Just read the comment I believe you're referring to. The idiot clearly didn't watch the entire video. I was considering getting a Blackstar St. James but this vid (and others) have me convinced that the Quilter would be a better purchase. Thank you.
lmao, ''some of you idiots'' ✔ I wasted 4 mins, I'll never get back. The title should read 'PEDALS' with Quilter. I came here to see what the amp sounded like lol.
I really appreciate how you took into account the whole "tube bias" mentality where some people assume that because an amp is digital or solid state it won't sound as good as tube. Where I work, we blind shoot out expensive tube amps and the Quilter with customers, and most of the time the customer prefers the Quilter. That is, however, until we tell them it's an affordable solid state amp, then they suddenly start finding reasons to not like it. My belief is that the "tube is better" thing is, at least now, an ego/mentality issue, not a real life issue. Loved the review, great work.
I think that a lot of that bias is due to the history of solid state and modelling amps. For a long period of time they weren't really viable choices for professional musicians. They didn't sound convincing or 'musical' enough. Then along came companies like Sansamp and Line 6 who started to change the landscape. They certainly weren't a perfect replacement however they opened the door to new possibilities. With Quilter, I feel that the evolution of solid state guitar amps has taken a major step forward to where they are becoming more and more indistinguishable from the tube amps they are emulating.
Thanks - that was an excellent review. I wasn't even looking for comparison and I loved this. All of this info is useful for any comparison I might want to make on my own.
Stellar review, rarely have I seen something this clear or thorough 👍 and regarding transistors let's not forget BB King used his Lab Series and sounded killer
A great review & thank you. I watched the whole review in pieces over the course of one day. Non tube amps seem to be getting better and better all the time. I have a Roland Blues Cube Artist and a Fender Tone Master Deluxe. I can't wait to try this amp. I have been slowly selling off my tube amps. I am just tired of the weight and the maintenance. This amp looks like a great bang for the buck. Thanks again for the review.
Great review, detailed and in depth, without leaving anything out. I guess it was only a matter of time before solid state could go toe-to-toe with tubes, and this amp sure seems to deliver. It's lightweight, and probably very durable, sounds great too. A lot to like here.
Years ago, I sold my boutique tube amp for a Quilter Aviator 2x10 (part of the old Aviator line that was discontinued). Great sounding 100 watt clean amp. I sold that Quilter and bought a Quilter MicroPro Mach II (8" speaker), which offers a variety of voicings and other features that were not offered on the Aviator. I supplemented the Micro 8 with Quilter's Neodynium 12" extension cab. I've used the 8" at small gigs and rehearsals, and now combine it with the 12" extension cab. I connect a Carbon Copy delay to the FX loop and add a wah pedal into the front end. Powerful sound; very versatile; light weight and reliable. I play mostly clean to edge so I don't need high gain pedals, but the amp itself has a gain knob and different boost voicings that can easily get you there. Highly recommend.
A really cool amp but in all honesty I learned more about setting the tones of my own amps with and without pedals to get what I want out of them. Thanks for the deep dive review Anthony!🎸🎸
Great in depth review. Sounds great. Solid state is a no brainer for many people now they sound and feel so close to tube amps with the benefit of not having to be cranked to crazy levels to get the best tones . The roland blues cube is also amazing
Thanks! Detailed and authoritive review. I was flipping backwards and forwards over this and the Fender Deluxe Tone Master - which is nearly twice the cost..... and no FX Loop (which is important to me). "New" to me is the option of using two or more inputs at the same time (or switchable separately). Best, Pete.
one thing to consider is if you ever want to run a wet/dry or dual amp rig it can be hard to get a digital amp like the Tone Master to phase properly with a tube or analog amp..
Nice review. Very thorough. I've owned an Aviator cub for a year-and-a-half and, as with any good piece of gear, I would say it's taken me a good while to realize its true possibilites. For starters, the speaker needs to break in. That's a huge deal with any amp and I can't believe how many people fail to take that into account when they evaluate a speaker or combo amp. The controls are active and do not operate like a Fender. I've owned Boogies, Vintage Blackface Fenders, Drip-edge Silverface Fenders, Tweed Fenders, Plexi Marshalls and Voxes. The Quilter stands on it's own as a serious professional product. It nails those Fender sounds and I would argue that set correctly, it's overdrive characteristics surpass many originals I have played, particularly the Blackface input which, when the gain is dimed, stays much tighter in the bass frequencies than any Blackface amp I ever played(including my beloved 1965 Deluxe Reverb. I know, I know blasphemy, but true in my opinion). I would gig-anywhere with the Cub. With all due respect, the Blues Jr. isn't in the Cub's league sound-wise, feature-wise or construction-wise. It's got superior post-dirt Reverb, a useful line out with cab sim, and a great effects loop. All features a vintage amp lacks and the blues junior is seriously lacking (the Reverb on a Blues Jr. is pitiful, for example)There is a learning curve to Quilter amps that requires time, your ears and, I don't know, perhaps reading the manual...a radical idea I'll admit. Further, a broken-in speaker is essential for any serious evaluation of any amp. Kudos on the review. It was thoughtful and on point as usual. Solid state has arrived. This one has the "sound". Keep up the good work.
I’ve had my CUB for a year now. Couldn’t come to grips with the stock speaker and replacing it with a cannabis Rex has tamed the highs and turned a very nice amp into a brilliant one. Great job on the review btw!
Great review. Just bought one myself. Regard the high end problem, i agree there is a lot of high end(its emulating fenders so of course) but alot of the exaggerated high we are hearing through the recording is due to the SM57 its being mic'd with. You can really hear it in the really awesome preamp comparision he made when you listen between the mic and the line out. A trebly mic for a trebly voiced amp(not to mention a bright jangly strat). Mine doesnt sound nearly as trebly and even better recorded with a warm sennheiser 609. Regardless , its a great sounding amp and much more feature packed than something like the Tonemaster Deluxes.
