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It seems weird to me that the Quilter is significantly louder than the GK, though maybe it handles varying cab impedances better. The GK really needs 4ohms to shine.I'd try one if/when they came up used at a decent price. I dig the simplicity.

As noted, I have the older Tone Block 200, with minimal eq controls. I love it. Have used it for 2 years, loud live shows and recording- always sounds good, takes any voltage, weighs like 4 pounds. the 101 is cool, and extra tiny, but knowing how you play, you might be better served having the extra wattage on hand. The 200 is plenty for practice bass (or probably most folks show-volume). The shop I work at is a local dealer, and I am putting together a trade deal with my boss to get the Bass Block 800. The GK400rb is just a tad underpowered, and has proven unreliable. cannot recommend enough.Might be able to help get them to you- at the very least I can get them at US prices and ship, since the voltage doesn't matter.

Mine (again, the older model with less eq options) is pretty clean- with the gain way up you can get some decent SS grind. Compared to the GK it is cleaner, and does not have the boost OD, but it is much louder. https://michiganindienetwork.bandcamp.com/Lindsey used it on this record, with my HP set pretty low. Best example of clean is on 'Will somebody...'

I just bought a like new Tone Block 200 for $180. I've wanted one for a while and am excited to get it. I play a fair amount of shows where I have to use borrowed gear and hate it. I figure I can just toss this thing and a speaker cable in a bag and use it instead.

Specifically the toneblock type ones. Fed up lugging heavy heads about and want a simpler solution. Mostly so I can get drunk and not worry about having to transport weighty crap home at midnight. So yeah, who's tried them and how good are they? I know the Deerhoof guy in the spanky tracksuits uses one. Is the 101 loud enough for gigging/practicing or would I need the 201? Likewise, would the 200w one suffice for bass? Would be planning on using these with a preamp (boxidizer/rusty box/tech 21) so it's just a question of how well they work and if they'll do the job or not. Although, finding them in the UK at a decent price might also be an issue.

how would you compare tone-wise to a GK400rb?

At least a couple people here have and like them:chris jury wrote:Re: Micro-reviews of gear you just bought.Thu Feb 12, 2015 9:05 pmQuilter Toneblock 200- you are weird, and a big change for me. you sound like a not-dumb amplifier. You fit in my pedal bag. Thanks.benadrian wrote:Re: Solid State AmpsSun Nov 20, 2016 5:26 pmSo I brought my little Quilter 1-8 combo to punk rock band practice because the drummer wanted an amp to play samples. Just for kicks I hooked it up to my two 4-12 cabs (what I've been using with my Traynor recently). I has the Gain at full and the master volume at half and it totally kept up with the loud-ass drummer. It matched the level of the Traynor and sounded pretty good. Not excellent, but I think I could live with it as a fly-show amp.

Yeah. I've gotten plenty of guitar use out of the GK with an 8ohm speaker, even knowing it becomes a 120w space heater essentially. Bass too, as long as the band isn't super loud. I've also heard it for bass through a Mesa Diesel 2x15 and it was holyshitfuck loud.On further inspection, that Quilter wattage/volume knob is weirding me out a bit. I've never thought of volume in terms of "turn myself up to 75 watts"..

154 wrote:On further inspection, that Quilter wattage/volume knob is weirding me out a bit. I've never thought of volume in terms of "turn myself up to 75 watts"..It has actually been handy in reminding me not to push too much wattage through smaller cabs. That did not stop me from setting an eminence blackback on fire last year. No great loss. Likely the volume is a function of it not having that 'honk' (so it seems louder), and me not owning a 4 ohm cab of any sort.

chris jury wrote:As noted, I have the older Tone Block 200, with minimal eq controls. I love it. Have used it for 2 years, loud live shows and recording- always sounds good, takes any voltage, weighs like 4 pounds. the 101 is cool, and extra tiny, but knowing how you play, you might be better served having the extra wattage on hand. The 200 is plenty for practice bass (or probably most folks show-volume). The shop I work at is a local dealer, and I am putting together a trade deal with my boss to get the Bass Block 800. The GK400rb is just a tad underpowered, and has proven unreliable. cannot recommend enough.Might be able to help get them to you- at the very least I can get them at US prices and ship, since the voltage doesn't matter.Cheers Chris. I saw the Deerhoof guy used the 101, but had a feeling it might be better to go for the 200/1. If it's good for guitar and bass then I'm definitely interested in one. Looks like new prices (before shipping) in the UK are around $550, and $500 from Europe. May well need to ask for your help in getting one, as that seems a bit much.elisha wiesner wrote:I play a fair amount of shows where I have to use borrowed gear and hate it. I figure I can just toss this thing and a speaker cable in a bag and use it instead.That's pretty much my thought process too.