Henriksen JazzAmp 110 vs Quilter MicroPro 10"

**jrd509** · 05-21-2013, 09:33 AM

I am considering buying either the Henriksen JazzAmp 110 or the Quilter Micropro 10". I would be pairing the amp with a Gibson es-335, and would be using it for mainly jazz gigging. Which amp would be a better purchase? Thanks

**Petimar** · 05-21-2013, 10:42 AM

Can't say anything about the JA, but I really like my MicroPro. I have the 8".

**jrd509** · 05-22-2013, 03:05 PM

Thanks for the input. Anyone else?

**mangotango** · 05-23-2013, 05:28 AM

I have an original Henriksen JA 1 x 10", and it's perfect for doing clean sounds. If I need to "warm it up", I use a Boss "Deluxe Reverb" pedal.

Cannot comment on the Quilter - you don't see 'em this side of the pond.

If I were buying from new, however, I'd probably put the Mambo 10" at or near the top of the list. Lots of threads on here about that amp.

**Tom Karol** · 05-23-2013, 07:54 AM

The Henriksen works great with a 335. But you should definitely try to try the Quilter and the Mambo (though I haven't) if possible.

**Jazzman301** · 05-23-2013, 09:43 AM

I know that Rich Severson uses the Quilter line of amps and even has some demo units and B stocks for sale at some pretty killer prices.
Rich does a great review of the Quilter 10" amp

Pretty sure he is playing through his quilter here as well. This is more of an accoustic tone for comparison.
Jazz fingerstyle guitar arrangement video lessons

Great little amps by all accounts.

'Mike

**croth** · 01-25-2014, 08:44 AM

So, jrd509, did you ever make the choice between these? If so, why did you choose the one that you did?

i am trying to make the exact same decision so i've been following this thread for awhile.

Does anyone else have any real world experience sith this choice?

Thanks.

~Carl

**Klatu** · 01-25-2014, 10:50 AM

Unfortunately, I find the Quilter Micropro to be quite ugly. The Aviator series is more aesthetically pleasing, but I'd still give the nod to Henriksen in that department.

Obviously, the look of the amplifier is not an important factor when choosing an amp, but it would have some influence over my decision.

**Jazz_175** · 01-25-2014, 10:52 AM

Old thread, but interesting one....

**croth** · 01-25-2014, 05:30 PM

That's what makes the world go 'round klatu.

I find the Aviator series to be too traditional looking, too Fender-like. I happen to like what I see as the retro- old-radio look of the Micropro series. Otherwise, I'd be looking for an Aviator since I'm not an FX or multi-function user. I also don't want the configuration choices of the Aviator. I like 1x10 at 21 lbs not 2x10 or 1x12 at 34lbs. And I'm afraid to "settle" on an 8" driver. I like the Henriksen because it's a no-nonsense amp with a 1x10 and weighs in at only 25 lbs with the tweeter included, 23lbs without. If it weren't for the volume issue I'm having with it, there wouldn't even be this discussion of the Quilter for me.

So, if the Aviators were significantly less expensive considering their lesser feature set, weighed less, and came in the 1x10 configuration, they would be the Quilter choice for me.

Glad you like the thread Jazz. It is interesting.

**Jazz_175** · 01-26-2014, 02:59 AM

Originally Posted by croth

Glad you like the thread Jazz. It is interesting.

It's interesting but unfortunately it seems that no one here had a chance to compare them side by side

**croth** · 01-26-2014, 03:43 AM

It does seem that way Jazz. On the rare occasions, the internet does not have the answers to the question that one is asking!

**zephyrregent** · 10-24-2014, 09:01 PM

I'm trying to make the same choice, but between the Hendriksen 112ER and the Quilter 12" model. I play jazz only on laminated archtops and don''t use any effects besides occasional mild reverb. I previously used Polytone Mini-Brutes for over 20 years and a Fender Blues Junior but they all died. I liked the Polytone. The Fender input jack was cheap and broke and I didn't like the tone or response much. This Quilter amp seems to have every effect known to mankind, most of which I won't use. I like the theory of the Hendriksen tone being uncolored and not tuned for solidbody guitars and it seems with less effects more of the money would go into the basic features of the amp. My ideal tone would be early 1950's woody and plunky, not thin on top and not boomy in the bass, clear for all the notes in a chord. Early Tal Farlow, Barney Kessel, Dick Garcia or Barry Galbraith recordings are good examples. One of my archtops tends to have boomy bass notes. Would the 12" Hendricksen or Quilter be too boomy compared to a 10" version? I like the EQ feature on the Hendriksen which might help the boominess, not sure about the tweeter but it can be turned off. Maybe the Quilter's many modeling and available tone adjustments may produce a tone closer to what I would like, particularly with the Tweed effect, or present more options than the Hendriksen but there is nowhere nearby to hear either amp. Does anyone have any experience with comparing the two amps or have any idea which would get a tone closer to what I am looking for?

