-
I currently have an ancient Roland Cube 80XL and a Quilter Gen 1 Aviator weighing in at 36 and 34 pounds respectively. I'd really like to trade up (and I've certainly waited long enough) into a newer and much lighter amp.
I play slab bodied electrics (teles, LPs, etc) with Thomastik Flatwounds and play in a rather loud jazz combo / jam frequently with unamplified drums/horns, but amplified keyboard and electric bass. Depending on the day, I am drawn toward tones similar to Hank Garland or Barney Kessel -- but in truth, I'm just not that picky and it's hard for me to tone snob when the volume gets louder. To me those tunes have a relatively brighter / full spectrum tone versus a more muted tone, but I'm nervous on my ability to really hear these subtleties.
Anyway, I've been going back and forth between the Henriksen Blu 6 at 12 pounds, the Bose S1 Pro+ at 14.4 pounds, the DV Mark Little Jazz at 15 pounds and the Quilter Aviator Cub at 21 pounds. While price isn't an issue, I'm a bit "miffed" at the price of the Henriksen -- but what do I know, they sure seem to sell a lot of them, right? I'm intrigued by going straight into a Bose S1 Pro+ as I'm not too damn picky and maybe that will be light, fill venues beautifully with sound (as a line array) and pull double duty if needed. That said, I really want a "grab and go" so if the Bose needed a pedal in front of it, it'd be a little too annoying. The Little Jazz seems great but I'm concerned about the fan noise threads and the Quilter feels like a versatile comfortable amp -- albeit the heaviest of the bunch.
I've rambled enough -- I suspect I can't go too wrong with any of them. I'm curious if you think I'm nuts on the S1 Pro+ idea.
-
07-14-2023 01:45 PM
-
While not the Aviator, I have a quilter superblock US and the ToneBlock 202 and I have always found them to be a little too bright and kind of sterile for jazz. Some people really like them, and if I’m not going for a nice warm jazz time, then I’ll definitely reach for them. That being said, I also have the Dv mark little jazz and every time I plug into it (archtop OR solid body) it’s instant pleasing jazz tone with almost not tweaking.
little jazz is a bit of a one trick pony IMO, but it does that trick very well.Last edited by jeremiahzellers; 07-14-2023 at 03:32 PM.
-
A lot of this ground has been covered in other threads. Here's my experience with the amps in question, gigging at least twice a week with a laminated 16" archtop with a Benedetto B7 pickup, a 7 string Telecaster with Lace Alumitone HBs, or a Frankenpaul single PU 7 (made by me from a '90s Epiphone LP) that carries an active EMG. The solid bodies have higher output levels than the B7, so I do get a few more dB from them than from my archtops. Of couse, all of these amps make my carved archtops sound fantastic too.
Many of us with Superblocks and a few (but not all) other flavors of recent Quilters are taming the highs with a simple bypass capacitor (from center to ground in a 1/4" plug) in the effects send jack. Here's a link to the thread on this. The thread has a lot of info and includes audio clips of various cap values for comparison. Higher values darken the tone more. I've been using a 0.33mF and am very happy with the fairly classic jazz tone I get from my archtops and solids through it. I just pull out the plug for blues, funk, and other genres that benefit from more high end chime. It's an easy $5 adjustment that adds flexibility to the Quilters.
The Aviator Cub is basically a Superblock US in a combo box. If you want small, light, and cool, consider what many of us have done and pair a Superblock US with a Toob speaker. My 10" Toob with Jensen Jet Neo is efficient enough to let me hang with loud blues bands (including B3, serious bass, and drummers who bang too hard). I also use my Roland GR20 synth through it, and the B3 & Leslie patch is pretty amazing. Even with my 6.5" Toob Metro, I have no problem being heard in a jazz quintet with a Roland keyboard through their big KB amp, electric bass, and a tenor player who mics himself (and is sometimes far too loud, in the opinion of the rest of the band and our audiences). A Superblock US and a 10" Toob weigh about 12 pounds together, and a Metro with SBUS is about 7. The SBUS and a 10" Toob together cost little more than half of the price of a Blu 6, and I carry them in $20 insulated lunch bags. This combination is smaller, lighter, and about $100 less expensive than an Aviator Cub.
There's a lot of love for the Li'l Jazz around here. I bought one when Covid was starting to affect supply chains and I needed a good small amp. Henriksens were backordered, and the Superblock US I'd ordered in the summer of 2021 was still sitting on a boat in the Pacific many months later. The LJ is a wonderful little amplifier that did everything I asked of it and is about as loud as a SBUS through a 6.5" Toob. I never heard a peep from the fan, and I never had a day's problem with the amp. The reverb is a little odd when you turn it up a lot - it gets kinda swirly, which is great if you want a Mike Stern / John Scofield vibe. Kept low, it's just another reverb that I liked just fine. I only sold mine when my Blu 6 became available. Coincidentally, I was able to get a SBUS at about the same time and decided to take both. These are all desirable amps that can be resold at little loss if you don't like them.
