Quilter Aviator Cub/Toneblock vs Henriksen Bud/Blu

[MHeld]

I'm in the market for a smaller/lighter solid state amp. Anyone have any experience with these that can compare them? I've never played a Henriksen. So maybe it's just me being set in my ways. But, I just struggle with the idea a 6" Bud can hang with the 12" Aviator Cub/Toneblock amps with the active EQ they have.

There are almost no videos of the Henriksen amps being used for anything other than a straight ahead jazz tone. The Quilter seems more versatile.

[213Cobra]

I'm in the market for a smaller/lighter solid state amp. Anyone have any experience with these that can compare them? I've never played a Henriksen. So maybe it's just me being set in my ways. But, I just struggle with the idea a 6" Bud can hang with the 12" Aviator Cub/Toneblock amps with the active EQ they have.

There are almost no videos of the Henriksen amps being used for anything other than a straight ahead jazz tone. The Quilter seems more versatile.

I have limited experience with the Quilter combination but own a Bud Six. The Quilter/Toneblock is somewhat more versatile but there are a lot of tonal colors available in the Bud's 5-band EQ. The Bud takes pedals very nicely. If you're accustomed to the 12" Aviator, go for the Bud 10" amp.

Phil

[Fusionshred]

There isn’t that much common ground between the Henriksen sound and the Quilter sound.

It’s not a matter of which one is better. It’s a matter of what general sound you’re striving for, not unlike 30 years ago deciding if you wanted a Deluxe Reverb or a Polytone.

so… you want something smaller and lighter than what?

[dconeill]

... Anyone have any experience with [Quilter Aviator Cub and Henriksen Bud/Blu] that can compare them? ... I just struggle with the idea a 6" Bud can hang with the 12" Aviator Cub/Toneblock amps with the active EQ they have.

There are almost no videos of the Henriksen amps being used for anything other than a straight ahead jazz tone. The Quilter seems more versatile.

Kind of depends what you're looking for.

The Henriksen is not a one-trick pony; with its EQ it's quite versatile. But it's a clean amp. It doesn't distort, and it really can't be made to distort, at least not very much. It works very well with pedals, but you'd need pedals for distortion and faux overdrive. The reason that "... almost [all] videos [feature] a straight-ahead jazz tone" is that's what the Henriksen does. If you want a small PA, in the direction of an FRFR setup, or a very clean jazz amp, the Henriksen is the way to go. If you want a straight-ahead jazz tone, this will do it.

If, on the other hand, you want more of a blues- or fusion-influenced sound, the Quilter is probably a better bet. It sounds a lot like more traditional guitar amps. Scofield influenced? Miles' fusion bands? The Quilter will be more down your line.

The size of the speaker in the Henriksen is really not an issue; the cabinet combines with the driver to produce a very usable sound. The 10" speaker version will have somewhat heavier bass balance than the 6", but both Henriksens are fully usable. Also, be aware that the EQ on the Bud 6/10 has different tonal centers does the Blu 6/10; the Bud has a wider range.

If you can't try a Quilter or a Henriksen before buying, make sure you buy it from someone with a solid return policy in case you don't like it.

Disclaimer: I have a Henriksen Bud (original issue). If I had the bucks and the space I'd have a Quilter too, but I don't so I don't.

[MHeld]

so… you want something smaller and lighter than what?

A 45lb 70's Silver Face Deluxe Reverb.

Can the Henriksen take OD and modulation pedals as well as a Quilter? (I'm not being facetious, legit asking) I want something as versatile as the Fender that saves weight and has a master volume. The Aviator cub has 3 Fender voicings (tweed/blonde/black) and a master volume and weights 20lbs. It seems down to Fender voicing vs a more FRFR voicing.

The lack of examples of the Henriksen doing anything other than a jazz tone is my main hangup.

[MHeld]

Kind of depends what you're looking for.

The Henriksen is not a one-trick pony; with its EQ it's quite versatile. But it's a clean amp. It doesn't distort, and it really can't be made to distort, at least not very much. It works very well with pedals, but you'd need pedals for distortion and faux overdrive. The reason that "... almost [all] videos [feature] a straight-ahead jazz tone" is that's what the Henriksen does. If you want a small PA, in the direction of an FRFR setup, or a very clean jazz amp, the Henriksen is the way to go. If you want a straight-ahead jazz tone, this will do it.

