Does anyone here own a Quilter Aviator Cub?

**Jim Soloway** · 08-19-2021, 11:35 AM

I know the Cub has been discussed here but it seemed like at least in the early days, no one here had actually owned one so I thought I'd check to see if anyone's had some first hand run with the amp since then. I'm really enjoying my Superblock USA with my little 1x10 cab. I understand that it's the same amp as the Cub and the idea of a 1x12 combo with a more powerful 12" speaker might provide a really nice alternative. Any first hand reports?

**wzpgsr** · 08-19-2021, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

I know the Cub has been discussed here but it seemed like at least in the early days, no one here had actually owned one so I thought I'd check to see if anyone's had some first hand run with the amp since then. I'm really enjoying my Superblock USA with my little 1x10 cab. I understand that it's the same amp as the Cub and the idea of a 1x12 combo with a more powerful 12" speaker might provide a really nice alternative. Any first hand reports?

Not exactly what you’re asking, but the sound improved dramatically for me moving my Superblock US from a 10” to 12” cab.

**BFrench** · 08-19-2021, 07:11 PM

Cub same amp as SB but 50 watts I think, so I guess more clean headroom

**entresz** · 08-19-2021, 07:45 PM

I really wish they'd make the Cub as a head....

**LifeOnJazz** · 08-19-2021, 08:44 PM

I've read on other forums (multiple sources) that the Cub is bright amp, but I'm not hearing similar feedback on the Superblock US. The speaker in the Cub may be a factor.

Jim, there's a local shop near you (and me) that I believe has the Cub in store now, in case you weren't aware. I haven't checked it out myself but I've been tempted to stop by.

**Jim Soloway** · 08-19-2021, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by LifeOnJazz

I've read on other forums (multiple sources) that the Cub is bright amp, but I'm not hearing similar feedback on the Superblock US. The speaker in the Cub may be a factor.

Jim, there's a local shop near you (and me) that I believe has the Cub in store now, in case you weren't aware. I haven't checked it out myself but I've been tempted to stop by.

Fantasie?

**LifeOnJazz** · 08-20-2021, 06:26 AM

Yes Fantasie

Quilter Aviator Cub Quilter Aviator Cub | Fantasie Music | Reverb

**Longways to Go** · 08-20-2021, 08:54 AM

I had an Aviator 10" combo some years ago.
It was super competent in every way, but not very inspiring. I didn't keep it for long.

**Jim Soloway** · 08-20-2021, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Longways to Go

I had an Aviator 10" combo some years ago.
It was super competent in every way, but not very inspiring. I didn't keep it for long.

I felt that way about all of Quilter's amps in the past but my experience with the Superblock USA has been very different. I'm really loving it with my little 1x10 cab. The tweed and blackface voices are both working out really nicely.

**maggles55** · 08-20-2021, 10:14 AM

Hi all,

I have owned a Cub since April. (I thought I posted about it here a few times, but now cannot find anything using Search???). It is the best SS amp that I have played. Let me also say that I have owned a 101 (non reverb) head for many years and never touch it. This is the version without the conventional TMB controls, but with 5 voices. While I like the tubey kind of dynamic that the 101 achieves, the EQ on the 101 does not agree with me (as many others have reported about Quilter products on this forum). I liked the 101 best when I also used a EQ pedal with it.

The difference between the 101 and Av Cub is that the Cub has great Fender-ish EQ. I especially like the Black (Blackface) and Tweed inputs. One cool thing you can do with this amp is use two (or 3!) inputs at once using a Y cable. (I don't think you can do this with the Superblocks). I usually go into both Black and Tweed inputs together.

Some people think the speaker in the Cub is a bit bright, but I compared it with my 12" Cannabis Rex and found that they sound extremely similar.

Finally, one great feature is that it only weighs 22 lbs. And BTW: it can get very loud.

In summary, the closest thing to a Fender tube amp in SS amp that I have ever played (which admittedly is a small sample).