I love them all. The Blu is a seriously fine little amp at what you correctly observe is a serious price. But it's truly special, with great jazz tone, versatile EQ, a switchable tweeter, a Bluetooth input (which is great for break music on gigs), and stellar design / build quality. Pete Henriksen is a solid good guy, and when I call with questions, I get answers. This is almost certainly the last high end amp I'm ever going to buy, and it has every likelihood of outlasting me. It's a top quality piece that makes me feel good every time I look at it, play through it, or pick it up
So I bit the bullet and ordered one almost 2 years ago. It's gone up another $100 (to $1099) since I got mine, but I think you get your money's worth (especially if you're going to gig with it). And it is definitely loud enough for almost any gig I'll have.
-
If you're considering a Blu, get a Bud. Not that much more expensive for a whole second amp and more features (preamp gain and bright switch).
-
I am currently puzzling over a similar decision.
The only thing I can help with is this. The original LJ had a fan noise issue. The design was changed a couple of years ago. The newer model does not have a fan noise issue.
The older one had something that looked like a fan cage (maybe 2" in diameter) on the back. The newer has few horizontal and vertical slots. So, you can tell them apart. A lot of the ads show the old one, but I'm going to guess that they aren't actually being sold any more.
BTW, my experience is like Never's. It's a great amp. I get my solo sound out of it. I sometimes wish I could get clearer chords, but I can't swear it's the amp's fault. It's not unusual to have trouble getting both the perfect solo and perfect comping sounds from the same gear. And, try to get that at 15 lbs and $350 (current price at Target, of all places -- and it was $309 a week or so ago at MF, I think). GC will match price and give you a return privilege.
This is the one with the problem:
DV Mark Little Jazz Guitar Combo Amp | Musician's Friend
This is the newer one that doesn't have a problem with fan noise. Notice that it doesn't have a fan cage. I read that they moved the fan. I can't verify that. I've never heard anything that suggests there is a working fan in there.
DV Mark Little Jazz – Thomann United StatesLast edited by rpjazzguitar; 07-14-2023 at 07:38 PM.
-
My Little Jazz from 6/2016 has the updated fan and corresponding vents. No noise to my old ears. YMMV.
Previous version looked like standard computer fan.
-
Thank you all for the information -- I'll immediately apologize for the "old news" on the fan noise. I'm thankful that DV addressed this. Lots to digest!
-
Check out Zt Lunchbox as well for a very portable giggable amp.
Lunchbox Reverb Combo Amp LBR1
-
It's funny but i was just looking at the DV Mark Little at both Musicians Friend and Target.Going by the pictures they are both selling the 1st generation model.I called up MF but the guy on the phone didn't understand me and kept telling me it was new and i tried to explain there is a 2nd generation model but it was futile getting him to understand.Didn't the newer version come out years ago,so how can MF still be selling the old version. That would expain why they are selling it so cheap if it is the old model with the noisy fan.
Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar
-
For some time, the LJ has sold for $399, with occasional sales reducing the price by up to $90. Originally Posted by nyc chaz
I think the photos haven't been updated, but the amp has. Iirc that was true when I bought mine a few years ago.
I suggest buying all major gear with a return privilege. My guess is you won't have to exercise it on the LJ.
-
You should also check out the Raezer's Edge Luna amplifiers and combos. They sound great, Very warm and articulate , no fan noise. They come with very nice covers too. The Reverb is exceptional if you like reverb.
-
(I hate writing anything, because I am such a small fish. My survival depends on my wits and good hiding skills… not so sure about relaying on my wits).
Regarding ZT Lunchbox amps:
If you get one, make sure it is the one with the higher wattage.
I have a couple. I like them a lot. I often use them. Even though they do what they do excellently, I would not want to have a zt lunchbox as my only amp. When I am lazy or there are space concerns, the amp is amazing. I have used it in many situations.
(It is especially useful for vacation. It gives me a great sound, and is super easy to move. It was also perfect when I have needed to walk a long distance with all my gear. Much easier then pulling out the handcart).
Also in my experience, it works best with a comp pedal in front. My experience suggests that I can keep the amp a little cleaner and push the volume up a bit. I think the amp responds to input volume in a way that adds a little crunch. Maybe the comp evens out my guitar and that allows for me to increase the volume. I am not sure why it works, but it seems to work for me. (I typically use the blue Wampler Ego with that set up).
However, when playing music with others, I always miss my other amps a little.
I am not sure why. I think it has to do with the size of the speaker. I just remembered, there was a time, I would run it with an extension cab. (I also have a low weight cab).
I think it worked as good as anything with an extension speaker. I will take both next time and see.