I bought one recently and I'm quite happy with it. I have 50 years of tube amps behind me. As an old man mostly playing at home or occasional gizzer jams, this amps suits me (and my back) just fine. I was happy to see you section on combining channels. I had not even thought about that. The blonde channel does not appeal to me and I would probably never use it on it's own. However, going through a Morley A/B/Y box I find the combination of the blonde and the tweed to be favorite sound of this amp so far. Thanks for the insight.
Another great video! I found that in this video, I like the Tweed clean and the Blonde pushed. In the talk-only video, I preferred the Black channel's pushed tone. Now I want to get one in my hands to try it out. Oh, the topic of using mutiple inputs simultaneously is covered in the manual...
I championed the Fender Blues Junior for 5 years, but I have switched to the Quilter 101 mini Reverb. I find it interacts really well with both acoustic and electric guitars
I really enjoyed this review! I am a proud owner of this amp and I can say that this amp is amazing! Its crazy loud for a small amp. Quilter really nailed this one. I highly recommend this amp for anyone looking for that classic fender tone.
I have a Quilter Aviator Gold which I bought because I was over lugging a Fender Blues Deluxe to gigs. I didn’t have the gnarly treble issue but your point about the 3 channel EQ is well made. The Quilter tone controls are very sensitive and as such it’s possible to get a much greater range of sounds than with the tube amps I’ve owned or tried. Despite the overt nods to Fender sounds, the Quilter is actually its own thing and is a great pedal platform. The blues band I play in requires me to play loud and filthy but my solo gigs are a much,cleaner almost jazzy tone and the Quilter handles both easily. It’s not a “tube” sounding amp but it’s very fine sounding piece of kit all the same.
I’m a steelaire owner and I have to agree with this. They’re just their own thing. I have used tube amps for a while and to be honest, I’m perfectly fine with my quilter. I’ve learned that a high quality product is a high quality product regardless if it’s tube, transistor based, DSP, etc. if it’s well made, It sounds good, and it inspires you to play, that’s ultimately what matters the most!
Been had this amp for 2 years. I found another way to get around the treble, I swapped the stock speaker with a jensen p12. It will sound like a real fender!
I’m surprised that the high-end was so strong on the cub! I have a micropro mach 2 and some folks complain that they don’t have as much high-end. To be fair, I think Quilter amps are a little different to dial in and I love my micropro, but it seems almost impossible for me to get icepicky unless I REALLY try. What were your settings when it was so shrill?
Very thorough review, Thanks. no disrespect intended, to those who don’t like this amp from what you’ve heard here, there are other review/demos where this amp sounds incredible. being more of a jazz/ r&b type player I’m not sure why he’s got so much top end cranked but at a reasonable EQ the amp is great.
I played one of these amps with a strat and it sounded pretty good clean and driven. I have no idea what this guy is doing, but I've literally never heard a guitar tone worse than this ever. Sounds like the mic he's using to record this audio is broken. Wouldn't be surprised if he is someone with a grudge against quilter and is trying to give them a bad name.
@@coupe-lee I've got a Mach 2 HD and it's a dark amp...same with the original 101 (non reverb)...personally, I don't mind the brightness ( that's what treble controls are for) and I'm thinking of using the Aviator Cub in a wet dry rig with the Mach 2...should killer
That is one thorough review. This ia a good, practical, working musician's amp, certainly fine for blues, jazz, funk, indie etc....Portable, reliable, loud enough, affordable. You can nitpick or follow the good advice here on to control a few of the things that are not perfect, though in a live playing situation you are unlikely to really notice those things. If you are really into a very specific sound for recording then perhaps having access to that type of amp is useful.
Great tones and playing. You really captured the essence of SRV. Which guitar pickups are you using? Quilter are the only SS Amps, that do-it-for-me. I'm thinking about getting the 101 Reverb, so I can leave my Blackface 65 Princeton Reverb at home.
I don’t care if an amp is tubes, solid state, or digital, if it inspires you to play that is all that matters. sound is so subjective. I think guitarists listen with their eyes too much and are loaded with preconceptions on what is a good sound. just not a fan of corksniffers.
Yep, I started to believe I was supposed to prefer tubes or something was wrong with me 😎. I just downloaded some new patches for my stomp and have a Rise pedal in front. It sounds and feels amazing. Nearly impossible to duplicate with just a tube amp in an apartment.
Quilter makes quality stuff and this amp, which I own, is no exception. That said, the reviewer is spot-on about the treble issues with this amp, and I'm not a fan of amps that immediately need pedals to "fix" their problems. Pedals should be an option, not a necessity. The biggest plus for this amp is the weight - it is LIGHT, compare to an Orange Crush Pro 60, another transistor 12-inch that weighs a ton. Indeed, I think it's a more worthy comparison to other transistor amps - not the Blues Jr, which is a very different beast. The reviewer also correctly noted that the cabinet size is probably too small, which does make the sound a bit boxy and for me renders this unit as finally more useful as a studio amp rather than a live one. It is so light though - it's worth owning just for that, you can easily tote it anywhere, your bedroom, a hotel, your office at work, and play it with headphones. Good review!!
Sounded to me like the direct out added a little "room" to the imitation mic. Feels like combining direct and with a 57 would make a nice recording setup. Don't like the amp's reverb at all. Love the ability to combine preamp modes. Nice demo, Anthony!
Great review, pretty much spot on IMO. I've had my Aviator for a little over a month now and I love it. The high end can sound harsh and it took a pretty long time before I figured out the EQ section. I had a Celestion Gold speaker lying around and out of curiosity put it in the Aviator today. It certainly helps tame the highs a bit but it also tightened up the bass, a lot! I haven't decided what I think yet because I really liked the lush sounding bass with the stock speaker. I'll have to use it in a babd situation before I decide. Thanks for a great review!
beautiful played Mr Texas Blues . How does this amp sound on very low volume when playing late evening when everybody is sleeping? I am very interested in this amp but I am afraid the 12 inch is too loud? I was interested in the 8 inch Micro pro mach 2 but this is not sold in Europe anymore I understood from Pat Quilter.
Old Peavey SS amps sound the stuff without any pedals. Transtube and Bandits are alright by me. Excellent video my friend. Sounds kinda like a blues cube?
