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Asking for a logic check here but hope this is short enough. I'm looking to replace a cheap ($100) practice amp as both an upgrade in sound quality and complement to a solid hybrid (SeQuel) amp that nails what I want in a clean sound, but isn't the ONLY sound I'm after. Think rockabilly and blues.
Narrowed the candidates to Fender Pro Junior IV (tube would definitely be different) and looking at Quilter Superblock (or 101 Reverb) with a Raezer's Edge 10-inch Open Back cab. Thought was for practice and perhaps more (more power) and ease of "the carry". Pro Junior kind of looks to fit for a tube beginner both in simplicity and price, but might involve an Attenuator for home playvolumes. I'm a hobbyist so avoiding the spendy thing is a deal. The other option is to follwow the Quilter Superblock path (or possibly the 101 Reverb) and stick with SS. Subscribing to the care and feeding of tube amps is a bit intimidating - and yes, I've been interested enough to begin learning about all of that as opposed to just drooling over the sound I hear in demos where the players are so fantastic.... I'm pretty sure they could make a trash can sound good.
Equally, the buzz between the die hard tubers and SS'ers leaves me fuddled over in the middle, closer to the youtuber who says, "I'm a player who wants to play and not get lost in tech detail, but I want to learn about how control over my sound comes from an amp, and I know nothing....". And so a Quilter Head may have more going for it than tubes for a non-electrician (I can twist knobs better than I can play with transformers, resistors and capacitor discharge)....avoid getting lost in tech, cautions,fogging details and disclosures of the sort that wonderful Fender clone makers like Carl's Custom Amps post on their '57 Champs and Princetons at twice the price. The tube issues cited may overstate the case.... but not the intimidation.
By contrast Quilters are supposed to offer choices in tube simulated sounds... and I'm impressed listening to Tim Lerch on their demos that this approach might have some merit as much as many others (tubers?) suggest they don't get it done.... or only get it done 90% of the way. Again, Tim would likely sound great playing chopsticks or just testing his tune-up, and I'm not sure how Quilters do with Blues and Rockabilly... which is a sort of a sound complement I'm thinking would widen the template a bit as an option.
Does this make sense? or am I missing something?
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12-01-2025 12:57 PM
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I just built this:
Quilter SBUS and Homemade Cabinet
Its using the Superblock US which I bought for many of the same reasons you did. I was after a single coil jazz tone and I dont want to mess with tubes. I find it really versatile but dont take my word for it. There are tons of reviews and better players to advise you. BUT it does have an amazing tone. For my uses, it can go all the way from really colorful to almost acoustic (with a little color added).
I think a lot of players who complain about the treble being a little high are pairing it with really small cabs. Id build something a little smaller than the current Tonemasters but not cube like. I get more than enough bass and mid and with a good size cabinet I have to actually turn up the treble where many are putting it on zero or close. Also 12 oclock is more or less neutral on these amps. I think the 3 voices are really helpful
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Wow!!! Beautiful work.
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Thanks. I figured I wasnt taking it anywhere so I built it like a little table.
I had the wood that I salvaged from other stuff in my garage so all I paid for was the speaker, cloth, and cable bits.
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Quilter is the best solid state option if you want fender sounds. It'll be great for blues and rockabilly.
Are you trying to gig or start playing with a drummer? I'm not sure the Fender Pro will push enough air for that. But the Quilter will do fine.
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Allan: Yeah.... like to have whatever I buy have enough air to allow playing with others without REQUIRING another purchase. Another benefit of the Quilter. Thanks!
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I build my own amplifiers and have repaired quite a few old Fenders and Ampegs, so I like to think I have a pretty good understanding of what makes an amp great, but I'm not completely a Tube Snob, as I often use my Superblock US, Henriksen, and Fender Tonemasters too. I also play blues and a little rockabilly in addition to jazz.
The Fender 'Hot Rod' series (including the Blues Juniors and Pro Juniors) don't impress me very much. I know they've been very popular over the past 30 years, but I don't really consider them the finest that the tube world has to offer. I find them to be boxy sounding and somewhat harsh. The biggest thing that separates them from the "classic" Fender tube amps of the 50s and 60s are the EL84 tubes. There's really no getting around that.
In my opinion, the 'best' answer to the quest for one tube to do jazz, blues, and rockabilly would be a Fender Tweed style amp. I was going to suggest one of the many hardwired clones out there, but yes, they are certainly more expensive than a PJ would be. But, if you can swing it, "buy once, cry once" is my best advice.
