Quilter 101 Mini Amp Head

**jads57** · 10-08-2015, 12:07 PM

Okay so I've owned 2 real Dumbles, Ceriatone 50 watt Dumble clone, and now have both Aviator 1x12 v.1 and a TB200 which I use a JBL K120 in a closed back Egnater Rebel 112 cab. The Dumbles and their clones are very midrange designed while the Quilter is going for a Fender Blackface (lows and highs) tone. While all great tube amps are wonderful, the downsides Heavy,replacing tubes. inconsistant voltage at different gigs. The Quilter is not by any means a Dumble type of amp. But it's an incredible deal if you want light weight,Fender Clean, and consistant reliable tone!

**petermelton** · 10-08-2015, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by Klatu

How many of the options on the mini amp are suitable for clean sounds? Is the clean headroom enough to play alongside a typical drummer in a quartet setting?

Originally Posted by ingeneri

Anyone try these out with a band yet? 50solid state watts seems pretty limited. Is it enough power to play with a drummer?

I have the Tone Block and it is insanely loud. I've used it on many outdoor gigs with drummers and have never turned it up to 40 watts. I can't imagine needing 100. That little guy will take your face off.

**MaxTwang** · 10-08-2015, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by Klatu

How many of the options on the mini amp are suitable for clean sounds? Is the clean headroom enough to play alongside a typical drummer in a quartet setting?

Everything is suitable for clean sounds; all voices, including Lead, can be played clean. The Tri-Q and Hi-Cut can be used to tweak the eq'ing of each Voice.

**kris** · 09-01-2016, 01:28 AM

anybody use it?

**Skip Ellis** · 09-01-2016, 10:39 AM

Jim Soloway and I both tried it and sent it back - it's a major effort to get it dialed in as the controls are counterintuitive. We both stuck with our MB200s. Jim also tried the Carvin BX250 but I don't remember what he said about it.......Jim?

**vernon** · 09-01-2016, 11:09 AM

I've got the Quilter 101 mini and like it a lot. Pair it up with an RE NY8 and it sounds great. Yes, the tone controls are different than the traditional set up, but they work fine for me. Won't be selling mine. $299!! Very well worth it in my opinion.

**Jim Soloway** · 09-01-2016, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Skip Ellis

Jim Soloway and I both tried it and sent it back - it's a major effort to get it dialed in as the controls are counterintuitive. We both stuck with our MB200s. Jim also tried the Carvin BX250 but I don't remember what he said about it.......Jim?

I was able to get a good sound from the 101 Mini but it was not only counterintuitive but very easy to get some bad sounds as well. When I got rid of mine, I replaced it with a second MB200 and I've had no regrets about that. When I have the Contour switch engaged on the MB200, I find that getting a sound that I'm happy with is incredibly easy.

I didn't like the BX250 at all. It had it's own complicated controls and I was never able to get a sound or feel that I was comfortable with no matter what I tried.

**ingeneri** · 09-01-2016, 12:11 PM

Does the Quilter 101 have a line out so you can plug into a PA like with a DI box? Or is there only a speaker jack? I'm thinking it would be great for travel when you can't lug around an amp, or even a normal amp head.

Do those who have owned the 101 agree that, despite the odd controls, it's a good fit for those of us who prefer a Fender type sound to the Polytone/Henricksen SS sound?

**jads57** · 09-01-2016, 12:39 PM

I'm an avowed Quilter amp user Micro Pro Mach 2 head, Aviator 1x12" Combo and have had both the 101(Jim Soloway's ) and Tone Block 200 v.1 . That being said I have stuck w/ the traditional control setup of the Aviator and Mach 2 head for my gigging needs. I agree it's a bit harder to find a tone w/ these mini amps tone controls. I would also say I prefer the TB200 extra wattage overall which seems to give it more clean headroom and a fuller tone in my opinion.
Also obviously speaker and cab choice make a huge difference as well.

**vernon** · 09-01-2016, 12:41 PM

No line out on the 101 mini... the Aviator and Tone Block do have line out I believe. And "yes" to your final question. Fender style tone for sure.