I have a Quilter Steelaire which I love. This Aviator sounded pretty bad with the distortion, but maybe that is your distorted 'sound' you like. Also, the treble issue was weird. It is a "Fender" sound amp, however. My Steelaire does have more midrange control ability, but I mostly play Telecasters and don't get that crazy treble tone you did.
Thanks for your review. So far, it has been one of the best reviews of a Quilter amp I have seen. Due to the state of the tube market these days, I am feeling tube anxiety. I know this situation will eventually work its way out, but I've been needing to wean myself from the tube habit. The solid state amps that are out there now are greatly improved since the earlier days of the technology. Yes, back then the tube v. solid state argument favoring tubes was an easy one. Your comparison of the Aviator Cub to the Blues Junior has helped me make my decision and seriously consider the Cub. Other front runners are the Quilter Tone Block 202 or the Roland JC 40 (always liked that chorus!), but I'm not sure how my 1 x 12 cabinet will respond to the 202 and the JC is another foray into a heavy combo (not quite the weight of a JC 120, but still heavier than I want to lug around these days - I love the weight of the Cub!), so, there's more to consider. Thanks again for the info! MJ
I'll say this.... while discerning players might be able to coax some better tones from a tube amp in a closely monitored studio setting, in a live setting the Cub punches WAY above it's price class. It sounds so big. I'd never take a Blues Junior to a gig if the Cub were an option.
I just purchased an Aviator Cub. With respect to the taming the treble issue, I have a few questions. When the comparision was done in the video, were the tone controls and the limiter set to 12:00? Which "amp" was used to do the comparisions? Do comments apply to all 3 "amps"? Thanks for your help and this video.
@@soofitnsexy I was impressed with quilter in guitar center, I didn’t know it wasn’t tube. On the other end of the $pectrum is the Magnatone, people are going nuts for them.
@Anthony - good review. I'm not a Blues Jnr fan but would consider the Aviator as a home practice amp and emergency back up for a tube amp at gigs. But the need to have to use a buffer and EQ pedal to tame unruly treble is a deal breaker for me. So I'll pass on both :)
For most people using a pedal buffer first in the chain would be fine, a good practice regardless of amp. I didn't state it clearly in the video, but I did not have the EQ pedal engaged except for that short demo. Once I started using the pedal buffer or the on-board guitar buffer, the EQ pedal wasn't a part of the sound.
Good job. The only SS amps I've ever enjoyed the sound of are the Vox Vox valvetronics (which actually had a tube) and the Boss Katana, by a VERY distant 2nd
Tone Tuesday couldn't come back at a better time I just had to switch to a tone master deluxe reverb from a DRRI since I moved to an apartment ...... I miss my tubes so much
I had gone to try out and buy a Boss Nextone Stage...it was great. Loved it. Then the bastards pulled out the Aviator...blew me away. I couldn't stop playing it. It was like taking a blanket off my Strat Ultra sound. Picking it up on Tuesday.
When you talk about using the Aviator “live”, are you talking about a live band small club setting with drums, bass, 2cd guitar, playing classic rock and blues rock? Would I have to crank it up to 12, and perhaps blow out the speaker, or do I need to add a 1x12 speaker cab?
Great review Anthony! How is the noise floor? I played a Quilter combo a few years a go that had a high amount of hiss even when the volume was at zero. I have a Nextone Stage now and play at home only so that is why the hiss matters. I love Fender cleans. Any thoughts about moving from the Nextone to the Quilter?
Any thoughts on how this sounds compared to a Katana 100? I’ve been considering upgrading from the Katana and was looking at this new Quilter and the Bad Cat Cub 40r (which I think you own, too). Love the channel. Keep up the great work!
I compared it to my Katana 100 and it's not even close, it made the Katana sound cheap. The Bad Cat Cub 40r is in another league (and price bracket) though.
I think the Princeton reverbs (especially the 12" speaker combos) are the Blues Jr. killer. They should probably be priced similarly but they are not. They are a big upgrade from the Jr. but considerably more expensive at $1,000-1,100 with tax and the Blues Jr. was $600 new when I bought it. I think its worth it, but the Jr. is still a good beginner tube amp. By the way the Super Six makes every amp sound better, but it makes my Blues Jr. sound WAY better. I thought it made this Quilter sound much better as well.
I ordered it just few days after the first video. It sounds great, eaven at low volume, but I have to returned it because the send/return doesn’t work…
The Blues Junior was the Blues Junior killer; every version sounds like an Amazon cardboard box with a speaker in it. The billm mods do help immensely, but it was not engineered well right out of the gate. Your own mileage may vary.
Does the Quilter Aviator cub have a line out to hook into sound system at church? Does it have a foot switch for clean and gain? Sounds like a great amp.
Very thorough review, but there is one issue in this that I feel you need to address. The brightness. This amp has active tone controls. You do realize that they don’t work like your typical tone controls on other amps. Your settings on this amp of course would bring out an incredibly bright sounding signal because I don’t think you understand how these tone controls behave. You can’t set these in the same manner as you would a Fender because Fender uses passive tone controls. You don’t need an EQ pedal to achieve a milder tone, you need to actually turn the treble down. You have it at 2 o’clock which is crazy, crazy too high if you’re wanting a mellower tone. Being in the Quilter group brought me to this video to correct you here. Some folks were worried about buying this amp because of this one piece of false information you gave about it. I know you didn’t do it on purpose, you just didn’t know how these specific controls worked, but now you do, so hopefully you’ll be able to explain it better in the future.
It is comparable, but having previously owned a tricked out Blues Junior with the best Bill M. Mods, it’s a much harder comparison. Still more features in the Aviator, but the tones in the modded Blues Jr. were so much better than stock that I’d have a harder time picking the Aviator over it.
I will keep my modded Blues Jr. I like it much better and with the Celestion V-Type 70 Watt speaker it sounds great at any volume. My Allen Accomplice blows them all away and is much more versatile with the RAW control going from blackface to tweed and everything in between and can be 22 watts with 6V6 tubes and 42 watts with 6L6,s. That is some great playing though
This is a great amp but the speaker must be broken in. The difference between a new speaker and a speaker with a 100 hours on it is night and day. In my 22, but limited, years of playing and collecting amps this amp improved the most out of any amp I've owned over the course of a year. It continues to mellow and soften by the day. The early stages of this amps life were stiff and shrill. I could be wrong but in my opinion this amps speaker sounds brand new.