One of the best values in the tube amp world are vintage Ampeg amps. Jets and Reverberockets from the '60s can be had for as little as $500, although they typically don't break up very much (unless you can find an early one with 6V6 and 5Y3 tubes)
The Superblock is a nice amp with a sound that is a decent approximation of classic Fender amps. As you said, it gets you 90% of the way there. I find the EQ controls to be rather sensitive, so it can take some tweaking to find the sweet spot (more so than a real tube amp). I have no first-hand experience with the 101 Reverb, but I have seen a lot of negative reviews of it. The Tone Block 200 and the Overdrive 200 get much better reviews.
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I would avoid the Quilter 101 and go for a used Quilter Aviator first or second generation 1x8,1x12 combos or even just an Aviator head.
You will have way more headroom, and better tone overall. I believe they even made a 2x10 combo as well.
Ive gigged these amps in all types of situations for over 10 years and never been happier!
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Andrew is spot on, especially about the sensitivity of the eq. If you are picky they require a light touch. The good thing is that there is a broad amount of adjustment. The kind of negative is that just a tiny adjustment makes a real world sound difference. In my perfect world the knobs would have numbers and quarter marked increments between them AND a less sensitivity to tiny tweaks. As it is you just cant grab the knob and give it a twist...you have to be delicate. In some cases you gently "bump" the knob rather than to twist it. At first I thought the changes were in my head but they are really that sensitive. All that said, I still love it.
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Thanks for the input!
"Buy once, cry once" really nails it on the head. Yes, I find a lot of appeal in the Fender Tweed.... Carl's Custom Princeton ( Classic Tweed Princeton 1x10 5F2A style Tweed Combo — Carl's Custom Amps ) especially which ballparks @ $ 1,300 + shipping(?). With so many, they buy and upgrade that to a non-electrician geek, it seems simpler to step up at the front end or stick with Solid State. I think Carl offers 5 watts with a 10-inch speaker. But FWIW, I started this excercise looking at the Pro Junior, then the 57 Champ... and then saw with Carl's Custom you have a Princeton for the same price as his Champ. But it looks like you'd have to mic it to take it out anywhere. Might not be unworkable... because there's always something. That said, maintenance is a thing and how much tubers really run into that? And I have no practical experience with that... as in changing tubes. At anyrate, came back to the Pro Junior but admit that just might be a complete fail.... ergo, a future discounted item lying unused and utlimately replaced.
Originally Posted by andrew
And so we pause to admit it sure would be easier to go down a road like this with guitar stores and broad inventory. My local stores inventory very little... I think trying to stay out of battling price with the big box store... which makes sense, but makes life harder when you think of stepping beyond the comfort zone. Hence... my post here. FWIW, I am thankful for everyone's input!!! for that reason.
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The 5F2A is a great at-home amp. People love the 5F1 Champ, but I think the tone controls on the 5F2A makes it more useful. And the 10" speaker is perfect for it. But, alas, 5W is not going be loud enough to gig with. A 15W amp like the 5E3 Tweed Deluxe is about the minimum you'd need for rehearsals and smaller gigs. And even that can get lost if you have a very heavy handed drummer.
Changing tubes is pretty easy. All of the amps we're talking about here are what's known as "cathode biased". Practically, what that means is that you don't have to worry about adjusting anything when you change tubes. Just pop the old ones out and pop in the new ones. And tubes, although not cheap, last longer than people give them credit for.
I have no affiliation with either of these two links below. I just Googled to see what some 5E3 clones were selling for on the used market these days. More than a PJ, but several options under $1,000.
This first one from Reverb looks like it has some quality components. The wiring could be a little neater, though.
Just a moment...
And a used Mojotone one from GC. 10% off used today for Cyber Monday apparently:
Used Mojotone tweed deluxe 5e3 handwired Tube Guitar Combo Amp | Guitar Center
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I'm chiming in, only because I hope someone at Quilter is reading this. In the big picture, solid-state amplification rules supreme everywhere, apart from tube amp diehards, be they guitarists or high-end HiFi cork sniffers. The OP will be perfectly happy with a Fender Tone Master or a Quilter.
