Anyone used the Lichtlaerm Pandora Pedalboard Power Amp?

[JiveTurkey]

Can't remember where (or when, actually) I bought it, but I've never regretted owning it. It wouldn't do the job for me without drive pedals, but it excels with them.

I use a Liverpool Deluxe as a preamp, along with a couple other drive pedals in front, and it gets some nice chime and crunch through my 1965A cab.

The Quilter stuff for vintage tones is GREAT. I always wondered how they would do trying their hand at something modern high gain oriented?

Supposedly the Blackstar Amped 1 uses a similar approach to the Quilter (low damping factor / current feedback), and I've seen people say they like it with modelers. So that's another cheaper option that might be good for someone wanting that tube-y feel / speaker interaction? 500USD new, but they go for much cheaper used and refurbished.

We've never chatted about my Blackstar feelings, have we If I ever see a 202 at a fire sale; I will 100% snap it up.

 

[synthpenguin]

Yeah, I don't get why they haven't done a high gain voicing or something already. Plenty of metal players are getting a lot of their sound from solid state preamps anyway, and the Quilter power amps have a good rep for that usage, so why not? It would be good competition for the Orange Crush stuff, which sounds great, but is pretty opinionated in a way that isn't ideal for a lot of metal tones.

 

[RGB]

 

[mbenigni]

Thanks for the response! Yeah, looking into this more since I posted this thread, it seems that way. At this point, I'm thinking of just velcroing the Quilter to the back or top of a cab to get it out of the way and make things more compact.

I'll check out the Ritter pedalboard amps though, thanks! I don't think I've ever heard of them.

What kind of cab are we talking about? Have you seen the Quilter BlockDocks? Hunt for the 10 or 12, load it with your preferred speaker and a Quilter amp in the right form factor, maybe a used M101. That's a 20lb grab and go rig that should bring the Quilter sound/feel you dig.

 

[mbenigni]

Was it one of those blowout sales from MF where they were like $199 or something insane? @mbenigni grabbed one iirc? They are definitely LOUD.

It was actually $169 IIRC. Back when SDotD's were actually stupid. I still kick myself for not buying a baker's dozen... (OK maybe 2, for stereo, as opposed to just one.)

But... this wasn't an M101R; it was the OG M101. No digital reverb, and a somewhat annoying, unconventional EQ stack. I can't even find one of these on the used market anymore, but I'm curious what they're worth. If they're valued at even half what the M101Rs are fetching, I'd probably sell mine. If they were at or below the price I paid for mine, I'd buy another one. Obviously, I'd prefer an M101R, but I agree they manage to be just about cost-prohibitive.

(Did I just make "fetch" happen?)

 

[JiveTurkey]

It was actually $169 IIRC. Back when SDotD's were actually stupid. I still kick myself for not buying a baker's dozen... (OK maybe 2, for stereo, as opposed to just one.)

But... this wasn't an M101R; it was the OG M101. No digital reverb, and a somewhat annoying, unconventional EQ stack. I can't even find one of these on the used market anymore, but I'm curious what they're worth. If they're valued at even half what the M101Rs are fetching, I'd probably sell mine. If they were at or below the price I paid for mine, I'd buy another one. Obviously, I'd prefer an M101R, but I agree they manage to be just about cost-prohibitive.

(Did I just make "fetch" happen?)

The adherence/COMMITTMENT to that EQ stack was another thing I think kept them in their niche. For better or worse.

 

[mbenigni]

The adherence/COMMITTMENT to that EQ stack was another thing I think kept them in their niche. For better or worse.

Were there other Quilter amps with that weird ass control scheme? As far as I know they moved on after the M101. The M101R is good old fashioned BMT - which adds even more value than the "R" they tacked on, IMO.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Were there other Quilter amps with that weird ass control scheme? As far as I know they moved on after the M101. The M101R is good old fashioned BMT - which adds even more value than the "R" they tacked on, IMO.

All the Quilters that I've had had the Tri-Q thing. The 200, the 201, the SDOTD I bought? The 202 and OD 200 looks to have corrected that problem so that's good.

 

[mbenigni]

All the Quilters that I've had had the Tri-Q thing. The 200, the 201, the SDOTD I bought? The 202 and OD 200 looks to have corrected that problem so that's good.

Yeah, I think their "adherence/ commitment" to Tri-Q (whose name I'd forgotten) finally broke. Thank heavens.

(This is me assuming that the post Tri-Q circuits sound and feel as good, but are more intuitive to dial in.)

 

[JiveTurkey]

Yeah, I think their "adherence/ commitment" to Tri-Q (whose name I'd forgotten) finally broke. Thank heavens.

(This is me assuming that the post Tri-Q circuits sound and feel as good, but are more intuitive to dial in.)

Break the commitment; raise the price by $200

 

[DrewJD82]

Whatever Quilter does is the answer. It’s just a way better sounding and feeling amp, and it’s class D.
Orange is great too, however those are actually Class AB.

It’d have to be a compelling price point to keep me from a KSR or Fryette. Once I pass that $500 threshold the sting of $900-$1000 isn’t as bad to me knowing tubes will definitely deliver what I’m looking for as where I already look at class-D stuff with doubt.

 

[mbenigni]

It’d have to be a compelling price point to keep me from a KSR or Fryette. Once I pass that $500 threshold the sting of $900-$1000 isn’t as bad to me knowing tubes will definitely deliver what I’m looking for as where I already look at class-D stuff with doubt.

I get you. But there's also something to be said for no weight, no heat, no maintenance... if you dig the sound. (My M101 is so light I worry it'll blow off the top of the cab in a strong breeze. )

 

[DrewJD82]

I get you. But there's also something to be said for no weight, no heat, no maintenance... if you dig the sound. (My M101 is so light I worry it'll blow off the top of the cab in a strong breeze. )

I’m totally a glutton for punishment if it’ll be more fun to play through, which is precisely why I just got that 4x12 cab!

 

[mbenigni]

I’m totally a glutton for punishment if it’ll be more fun to play through, which is precisely why I just got that 4x12 cab!

It's always about that "if".

Note:
-The cab the M101 might blow off of is a 4x12.
-A 50lb DSL is currently standing in for the M101 because I think I slightly prefer the power section.

(To be clear: I think the first point, re: cab, is FAR more important than the second one.)

 

[DrewJD82]

It's always about that "if".

Note:
-The cab the M101 might blow off of is a 4x12.
-A 50lb DSL is currently standing in for the M101 because I think I slightly prefer the power section.

(To be clear: I think the first point, re: cab, is FAR more important than the second one.)

I think my biggest thing is I’m looking ahead at the stuff I want to do musically with a band and knowing I’ll be getting down to drop A I want something that can handle that range while still being as punchy as a tube amp and able to compete with a metal drummer. This is the exact area I started running into issues with with the Duncan/BAM, once they hit a certain point it doesn’t get louder or more impactful, just smaller.

 

[mbenigni]

I think my biggest thing is I’m looking ahead at the stuff I want to do musically with a band and knowing I’ll be getting down to drop A I want something that can handle that range while still being as punchy as a tube amp and able to compete with a metal drummer. This is the exact area I started running into issues with with the Duncan/BAM, once they hit a certain point it doesn’t get louder or more impactful, just smaller.

Yeah, my little SS power amps have never been put that sort of test. (My FR-10 holds up surprisingly well vs. a drummer playing metal, but likewise this has never been tested outside the confines of my basement.)