If, on the other hand, you want more of a blues- or fusion-influenced sound, the Quilter is probably a better bet. It sounds a lot like more traditional guitar amps. Scofield influenced? Miles' fusion bands? The Quilter will be more down your line.

The size of the speaker in the Henriksen is really not an issue; the cabinet combines with the driver to produce a very usable sound. The 10" speaker version will have somewhat heavier bass balance than the 6", but both Henriksens are fully usable. Also, be aware that the EQ on the Bud 6/10 has different tonal centers does the Blu 6/10; the Bud has a wider range.

If you can't try a Quilter or a Henriksen before buying, make sure you buy it from someone with a solid return policy in case you don't like it.

Disclaimer: I have a Henriksen Bud (original issue). If I had the bucks and the space I'd have a Quilter too, but I don't so I don't.

This is super helpful and well laid out. Thank you for this.

[213Cobra]

I can get just edge-of-distortion dirt from the Bud. A Bud 10 with the right choice of pedals can get you Fender, Vox, and even some Mesa Boogie sounds. But not full-on Marshall. The Six can do it too, but I think the 10" gets closer with the extra bass extension and other characteristics of the 10" Beta driver over the 6". You have to be willing to experiment. At least that's my experience with it. For this reason, I plan to get a Bud Ten, too. -Phil

[jads57]

I’m a die hard Quilter fan going on almost 10 years,and have owned many different iterations.
Probably my most used combo is an earlier version Aviator 1x8” Combo. And when paired with an extension cab say 1x12” it’s able to cover a loud band or larger venue.

I find them like a really great Fender Clean type of response. And they have a separate input for say another device or maybe a Synth,even backing tracks i.e.IReal App.

Ive played many different types of guitars from solid,thinline,flat top,Archtop all sound really good. Has a great direct out as well and always sounds the same, not dependent on wall voltage.

[Freddels]

A 45lb 70's Silver Face Deluxe Reverb.

Can the Henriksen take OD and modulation pedals as well as a Quilter? (I'm not being facetious, legit asking) I want something as versatile as the Fender that saves weight and has a master volume. The Aviator cub has 3 Fender voicings (tweed/blonde/black) and a master volume and weights 20lbs. It seems down to Fender voicing vs a more FRFR voicing.

The lack of examples of the Henriksen doing anything other than a jazz tone is my main hangup.

Check out John Cordy. I believe he has other vids on his channel about using the Henriksen.

[omphalopsychos]

milkman 100 is my favorite of the solid states, but milkman just released a new amp. stay tuned

[Stringswinger]

I have a Bud 6, a Blu 10 and a Quilter Mach 3 Combo.

The Bud 6 is bigger sounding than you think, but the 10 inch Henriksen is closer to what the Quilter can do as far as pushing air.

But Henriksen amps are geared for the old Polytone crowd while Quilter is geared towards the old Fender crowd. Henriksens are cleaner, lighter and more reliable than a Polytone. Quilter amps are lighter than a Fender tube amp, but only get you 90 percent of the way there. For the other 10 percent, you need tubes.

HTH

[John A.]

I have an Aviator Cub and have played through both the Bud and the Blu many times. As others have said, the Henriksens have a more PA-like sound. The Aviator Cub sounds much closer to Fender amps (tweed, blond, or blackface, depending which input you use). I prefer a more colored, guitar-amp sort of sound, plus I also play blues, so the Quilter works better for me. I've yet to figure out how to find a sound I like out of a Blu or Bud (though I like the larger Jazz Amp). For "jazz" amps in that form factor, I prefer the DV Mark Little Jazz, though it's not quite as loud as the Henriksens, and a lot people prefer the Henriksens.

Also, there are actually several different Tone Block amps, and none them is quite like the Aviator Cub, so you can't really lump them in with it. The Quilter head that comes closest to it is the Superblock USA (which is the same pre-amp with a less power).

[JazzPadd]

Blu Six owner here. I’ve used it in three ways: 1) Outdoor gig with a quintet doing standards and crossover at a street jazz festival, 2) Indoor solo guitar gig doing jazz, funk, pop and with a pedalboard in an auditorium for 120 people, 3) Home studio use for practice and messing around with pedals. More than enough of an amp for what I now need.

Soundwise, it reminds me of the Polytone Mini Brute that I used in the 1980s, clean and punchy.

