CrazyAces wrote:

Are you using a closed back cabinet with the 15"?

Yes, Showman dimensions. I also have a convertible 2x12 (8ohm) that I must try, maybe split.

and does it stay pretty clean until the gain is turned up?

Very much so. The overdrive is pretty subtle and sweet by itself, plays very nice with the reverb (Surfy-Bear). There's a pronounced kick-in at the last 5% of the gain, though it may be a different curve for other impedance loads.
Loudness is comparable to maybe a 10W tube amp. It won't replace a Bandmaster. Un-miced, I can see it usable for small spaces.
We're getting ahead of ourselves... I'll start a new topic once I have more to say and maybe record.
Cheers Jeff.

Last edited: Apr 13, 2017 04:13:43

CrazyAces wrote:

Thanks Ariel.

It looks like Quilter now has the Reverb 101 head on their website so I'll try to do an appropriate demo while I have this unit and post soon.

Cheers,
Jeff

https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/collections/quilter-labs/products/quilter-labs-101-mini-reverb-head-pre-order?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20170120-NAMM&utm_source=Chicago+Music+Exchange+eNews&utm_campaign=ac55f23733-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_01_18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f79d688aea-ac55f23733-382292985&mc_cid=ac55f23733&mc_eid=cd1ed76759

I'm not a surf player BUT I had a Quilter Mach2 for about 1 month. I don't know, it's lightweight and plenty loud. I returned it because I only liked it didn't love it. It didn't have the Fender presence or tweed thing happening enough for me - had a soild state tone (clanky/hard) that I couldn't shake. I've seen some others get good tone out of their Quilter but I couldn't. At $900 it was a bit to much money for only liking the Quilter. Have you looked at the Fender Mustang amps? They do get in the ballpark

I'm still new to this forum and aside from a humorous post several weeks ago, this is my first.

The Quilter 101 Mini Head is an amazing piece of equipment. Earlier this year, having never seen one in person, I bought one based purely on reviews. I'm not a vintage gear freak. There's nothing wrong with that stuff, it's cool but expensive. After years of working in music stores when I was younger and playing lots of music everyday to varying degrees of seriousness depending on what's going on in my life, I developed a practical attitude toward equipment. The only thing I'm interested in is a reliable way to produce my sound which is based on a Fender-y clean sound with reverb. I may break it up with distortion or space it out with a little delay depending on the situation but my sound is a version of "surf guitar".

Like a lot of people who enquire about the Quilter stuff, I was looking at it for it's remarkable portability. I was also considering it as an affordable temporary solution before a serious amp change. My expectations regarding the Quilter 101 were modest.

I've been playing it through a 90watt 112 cabinet which I believe is a Mesa (some one removed the badge and turned it into a convertible so I got a deal on it at my local Music Go Round, they may not have realized what it actually was). The amp has exceeded my expectations. Whatever assumptions I had about it as another SS amp were blasted away. I'm not trying to say it sounds like a vintage Fender Reverb or something. It's not. But it is a million miles away from any SS amp I've ever heard. The 101 is it's own beautiful thing and it has become my permanent primary amp. I don't miss my Fenders. My sound can be attained at any volume and all the power I need is right there. Amplifier technology moved toward the small and efficient two decades ago when PA systems shrank. That technology has only improved but has been slow to impact the orthodox electric guitar market. It's here now.

If you want vintage, you will never like the Quilter. It isn't for revivalists. These forums are filled with guys who will say it sounds good but always follow it up with "but I can't get my sound". I'm not interested in arguing with those guys. They're into their thing. It's also not a modeling amp (which I would probably not advise anyone to look into) so I'm not even going to compare it to those awful things.

If you're comfortable with the idea that new fangled things have potential and that there are many good sounds and ways to attain them, once you're passed that, the Quilter stuff is something to look into.

Many people criticize the unusual tone controls featured on the 101 and wish they would just switch to the traditional "hi mid to" orientation. At first I thought the scheme was odd but after a time I got used to it and now I'm wondering if it's not infact the way to go. It's a crazy departure from tradition but it works. I frankly can't see how subtracting the frequencies within a given range is superior to moving a notch across a spectrum (this is a simplification but I think it's in the ballpark). Other Quilter amps use a more traditional EQ scheme and I have not heard them. But based on the great time I have spent with the 101 part of me wonders if that arrangement isn't an integral part of the solid state circuit, an asset to it's sound.

Quilter makes a good product.

The Vicissitones
Diesel Marine
The Rasputones

Last edited: Dec 31, 2017 12:35:13

The current 101 non reverb?
That’s what I’m leaning towards, if I go that route. I have springs elsewhere. (And fake springs too).

Chippertheripper wrote:

The current 101 non reverb?

Also worth a look - The Tone Block 201.
Essentially the same as the original Mimi 101 but with more wattage.
Not only because it's louder but some of the fifty watt sounds on the original 101 such as "Lead" or "Full Q" are great used as clean platforms but can sound a little "small" in comparison to the much loved 100 watt "Surf" setting.
For home, recording, small clubs the "Lead" sound is, for me, the most like my small to medium Fender amps. The name of the setting can evoke some caution to many people but keep the gain down and volume up and you get nice sparkle, strong but not overbearing low end and a nice wide spectrum of frequencies.

Cheers,
Jeff

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

I kinda cured my own gas for the time being. Last week I plugged in and turned my bandmaster (combo’d) up. LOUD.
Let me tell you THAT was refreshing. I yearn to be able to do that regularly. The fun stuff I normally play at home just doesn’t come close.

It still doesn’t totally get me to small/light/portable/dependable/cheap, but it’s better than chasing my tail. That thing at full rip is really awesome. Even live I don’t get to play like that.

Yeah, nobody was home, it’s winter, and I only had the animals to annoy.
It’s not something I ever get to do, except as a novelty.
My intent was to dial in the most natural sound on a new overdrive pedal. I wanted natural drive to compare it against.

Last edited: Jan 16, 2018 12:49:53