Hey Folks, This morning I lucked into a deal on a Quilter Micro Pro 8, from Guitar Center. The model is the original version of the Micro Pro that has since been replaced by the Mach 2 series.
I guess my curiousity finally got the better of me as it was offered at a the sweet price plus has a 45 day return policy. And without sounding too much like a old geezer, I like the idea of it being 19 pounds. It's really the perfect amp to bring to jams because of its portability, small footprint and it is, well, loud.
I would appreciate from anyone tips on how to dial the amp in, good compatiable mics and any pedals/afb devices pair well with the amp. Any tips or advise, positive or negative would be apprecaited. Thanks in advance.
As far as the tone controls, since this is solid state and the tone controls are active rather than the passive tone controls you see on most Fender tube amps, do NOT have the tone settings beyond half way up at all. This is a very loud amp at 100 watts and if you invest in something like a Kinder AFB box, Squeal Killer, or Mojo Pad, it's like having the exact same volume as a 6-10 Harp King (which is a 100 watt amps that you can get it just about all the way up at that volume without feeding back at all) but much less weight. Don't be surprised if people tell you that you're too loud. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Thanks Bob. I had researched some previous threads and you had given similar advise. I was trolling to see if there had been any others who had used one in the last year.
Probably the best thing I came across was this video clip Harp2swing posted. Westside Andy has some serious chops!!
"For those wondering what a Quilter MicroPro200-8 sounds like with a good player in a live situation here is Westside Andy playing through his with a full band...Solos...intro A harp @10.35 D harp @15.30 A harp (and my fav solo at 24mins G harp 3rd pos.) @30.40 A harp 1st pos. @40.42 C harp @50.25C harp @59.25 C harp. To my ears this 8inch speaker Amp delivers! "
My old buddy Professor Harp uses one of these amps all the time. One of the biggest reasons why this amp with an 8" speaker actually has more bottom end that than most tube amps do is because since the amp is solid state, the cabinet is entirely closed up, which allows it to have more bottom end and most amps over the years that have 8" speakers regardless of how loud the amp is rated (like the original Sonny Jr. amps as an example with 4-8 or 6-8 setups) often didn't cut thru because 8" speakers often lack enough bottom end to cut thru the mix but because this is a solid state amp with an entirely closed cabinet, it gives the amp enough bottom end to cut thru the mix.
I know of another harp player on Facebook who got the first version of the Micropro, but with a 10" speaker, but what he did was swap out the original equipment Celestion and put in a Jensen Tornado in it and it actually sounded pretty good and by nature, I've found 10's over the years had more bottom end than 98% of 8" speakers. That guy actually removed the back panel of the amp and so it's now an open back cabinet. It wouldn't surprise me if he got some sort of anti feedback unit and turned the volume up higher that he now gets complaints of being way too loud. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
My go to mic is an Ultimized 545 with a vintage element from Greg. I find the LW Harpbreak and Octave pedals work really well with the MicroPro (separately and together). Carbon Copy delay.An EP booster pedal and a Kinder Afb are also there if ever I need them. The 8 inch speaker is different (besides in size) from the 10" and 12" in that it has a dispersion of 108 degrees, thus spreading a wider sound. Adding the 12" ext speaker gives a very Full Sound. You just need to play round and try the amp out with the various settings till you find what you like. (or hunt down Westside Andy)
Last Edited by Harp2swing on Feb 14, 2018 9:40 PM
well, i received the amp yesterday. The reason it was inexpensive was the wood trim is cracked. The amp plays fine, but i will give it a whirl this weekend at a jam, using a Kinder AFB pedal Thanks for the input .
Well, I'm a few weeks in with the amp. It was pretty rocky at first as I was having feedback issues in the beginning when using the amp. As mentioned, it's not like dialing in a Bassman at all, particularly the tone contols. Those I have left at "12 o'clock" ,sometimes moving the bass to "2 o'clock." I found that you have to find the sweet spot between the "Gain"and 'Volume" control. To control feedback,I have used a LW "Mojo Pad" as I like the simplicity of the "plug and play"of it. I do have a Kinder AFB, but I am holding off on that until I can dial the amp in itself using a mic with a CR Bullet mic with a VC. I have found using my strongest mics works best and I plug into the "high"input channel.
