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Quilter Labs InterBass!

#221
AMJBASS said:
I've never been able to get the input on my BB800 to overdrive like the Interbass. I haven't put it on a scope.... The gain on the Interbass moves into overdrive as you move past 1:00-2:00(a type of compression obviously, but doesn't quite behave like the BB800). The Interbass manual does state that it has preamp limiting AFTER the EQ section, but before the FX loop. Not convinced its identical to the BB800 as they do sound different.
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The output of what is before the input has a big effect. Gain all along the signal path has an effect. If you want to really overdrive something to distortion (I don't) it is a lot easier on the Interbass. The two stage limiter (if I recall separately effects signals below and above 100HZ--it is a clever circuit patented by Quilter) is applied to the signal before it gets to the master, the master controls the volume of the amp output and the balanced line output and (in my opinion unfortunately) cannot be controlled separately.
 
#222
I've been regularly gigging with the Interbass as my only amp. I happened on this interesting article explaining in layman's terms all the things Sam Quilter patented to make these sound like a tube amp.
What’s the Magic Behind Quilter Amps?
I especially like how he fakes the low impedance on the speaker output so that the inertia of the speaker isn't dampened by the output stage. I think that's a big part of the vintage mode; it almost sounds like there's a slight amount of reverb or that you're playing in a larger room, giving the effect of a bigger sound from even a small cabinet.
 
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#224
bikemusic said:
I've been regularly gigging with the Interbass as my only amp. I happened on this interesting article explaining in layman's terms all the things Sam Quilter patented to make these sound like a tube amp.
What’s the Magic Behind Quilter Amps?
I especially like how he fakes the low impedance on the speaker output so that the inertia of the speaker isn't dampened by the output stage. I think that's a big part of the vintage mode; it almost sounds like there's a slight amount of reverb or that you're playing in a larger room, giving the effect of a bigger sound from even a small cabinet.
Click to expand...

Yes! It does sound like there is some “air” in the vintage mode. That’s how I set mine pretty much exclusively.

Interesting article, that.
 
#225
Hi all, so making sure I understand something. If I'm using the headphone function and then plug my mp3 player into the "FX return", will that essentially function as an "aux" input and allow me to hear my playing as well as the music from the mp3 through the headphones?
 
#226
EncoremMP said:
Hi all, so making sure I understand something. If I'm using the headphone function and then plug my mp3 player into the "FX return", will that essentially function as an "aux" input and allow me to hear my playing as well as the music from the mp3 through the headphones?
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Yes, that's how it works. Look at the arrows on the box. The effects loop is ahead of the Master volume and all the outputs are after it. Note that the volume of your bass in the phones will go down to half when you plug another input in. It mixes them 50/50.
 
#227
Finally got my board situated...Nice mini rig for sure.
20210707_135300.jpg
20210707_140753.jpg
 
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#230
I got one this week. I couldn't stop playing bass- upright and electric- for 5 days.
Not only does the loop return work as an input, but the send works as a line out.
I've been using this in a large band, it powers a cab/monitor meanwhile sends the PA/in-ears a very very nice tone independent of the master volume (and without the vintage switch).
I've also sent this in various ways -loop send and line out- to the aux in on my big 800W head (not quilter), and damm. With a properly powered bass cab, or a pair of them, this tone is among my all time favorites. I mean it's great at 33w and all, but with the extra muscle it's spectacular to my ears.

And I can just use this with any cabinet for most of the work I do. I'm in pit or church theater pops most of the time, blending with acoustic instruments. I love this thing.
 
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#231
SeayBass said:
I got one this week. I couldn't stop playing bass- upright and electric- for 5 days.
Not only does the loop return work as an input, but the send works as a line out.
I've been using this in a large band, it powers a cab/monitor meanwhile sends the PA/in-ears a very very nice tone independent of the master volume (and without the vintage switch).
I've also sent this in various ways -loop send and line out- to the aux in on my big 800W head (not quilter), and damm. With a properly powered bass cab, or a pair of them, this tone is among my all time favorites. I mean it's great at 33w and all, but with the extra muscle it's spectacular to my ears.

And I can just use this with any cabinet for most of the work I do. I'm in pit or church theater pops most of the time, blending with acoustic instruments. I love this thing.
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That's great @SeayBass! I LOVE hearing so many say they use it for both upright and electric. The versatility of these outwardly simple units (I have the InterBass and the 802) is what really drew me in and after using them, I found that the design makes it real easy (for me) to dial in so many tones...all fantastic! Between embracing fretless as my primary focus and these amps, new life has been given to my playing. Glad to see another happy "Quilter"~
 
#232
yeah man. I tried my upright in a quilter guitar head at a store years ago. I liked it so I looked for the bass version so I bought a BB800, and was bummed that the pre-baked voicings did NOT work for me, especially the upright. but I actually like the color of the interbass a lot. I have several 'clean' pieces in my collection. This is the only colored I use. And I think I like it best of all the stuff, too. . . And cheap enough to have more than one, for doubling, bi-amping, or simply have one in 2 places at once.
 
