Speaker suggestion…

[Phillip Leggett]

Hey folks!

I’ve recently purchased a Quilter Tone Block 202. Can I ask what your favourite speaker is running through these? I’m rather new to pedal steel (5 months in!) but want a good investment

Also, I feel it is a bit on the sterile side…is there any way around this? My years as a guitar tube amp snob hasn’t done me any favours lol

Thanks in advance!

[Phillip Leggett]

Also, I heard a JBL d130 on YouTube and it sounded so beautiful

[Marty Nemanick]

Philip, after trying several speakers with the TB 202, I settled on the 15" Quilter Steelaire replacement speaker available through the Quilter website. Neo Magnet, with a 4 Ohm voice coil it is a great match for the 202......................Marty

[Rich Ertelt]

Philip, after trying several speakers with the TB 202, I settled on the 15" Quilter Steelaire replacement speaker available through the Quilter website. Neo Magnet, with a 4 Ohm voice coil it is a great match for the 202......................Marty

I am using the Steelaire speaker as well, with a 202. I wasn't crazy about the Steelaire head but really liked the speaker.

[Roger Crawford]

Rich, the Steelaire problem was more in the shallow cabinet rather than the head. I have a Steelaire Rackmount (same head) and run it through a Peavey 1501 in a closed back cabinet and love it. I would imagine the 1501 with the 202 would sound good as well.

[Larry Dering]

I have used a boatload of 12 and 15 inch speakers in non Quilter cabinets and have yet to find a good combination. That includes the TT12 in several cabinets. This amp is harsh and a boss EQ GE7 isn't enough. I'm considering selling it to try something else. Zum D10 with E66, Justice SD10 with 705, GFI SD10 with the III pickup then a 705. Sarno BB all types of cables etc. I'm wore out from trying to love this little guy. I have a Quilter Micropro Mach 2, a 101 tone block and the 202 tone block. None measure up to my old Peavey amps.

[Rich Ertelt]

Rich, the Steelaire problem was more in the shallow cabinet rather than the head. I have a Steelaire Rackmount (same head) and run it through a Peavey 1501 in a closed back cabinet and love it. I would imagine the 1501 with the 202 would sound good as well.

I had the head, not the combo. The cabinet, which I still have, is one I built myself. I've built a bunch of cabs over the years. It sounds really good with the 202.

I absolutely did not like the Steelaire amp. I was using it with my steel, at home, as I was not gigging steel at the time. I was playing guitar in a band at the time, with a steel player, and I took it over to his house, tried it with his steels and cabs and neither of us liked it. He was using a Walker, don't remember the cabs.

To me, it wasn't the cab, as I was not using their cab, I just didn't like the amp. I do like the 202. Which is the same brand, and with the same speaker. Of course, it depends on what you need and like, I just didn't like it. Really like the speaker, though, and using it with the 202 as the OP is looking to do. I think that is a nice match. I also use it with a Sarno SMS and straightahead power amp, sounds really good there, too. Good speaker. Eminence I believe.

[Dave Grafe]

I use my TB202 with a JBL D120F for low to modest volume needs and have another BlockDock cabinet with a JBL K130 for making loud. I have to say that I have had a lot of great amplifiers but the Quilter 202 with the JBL D120 is the sweetest combo ever. Like honey from the bee...

[Phillip Leggett]

That sounds great thanks for the tip, mate!

[Ryan Bramlett]

Dave, what kind of cab do you have for your JBL D120F? I am also looking at a ToneBlock 202 and would need a small & light speaker. I don't need much power or volume for my application.

[Dave Grafe]

It's also a Quilter BlockDock cab, purchased with the TT12 and I swapped the speaker. I really like the concept and execution of the ToneBlock/BlockDock sysyem, and the Eminence Travis Toy speakers are decent enough, but like all Eminence products the high end falls away an octave or more lower than with JBL drivers.
Installing a good JBL speaker is probably the most effective gear upgrade available for any amp, usually doubling SPL per watt while smoothing and extending frequency response.

[Bill Davis]

I have a toneblock 200 into a TT12. That's my rig of choice. You can always get a Tonex One and have any speaker/amp combination you want going direct to the pa or into the TB effects return. Turn off the cab section of the Tonex if you go that route though.