**artcore** · 08-20-2021, 01:32 PM

Yep, got one a month ago. Been messing around with it. I have had the mustang 111 for years and I set it up with the built in effects I liked. That was it. After trying every effect on fender fuse I came up with one combination I liked. I tried the plain clean pre-amp with my two pedals and it was a no go for me. Anyway I wanted an amp to take my pedals that gave me flexability and this amp I believe fits that requirement. Lots of flexability but I am sure many other amps would have worked as well. Its light, takes up no room has a nice headphone response and I love the controled base response. So far so good...By the way the price just jumped on this amp. I was able to get a lower price match and ordered from guitar center. They at first, did not want to do a price match. I had to remind them of their policy.

**Jim Soloway** · 08-20-2021, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by artcore

Yep, got one a month ago. Been messing around with it. I have had the mustang 111 for years and I set it up with the built in effects I liked. That was it. After trying every effect on fender fuse I came up with one combination I liked. I tried the plain clean pre-amp with my two pedals and it was a no go for me. Anyway I wanted an amp to take my pedals that gave me flexability and this amp I believe fits that requirement. Lots of flexability but I am sure many other amps would have worked as well. Its light, takes up no room has a nice headphone response and I love the controled base response. So far so good...By the way the price just jumped on this amp. I was able to get a lower price match and ordered from guitar center. They at first, did not want to do a price match. I had to remind them of their policy.

Given the price, weight, feature set and sound quality I'm not so sure that there are many amps that would have worked as well. That's a really strong combination of pluses.

**jads57** · 08-20-2021, 04:00 PM

Jim I've played through one several times at a local music store. It sou d's really good and Loud Clean. I'm really surprised because the 101 I found to be not powerful enough for outdoor gigs.

I still love my Aviator 1x8" and 1x12" combo amps and gig them on a regular basis. Hard to judge if the Cub would keep up comparably, given the 50 watt rating.
I also have TB 202 I rarely use but love with a 2x12" Alnico 100 watt speakers.
But don't have many loud rock gigs where I need that much power.

The TB202 has a switch for Voicings, kind of like the Cub. I'm afraid you just need to get one and see if it fits the bill.

**Endaro** · 08-20-2021, 05:43 PM

It's good to hear some more experiences with the Cub. Initial reviews were positive but few in number; I assume they did a pretty small run initially? I've never seen one locally to try out.

I'm especially curious how they compare to Fender Tonemasters, as it seems they're both aiming for roughly the same thing: solid state combo emulations of specifically Fender tube tones as close in sound as they can manage.

The Cub is a few hundred dollars cheaper, has Tweed/Blonde/Blackface voicings instead of just Blackface, offers headphone out, an FX loop, and is smaller. The Tonemaster has...the aesthetics? I suppose it also has tremolo, and better output options for recording/pa via the XLR and IR's. Is Quilter eating Fender's lunch here, or is the tone of the Tonemaster superior enough to offset the cost difference? Maybe I'm missing something.

**Bach5G** · 08-20-2021, 07:07 PM

Jay Leonard J does a nice demo of the Cub on Sweetwater’s site. I really like his playing.

**artcore** · 08-21-2021, 09:37 AM

I had to have a headphone out..or I would have located a tonemaster and checked it out. Why they did not include a headphone out makes no sense. Others have said this also. I wish I had a studio or very private place to practice and play. Like many others, I don't. Would not be surprised if future Tonemasters have the headphone option.

**Endaro** · 08-21-2021, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by artcore

I had to have a headphone out..or I would have located a tonemaster and checked it out. Why they did not include a headphone out makes no sense. Others have said this also. I wish I had a studio or very private place to practice and play. Like many others, I don't. Would not be surprised if future Tonemasters have the headphone option.

I've seen an official response that the reason an FX loop wasn't included was that it would negatively affect the latency, and since they wanted the latency as low as possible, sacrificing some for an underused FX loop wasn't worth it. It's possible a headphone jack wasn't included for the same reason. If you really need one you could always use the XLR out to an interface with a headphone out, or connect it to a cheap in-ear monitor system like the PM1, though that only increases the price difference.

