitors, digital audio interface, etc. or pair the DI with the Micro Block 45 for a complete nano bass rig on your pedalboard! MSRP $149.

Overall, however, I feel that the BB800 is a nearly perfect product (another poster called it a "home run") and I wouldn't worry too much that the design needs to be modified or "improved."

It's almost like you've sat in on one of our product development meetings! None of those are on the short list but they are all ideas we have mulled over and plan to get to eventually. Our schedule and resources are basically tied up for the next few years but we're definitely a team of dreamers and I am glad our ideas are not exclusive to us! Cheers

 

[CharlieC]

Don't worry, the sound kicks-in around 6:00 into the feed

 

[AMJBASS]

I've read most of the 91 pages of this thread, but I haven't seen many comments from people using this with an upright (yes, I saw the post on this page). With such a clean amp like this, I was thinking that the Bass Block, when matched with a proper pre-amp, would work great with an upright.

I am thinking of getting one and would run my upright through my Headway EB-2 preamp. I use either an Ehrlund EAP, or an Ischell X-48C contact mike. Thoughts?

IMO it needs a preamp to really sound good with upright. I've gigged the BB800 with my Realist equipped DB a couple times and while is sounds pretty good, there is an upper mid frequency with a lot of piezo pickups that I like to attenuate and the Quilters EQ is more suited to electric bass(and very well suited at that!).

 

[Russell Bergum]

IMO it needs a preamp to really sound good with upright. I've gigged the BB800 with my Realist equipped DB a couple times and while is sounds pretty good, there is an upper mid frequency with a lot of piezo pickups that I like to attenuate and the Quilters EQ is more suited to electric bass(and very well suited at that!).

I will be using my Headway EB-2 preamp, which is amazingly versatile, with the XLR output going into the XLR input of the BB800, bypassing the BB 800 preamp section. I should be able try this at home tonight or tomorrow.

 

[basscapes]

I mean this in a lighthearted way...
The "improvement" suggestions keep making me think of these:

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View attachment 2865488

And to think that I'm actually switching to a new job on Monday that will put me DIRECTLY back in the path of having to DEAL with EEs...

 

[shwashwa]

I will using my Headway EB-2 preamp, which is amazingly versatile, with the XLR output going into the XLR input of the BB800, bypassing the BB 800 preamp section. I should be able try this at home tonight or tomorrow.

Take the quarter inch out of the preamp and use the regular input on the quilter. I do this all the time with my upright and it's great. I don't know why people are so afraid of that preamp. With the controls at noon it is truly flat, unlike any other amp you have played through I'd wager. But you still get the magic sauce from the quilter using that input, and the tone controls are great for fine tuning your sound after the preamp.

 

[Stu_Bass]

I will be using my Headway EB-2 preamp, which is amazingly versatile, with the XLR output going into the XLR input of the BB800, bypassing the BB 800 preamp section. I should be able try this at home tonight or tomorrow.

You might have an issue driving the line in on the Quilter from the xlr out. You might need to either run i/4" out to one of the 1/4" inputs or use a 1/4" out to xlr in cable.