The Quilter Block Dock 12HD is discontinued.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

While looking on the Quilter website just now, I discovered that the Block Dock 12HD has been replaced with a neo-loaded 15” BD. It’s looks in its pictures like it’s the same open back design as the 12. The 10 is continued in the line and remains a significantly smaller closed back tiltable cab.

I’m sure the 15 sounds wonderful, but the 12 is as big as I want or need to go - and I suspect the 15 wouldn’t fit easily in the trunk of my Toyota GR86. The 12 is about 16x18x11 and the 15 is about 19x20x12.

[John A.]

While looking on the Quilter website just now, I discovered that the Block Dock 12HD has been replaced with a neo-loaded 15” BD. It’s looks in its pictures like it’s the same open back design as the 12. The 10 is continued in the line and remains a significantly smaller closed back tiltable cab.

I’m sure the 15 sounds wonderful, but the 12 is as big as I want or need to go - and I suspect the 15 wouldn’t fit easily in the trunk of my Toyota GR86. The 12 is about 16x18x11 and the 15 is about 19x20x12.

That seems like kind of a strange move. 15's are not very popular as guitar speakers, and Quilter says the 10 can't handle the full power of their 200 watt heads. This leaves potential 202-series amps and people who prefer 12's (which I suspect is most guitarists) out of luck.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

That seems like kind of a strange move. 15's are not very popular as guitar speakers, and Quilter says the 10 can't handle the full power of their 200 watt heads. This leaves potential 202-series amps and people who prefer 12's (which I suspect is most guitarists) out of luck.

Right !! I first thought it may be because of a shortage of 12" neo drivers, since there's apparently a dearth of neo 10s. Quilter has both BN12-300S and Copperback 12" drivers available on their website, and they're not on sale - so I assume it's not a closeout.

[Gitterbug]

My Jensen contacts claim that 12" speakers outsell 10" 100 to one. I don't think there's a shortage of 12" Neos. The Finnish importer alone has 31 Tornados in stock. Neodymium prices have come down significantly, but China may factor in. Quilter favors Celestion, a Chinese-owned company whose volume models are made in China. That country also produces over 95% of the world's rare earth elements, including most of the neodymium.

[wintermoon]

I suspect the 15 wouldn’t fit easily in the trunk of my Toyota GR86.

just get a bigger car, problem sol-ved
I'll be here all week, unfortunately

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

just get a bigger car, problem sol-ved
I'll be here all week, unfortunately

[ccroft]

I've been playing Quilter for several years. I have BD12HD, BD10 and ToneBlock 202.

My guess is that with a somewhat less capable Cub for quite a bit less, and a more capable Mach3 for not a whole lot more, that an amp like mine is kinda in the Twilight Zone. Could be they're not selling enough BlockDock12 to make it worth producing and stocking?

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

My guess is that with a somewhat less capable Cub for quite a bit less, and a more capable Mach3 for not a whole lot more, that an amp like mine is kinda in the Twilight Zone. Could be they're not selling enough BlockDock12 to make it worth producing and stocking?

They clearly didn’t sell enough BD12s to justify continuing them. But a 15” version for $50 more doesn’t seem like a major sales driver either.

I wonder if moving an interchangeable head among multiple cabinets just takes more effort than most guitarists want to make. As you point out, the Mach 3 12” combo is great. It’s even a hair smaller than the BD12HD and only costs $150 more new than a TB202 in an HD12. I do use both the 10 and the 12 BDs, preferring the smallest package that will do the job for any gig. But a Mach 3 is between the BD10 & 12 in size.

Truth be told, the 202 head does a lot more than my other small heads do. And while my 10” Toob sounds a bit better than the BD10 for a straight jazz tone, the 202s are just a bit big to sit firmly and steadily on the Toob amp platform on a crowded stage with other players right next to it. I take the BD10 on gigs where it’ll do the job sonically, is easier to stash out of the way, and less likely to be damaged. A BD15 wouldn’t do anything my 12 can’t do and would be even more in the way on a crowded stage. The only real advantage to having both BDs is that I can use them together as a pseudoTwin.

If someone offered me a Mach 3 combo for my OD202 and BD12 now, I’d take it. I’d sell the BD10 and use my BAM200 on the 10” Toob with my ZenDrive clone pedal as needed.

[yebdox]

I was curious, as a Quilter head is on my to do list. Here was the response from customer service:

"Truth be told, we are in the process of discontinuing out BlockDock and BassDock line of cabinets. There are currently no plans on introducing a new line of cabinets.

If you were looking for a 12 inch BlockDock (the 12CB or 12HD), your best bet would be the secondhand market. The 10TC and 15 have limited quantities remaining and will also not return once sold out."

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I was curious, as a Quilter head is on my to do list. Here was the response from customer service:

"Truth be told, we are in the process of discontinuing out BlockDock and BassDock line of cabinets. There are currently no plans on introducing a new line of cabinets.

If you were looking for a 12 inch BlockDock (the 12CB or 12HD), your best bet would be the secondhand market. The 10TC and 15 have limited quantities remaining and will also not return once sold out."

That confirms my beliefs that the Block Docks are too expensive and too few want to bother with sticking the head in the back of the BD cabinet. I still think the 202 heads are fantastic and would buy my OD202 again. It's a killer amp that does anything my Boogie 1x12 hunree did except for the cascaded gain stage sustain a la Santana (which I get using a Zendrive into it). Through my RE10, it's a fantastic jazz amp too.

