Voted Best in Music 2023!! Thank you!Quilter Labs SuperBlock UK 25W British Style Guitar Pedal Amp
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Quilter is the "Q" in QSC audio, so they know a thing or two about engineering professional grade solid state audio. The Quilter Superblock UK takes their extensive knowledge and compacts it into a fully featured 6.5" x 4.25" 25W pedal amp. Equally useful for practice, stage or studio, the Quilter Superblock UK is Quilter's first "British" product and proves that size does not always matter.
The Quilter Superblock UK features:
- 25 watts power, 4-16 ohm load - 1/4" speaker output
- Designed also to work without speaker cabinet attached
- 1/4" instrument input
- 3 position switch for 3 classic British tones (AC, AC Top, and 1979 JMP)
- Master volume control to set overall volume and amp power
- Gain control to regulate overdrive characteristics
- Limiter control to control dynamics and feel of the Gain control
- Active 3-band EQ
- Reverb control
- Headphone output
- XLR line out for mixer or DAW
- 3 position cab sim switch for line out and headphones
- Serial effects loop
- On/Standby/Off switch
- Includes 24VDC 3A power supply
- Can use 9VDC 300ma power supply for quiet practice or headphones
Solid state amplifier technology has come a long way, and Pat Quilter is one of the true pioneers of this field. He has spent several decades advancing the art and science of solid state amplification. The Superblock series takes that experience and puts it at your feet for a package that is as great sounding as it is convenient.
The UK series has three voice settings that correspond to classic British amp tones. The "AC" is their AC30 emulation, with the glassy bouncy feel of hot running EL-84 cathode-biased tubes; while the "AC Top" is essentially the Top Boost channel for a little more high end sparkle without being harsh or jarring. The "1979 JMP" has a noticeable boost in volume, a thicker more pronounced midrange, and the heavier feel of a big British amp pushing EL-34's.
We demo'd the Superblock both through a 4x10 bassman style cab with Jensen speakers and a 1x12 open back with an Eminence Cannabis Rex. The "AC" and "AC Top" are farily similar, but in either case have the scooped midrange, glassy top "AC" tone. But it's not a cartoonish or exaggerated AC tone. It's sounds British but not over the top. If you want to tweak your AC, you'll be impressed on how well the 3-band active EQ controls on the Superblock work. These are much more powerful than typical passive controls on a tube amp, and can easily compensate for speaker cabinet, room, or guitar. The "1979 JMP" has the big burly tone of a Marshall, and sounds nothing like the AC setting, which is shouldn't. Using the Gain and Master controls you can get a real hard rock grind going. Speaking of which....
The gain control is gradual and attack sensitive, and in the case of the AC settings goes from mild clipping to the hot and bothered tone of a cranked AC with no negative feedback. On the JMP setting it's a hard rock demon with more overdrive potential, more overall volume, and great harmonics and texture. The limiter control sets a hard "ceiling" to the attack and is essentially like half a compressor. When using overdrive it can vary how tight/loose the amp feels, and amount of sustain and lingering harmonics. With such a contrast in tone between the AC and JMP, it's too bad it does not have remote channel switching, but there is only so much you can cram into a box for $249.
Plus all of this is available through your speaker cabinet, headphones, or an XLR line out to a mixer or DAW. The headphone and line out feature speaker emulation, or full frequency response. There is an effects loop, or you can put your pedals in front of it, or both. It's tiny but you treat the Superblock just like an amp, which it is. And the Reverb sounds really good, so you can leave that pedal home.
Can you gig with it? Yes. It will hang with a band -- at least during practice -- but volume it not limitless. How loud it can get is also function of your speaker cabinet, speaker efficiency and load (for example 10" speakers are typically far less efficient than a 12"). For a small gig and a lighter style of music you'll probably be fine. But for clubs and louder venues we would always use a cab and the XLR out to the mixer. And the quality of the line out is excellent so don't worry about that. If nothing else the Superblock is the best backup amp you'll ever own.
Quilter consistently engineers well thought out and extremely musical products, and the Superblock UKS is no exception. If you've been skeptical about pedal amps and whether they truly can deliver "real amp" quality sound, the Superblock may change your mind.