**dr_Primus** · 08-23-2021, 02:33 PM

I ordered mine from Thomann and it should have arrived from Quilter to Thomann last week, but it has been delayed to Sep 2nd and then another 3-5 days to Croatia.

I am a bit disappointed since I have two gigs this week and wanted to use it... But I guess that's global supply chain problems we have to deal with (my nephew waited 3 months for his Playstation 5).

Will have to use the trusty but heavy Trace Acoustic 30 for these two gigs :|

**kevmoga** · 11-07-2021, 12:51 PM

Interested in this amp too, especially with all the buzz on the web about this being as good as the tonemasters. But, seems like every video I watch is a snarling tele (don’t get me wrong, just spent an hour on my tele) or someone attempting to demonstrate overdrive/breakup. Jay Leonard’s Sweetwater video was better than most, but has anyone found a demo of someone actually playing jazz guitar with clean tones? Maybe even an archtop?

**Litterick** · 11-07-2021, 02:45 PM

The pedals I cannot abide: I want to hear an amp, not its owner's collection of overdrive and fuzz.

**wzpgsr** · 11-07-2021, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by kevmoga

Interested in this amp too, especially with all the buzz on the web about this being as good as the tonemasters. But, seems like every video I watch is a snarling tele (don’t get me wrong, just spent an hour on my tele) or someone attempting to demonstrate overdrive/breakup. Jay Leonard’s Sweetwater video was better than most, but has anyone found a demo of someone actually playing jazz guitar with clean tones? Maybe even an archtop?

**ccroft** · 11-07-2021, 03:51 PM

I'd probably get a Cub if I didn't already have TBlock 202 in BDock12. My biggest gripe with Quilter is how fast they come out with new things that turn my gaze from my current rig, even though I love it so. You know... the grass is greener, GAS etc.

RE Tonemasters: Quilter's been making excellent amps years before they showed up. As good as the TM's? Some would say better. The Fender thing isn't the be-all and end-all of amps for everybody. One significant EG: Wes used a Standell of all things for quite some time.

Another one: me :-)

**kevmoga** · 11-07-2021, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by ccroft

RE Tonemasters: Quilter's been making excellent amps years before they showed up. As good as the TM's? Some would say better. The Fender thing isn't the be-all and end-all of amps for everybody. One significant EG: Wes used a Standell of all things for quite some time.

Another one: me :-)

Certainly wasn’t suggesting Fender was the gold standard, I spend as much time with my old Ampegs (66 gs12 and 67 B15) as I do my Fender based AB 763 type amp. I also love my old Polytone. It’s just that both the TMs and the Cub seem to be attracting a lot of attention for the same reason - their ability to capture the vibe of the things that folks love about tube amps - thus they are ripe for comparison.

@wpz - Thanks for the video, somehow, I’ve missed that and nobody better to address the Cub and jazz better than Tim.

**dr_Primus** · 11-08-2021, 06:20 PM

To chime in…
My amp arrived a month ago… I took it gigging next week after arrival.

It is a great sounding amp (i prefer the tweed channel) and it is pretty light. If you use the limiter and gain knob wisely, you’ll get some nice compression while staying clean.

Also… it plays nice with dirt pedals - I have the Nux Horseman and these two are a match made in heaven (with a P90 thinline tele).
I am not too happy with headphone output, but it is usable.
Still haven’t tried the line out direct to PA.

**joebloggs13** · 02-12-2022, 04:37 PM

Am interested in this amp....I currently play a Louis Electric Columbia Reverb, which is an 18 watt vintage Blackface style amp. Is the tweed setting on the Aviator worth the price of admission? I am wondering if it would compliment the LE Columbia, or am I just chasing shadows here. The Columbia gives me those amazing BF clean tones...but the Quilter is cheaper and lighter...and can do the tweed sound...