Main selling points, beside the sound I like, is portability and versatility. 5 band EQ, reverb, effects loop, headphones jack, speaker out, line out, bluetooth.

I haven’t tried the other amps mentioned. Had a Mark Acoustic and Roland Blues Cube. Besides being too bulky and heavy they were not really what I needed so sold them to fund the Blu Six. I got it without trying it first, but it lived up to my expectations.

Hoping this helps, wishing you all the best in your amp quest.

[ccroft]

Yeah, you can't lump all the Quilter amps into one bag. Many folks don't know the Toneblock 202 has FRFR voicing. Lovely for arch top. I was told by JazzKritter it does (did) very well in replacing his ancient Walter Woods (old school solid state jazz amp).

So it's not just Quilter Fendery, but also Polytonish (Henricksy). I've had mine for something like 6 years and use it both ways from time to time.

[cmajor9]

Yeah, you can't lump all the Quilter amps into one bag. Many folks don't know the Toneblock 202 has FRFR voicing. Lovely for arch top. I was told by JazzKritter it does (did) very well in replacing his ancient Walter Woods (old school solid state jazz amp).

So it's not just Quilter Fendery, but also Polytonish (Henricksy). I've had mine for something like 6 years and use it both ways from time to time.

+1 - Both usable voices makes the TB202 a versatile, good-sounding amp, especially for jazz. As a bonus, you can also use it with modelers.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Blu Six owner here.....Main selling points, beside the sound I like, is portability and versatility. 5 band EQ, reverb, effects loop, headphones jack, speaker out, line out, bluetooth.

I love my Blu6 and agree with everything you say, except that there's no formal line out. The Bud has one, but the Blu has only a headphone jack and an "extension" speaker jack.



I also have a Quilter OD202, which is essentially a TB202 with a switchable O/D channel. The TB and OD 202 heads are seriously powerful and very versatile. Through a 1x12, my OD202 is pretty much the equal of the original 100W 'pre-Mark' Boogie I used for decades before I didn't need that much power any more and got tired of the weight.

The Blu 6 and the TB / OD202 are both wonderful amps. But they're not directly comparable. The 202s do great clean jazz tone, tastful edge-of-breakup, crunch, fusion, country, rock, and pop. While they take pedals very well, the OD202 doesn't need one for most of its sounds. The TB can even do some Dumble - the limiter is very useful along with the gain and volume controls. The TB & OD sound fat and deep through a ported cab with great bass response, but they get brighter and punchier through sealed cabs with brighter drivers. Through an open back 2x12, the big Quilter heads are a very convincing Twin.

The Blu 6 is a fabulous amp for all the gigs you describe. But the 202s are significantly more powerful and versatile if you're doing bigger gigs in a variety of genres.

[JazzPadd]

I love my Blu6 and agree with everything you say, except that there's no formal line out. The Bud has one, but the Blu has only a headphone jack and an "extension" speaker jack.



I also have a Quilter OD202, which is essentially a TB202 with a switchable O/D channel. The TB and OD 202 heads are seriously powerful and very versatile. Through a 1x12, my OD202 is pretty much the equal of the original 100W 'pre-Mark' Boogie I used for decades before I didn't need that much power any more and got tired of the weight.

The Blu 6 and the TB / OD202 are both wonderful amps. But they're not directly comparable. The 202s do great clean jazz tone, tastful edge-of-breakup, crunch, fusion, country, rock, and pop. While they take pedals very well, the OD202 doesn't need one for most of its sounds. The TB can even do some Dumble - the limiter is very useful along with the gain and volume controls. The TB & OD sound fat and deep through a ported cab with great bass response, but they get brighter and punchier through sealed cabs with brighter drivers. Through an open back 2x12, the big Quilter heads are a very convincing Twin.

The Blu 6 is a fabulous amp for all the gigs you describe. But the 202s are significantly more powerful and versatile if you're doing bigger gigs in a variety of genres.

Interesting. I might’ve misunderstood it, but there’s an XLR jack on top of my Blu Six that’s labelled Line Out.



In any case definitely a fabulous amp.

[Woody Sound]

I have a 2nd gen Bud 6, and Quilter Mach 2 combo. Both great, but they're different tools. You have to know what you want to do with them, and what kind of sound *you* want.

[rpjazzguitar]

Just to throw a wrench into the discussion ...