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#233
i've discovered that if i play with my passive basses with evety knob all the way up, it's unfortunately easy to get my TC head to clip even when gain is almost all the way down. i started looking for a small head, and i ended up on this thread. the samples sound great - any clipping issues with a lower output bass dimed, no effects, low gain?
 
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#234
pcake said:
i've discovered that if i play with my passive basses with evety knob all the way up, it's unfortunately easy to get my TC head to clip even when gain is almost all the way down. i started looking for a small head, and i ended up on this thread. the samples sound great - any clipping issues with a lower output bass dimed, no effects, low gain?
Click to expand...

I’ve had no issues with my Mikro, birdsong, or acinonyx basses. The acinonyx, with its nordy pickups, is the highest output of the lot, and it sounds great.

I love this little amp. It’s my favorite tiny amp, and what I use most often at home. (I’ve also used it on small gigs — it gets plenty loud through a barefaced One10 for coffeehouse-type gigs.)

The two things I wish were different: I wish it had a power switch and a mute button. But I’m still happy to have it :-)
 
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#235
pcake said:
i've discovered that if i play with my passive basses with evety knob all the way up, it's unfortunately easy to get my TC head to clip even when gain is almost all the way down. i started looking for a small head, and i ended up on this thread. the samples sound great - any clipping issues with a lower output bass dimed, no effects, low gain?
Click to expand...

I really don't hear any clipping even with the gain at 50% which is where I usually have it. Maybe a little "tubey" colored but a clean tone with no breakup. That's with pretty hot humbucker pickups, passive. There's a -6db pad in the active/passive switch that you could also use to tame a high-output bass, but I don't use it. There's enough headroom on the clean tone without needing to push the gain any higher. I usually keep the master at 30% or so at home, and maybe 40% when playing in an acoustic trio (bass, 12-string, and cajon).
 
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#236
pcake said:
i've discovered that if i play with my passive basses with evety knob all the way up, it's unfortunately easy to get my TC head to clip even when gain is almost all the way down. i started looking for a small head, and i ended up on this thread. the samples sound great - any clipping issues with a lower output bass dimed, no effects, low gain?
Click to expand...
These amps are amazing! Even at some quite loud settings it can stay clean or if you go 50% or higher with the gain it can do the tubey thing where if you dig it overdrives a little but with a lighter touch still clean. So many great options of tone with these beautiful amps. I use it to drive 2 2x12 cabs and it's glorious!
 
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#237
pcake said:
i've discovered that if i play with my passive basses with evety knob all the way up, it's unfortunately easy to get my TC head to clip even when gain is almost all the way down. i started looking for a small head, and i ended up on this thread. the samples sound great - any clipping issues with a lower output bass dimed, no effects, low gain?
Click to expand...

This sounds like a bass thing rather than an amp thing. Does using the active input help? Many passive basses have higher outputs than active, and benefit from the reduced (padded) input known as 'active'.
As to how this pedal will do with a high-output instrument, my P-bass is higher output level, and works properly with the pedal. I do have to keep the gain lower, and/or flip the active switch. This pedal doesn't have much headroom, so when you need volume you have to crank the gain. From 2 to 5 o'clock it gets fuzzy. The fuzzy coloration is part of the inherent tone of this thing, and has harmonic coloration even at lower gain settings. If you're looking for something that will do a clean tone with your high-output basses, I recommend trying out the Phil Jones products.
 
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#240
bikemusic said:
I really don't hear any clipping even with the gain at 50% which is where I usually have it. Maybe a little "tubey" colored but a clean tone with no breakup. That's with pretty hot humbucker pickups, passive. There's a -6db pad in the active/passive switch that you could also use to tame a high-output bass, but I don't use it. There's enough headroom on the clean tone without needing to push the gain any higher. I usually keep the master at 30% or so at home, and maybe 40% when playing in an acoustic trio (bass, 12-string, and cajon).
Click to expand...

thanks!

SeayBass said:
This sounds like a bass thing rather than an amp thing. Does using the active input help? Many passive basses have higher outputs than active, and benefit from the reduced (padded) input known as 'active'.
As to how this pedal will do with a high-output instrument, my P-bass is higher output level, and works properly with the pedal. I do have to keep the gain lower, and/or flip the active switch. This pedal doesn't have much headroom, so when you need volume you have to crank the gain. From 2 to 5 o'clock it gets fuzzy. The fuzzy coloration is part of the inherent tone of this thing, and has harmonic coloration even at lower gain settings. If you're looking for something that will do a clean tone with your high-output basses, I recommend trying out the Phil Jones products.
Click to expand...

the TC clips with at least 10 of my basses, all but one passive and most with low output. these basses have never clipped another amp i've owned or played them through including a rumble 40, a rumble 15, a hartke LH500, a carvin bx250, and a hartke HD15. i played some of the same model basses through TC combos and they didn't clip, either.

i keep the gain as low as possible as i love clean tone. if i was playing shows, i'd use a more powerful amp, but for this head, i just need middle of the night, condo HOA rules and jamming quietly with no drummer volume.
 
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