I’ve heard this amp from other people on line and it sounds very good. This review makes the amp sound like treble solid state digital ir crap. I think you got a bad one or your recording is messed up
I've played it as well. And also with a strat. Its pretty good. Sounds nothing like this. I don't know why he even uploaded this video. How does he not hear how obviously terrible it sounds? Sounds like either his mic or speaker is busted.
Hi Anthony, have you tried the Fender Tone Master Deluxe “Blonde” edition? I think it would be worth your time to check it out if you can get your hands on one. Two months into owning one, I’m a believer! Nothing solid state or digital about the tone, period! Good luck
Your review seems to go against the general consensus that this amp is pretty good as is. The EQ issue you have did not show up in any other demos and reviews that I saw.
@@Texasbluesalley thanks Anthony there's actually two of them that I was just looking at and they're both in the top two of the five best AB boxes available right now.
BB King and Albert King both used solid state amps. A ton of jazz guitarists used and use solid state amps. Even the Melvins used solid state amps. I think even the Beatles OCCASIONALLY used solid state amps on albums. Nothing wrong with them. Even if you're an aficionado of tube amps, with so little money being in music anymore, it's hard to justify the expense, heaviness, and unreliability of tube amps.
Quilter tone controls don't work the same as the typical Fender tone controls do. So you will have to learn how to use them the way they are intended to get a better sound. It's also 50 Watts of output compared to the Blues Junior being 15 Watts.
I like the look of Quilter amps. It would have been interesting if you'd compared this one against a Blues Junior. Also, the real question for me is: if you have a live gig, and can choose either the Fender or the Quilter, which one would you take?
Quilter...I've got a MicroPro Mach 2 HD...last used in dense band..(2 vocal/harmony, keys, drums, bass, acoustic guitar and 2 electrics). Set for edge of break up with a pedalboard, I had clarity, volume and touch sensitivity. Never had it up past 5 and got compliments on the tone from the other musicians in the room. I keep a DD3 with a battery in it in the amp bag to put in the loop and use the larger 6 function quilter pedal when I just want a grab and go for open mics etc. I can be a bit dark, but I play with a Strat so it's not a problem. Planning on getting an Aviator cub for a lightweight wet/dry rig. I've demoed the Aviator and I could just as easily gig out with it and a small board. It's very similar to a Blues Jr...roughly the same price, ability to set gain at any volume and small and portable. You just need to decide if you want an amp that's also lighter, louder with more headroom and require less maintenance.
I don't think the technology is quite there yet to duplicate the organic feel of a tube amp, but it's close. When a tube amp is matched with the right speaker, it's magic. I'll convert when it gets there. Sorry I'm a die-hard tube user. Hell, I still use vinyl. I don't think they'll ever find a replacement for that.
Wow, worst strat pickups I have ever heard, my cub does NOT sound like that glass house tone you achieve. I have Kloppman real 61s, you REALLY need a set!! Can’t comprehend how bad you make a very good amp sound. By the way, active tone controls, turn the bloody treble down a bit 😃
I know he talks about turning down the treble but I don’t believe he does. I run the mids and treble at around 9 o’clock and it’s beautifully smooth and not trebly or ice picky at all. Check out Rim Lerch’s demo for an accurate representation.
Some of you idiots are not watching past the first 5 minutes and it shows.
:D
Just read the comment I believe you're referring to. The idiot clearly didn't watch the entire video. I was considering getting a Blackstar St. James but this vid (and others) have me convinced that the Quilter would be a better purchase. Thank you.
Hahahaha love this
lmao, ''some of you idiots'' ✔
I wasted 4 mins, I'll never get back.
The title should read 'PEDALS' with Quilter.
I came here to see what the amp sounded like lol.
I really appreciate how you took into account the whole "tube bias" mentality where some people assume that because an amp is digital or solid state it won't sound as good as tube. Where I work, we blind shoot out expensive tube amps and the Quilter with customers, and most of the time the customer prefers the Quilter. That is, however, until we tell them it's an affordable solid state amp, then they suddenly start finding reasons to not like it. My belief is that the "tube is better" thing is, at least now, an ego/mentality issue, not a real life issue. Loved the review, great work.
I think that a lot of that bias is due to the history of solid state and modelling amps. For a long period of time they weren't really viable choices for professional musicians. They didn't sound convincing or 'musical' enough. Then along came companies like Sansamp and Line 6 who started to change the landscape. They certainly weren't a perfect replacement however they opened the door to new possibilities. With Quilter, I feel that the evolution of solid state guitar amps has taken a major step forward to where they are becoming more and more indistinguishable from the tube amps they are emulating.
I know over the years that solid state amps have hurt my ears more. The signals that come from the amps are different.
Thanks - that was an excellent review. I wasn't even looking for comparison and I loved this. All of this info is useful for any comparison I might want to make on my own.
Been waiting on this review for a minute. Very curious about this amp, thanks Anthony
Stellar review, rarely have I seen something this clear or thorough 👍 and regarding transistors let's not forget BB King used his Lab Series and sounded killer
A great review & thank you. I watched the whole review in pieces over the course of one day. Non tube amps seem to be getting better and better all the time. I have a Roland Blues Cube Artist and a Fender Tone Master Deluxe. I can't wait to try this amp. I have been slowly selling off my tube amps. I am just tired of the weight and the maintenance. This amp looks like a great bang for the buck. Thanks again for the review.
Great review, detailed and in depth, without leaving anything out. I guess it was only a matter of time before solid state could go toe-to-toe with tubes, and this amp sure seems to deliver. It's lightweight, and probably very durable, sounds great too. A lot to like here.