**Longways to Go** · 10-24-2014, 11:18 PM

I have a Henriksen 110er and a Quilter Aviator Ultralight 8. Both are great -- really no wrong choices here. IMO, the Henriksen delivers dark jazz all day long -- but not much else. Quilter is more of a swiss army knife approach, great reverb & plenty loud, but I think the Henriksen does "the jazz tone" par excellence. My 2 cents.

Probably will need 3 or 4 of each to sort it out . . .

**Skip Ellis** · 10-24-2014, 11:44 PM

Firstly, I am a big fan of QSC power amps which are, pretty much, the precursor of the Quilter line of guitar amps. Back in the day, when I was in the retail music business, I was a QSC service center - they signed me up, sent me a bunch of parts and I watched them gather dust for years because the crazy things never broke - never had to fix one!! I'm glad to see the present line of amps and am sure they're a fine built product (I've only been able to play through one for a few minutes so can't really judge the sound of the different models), BUT.........my problem is with the appearance and all the swirly colored knobs and multitude of indicator lights - the things look like the dashboard of a Boeing 767! Anytime you start putting all that bling and lights on a piece of gear, it's just more things to go wrong and believe me, it'll probably cost a fortune to get anyone to take the things apart to replace the LED's or whatever it is they use. Same with the little Fender SS amps that use those blankety blank plastic jacks - the jacks cost something like $5.00 and it's $40 to put 'em in. Leo had it right to start with: knobs with numbers and little white lines along with a single pilot light that used a flashlight bulb you could get at the hardware store. Not sure you need much more. The Henriksen and Mambo are much more appealing to me. I know, it's probably wrong to judge these things on looks alone, but if I spend a bunch of money on something, I want it to be something that I can set in my music room and enjoy seeing every day. Same goes for Heritage guitars - I know they're wonderful and they sound great (used to have a blond GE) but can't stand the peghead.

**zephyrregent** · 10-25-2014, 12:31 AM

I read a couple reviews that agreed they were reliable. I like simplicity and am used to just bass, mid, treble and volume. The Henriksen EQ seems straightforward and they explain it on their site. I watched a demo of the Quilter that showed the control panel and demonstrated the effects. The control panel does seem complicated like modern cars with GPS, etc. that look like spaceships, and it has all those unnecessary (for me) effects, so that's in favor of the Henriksen.

For appearances, the Henriksen is somewhat similar to my old Polytone Mini Brute. For looks alone, I like the Epiphone Century Electar reissue amp but haven't heard one and would be interested how it works for jazz.

**docbop** · 10-25-2014, 01:50 AM

I have JazzAmp 110 ER and dig it a lot and alway surprises me how well it handles different types of guitars. But it's main a Jazz amp. I don't own a Quilter might one day and I would say from what I've seen and heard it's a more versatile amp for handling styles that require an over-driven sound. In fact they seem popular with Blues and some Metal players. My only concern is more the guitars I see people using with them are using single coil pickups.

Both are good amps.

**Flyin' Brian** · 10-25-2014, 04:05 AM

I actually find the lights one of the more positive aspects of the Quilters. Dark stages, lounges and clubs are a nuisance, especially with my 67 year old eyes. The lighted setting are much more convenient. And because I do many non jazz gigs, I like the versatility of the micro pro. Interestingly the 8" speaker covers all of the bases in the groups I work with which include jazz, pop, jump blues and alt rock. I use most of the bling on the Quilter plus a pedal board on some of those gigs and it sounds great with my 2 Heritages...a semi hollow Prospect and a Sweet 16.

**Petimar** · 10-25-2014, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by Flyin' Brian

I actually find the lights one of the more positive aspects of the Quilters. Dark stages, lounges and clubs are a nuisance, especially with my 67 year old eyes. The lighted setting are much more convenient. And because I do many non jazz gigs, I like the versatility of the micro pro.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

**artcore** · 10-25-2014, 09:24 AM

All I have is an old used 100 dollar polytone....damn if I can tell the difference between these solid state amps..If the polytone dies I would most likely go for the .Henriksen, just because I've seen it demo'ed and it sounds like it would be a close match to the old polytones.................I would check out the evans line also....pricey amps........

**Elamberth** · 10-27-2014, 07:35 PM

I liked the Henriksen more than the Quilter, but to be fair, I only tried them side by side in a shop.
That was just first impressions, and I did not have the opportunity to explore the Quilter. I suspect that with more time, I could get a sound I liked more.