**Jim Soloway** · 09-01-2016, 01:15 PM

Just a thought ... I've been using primarily class D power for several years now starting with my modelling rigs. I still think there's a great market out there for a really good Class D guitar amp but it's not here yet. Quilter came close but they committed themselves to a tone control system that no one really relates to and forces people into a different way of thinking. The MB200 works but you have to adapt to controls that are designed for a bass. If someone just married a good class D power section with a simple preamp that was designed to mimic what guitarists have become accustomed to over many decades, then I think they'd have a huge winner. Add a basic "Voice" switch, like the MB200 Contour switch but perhaps with three options instead of two and I think it could be wildly successful, both as a mini head and as a light weight combo.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 09-01-2016, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

Just a thought ... I've been using primarily class D power for several years now starting with my modelling rigs. I still think there's a great market out there for a really good Class D guitar amp but it's not here yet. Quilter came close but they committed themselves to a tone control system that no one really relates to and forces people into a different way of thinking. The MB200 works but you have to adapt to controls that are designed for a bass. If someone just married a good class D power section with a simple preamp that was designed to mimic what guitarists have become accustomed to over many decades, then I think they'd have a huge winner. Add a basic "Voice" switch, like the MB200 Contour switch but perhaps with three options instead of two and I think it could be wildly successful, both as a mini head and as a light weight combo.

I haven't tried on, but what about the DV Mark Micro 50? 50 watts doesn't sound like enough to me...

Maybe my question should be who makes D class mini heads specifically for guitar?

1. Quilter
2. DV Mark
3. ???

**Jim Soloway** · 09-01-2016, 02:07 PM

I haven't seen the DV Mark but 50 watts could work with the right cab, probably something open back with an efficient speaker. And #3 is Acoustic Image.

**newsense** · 09-01-2016, 02:39 PM

I have the 101 Head. The FX send can be used as a Line Out, if required, but I find the Phones Out is too shrill through a good pair of headphones for silent practice. I don't find the EQ too difficult, but as the basis for a small rig, the absence of reverb is a negative point for me. In the end it doesn't give me anything I can't dial in with my Fender SuperChamp Head, so it is probably going on eBay soon so that I can the try to DV Mark equivalent.

**bmw2002** · 09-01-2016, 02:51 PM

I recently purchased the Quilter Pro Block 200 (reverb.com had a 15% coupon on offer) and have been very happy with it -- enough (almost) to consider selling my beloved Allen tube amp. I've paired it with a Buscarino Chameleon speaker and also tried it through the Allen (open backed) cabinet ... both sounded excellent. It has both the direct out feature and a not-too-bad built-in reverb. In terms of the question of "how many watts is enough", I find I rarely turn the Quilter up past the 20 watt mark, and that's pretty loud, at least for an in-home application. In terms of the controls, I'll agree they're not intuitive, but I'm a turn-it-this-way-turn-it-that-way-until it sounds good kind of guy, so once I found a setting that was pleasing, I stopped fussing (for me, that meant turning it to full mid-scoop and roll off the highs settings). I've bought and sold multiple versions of a number of solid state amps (Evans, Mambo, Acoustic Image, Polytone and even other Quilters) and this is the first one that may be riding into the sunset with me.

**vernon** · 09-01-2016, 03:11 PM

Even though I really like the Quilter mini, I feel I must admit to you all that 95% of my playing is done through a Milkman 40 watt tube head into RE and Redstone cabs. Quilter is more utilitarian and used more for convenience than in pursuit of the ultimate tone.

**Longways to Go** · 09-01-2016, 04:45 PM

I had a Quilter but ended up preferring Acoustic Image.