In guitar amplification, the Class D landslide gained momentum around 2016. The current crop is near perfection, and Quilter is a clear winner. It's interesting to note that Quilter, always keen to emulate Fender, has developed its own technology, while the more recent Tone Masters rely on the proven Icepower power supply/power amp modules. I'm hoping to see the aging and overly bright Quilter 101R replaced by a beefed-up, darker-sounding version of the SuperBlock, or a reduced-size ToneBlock. Even Quilter now seems to be following several tracks: their latest guitar product, DirectAmp, is not an amp at all but another FX /preamp pedal the world is full of. Stick to the knitting, but with a tad less chime and twang, please!
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I think you'd be much better off just getting a pedal to put in front of your sequel amp vs getting a new amp entirely. Quilters can do more overdrive sounds than your sequel, but those sounds are just passable IMO. A good overdrive and EQ can get you a much nicer version of the same sounds right into the amp you already have.
If you want a little bit of grit but are happy with the EQ of your sequel, I'd recommend the Fairfield Circtuitry Barbershop. If you want to have more EQ control and want a sound that is slightly rolled off on the top end, check out the Benson Germanium Preamp pedal.
If you DO want a one-trick pony to do rockabilly and blues, a real tube amp is where it's at.
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I have the Aviator 2x10" combo - a great sounding amplifier with loads of headroom and a very tube-like feel. Originally Posted by jads57
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I switched from tubes (Princeton Reverb) to SS (Quilter Aviator Cub) a couple of years ago. For my uses it’s a bit more practical (much lighter, usable master volume, more flexible tones).
Regarding the hassle factor of tubes, yes it’s there to a degree (I’ve had to do some expensive repairs), but’s not like it’s a constant problem. Most tube amps go years without needing service or new tubes. For me, shedding that cost/hassle was a factor in my switching, but the switch wouldn’t have worked for me with very many other SS amps.
I tried the 101r, and I didn’t like it. I’d take (and did take) the Aviator Cub over it. I also chose the AC over the SBUSA (which is the same preamp as the AC with less power) because I wanted the additional potential volume and I prefer combos to separates.
The Pro Junior is a nice amp. No need for an attenuator (it sounds good at low volume). If you’re a beginner and not doing loud gigs, it’ll be good. Either you grow out of it (or any other first “good” amp) or you don’t. Only one way to find out.Last edited by John A.; 12-02-2025 at 01:10 PM.
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I've had a mountain of tube amps over the years. Fender, Marshall, Matchless, Two Rock, countless others. I've sold them all and use a Quilter Tone Block 202 and the 1x10 BlockDock cab. The vintage setting is voiced like a blackface Fender. The Full Q setting is super fat with lots of mids. In the ballpark of amps like a Polytone or Henriksen.
The Quilter covers a lot of ground. You can dial it in to have the clean headroom of a big 6L6 amp like a Twin Reverb. Or dial up the gain and get the breakup you get from smaller amps like a Princeton or Deluxe Reverb. It inhales pedals. Use it with the closed back 1x10 for something really focused and portable or with larger cabs if you want something really expansive.
My 1x10 BlockDock and Tone Block 202 weighs 19lbs. Cranked up it's 50 watt Bassman levels of loud. Or you can dial in bedroom sounds that are just as convincing as any practice amp. Everything in between is there too. I wish I would have had this years ago instead of lugging around a giant Twin.
The Pro Jr is a fine amp. I've owned one. It's kind of a one trick tweed-ish voiced thing though. It's pretty loud by the time it sounds good, imo. I'd take a tone block or Aviator Cub over a Pro Jr any day, personally.
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It all comes down to what you want hear and deal with. If you’re a home player then it’s just you and the gear.
But when factoring in volume,repairs,what works for many situations from small Jazz Duo to Loud Pop Rock gig. Then the more powerful Quilters are a no brainer!
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I have a Quilter micro pro 8. One of my other amps is a Princeton. Quilter doesn't quite sound like a Fender tube amp. It's sort of in between a Fender and a Henriksen (or another pure SS amp). It sounds softer, more tube like than a Henriksen, but as soon as you plug into a Princeton, there is another dramatic step in the tube direction. Princeton sounds noticeably more compressed than Quilter even though Princeton is not particularly compressed in the tube amp scale. The EQ and feel is also very different. Princeton has more lush, clear highs, softer bass and it's got a more laid back response. There is a subtle, inherent quality to Princeton that makes it sound clear without being overly bright. It's the upper harmonics probably. Quilter feels more immediate (like any SS amp), and more HiFi. Again, if you compare a Quilter with an Henriksen, the Henriksen will sound more HiFi than the Quilter.
