Product: Guild Quantum Head
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
10/06/2006
at
02:49pm
by
megadan
Email: megadan at edbgc<dot>ca
Features
:
No Opinion
Sound Quality
:
No Opinion
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
This is an update from my previous post.
The tube compliment is as follows:
Preamp section: 3 12AX7's
Power amp section, back to front, left to right:
12DW7, 7591
12AU7, 12AX7
6550, 6550
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
Product: Guild Quantum Head
Price Paid: US $300 used
Submitted
03/18/2006
at
02:33pm
by
megadan
Email: megadan at edbgc<dot>ca
Features
:
7
Made in the 1960's sometime, not sure what year. It's a two channel, all tube amp, with seperate power sections, and a seperate preamp section. This is the most powerful amp that Guild ever made. It's labeled as a Thunderbass on the front, but it's actually tagged as a Quantum if you open it up. Two 6550's in the power section put out a huge amount of volume and tone.
I'm actually using this for bass; through a single 2x10, I can rattle the walls of my apartment, that should attest to the power of this thing. The controls are very simple, volume, bass, treble, and a switchable HPF/LPF on each channel, plus a master volume. Has 1/4" speaker output and extension cab output at 8 ohms. The only thing I wish it had is an effects loop, but I'll make do.
Sound Quality
:
10
It sounds, in one word, astonishing. I didn't realize that there were amps out there that could sound this good. I've played modern amps for years, and in comparision to this, they're muddy, weak, and toneless. This thing is amazing. Once it goes up about 3/4 of the way (which is very, very loud), it starts to overdrive in a most wonderful fashion. It is extremely responsive, following the dynamics of my playing precisely.
I'm never playing another solid state amp again.
Reliability
:
9
I was pretty nervous the first time I gigged with it... I had gotten back after several months at the tech; when I first got it, it worked for about 30 seconds and then shutdown. The fix was easy, and now it sounds great. Still, I worry about the tubes - they are all vintage, original tubes, a mismatched set in the power section - one GE 6550A, and an RCA 6550.I think once I spring for a complete retubing (9 tubes!) it will be much better off.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Guild is long gone, you're pretty much on your own with these amps. Take them to a qualified tech. Mine needs a recap job, but it still works 30+ years later, so you know it's tough.
Here's a list of tubes that were in mine:
1 x 12AU7A (?)
5 x 7025(12AX7) (preamp)
1 x 7591A (rectifier)
2 x 6550(A) (power)
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
This head has the most amazing tone I've ever heard. It has an amazing sound in every position. There are no 'sweet spots' on these controls - every spot is sweet. If you ever see one of these amps, get it now. Others have described it as a Marshall plexi with no 'presense' control.
It's huge.