If we're talking Class D SS amps, seems like Acoustic Image should get a mention

**TheGrandWazoo** · 09-01-2016, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

Just a thought ... I've been using primarily class D power for several years now starting with my modelling rigs. I still think there's a great market out there for a really good Class D guitar amp but it's not here yet. Quilter came close but they committed themselves to a tone control system that no one really relates to and forces people into a different way of thinking. The MB200 works but you have to adapt to controls that are designed for a bass. If someone just married a good class D power section with a simple preamp that was designed to mimic what guitarists have become accustomed to over many decades, then I think they'd have a huge winner. Add a basic "Voice" switch, like the MB200 Contour switch but perhaps with three options instead of two and I think it could be wildly successful, both as a mini head and as a light weight combo.

Jim, I would suggest taking it a step further and separate the components. All of these companies are trying to make a one-trick pony. Just split everything. Imagine a single pedal that is just a class D amp with one volume, then make a series of 'flavor' pedals focused on different styles (a la Tech 21 or whoever). I am still amazed a company like Tech 21 hasn't just made a simple floor pedal power amp to power their character pedals.

**Jim Soloway** · 09-01-2016, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by TheGrandWazoo

Jim, I would suggest taking it a step further and separate the components. All of these companies are trying to make a one-trick pony. Just split everything. Imagine a single pedal that is just a class D amp with one volume, then make a series of 'flavor' pedals focused on different styles (a la Tech 21 or whoever). I am still amazed a company like Tech 21 hasn't just made a simple floor pedal power amp to power their character pedals.

That's basically what I was doing with a modeller before I went back to amplifiers. I had a tiny Dayton Audio power amp with my Pod HD as a preamp and a Raezer's Edge cab. The newer version of the power amp is still available at Parts Express for $100.

Dayton Audio DTA-120 Class T Mini Amplifier 60 WPC

**drbhrb** · 09-02-2016, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by TheGrandWazoo

Jim, I would suggest taking it a step further and separate the components. All of these companies are trying to make a one-trick pony. Just split everything. Imagine a single pedal that is just a class D amp with one volume, then make a series of 'flavor' pedals focused on different styles (a la Tech 21 or whoever). I am still amazed a company like Tech 21 hasn't just made a simple floor pedal power amp to power their character pedals.

The quilter blocks aren't much bigger than a pedal. Just get one and set everything flat, would work just fine with a tech 21.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 09-02-2016, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

I haven't seen the DV Mark but 50 watts could work with the right cab, probably something open back with an efficient speaker. And #3 is Acoustic Image.

Maybe it's just me but I don't think of AI as specifically for guitar -- isn't it as much a bass amp?

**Jim Soloway** · 09-02-2016, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Maybe it's just me but I don't think of AI as specifically for guitar -- isn't it as much a bass amp?

Those are their roots but I guess I was just thinking the there are so many guitar players using them that they should be included. I've owned three of them and never did get comfortable with any of them.

I did a little bit of looking around for other class D guitar amps and realized that we had missed Mambo. I'd love to try one of their new amps.

**MaxTwang** · 09-03-2016, 02:08 AM

As the 1 person who really likes the 101's tone controls, finds it easy to dial in and believe's it's finally an innovation in the right direction for guitar amps: I would like to thank Quilter for designing and marking this little jewel just for me !!

**guy8string** · 09-03-2016, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by MaxTwang

As the 1 person who really likes the 101's tone controls, finds it easy to dial in and believe's it's finally an innovation in the right direction for guitar amps: I would like to that Quilter for designing and marking this little jewel just for me!!

I agree with you Max, and I don't get all of the negativity about the tone controls. With the Quilter 101 it's "see the tone, dial the tone." I think the tone controls make it really simple to dial in the tone you want.

(NFI and no affiliation whatsoever with Quilter)

**Guido_59** · 09-10-2016, 10:57 AM

I have just purchased 101 mini head form 2 weeks and I'm very happy with it.
Tone control is strange , true, but I don't search particular tone so I have non difficult to found 2 or 3 sound for Jazz and my Ibanez Hollow body and also for blueì and my Tele '52.
I actually use the original 12" 60 watt of old'80s Roland chorus combo and sounds good .
The sound will be more better when I upgrade the speaker probably with Eminence Delta pro 12a .