I am not saying that Princeton is better. Sometimes I prefer the more direct tones of Quilter. Princeton sounds more lush but that's not always what I want to hear.Last edited by Tal_175; 12-02-2025 at 01:57 PM.
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The level of "tubeness" of Quilter is similar to what you get from an analog Fender type pedal like Tech 21 blonde, IMO. If you plug a Tech 21 into an Henriksen or a DV Mark, it'll get you there. Getting a good SS amp and relying on a pedal for the tube vibe is another good, modular option.
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I guess I have to disagree with people’s assessment of Quilters clean tone. Aside from the 101, my feeling is if people plugged into a variety of amps behind a curtain say. I don’t think they would come to the same conclusions.
Remember, tubes may sound great at whatever wattage level they are able to achieve. And while that can be a good thing, it’s quite limiting to have to have different amps for different gigs all the time.
Another issue is wall voltage affecting their performance as well!
I have neither issue with my Quilters. In fact no matter the venue I play it always performs the exact same. Of course adding more or larger speakers increase the volume and headroom as well.
And then for those of us gigging,who wants carry a Twin Reverb with JBL’s ,Lol!
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The care and upkeep hassle of tube amps is greatly exaggerated, speaking as somebody who's had a Fender Pro Reverb for about 40 years and has had to have it recapped once. I've got a tweed Deluxe clone that I built from a kit, has needed some servicing mainly because my soldering skills were not all that and a bag of chips. I had an Egnater Rebel 30 tube amp for at least 15 years and recently donated to a music school where it is their main performance hall guitar amp. All three sounded great. In addition to those I've had a couple of Polytones, an Acoustic Image Clarus 2r through a Raezer's Edge 12" cab, and a DV Mark Raw Dawg EG250 (6205 tube in the preamp with solid state power amp) which runs through a TOOB Metro BG + cab.
I've had too many amps, now that I'm reading that list. Good grief. But the upshot is that I don't have either the belief that tube amps are the be all and end all, nor do I think that they are yesterday's news and should be replaced with solid state. I'm sure someone will weigh in here with the notion that the Fender Twin Reverb is the only amp anyone needs (which is true, unless you're an old man with back problems
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The DV Mark/TOOB is the one that gets the nod for most places I go. It sounds great, bigger than it is, and the portability is superb. It doesn't take up much floor space on the stage, which is sometimes important, and sounds good patched through to the PA from the line out jack. Before I bought the DV Mark, I had bought an open-box Quilter 101R from Guitar Center. The well-known "capacitor trick" endorsed by Pat Quilter tamed the brightness that many complain about with this amp. It sounded fantastic and would have been my solution if it would only have been loud enough through the TOOB. Back it went, with Guitar Center's no-hassle return policy, and now I have the DV Mark which also sounds excellent. I have never tried the Quilter 202 but I suspect that would have been an excellent option for me. If I was looking for a new combo, it would probably be a Quilter.
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Oh yes, have three of them, each a slightly different shade of just pure wonderful. Originally Posted by Cunamara
I'm sure someone will weigh in here with the notion that the Fender Twin Reverb is the only amp anyone needs (which is true, unless you're an old man with back problems).
Have used an old folding luggage cart for decades without experiencing problems.
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Agree. My first "good" amp was a new Silver Face Twin in 1974. At some point I switched to a Music Man 130 head with single 12" cab. Then a single 12 MM combo. I never had to replace or change or work on anything on those amps ever. The 130 Head through the single JBL 12 was a real fusion screamer. (I now use SS, for the size/weight.) Originally Posted by Cunamara
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Just want to warn folks not to paint all Quilters with the same brush. My TB202 in BlockDock 12 is a very different amp than the Aviator 8 I had before it.
I needed an Empress Para to get happy with that Aviator. I'm happy going straight into my current rig.
And I'd guess the 202 is completely different than the 101 in my cab. The 101 and Avi 8 are about the same vintage. The newer Quilters aren't the same amps.
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Also, about the tube thing. They're OK. I gigged Fender & Boogie for 20 years in the olden days and really didn't have any problems. I sold the Boogie at some point because it was worth a lot, and I didn't need 100 watts of tube power. And weight of course.
For the last 10 years I'm digging Quilter. I still have a Mesa 22 caliber, but I never plug it in. I like the sound and feel of the Quilter better.
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