FWIW, at the end of the day, I went for the DV Mark Little Jazz, and I am happy with the amp, no regrets.

All of this is so subjective. It's like guitars.

I like the necks on the Peerless guitars, and the Eastman's are not my cup of tea, which I found quite surprising. It also took me forever to find a Tele that I liked, and try as I might, I could never get into the PRS guitars. There are others I like as well, but all of these are fine instruments and amps. What's right for me may be very wrong for others. It is great, however, that we live in a time where there are so many options, and one can find "their cup of tea".

**Longways to Go** · 10-27-2014, 11:04 PM

Elamberth +1 on everything.
I am lucky enough to own a Henriksen 110er, Quilter Aviator, and a DV Mark Little Jazz. I enjoy them all, but I think the Little Jazz takes the cake on tone. . . . but, if you have to turn it up, Henriksen & Quilter eat the lunch! In this regard, Henriksen is my favorite. Quilter goes loud, but Henriksen does it with more class IMO

**Jazz_175** · 10-28-2014, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by Longways to Go

Elamberth +1 on everything.
I am lucky enough to own a Henriksen 110er, Quilter Aviator, and a DV Mark Little Jazz. I enjoy them all, but I think the Little Jazz takes the cake on tone. . . . but, if you have to turn it up, Henriksen & Quilter eat the lunch! In this regard, Henriksen is my favorite. Quilter goes loud, but Henriksen does it with more class IMO

Have you had a chance to try Markacoustic AC101?
In my opinion it's very nice for jazz guitar, and is also very loud.

**Longways to Go** · 10-28-2014, 09:36 AM

I'll bet the Markacoustic is great, but nobody in Kansas stocks this kind of stuff, so I'd be mail ordering blind -- which I do sometimes, but it is not my preference. Also I believe that one is a bit pricey $$$$$ BTW, the Little Jazz sounds great with acoustic too . . .

**croth** · 10-28-2014, 10:04 AM

I see we're revisiting a topic that's a year and a half old, but still dear to my heart! :-) So taking the opportunity to repeat myself a little, but now based on having both amps for over a year, I'll try to add something to the dialogue.

zephyrregent wrote, "I'm trying to make the same choice, but between the Hendriksen 112ER and the Quilter 12" model. I play jazz only on laminated archtops and don''t use any effects besides occasional mild reverb.... This Quilter amp seems to have every effect known to mankind, most of which I won't use... I like the theory of the Hendriksen tone being uncolored and not tuned for solidbody guitars and it seems with less effects more of the money would go into the basic features of the amp."

I happen to be one of those lucky enough to have both a 110ER and a 10" Quilter Micro. While I have never done an A/B comparison (it would be wasted on me anyway: I generally have trouble distinguishing between "better" and "worse" on these higher-end things. I only distinguish "different".), I thought I'd respond to your comment, above. I like both of these amps very much. Initially, when I got the Quilter, the plan was to part with the Henriksen. It wasn't quite loud enough sometimes for a big band I was playing in, especially when all the horns were playing at once. When push came to shove, I couldn't do it because, for me, I thought they deserved more use on my part before I made this life-altering decision. The Quilter, btw, is a few pounds lighter which was a factor for me, and much to my interest, though the Henriksen is rated at 120w and the Quilter at 100w, the Quilter seems to be able to project more volume in the real world.

I will also comment that the Henriksen reverb is pretty poor imho. I gave up trying to use it at all and it always stays off. The Quilter's reverb is much more "real" reverb sounding to my ears. So, if you use reverb as you say you do, you might prefer the Quilter.

With regards to "effects vs. quality of the amp", I don't think that applies here. Quilter seems to have put a lot of effort into assuring the quality of their amps. The fit and finish is immaculate. Considering that a Henriksen and a Quilter are around the same price, the extra effects seem to have been thrown in for free. I almost never use them myself.

Longways said this, "Quilter goes loud, but Henriksen does it with more class IMO".

I'm not sure what he means by "more class" but I will add that I was using the Henriksen for quite awhile with a jazz jam group that I host. When I switched to the Quilter, our keyboard guy, a player with an excellent ear, commented on my having gotten a "tube amp". When I told him it wasn't, he expressed disbelief. As I said above, I also found the Quilter to have more apparent "loudness".

Most of the guys (including myself) like that "old '50's radio (or jukebox)" look of the Quilter as well, if that means anything to anyone.

All that said, I'm still keeping both amps and that's partly because, at the end of the day, they both do a fine job but I prefer my equipment to have fewer knobs, bells, and whistles. The Henriksen may be a one trick pony, but it performs its trick (except for the reverb) very well and for me, its beauty is in its simplicity. The Quilter, on the other hand, offers a lot more flexibility. You can almost throw away all of your pedalboard.