-
I've never tried a Bose S1 Pro, so I have no opinions about it. I have tried the Henriksen Blu and Bud, the LJ and the Aviator Cub (both in stores and on gigs or at jam sessions). They're all good, very usable for jazz, and have enough headroom for most playing situations for most players (though though some people find the LJ can fall short on loud gigs). It really comes down to taste/preference. I gravitate more toward Fender (BF and tweed) sounds, and play blues as well as jazz, so I found the Quilter more appealing. I somewhat prefer the sound of the LJ to the Blue/Bud.
To my definition of "grab and go" (light enough to carry fairly long walks to and from venues; small enough to stash under a subway seat and be unobtrusive on a tiny bandstand), I don't think the Quilter quite qualifies; I'd consider it more as a replacement for a small to mid-sized tube combo (e.g., Princeton Reverb, Deluxe Reverb, Blues/HR Deluxe, or Peavey Classic 30). Blu/Bud and LJ do quality as grab and go, though. My own choice for a grab and go has been a Fender Champion 20. I picked it up because I wanted something small and cheap, and had fairly low expectations of it. But it has turned it has been plenty of amp for my uses (hundreds of gigs and jams in small venues over the last 7 years).
-
Well, my friends, i have a Toob and a Bud inbound. I may "test drive" a few other amps and let you all know.
I do have an interest in checking out the Bose S1+ Pro given the incredible versatility that it may offer for other projects.
More to follow!
-
I have always been conflicted as I like both, the Fender sound and the Polytone sound. Henriksen nails the Polytone sound and Quilter nails the Fender sound (close enough, anyway) so both of those two SS amps work for me. The Quilter combos are not as light as the Bud/Blu 6 amps to be sure, but a Quilter head paired with a Toob could do the trick for the Fender sound in a super light package. Some guys report that they can get the fender sound out of a Henriksen with the use of a pedal. Originally Posted by John A.
Lots of great options these days.....
-
I actually have the relevant pedal (Joyo American Sound), but have not had the chance to use to with any amps other than my own. I've been meaning to try it with a friend's LJ. I suspect I could get a sound I'm completely happy with out of a Henriksen, but when I've used one it has been in jam session situations where there hasn't been time to experiment with settings, and I don't quite have the hang of its eq. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
I absolutely agree that there are a lot of good options for small good sounding amps, across a range of prices and palettes. At least there's that consolation in a world of other tribulations.
-
Going back to my Princeton at the moment. The quilter Superblock is good, but doesn’t QUITE get it. Super convenient tho. The Princeton sounds great through the Toob so it’s down to the amp head.
-
I've posted before that I've been using the LJ for big band.
But, lately I've started to hear the chordal sound as a bit harsh and the amp was cranked as high as I'm comfortable going.
So, for the last two rehearsals I brought an old JC55. I ended up getting a compliment from the lead tenor who is also a recording engineer. He specifically said that he thought the LJ was too directional, or too boxy, or something. I also preferred the sound, which stays clear at a higher volume. But this is 26.5 lbs compared to 15 lbs for the LJ.
So, I find myself thinking about a new amp.
-
GAS is a terrible affliction, and generally incurable. I suspect it's a lot like heroin. I've never tried that, but I do admit to a GAS monkey on my back.
-
here here ….. Originally Posted by John A.;[URL="tel:1276702"
yes the Champion 20 and the Champion 40 are very good amps and amazing bang for the buck !
-
I would like to second this recommendation. The RE Luna combos are light, loud, and sound great. You have options (closed or open back, speaker size, speaker type, etc.). The amps, cabs, and combos are built in the US and Geoff will do bespoke builds if you want to get creative! Originally Posted by Billy Z
-
Would some kind soul with the Quilter US Superblock + TOOB Combo share some of their favorite settings? I appreciate the EQ is venue subjective, but I'd love a good starting point. Thanks in advance!!!
-
57 Tweed voicing, treble 10 am, mids noon, bass 2 pm. Master volume as much as needed, gain preferably under 11 am, reverb to taste. No limiter unless gain well above noon, i.e. on the hairy side.
Just noticed that Superblock US is Thomann's No 1 ranking solid state guitar head.
Thanks and cheers!
Markku
-
It depends on the guitar, music, and setting. For jazz on archtops, gain is at about 11 o’clock, all EQ is at noon, reverb is at about 9, limiter is off, the master volume controls output level, and voice is 57. At higher volumes, I cut bass back to 11 for my carved tops if feedback is a problem. Originally Posted by Silentwiz
For clean tone from solid bodies, I’ll push bass up to 2 o’clock and use 65. And for blues or fusion, gain is between noon and 2, dialed to the sweet spot at the edge of breakup. Volume controls output, but it has to be balanced with gain to get the right tone at the required volume. When it’s all set right, the guitar’s volume pot combines with touch to put me on the clean side or the dirty side. Bumping the limiter to 5 or 6 adds a bit of extra sustain.
Reply With Quote
Recommandations for Hollowbodies for $600 and under?
Today, 05:20 AM in Guitar, Amps & Gizmos