Amp Comparison

Gary Holt · Post by **Gary Holt** » 25 Oct 2014 5:16 am

In the past few months there have been several posts on the forum about the Quilter Steelaire, the Milkman Half and Half and the Telonics TCA-500. I'm sure each one of these amps are great and that each have their own great qualities. However, if you were given an opportunity to choose one of these amps, without any cost to you, which one would you pick.

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 25 Oct 2014 5:28 am

My first pick would be the milk man= tubes!!

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 25 Oct 2014 6:00 am

The Steelaire Pro with the deeper cabinet. At least one of the reviews on the Quilter site mentioned that the Pro cabinet had a little more bass. Now IF the Pro was available for $1399 I would buy it! I've have better luck and heard better sounds at higher volumes with transistor amps than tube or hybrid ones. This includes the Webb 6-14-E, Nash 400, Steel King and the Walker Stereo Steel.

Norman Evans · Post by **Norman Evans** » 25 Oct 2014 3:12 pm

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... Caps%2C212

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 25 Oct 2014 4:47 pm

That's the Combo model not the Pro model!

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i- ... MgodrHUApQ

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 25 Oct 2014 6:36 pm

I'd really like to try the Quilter Steelaire Pro.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 26 Oct 2014 12:42 am

Daniel Policarpo wrote:I'd really like to try the Quilter Steelaire Pro.

I did. I also tried out as Roland cube 80GX. I decided to get the Quilter, despite the huge difference in price. I'm going to sell some of my other gear to help pay for it.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 26 Oct 2014 4:52 am

Can you also sell some of your gear to help ME pay for it?

Maybe we can arrange a group buy like they do on the electronics forums......

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 26 Oct 2014 4:53 am

Mike did you compare the combo versus the Pro Steelaire?

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 26 Oct 2014 5:03 am

Greg Cutshaw wrote:Mike did you compare the combo versus the Pro Steelaire?

Mu bad. I tried out the combo, not the pro.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 26 Oct 2014 9:07 am

Mike Perlowin wrote:
Greg Cutshaw wrote:Mike did you compare the combo versus the Pro Steelaire?
Mu bad. I tried out the combo, not the pro.

But, did you like the combo? That's what counts.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 26 Oct 2014 9:34 am

Richard, I liked it enough to decide to get one.

I loved the weight. It's supposed to weigh 35 pounds. Somebody here said it was only 32. I love my Music Man HD2312, but it weighs over 70 pounds, and I'm too old to be lugging it around anymore. I like the 22 pound ZT Clubs too, but they don't have the tone of the quilter.

It is very clean sounding, and has enough control to give you any kind of tone you want. Plus it has an effects loop so you can add delay or distortion or one of those new Electro Harmonx B9 organ simulators etc.

It has a tremolo circuit, which I feel is unnecessary. I think it would have been better to have a built in delay instead.

The only drawback (besides the hefty price,) is that it only has a single input. I'd prefer 2 of them like a Fender or Music Man.

I had planned to go to the Phoenix show next January, but I'm going to get the amp instead. I'm going to sell some of my other gear to help pay for it.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 26 Oct 2014 9:41 am

Thanks Mike! I see the pro and combo are both 23" x 21" with the pro being taller and the combo being wider. The combo in 9" deep and the pro is 10.5" deep. hard to believe the cabinet will have much affect on the tone.

The Qilter forums have some interesting comments on these amps:

http://www.quilterlabs.com/index.php/contact/forum/

The Combo and Pro share the same user manual:

http://quilterlabs.s3-us-west-1.amazona ... manual.pdf

A small hint as to the design's secret sauce:

http://www.quilterlabs.com/index.php/pa ... s-bench/P2

$219 for the JBL like D130 15" speaker:

http://www.quilterlabs.com/index.php/pr ... -custom-15

George Macdonald · Post by **George Macdonald** » 26 Oct 2014 10:11 am

Greg, I wonder how this speaker differs from the EPS 15C made by Eminence?

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 26 Oct 2014 10:29 am

I would like to see the Classic Tube amp (formerly Vintage Vibe) thrown into the mix also. If you haven't seen the video testimonial of Cowboy Eddie Long playing one, you might want to check it out at www.classictubesound.com. It's all tube and sounds pretty impressive.

This is a thread that I have been meaning to start, so I am glad to see that other's are interested in a comparison, also.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 26 Oct 2014 10:35 am

I posted a question in the Quilter forum asking about the tone differences between the Pro and Combo models.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 26 Oct 2014 10:45 am

Greg, Jim Palenscar has one of each in his shop. He is currently on vacation, but we can ask him about this when he gets back.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Oct 2014 11:12 am

I've had my Quilter Combo for two days now and I'm really enjoying playing through it!

A lot has been said in other threads, but basically, it has a warm, tube-like sound (to my ears), a great reverb, and is very lightweight. The weight is a big selling point for me. I played (and hauled around) a Steel King for the past seven years, so this amp is a welcome change. Of course, it doesn't have the rumbling, thundering Lows of a Steel King, but it's a well balanced sound, enough lows, rich highs that are Not harsh at all. I've never tried the Pro model, but I'm guessing that the larger cabinet might provide more lows. Having said that, the Combo sounds excellent to me, and it's so easy to carry around. Loading the car for a gig is simple now! ...just my S-10, the amp, seat, and a few accessories. No outboard effects needed.

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 26 Oct 2014 6:56 pm

Mike Perlowin wrote:
Greg Cutshaw wrote:Mike did you compare the combo versus the Pro Steelaire?
Mu bad. I tried out the combo, not the pro.

The Pro looks pretty cool , with the removable head and larger cab. I think I could definitely "make do" with a Combo, though.

Tim Marcus · Post by **Tim Marcus** » 26 Oct 2014 7:30 pm

Consider this: If you need a new amp and you need it now, Milkman might not be the right one for you

The specs are similar enough - my Half and Half is lighter, louder, and has actual tubes but I can't get you one for months. Something about the hand wired hand built part didn't make it onto the spec sheet

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 27 Oct 2014 4:36 am

In this video you can see the Pro and Combo side by side near the end. It mentions that the Pro has a pass through channel from the effects loop patch panel to the bottom of the amp. This way you could place for example a delay pedal in the bottom of the amp, patch it in and power it from the amp and switch it in and out using the leg mounted control panel. This would all be powered from and contained inside the amp, one less thing to carry and hookup although it would not give you access to the delay controls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b3jfcoTvPU#t=683

Dave Bertoncini · Post by **Dave Bertoncini** » 27 Oct 2014 5:33 am

The combo has the pass through too. I think the video has a subtitle stating that.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 27 Oct 2014 7:06 am

Now we need a delay pedal with bluetooth remote controls!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 27 Oct 2014 7:34 am

Regarding the Quilter Combo and Pro... it looks like the only difference is the Pro has a taller cabinet, a detachable head, and a pass-through that allows you to quickly put your stomp boxes in the back of the amp. The other specs appear to be the same on both amps. The Pro is $400 more than the Combo. Portability is #1 with me at this point in my life, so I think I made the right decision getting the Combo.

Hey, do you think any of these newfangled steel amps could include a pitch corrector!

Dave Bertoncini · Post by **Dave Bertoncini** » 27 Oct 2014 9:04 am

Dave Bertoncini wrote:The combo has the pass through too. I think the video has a subtitle stating that.

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