The Tone Block 202 is also excellent, but it lacks the drive channel of the OD. Just for jazz, the ToneBlock is outstanding and it takes pedals well if you want effects. But the OD202 is amazing for fusion and blues tones - and it's as loud as a Boogie or Twin but sounds great at any volume. I'm not playing many blues dates any more, so I may sell the OD202 and both BDs since I have a 250W EG250 and the RE cab if I need the power. But I'll be using the OD202 & BD12HD on Saturday night's gig just because it's so light and I love the tone.

[John A.]

That confirms my beliefs that the Block Docks are too expensive and too few want to bother with sticking the head in the back of the BD cabinet. I still think the 202 heads are fantastic and would buy my OD202 again. It's a killer amp that does anything my Boogie 1x12 hunree did except for the cascaded gain stage sustain a la Santana (which I get using a Zendrive into it). Through my RE10, it's a fantastic jazz amp too.

The Tone Block 202 is also excellent, but it lacks the drive channel of the OD. Just for jazz, the ToneBlock is outstanding and it takes pedals well if you want effects. But the OD202 is amazing for fusion and blues tones - and it's as loud as a Boogie or Twin but sounds great at any volume. I'm not playing many blues dates any more, so I may sell the OD202 and both BDs since I have a 250W EG250 and the RE cab if I need the power. But I'll be using the OD202 & BD12HD on Saturday night's gig just because it's so light and I love the tone.

I think the Aviator Cub series must also have somewhat cannibalized sales for the tone Blockdock + Toneblock concept.

[yebdox]

That confirms my beliefs that the Block Docks are too expensive and too few want to bother with sticking the head in the back of the BD cabinet. I still think the 202 heads are fantastic and would buy my OD202 again. It's a killer amp that does anything my Boogie 1x12 hunree did except for the cascaded gain stage sustain a la Santana (which I get using a Zendrive into it). Through my RE10, it's a fantastic jazz amp too.

The Tone Block 202 is also excellent, but it lacks the drive channel of the OD. Just for jazz, the ToneBlock is outstanding and it takes pedals well if you want effects. But the OD202 is amazing for fusion and blues tones - and it's as loud as a Boogie or Twin but sounds great at any volume. I'm not playing many blues dates any more, so I may sell the OD202 and both BDs since I have a 250W EG250 and the RE cab if I need the power. But I'll be using the OD202 & BD12HD on Saturday night's gig just because it's so light and I love the tone.

I haven't had a chance to play either head. Would you say that the OD202 head is as versatile with the cleans as the Tone Block 202? I am mostly pedal based into clean 40 to 50 watt heads and combos, but if the overdrive feature didn't take away from the clean tones, then maybe I would opt for that instead of the Tone Block.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I haven't had a chance to play either head. Would you say that the OD202 head is as versatile with the cleans as the Tone Block 202? I am mostly pedal based into clean 40 to 50 watt heads and combos, but if the overdrive feature didn't take away from the clean tones, then maybe I would opt for that instead of the Tone Block.

For me, the clean sound of the OD202 is indistinguishable from the TB202 using the "Full Q" voice on both. Here's the official description of the voices on both from Quilter:

TONE BLOCK 202


1. The FRFR voicing in the TB202 is a flat response with speaker dampening. This is ideal for those using modeling rigs and/or cab sims.


2. The FULLQ voicing on the TB202 brings out a more "honest" tone of your guitar while bringing out a warmth in the speakers.


3. The VINT voicing on the TB202 is a Fender-style tone stack with added bass and chime.


OVERDRIVE 202


1. Voice 1 will bring an "honest,' natural tone from your guitar. It is similar to the FULLQ of the TB202, but with a bit of added treble.


2. Voice 2 will have a "bell-like tone" and improve definition of chords in both clean and overdrive settings. This voicing is inspired by a certain very expensive and unobtainable high-end amp.


3. Voice 3 is a Blackface-style mid-scoop. A bit similar to the VINT of the TB202, but with a more metallic styling.

If anything, the OD202 is more versatile because the 3 voices are different for the OD channel. With the gain down and the volume up, the OD channel does a great impression of an old edge-of-breakup tube amp. And the 3 voices run the range from octal to tweed. With 200W on tap, you can get the sound you want at any volume level.

FWIW, voice 2 on the OD202 through either channel is more than a bit Dumble-like in the Steel String Singer school. Put a Zendrive or clone in front, switch to the OD channel, and you move to ODS territory.

[yebdox]

For me, the clean sound of the OD202 is indistinguishable from the TB202 using the "Full Q" voice on both. Here's the official description of the voices on both from Quilter:

TONE BLOCK 202


1. The FRFR voicing in the TB202 is a flat response with speaker dampening. This is ideal for those using modeling rigs and/or cab sims.


2. The FULLQ voicing on the TB202 brings out a more "honest" tone of your guitar while bringing out a warmth in the speakers.


3. The VINT voicing on the TB202 is a Fender-style tone stack with added bass and chime.


OVERDRIVE 202


1. Voice 1 will bring an "honest,' natural tone from your guitar. It is similar to the FULLQ of the TB202, but with a bit of added treble.


2. Voice 2 will have a "bell-like tone" and improve definition of chords in both clean and overdrive settings. This voicing is inspired by a certain very expensive and unobtainable high-end amp.


3. Voice 3 is a Blackface-style mid-scoop. A bit similar to the VINT of the TB202, but with a more metallic styling.

If anything, the OD202 is more versatile because the 3 voices are different for the OD channel. With the gain down and the volume up, the OD channel does a great impression of an old edge-of-breakup tube amp. And the 3 voices run the range from octal to tweed. With 200W on tap, you can get the sound you want at any volume level.

FWIW, voice 2 on the OD202 through either channel is more than a bit Dumble-like in the Steel String Singer school. Put a Zendrive or clone in front, switch to the OD channel, and you move to ODS territory.

Excellent and most helpful summary, thanks!