I like my Little Jazz a lot. I tried a Blu 6 but preferred the LJ. I found the Blu to lack the warmth of the LJ and there was nothing I could do with the 5 band EQ to change that.

I posted, ad nauseum, I think, my experience trying to use powered speakers to cover both guitar and vocals. I'd read that the Bud was considered good for both - so it was possible. Presumably, the sound would be more toward the FRFR end of the spectrum.

I couldn't get it to work with the Bose S1 or Everse 8. But, I finally did get it to work with the JBL Eon One Compact. That speaker has powerful EQ options among other things. It weighs 17lbs. More than the Blu/Bud, but very manageable.

It's now my go-to amp for big band. I've used it on several quartet/quintet gigs for both vocals and guitar. Of those, I was unhappy with the guitar tone once. Insufficient warmth on the recording. Tricky, because of the geometry of that bandstand and the monitoring (the LJ). I think I heard myself through the warmth of the LJ and didn't realize that I needed to dial back treble for the FOH -- which is what the recorder heard. The JBL has 4 band EQ on each channel and 8 band on the master.

That it worked for me doesn't guarantee that it will work for anybody else. I play a semi and I'm not trying to get a classic jazz tone.

But, if you're trying out the Blu/Bud in a store (which you probably aren't) it would make sense to compare to the JBL or another powered speaker. If you like it, it's substantially less expensive and, arguably, more versatile.

[jads57]

Another thing I found is putting a Boost pedal Clean or Slightly Gritty, in front of my Quilters helps warm up the tone. And thus responds more Tube Like!

I use an Xotic Sweet Boost or a T.C.Jauernig Luxury Drive pedal.
It also makes the amp a lot louder if needed.
I was contemplating trying a Tube Pre like ART TUBE PREAMP in front or the effects loop. There’s a used one for $30 at Dave’s Guitar at the moment.
Im just not gigging enough at this time to pursue it,Lol!

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Interesting. I might’ve misunderstood it, but there’s an XLR jack on top of my Blu Six that’s labelled Line Out.

Holy cr@p! I gotta admit that I totally overlooked that. I knew it was on the back of the Bud, and I knew it wasn’t there on my Blu. So I assumed it didn’t have one. I got it for smaller gigs for which there’s no need for a DI or line out, and I never gave that XLR a second thought.

Wow - I am dumb!

[bailbonds]

I’ve tried both the Quilter Aviator Cub and the Henriksen Bud. The Quilter definitely feels more versatile overall, especially if you play a mix of genres. But the Bud has a surprisingly warm tone and handles pedals really well — perfect if you’re after clean or jazzier sounds. If portability is a big factor, the Bud 10" might surprise you.

[Little Jay]

I have a Quilter Superblock US and a Henriksen Blu 6.

For my last gig I used both….. the Superblock into the Blu 6 and I prefered that over using the Blu 6 on it’s own, mainly because it enables me to dial in more Fender-like tones. The Blu 6 sounds very dark with my guitars (Gibson ES-125, Ibanez AF55). I also like the reverb of the Superblock a little better.

But I don’t mind using the Blu 6 on it’s own. Great little amp, lots of clean power, although with a louder drummer my volume is almost fully open. But to me definitely a one trick pony, with a distinct sound. I can’t dial in much else than that sound. I don’t find the tone controls very flexible, in spite of what others say. Switching in/out the horn can change the sound, although I only really notice it when playing music over the amp thru the BlueTooth-function (which is sooooo practical btw!).

[Cunamara]

Holy cr@p! I gotta admit that I totally overlooked that. I knew it was on the back of the Bud, and I knew it wasn’t there on my Blu. So I assumed it didn’t have one. I got it for smaller gigs for which there’s no need for a DI or line out, and I never gave that XLR a second thought.

Wow - I am dumb!

Thank God I have never done anything like that! That's my story and I'm sticking to it

[JazzPadd]

Holy cr@p! I gotta admit that I totally overlooked that. I knew it was on the back of the Bud, and I knew it wasn’t there on my Blu. So I assumed it didn’t have one. I got it for smaller gigs for which there’s no need for a DI or line out, and I never gave that XLR a second thought.

Wow - I am dumb!

I haven’t yet used it on mine, either. But I think there may be different versions of the Henriksen amps so it’s an innocent mistake, and by no means dumb.