Quilter SuperBlock UK for jazz

[Gitterbug]

This might be of interest to someone. I've had both SuperBlock versions for a year and use the US version in Tweed mode as a rule. It's now on loan to a 18-year jazz guitarist who will appear tomorrow at the April Jazz festival in Espoo, Finland. My old boys' swing sextet (median age > 80) had its first gig for a looong time yesterday, so after some eenie meenie I decided to give the UK version a try. The cab was a Metro 6.5GP special edition with Ukrainian colors in the back and an Eminence 620H hemp-coned speaker replacing the standard Jensen. The venue was a largish hall seating max. 100, with some 40 noisy people (a retiree club) in attendance.

To my surprise, the amp/cab combination worked perfectly and had plenty of clean headroom to spare on the middle (AC) voicing. The 3 dB more sensitive speaker makes an audible difference - I actually had to turn the volume down a couple of times. The guitar was my trusty Ibanez AFJ-91. Our playing was rusty, so I'm glad there's no video clip to share. Instead, a couple of photos of my "backline", with the amps setting about right. Cables omitted for clarity.

Disclaimer: I'm the Toob and Metro guy. Five years on the market in May, 463 cabs made with serial numbers, in use in 30 countries.

[Gitterbug]

A second gig today with same setup. Still sounded good. Middle (AC) setting, both Volume and Gain around noon. The SuperBlock/Metro combination is a blessing, weighing a third of my Fender Artist plectrum banjo.

[itsmyname]

interesting, I'm searching a pre amp, I don't know the green or the black, wich one will be good for jazz and blues things clean sound with an archtop and blues things on a strato with a tasty crunch ?

and the solution with metro gp looks cool.

[Gitterbug]

I think you'd prefer the black one like many others. The Fender-y tone is part of American DNA. But if only the UK version existed, it would no doubt get more attention and praise.

[itsmyname]

ok the black one is on the way.

[Little Jay]

How hard would it be for Quilter to incorporate both black and green sound selections into one model? Not too hard I suppose, so I don’t really understand their marketing behind it.

[jads57]

The Quilter Mach 3 has both! I’m sure down the road they’ll offer it in Superblock version as well.

[Little Jay]

The Quilter Mach 3 has both! I’m sure down the road they’ll offer it in Superblock version as well.

Ah well, yes! Seems to be their top and most elaborate model, right?



I must admit…. Now that I have a Superblock US and considering how surprised I am about the sound quality I am tempted….

[Gitterbug]

Fitting all those knobs in a Superblock is a challenge. I'm betting on a 101R successor, with 50-100W power combined with the voicings and connectivity of the more recent Quilter versions.

[ccroft]

I believe I will own a Mach3 one day. Unless they come out with a Mach4 before I do. They're always working on new stuff.

I'd get the Combo version. Form & function is similar to the ToneBlock 202 in BlockDock 12 which I currently love and am in no hurry to leave behind.

Pat's a smart one. EG: one cool little detail is separate inputs per channel. You can have 2 guitars each with their own amp setup at the ready. Or plug in one guitar and you have the more usual set-up: stomp to switch between channels. The '2 amps in one' is a feature that some performers will love. Another is a trim pot for the line out.

Check out Rich Severson for jazz tone with this amp. He's been using it on his last couple of YouTubeses.