Years ago, I sold my boutique tube amp for a Quilter Aviator 2x10 (part of the old Aviator line that was discontinued). Great sounding 100 watt clean amp. I sold that Quilter and bought a Quilter MicroPro Mach II (8" speaker), which offers a variety of voicings and other features that were not offered on the Aviator. I supplemented the Micro 8 with Quilter's Neodynium 12" extension cab. I've used the 8" at small gigs and rehearsals, and now combine it with the 12" extension cab. I connect a Carbon Copy delay to the FX loop and add a wah pedal into the front end. Powerful sound; very versatile; light weight and reliable. I play mostly clean to edge so I don't need high gain pedals, but the amp itself has a gain knob and different boost voicings that can easily get you there. Highly recommend.
Super review! The ABY switch with the amp is a game changer. Your playing is truly getting next-level. Future student on the way…!
That was a great review. Thank you.
That was a great demo!
Thanks a lot!
A really cool amp but in all honesty I learned more about setting the tones of my own amps with and without pedals to get what I want out of them. Thanks for the deep dive review Anthony!🎸🎸
Great in depth review. Sounds great. Solid state is a no brainer for many people now they sound and feel so close to tube amps with the benefit of not having to be cranked to crazy levels to get the best tones . The roland blues cube is also amazing
"Let's not forget the difference in weight!"
--Some Older Guy With A Bad Back
:D
Great review, very thorough. Thanks!
Great video and really taking into account the psychology of each aspect, kudos!
Thanks! Detailed and authoritive review. I was flipping backwards and forwards over this and the Fender Deluxe Tone Master - which is nearly twice the cost..... and no FX Loop (which is important to me). "New" to me is the option of using two or more inputs at the same time (or switchable separately). Best, Pete.
one thing to consider is if you ever want to run a wet/dry or dual amp rig it can be hard to get a digital amp like the Tone Master to phase properly with a tube or analog amp..
Nice review. Very thorough. I've owned an Aviator cub for a year-and-a-half and, as with any good piece of gear, I would say it's taken me a good while to realize its true possibilites. For starters, the speaker needs to break in. That's a huge deal with any amp and I can't believe how many people fail to take that into account when they evaluate a speaker or combo amp. The controls are active and do not operate like a Fender. I've owned Boogies, Vintage Blackface Fenders, Drip-edge Silverface Fenders, Tweed Fenders, Plexi Marshalls and Voxes. The Quilter stands on it's own as a serious professional product. It nails those Fender sounds and I would argue that set correctly, it's overdrive characteristics surpass many originals I have played, particularly the Blackface input which, when the gain is dimed, stays much tighter in the bass frequencies than any Blackface amp I ever played(including my beloved 1965 Deluxe Reverb. I know, I know blasphemy, but true in my opinion). I would gig-anywhere with the Cub. With all due respect, the Blues Jr. isn't in the Cub's league sound-wise, feature-wise or construction-wise. It's got superior post-dirt Reverb, a useful line out with cab sim, and a great effects loop. All features a vintage amp lacks and the blues junior is seriously lacking (the Reverb on a Blues Jr. is pitiful, for example)There is a learning curve to Quilter amps that requires time, your ears and, I don't know, perhaps reading the manual...a radical idea I'll admit. Further, a broken-in speaker is essential for any serious evaluation of any amp. Kudos on the review. It was thoughtful and on point as usual. Solid state has arrived. This one has the "sound". Keep up the good work.
I agree with pretty much everything you wrote.
Oooh, glad to see the channels do stack after all :D
I’ve had my CUB for a year now. Couldn’t come to grips with the stock speaker and replacing it with a cannabis Rex has tamed the highs and turned a very nice amp into a brilliant one. Great job on the review btw!
Great review. Just bought one myself. Regard the high end problem, i agree there is a lot of high end(its emulating fenders so of course) but alot of the exaggerated high we are hearing through the recording is due to the SM57 its being mic'd with. You can really hear it in the really awesome preamp comparision he made when you listen between the mic and the line out. A trebly mic for a trebly voiced amp(not to mention a bright jangly strat). Mine doesnt sound nearly as trebly and even better recorded with a warm sennheiser 609. Regardless , its a great sounding amp and much more feature packed than something like the Tonemaster Deluxes.
I bought one recently and I'm quite happy with it. I have 50 years of tube amps behind me. As an old man mostly playing at home or occasional gizzer jams, this amps suits me (and my back) just fine. I was happy to see you section on combining channels. I had not even thought about that. The blonde channel does not appeal to me and I would probably never use it on it's own. However, going through a Morley A/B/Y box I find the combination of the blonde and the tweed to be favorite sound of this amp so far. Thanks for the insight.
Great review, thanks!
Sounds pretty good to me. Your direct out comparison sounded real nice.
I’m a big Quilter fan. I had a 12” speaker cab so I went with the Superblock US. It’s great! I tried the UK one and it’s also good. Great company.
Another great video! I found that in this video, I like the Tweed clean and the Blonde pushed. In the talk-only video, I preferred the Black channel's pushed tone. Now I want to get one in my hands to try it out.
Oh, the topic of using mutiple inputs simultaneously is covered in the manual...
Great review!
Excellent review.
I championed the Fender Blues Junior for 5 years, but I have switched to the Quilter 101 mini Reverb. I find it interacts really well with both acoustic and electric guitars
Thats the one I've got my eye on. Tired of getting a Hernia - just to gig.
Helpful, thx
I really enjoyed this review! I am a proud owner of this amp and I can say that this amp is amazing! Its crazy loud for a small amp. Quilter really nailed this one. I highly recommend this amp for anyone looking for that classic fender tone.
I also own this amp and completely agree with everything said by Steely here.
Same here. I agree with Howard Johnson about what Harold Johnson is saying about Darrel Johnson. Lol
Thanks for the response!
Sweet. Gonna pick one up today and fiddle with it. Hope it makes me sound like you.
I have a Quilter Aviator Gold which I bought because I was over lugging a Fender Blues Deluxe to gigs. I didn’t have the gnarly treble issue but your point about the 3 channel EQ is well made. The Quilter tone controls are very sensitive and as such it’s possible to get a much greater range of sounds than with the tube amps I’ve owned or tried. Despite the overt nods to Fender sounds, the Quilter is actually its own thing and is a great pedal platform. The blues band I play in requires me to play loud and filthy but my solo gigs are a much,cleaner almost jazzy tone and the Quilter handles both easily. It’s not a “tube” sounding amp but it’s very fine sounding piece of kit all the same.