I have used the amp in a variety of situations,but mostly for jams. These have spanned from small band/low volume to several guitars that were free for alls.The amp stood its ground just fine. The tone is pretty darn good,I was quite surprised with the volume and particularly the cut through the mix. Does it replace my 4x10 Bassman, in a word,no. I still love the sound of a tube amp. But this Quilter has its place. It certainly will be my go to amp for jams as it is light, has a small footprint and is super easy to plug in and play. It was good value for 499$, but it did have some cosmetic damage to the side wood veneer panel and the bottom of the amp. It also came with no cover but I cart it around in an oversize shopping bag.
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Mar 05, 2018 6:16 AM
On the Quilter Guitar Amps User page on Facebook, Pat Quilter himself said that the least gainy setting is the tweed amp setting. I own a real '59 Bassman and no solid state amp can really ever fully replace it but this is the only solid state amp worth a damn for harp in my book. You've quickly found out what active tone controls is really all about and if you're used to most Fender tube amps, that's TOTALLY different because they use passive tone controls, which means when all the controls are turned all the way up, you get the preshaped sound from the factory and the ONLY thing the tone controls do is CUT and they don't boost ANYTHING and active tone controls is the exact opposite. You also need to remember that this a 100 watt amp as opposed to a 4-10 Bassman, which is 45 watts. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
I'm a fan of those Quilters. If I didn't already have enough amps, I would own one of those. Rip Lee Pryor brought one with him when he toured Northern California. The band was pretty loud and that little amp hung in quite nicely.
I have the 12 inch HD, but I suspect effective settings could be similar. Tweed works well, seams best with just a very slight bit of boost, boost voicing on Loud. Usually I’m sitting with Very loud players. My favorite is Full Q, no boost, Bass 12 o’clock, Mids 930ish, Treble 930ish, all reverb knobs about 930. Or I use Lone Wolf V2 Delay with little or no reverb.k Delay sounds best when using the effects loop. If delay is plugged into main input it works but is slightly more feedback prone. All depends on how much time I feel like taking to set up. I use a Mojo Pad, just because it makes things less touchy. You don’t have to, But I like it. I use the adjustable pad so it’s conveient if I use hotter mic. Some time back I talked Randy about doing this and glad he did. Gives options. 10 db is fine for my shure CR or Ultimate 545 with the setting I mentioned. I have a Squeel Killer but don’t like it and don’t use it. Mojo Pad is hard to beat. Small, light, effective and doesn’t need power. I’ve played out in a month due to surgery but looking to venture out this weekend. I also think in general, the amp sounds better with the extension speaker when in a very loud situation. A little more edgy by itself, but in. Nice way. I apologize for this long entry, but it’s one of the more interesting topics since being laid up.
I know of one harp player on FB who recently bought the first version of the Micro Pro but with the 10" speaker and he changed the speaker from the stock Celestion to a Jensen Tornado and got pretty good results and rather than having the closed back, he removed it. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
@BBQ Bob- I'd be hesitant to change the speaker only because you would have to find a hefty 8" speaker to replace the Celestion. The Tornado speaker is a good option as it can handle the power of the Quilter. Regrettably, they don't come in an 8" version.
As for opening the back, I'm a little torn on that. I think having a closed back projects the sound forward and throws it deeper into the room. These Quliter are highly engineered unit,a lot of thought went into building them.
@6SN7 -- Mind you what I said was the version that he did it to was the one with the 10" inch speaker and not the 8" speaker and they're two totally different animals. If you removed the back on the 8" speaker, you'd lose all the bottom end coming out of the amp. I'd just as soon leave the speaker in the 8" version alone. It's not only the version most popular with harp players, but also with guitar players as well and Pat Quilter himself has said the one with the 8" speaker outsells everything else in that line in both versions of the amp. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
@TBlues-thanks for weighing in. I jotted down your settings and will try them out, thanks for the insight. AS I mentioned, I am using a LW Mojo Pad, the original one and it has helped a great dialing it in.
I have a 2x10"cabinet with Jensen Tornados, my next move is to try that out as an extention cabinet.
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Mar 07, 2018 1:12 PM