I’m a steelaire owner and I have to agree with this. They’re just their own thing. I have used tube amps for a while and to be honest, I’m perfectly fine with my quilter. I’ve learned that a high quality product is a high quality product regardless if it’s tube, transistor based, DSP, etc. if it’s well made,
It sounds good, and it inspires you to play, that’s ultimately what matters the most!
Been had this amp for 2 years. I found another way to get around the treble, I swapped the stock speaker with a jensen p12. It will sound like a real fender!
Great review and great licks - I am stealing them
Pretty impressive man!
Thanks buddy.
I’m surprised that the high-end was so strong on the cub! I have a micropro mach 2 and some folks complain that they don’t have as much high-end. To be fair, I think Quilter amps are a little different to dial in and I love my micropro, but it seems almost impossible for me to get icepicky unless I REALLY try. What were your settings when it was so shrill?
Very thorough review, Thanks. no disrespect intended, to those who don’t like this amp from what you’ve heard here, there are other review/demos where this amp sounds incredible. being more of a jazz/ r&b type player I’m not sure why he’s got so much top end cranked but at a reasonable EQ the amp is great.
Yeah, I’ve got a micropro mach 2 and have no idea he w he was getting such a shrill sound (it’s tough even with a tele).
I played one of these amps with a strat and it sounded pretty good clean and driven. I have no idea what this guy is doing, but I've literally never heard a guitar tone worse than this ever. Sounds like the mic he's using to record this audio is broken. Wouldn't be surprised if he is someone with a grudge against quilter and is trying to give them a bad name.
@@coupe-lee I've got a Mach 2 HD and it's a dark amp...same with the original 101 (non reverb)...personally, I don't mind the brightness ( that's what treble controls are for) and I'm thinking of using the Aviator Cub in a wet dry rig with the Mach 2...should killer
That is one thorough review. This ia a good, practical, working musician's amp, certainly fine for blues, jazz, funk, indie etc....Portable, reliable, loud enough, affordable. You can nitpick or follow the good advice here on to control a few of the things that are not perfect, though in a live playing situation you are unlikely to really notice those things. If you are really into a very specific sound for recording then perhaps having access to that type of amp is useful.
Great tones and playing. You really captured the essence of SRV. Which guitar pickups are you using? Quilter are the only SS Amps, that do-it-for-me. I'm thinking about getting the 101 Reverb, so I can leave my Blackface 65 Princeton Reverb at home.
I don’t care if an amp is tubes, solid state, or digital, if it inspires you to play that is all that matters. sound is so subjective. I think guitarists listen with their eyes too much and are loaded with preconceptions on what is a good sound. just not a fan of corksniffers.
Yep, I started to believe I was supposed to prefer tubes or something was wrong with me 😎.
I just downloaded some new patches for my stomp and have a Rise pedal in front.
It sounds and feels amazing.
Nearly impossible to duplicate with just a tube amp in an apartment.
Sounds great.
Quilter makes quality stuff and this amp, which I own, is no exception. That said, the reviewer is spot-on about the treble issues with this amp, and I'm not a fan of amps that immediately need pedals to "fix" their problems. Pedals should be an option, not a necessity. The biggest plus for this amp is the weight - it is LIGHT, compare to an Orange Crush Pro 60, another transistor 12-inch that weighs a ton. Indeed, I think it's a more worthy comparison to other transistor amps - not the Blues Jr, which is a very different beast. The reviewer also correctly noted that the cabinet size is probably too small, which does make the sound a bit boxy and for me renders this unit as finally more useful as a studio amp rather than a live one. It is so light though - it's worth owning just for that, you can easily tote it anywhere, your bedroom, a hotel, your office at work, and play it with headphones. Good review!!
Yes, I gave up on my pro Jr. Noisy, burnt tubes three repairs mods!!! This is the way to go!!! NS here!!!! Very cool 😎
Hey Anthony can we get some courses on your website on some Philip Sayce songs or Sayce song guides in the future?
Sounded to me like the direct out added a little "room" to the imitation mic. Feels like combining direct and with a 57 would make a nice recording setup. Don't like the amp's reverb at all. Love the ability to combine preamp modes. Nice demo, Anthony!
Great review, pretty much spot on IMO. I've had my Aviator for a little over a month now and I love it. The high end can sound harsh and it took a pretty long time before I figured out the EQ section.
I had a Celestion Gold speaker lying around and out of curiosity put it in the Aviator today. It certainly helps tame the highs a bit but it also tightened up the bass, a lot! I haven't decided what I think yet because I really liked the lush sounding bass with the stock speaker. I'll have to use it in a babd situation before I decide.
Thanks for a great review!
beautiful played Mr Texas Blues . How does this amp sound on very low volume when playing late evening when everybody is sleeping? I am very interested in this amp but I am afraid the 12 inch is too loud? I was interested in the 8 inch Micro pro mach 2 but this is not sold in Europe anymore I understood from Pat Quilter.
The amp has a head phone input and it does sound good at lower volumes too. Go to their website and check it out at www.Quilterlabs.com
Great review :) what strings and gauges do you favour?
Great demo, and that strat sounds very fine. Which zexcoil set is in it?
Old Peavey SS amps sound the stuff without any pedals. Transtube and Bandits are alright by me. Excellent video my friend. Sounds kinda like a blues cube?
I have a Quilter Steelaire which I love. This Aviator sounded pretty bad with the distortion, but maybe that is your distorted 'sound' you like. Also, the treble issue was weird. It is a "Fender" sound amp, however. My Steelaire does have more midrange control ability, but I mostly play Telecasters and don't get that crazy treble tone you did.
Thanks for your review. So far, it has been one of the best reviews of a Quilter amp I have seen. Due to the state of the tube market these days, I am feeling tube anxiety. I know this situation will eventually work its way out, but I've been needing to wean myself from the tube habit. The solid state amps that are out there now are greatly improved since the earlier days of the technology. Yes, back then the tube v. solid state argument favoring tubes was an easy one. Your comparison of the Aviator Cub to the Blues Junior has helped me make my decision and seriously consider the Cub. Other front runners are the Quilter Tone Block 202 or the Roland JC 40 (always liked that chorus!), but I'm not sure how my 1 x 12 cabinet will respond to the 202 and the JC is another foray into a heavy combo (not quite the weight of a JC 120, but still heavier than I want to lug around these days - I love the weight of the Cub!), so, there's more to consider. Thanks again for the info!
MJ
I'll say this.... while discerning players might be able to coax some better tones from a tube amp in a closely monitored studio setting, in a live setting the Cub punches WAY above it's price class. It sounds so big. I'd never take a Blues Junior to a gig if the Cub were an option.
I just purchased an Aviator Cub. With respect to the taming the treble issue, I have a few questions. When the comparision was done in the video, were the tone controls and the limiter set to 12:00? Which "amp" was used to do the comparisions? Do comments apply to all 3 "amps"? Thanks for your help and this video.
I almost grabbed one. Have tone king on the way, but this is still in my cart for later purchase!
@@soofitnsexy I got a Falcon Grande.
@@soofitnsexy I go back and forth.
I expect so much 🤦🏽♂️.
It IS lovely. But so are my modelers through two line 6 power cabs 🤷🏻♂️.
@@soofitnsexy I was impressed with quilter in guitar center, I didn’t know it wasn’t tube.
On the other end of the $pectrum is the Magnatone, people are going nuts for them.
What is the speaker size and brand.
Are the inputs and pots switch craft/CTS brand or circuit board mounted???
I was between Boss Nextone and the Quilter Aviator Cub. I went with the Nextone but it was very close decision.
@Anthony - good review. I'm not a Blues Jnr fan but would consider the Aviator as a home practice amp and emergency back up for a tube amp at gigs. But the need to have to use a buffer and EQ pedal to tame unruly treble is a deal breaker for me. So I'll pass on both :)
For most people using a pedal buffer first in the chain would be fine, a good practice regardless of amp. I didn't state it clearly in the video, but I did not have the EQ pedal engaged except for that short demo. Once I started using the pedal buffer or the on-board guitar buffer, the EQ pedal wasn't a part of the sound.
Good job. The only SS amps I've ever enjoyed the sound of are the Vox Vox valvetronics (which actually had a tube) and the Boss Katana, by a VERY distant 2nd
Valvetronix is pretty nice. I just sold my Katana and do not miss it.
Yes those Vox Valvetronics are amazing amps. I had the 30 watter and the sound I could get was insane. Great cheap amps.
Tone Tuesday couldn't come back at a better time I just had to switch to a tone master deluxe reverb from a DRRI since I moved to an apartment ...... I miss my tubes so much
I got the Aviator... loud, and the Blackface tones are awesome... the tweed is ok, the blond channel is ehhhh... get it for those BF tones!!!!
I had gone to try out and buy a Boss Nextone Stage...it was great. Loved it. Then the bastards pulled out the Aviator...blew me away. I couldn't stop playing it. It was like taking a blanket off my Strat Ultra sound. Picking it up on Tuesday.
Whenever I start to think I miss my tube amps I just pick up the Quilter Aviator Cub. Nope, don't miss them.
That's how I feel about my Micropro HD
When you talk about using the Aviator “live”, are you talking about a live band small club setting with drums, bass, 2cd guitar, playing classic rock and blues rock? Would I have to crank it up to 12, and perhaps blow out the speaker, or do I need to add a 1x12 speaker cab?
I can’t imagine having to turn this up to 12. It is quite loud even halfway up.
Great video!
What about the Quilter Aviator Cub VS Roland Blues Cube Hot? Price is about the same, BCH came out in 2016 though
I had a first gen Blues Cube 30, really regret selling it. I have a Cub now and quite like it, but I don't know which I'd prefer.
Great review Anthony! How is the noise floor? I played a Quilter combo a few years a go that had a high amount of hiss even when the volume was at zero. I have a Nextone Stage now and play at home only so that is why the hiss matters. I love Fender cleans. Any thoughts about moving from the Nextone to the Quilter?
I don’t know what caused the hiss with the Quilter you tried, but this one is dead quiet for me.
Can you use it with a head rush gigboard or modulers,??
Any thoughts on how this sounds compared to a Katana 100? I’ve been considering upgrading from the Katana and was looking at this new Quilter and the Bad Cat Cub 40r (which I think you own, too). Love the channel. Keep up the great work!
I compared it to my Katana 100 and it's not even close, it made the Katana sound cheap. The Bad Cat Cub 40r is in another league (and price bracket) though.
@@Texasbluesalley thanks for the info!
I think the Princeton reverbs (especially the 12" speaker combos) are the Blues Jr. killer. They should probably be priced similarly but they are not. They are a big upgrade from the Jr. but considerably more expensive at $1,000-1,100 with tax and the Blues Jr. was $600 new when I bought it. I think its worth it, but the Jr. is still a good beginner tube amp. By the way the Super Six makes every amp sound better, but it makes my Blues Jr. sound WAY better. I thought it made this Quilter sound much better as well.
I ordered it just few days after the first video. It sounds great, eaven at low volume, but I have to returned it because the send/return doesn’t work…
The Blues Junior was the Blues Junior killer; every version sounds like an Amazon cardboard box with a speaker in it. The billm mods do help immensely, but it was not engineered well right out of the gate. Your own mileage may vary.
Does the Quilter Aviator cub have a line out to hook into sound system at church?
Does it have a foot switch for clean and gain?
Sounds like a great amp.
It does have a line out, gain is not switchable though
Very thorough review, but there is one issue in this that I feel you need to address.
The brightness.
This amp has active tone controls. You do realize that they don’t work like your typical tone controls on other amps. Your settings on this amp of course would bring out an incredibly bright sounding signal because I don’t think you understand how these tone controls behave.
You can’t set these in the same manner as you would a Fender because Fender uses passive tone controls.
You don’t need an EQ pedal to achieve a milder tone, you need to actually turn the treble down. You have it at 2 o’clock which is crazy, crazy too high if you’re wanting a mellower tone.
Being in the Quilter group brought me to this video to correct you here. Some folks were worried about buying this amp because of this one piece of false information you gave about it.
I know you didn’t do it on purpose, you just didn’t know how these specific controls worked, but now you do, so hopefully you’ll be able to explain it better in the future.
What are your pickups man? they glassy and punchy im so jealous
Hey Anthony excellent work bro! How would it compare to a BJR with all the BillM mods that you have, as do I?
It is comparable, but having previously owned a tricked out Blues Junior with the best Bill M. Mods, it’s a much harder comparison. Still more features in the Aviator, but the tones in the modded Blues Jr. were so much better than stock that I’d have a harder time picking the Aviator over it.
Can you do a Tone master deluxe reverb review?
It's modeled after a Marshall signal I think jcm 800 but the real Blues Jr. Killer is the Supro Blues king 12 !😉
I will keep my modded Blues Jr. I like it much better and with the Celestion V-Type 70 Watt speaker it sounds great at any volume. My Allen Accomplice blows them all away and is much more versatile with the RAW control going from blackface to tweed and everything in between and can be 22 watts with 6V6 tubes and 42 watts with 6L6,s. That is some great playing though
Have you tried a Roland Blues Cube and how would you compare the two?
I have not.
I hope it doesn’t kill it. I really like my Blues Junior :)
This is a great amp but the speaker must be broken in. The difference between a new speaker and a speaker with a 100 hours on it is night and day. In my 22, but limited, years of playing and collecting amps this amp improved the most out of any amp I've owned over the course of a year. It continues to mellow and soften by the day. The early stages of this amps life were stiff and shrill. I could be wrong but in my opinion this amps speaker sounds brand new.
I’ve heard this amp from other people on line and it sounds very good. This review makes the amp sound like treble solid state digital ir crap. I think you got a bad one or your recording is messed up
I've played it as well. And also with a strat. Its pretty good. Sounds nothing like this. I don't know why he even uploaded this video. How does he not hear how obviously terrible it sounds? Sounds like either his mic or speaker is busted.
Agreed , mine sounds more like a dumble killer, his sounds like poop on a cold metal tray
Are Quilter still made in USA?
Hi Anthony, have you tried the Fender Tone Master Deluxe “Blonde” edition? I think it would be worth your time to check it out if you can get your hands on one. Two months into owning one, I’m a believer! Nothing solid state or digital about the tone, period! Good luck
Your review seems to go against the general consensus that this amp is pretty good as is. The EQ issue you have did not show up in any other demos and reviews that I saw.
Well you’ve successfully generated eye watering treble.
Since you can't purchase the diamond a b Switcher anymore. What was the name of the one you recommend
A lot of people like the one from Radial Big Shot ABY.
@@Texasbluesalley thanks Anthony there's actually two of them that I was just looking at and they're both in the top two of the five best AB boxes available right now.
@@Texasbluesalley I'm looking to purchase a Aviator Cub this week
BB King and Albert King both used solid state amps. A ton of jazz guitarists used and use solid state amps. Even the Melvins used solid state amps. I think even the Beatles OCCASIONALLY used solid state amps on albums. Nothing wrong with them. Even if you're an aficionado of tube amps, with so little money being in music anymore, it's hard to justify the expense, heaviness, and unreliability of tube amps.
Quilter tone controls don't work the same as the typical Fender tone controls do. So you will have to learn how to use them the way they are intended to get a better sound. It's also 50 Watts of output compared to the Blues Junior being 15 Watts.
What about Boss Katana 🤔 ?
@@Prajnana no I don't think that The Katana is a digital modeling amp it's Solid state amp .
I like the look of Quilter amps. It would have been interesting if you'd compared this one against a Blues Junior. Also, the real question for me is: if you have a live gig, and can choose either the Fender or the Quilter, which one would you take?
Quilter...I've got a MicroPro Mach 2 HD...last used in dense band..(2 vocal/harmony, keys, drums, bass, acoustic guitar and 2 electrics). Set for edge of break up with a pedalboard, I had clarity, volume and touch sensitivity. Never had it up past 5 and got compliments on the tone from the other musicians in the room. I keep a DD3 with a battery in it in the amp bag to put in the loop and use the larger 6 function quilter pedal when I just want a grab and go for open mics etc. I can be a bit dark, but I play with a Strat so it's not a problem. Planning on getting an Aviator cub for a lightweight wet/dry rig. I've demoed the Aviator and I could just as easily gig out with it and a small board. It's very similar to a Blues Jr...roughly the same price, ability to set gain at any volume and small and portable. You just need to decide if you want an amp that's also lighter, louder with more headroom and require less maintenance.
I don't think the technology is quite there yet to duplicate the organic feel of a tube amp, but it's close. When a tube amp is matched with the right speaker, it's magic. I'll convert when it gets there. Sorry I'm a die-hard tube user. Hell, I still use vinyl. I don't think they'll ever find a replacement for that.
I prefer the Direct out sound LOL
Wow, worst strat pickups I have ever heard, my cub does NOT sound like that glass house tone you achieve. I have Kloppman real 61s, you REALLY need a set!! Can’t comprehend how bad you make a very good amp sound. By the way, active tone controls, turn the bloody treble down a bit 😃
Love this amp. It just doesn’t take pedals worth a damn. Had to go to tubes just for my pedal platform :(
My Quilter Superblock takes pedals excellently. I have no clue what pedals you are using.
I know he talks about turning down the treble but I don’t believe he does. I run the mids and treble at around 9 o’clock and it’s beautifully smooth and not trebly or ice picky at all. Check out Rim Lerch’s demo for an accurate representation.
I heard solid state and immediately got turned off. And I play mainly play headrush and helix.
I love the amp.. but its not a blues jr killer when it cost 200$ more and still kinda doesn't sound as great at gig volume. Sorry
This amp 100% sounds like a tube amp.. Whatever difference you can hear, actually it is just in your thought as you are missing the glowing tubes...
Omg … just by a BJr … if ya have to fudge with EQ pedals and the lot…
Has ice pick tones in spades.