Quilter TB 202 vs RM Steelaire

[Cody Stewart]

I’m wondering if anyone can tell me if there is a big difference between the Tone Block 202 and Rackmount Steelaire. I currently have a 202 that I pug into my various speaker cabs and like it pretty well, but I wanted to know if anyone feels I would have an advantage by upgrading to a rackmount steelaire to use in the same application over the 202. Has anyone had both and can you speak of the pros and cons.

Thanks,
CS

[Chuck Blake]

Cody I owned both Amps, I liked the Steelaire Rack Mount and eventually purchased a second amp. However, I always felt like something was missing, the Steelaire had a sterile tone. I paired it with various stomp pedals and kept searching for the for tone.
I decided on trying the TB202 after having read many reviews...I purchased the TB202 and after trying it I sold the Steelaires and my NV400...End of story!

[Jack Stoner]

I had a Steelaire rack that I paired with an Eminence EPS-15C and sounded good. I decided to sell the rack and separate speaker and bought a Steelaire amp. I didn't care for the Steelaire combo amp, too many highs with the stock speaker so it was sold.
I had the opportunity to try a Travis Toy 12 combo and bingo there was the sound I was looking for, since the 70's when I had a Twin Reverb with JBL's. I bought the Travis Toy 12 combo.

Comparing the three, the rack wasn't bad, but not great. The Combo was too many highs. The TT12 with the TB202 I found the sound I had lost.

I wouldn't consider the rackmount an "upgrade". I saw a picture of Travis Toy's stage setup and he had two TB202's in a custom rackmount shelf and speaker cabs separate behind him.

[Jim Cooley]

"...I wanted to know if anyone feels I would have an advantage by upgrading to a rackmount steelaire..."

Cody - I own both. I personally feel that the "upgrade" from the 202 to the Steelaire as you stated is just the opposite. I prefer the 202 for its tone and versatility. I can get pretty much any tone out of it I want. I gigged through my silverface Fender Twin Reverb more than any amp I've owned. I can EQ the 202 to sound closer to that amp than any solid state amp I have tried. I can make it sound like the Steelaire by flipping the "Voice" switch to "Full Q", but I don't want to. I can EQ the Steelaire to sound close to the 202, but not as full.

There is a delicate relationship between the "Gain" and "Mid" settings with a little "Limiter" tweaking if preferred. Don't be afraid of the Gain. It doesn't dirty up the tone like we have traditionally experienced in most cases. Of course we're discussing tone, probably the most subjective topic around here. We can tell you what we like, but nobody can tell you what you should like. If it sounds good to you, it is good.

[Foster Haney]

I know this is an older thread but figured i'd try. Has anyone used the Steelaire for other instruments? bass? keys? electric guitar? thoughts and opinions appreciated.

[Jack Stoner]

I know this is an older thread but figured i'd try. Has anyone used the Steelaire for other instruments? bass? keys? electric guitar? thoughts and opinions appreciated.

The demo video for the Steelaire that was on the Quilter website was done with an electric guitar, not a steel guitar. The lead guitar in the demo was good.

[Francesco Porcu]

I'm only just seeing this post and discussion from 2022, but I wanted to share my thoughts. As you'll see from the photo, I've owned both. First I had the TB202, then I wanted to buy the Steelaire RM to try and see the difference between the two. I think the conclusion is obvious: the Steelaire has 4 adjustment pots in the preamp section, and already here you've surpassed the TB2020, which only has 3. The fact that you can work in the center of the mid-lows and mid-highs is something the TB202 has surpassed by light years. Let's get to the reverb, which no one has mentioned. The TB202 has 1 pot that you turn up and you have a nice standard reverb, but where you have no choice because you only have one pot. The Steelaire RM has 3 adjustment pots for the reverb. This is never to be underestimated, as it's essential to have high-quality reverb for steel, and above all, you can adjust it according to your needs and the place where you play. The first difference between the two that I noticed was that the Steelaire RM had a more open and more three-dimensional sound. The TB202's sound was absolutely beautiful, but it remained there; you had no way out or the possibility of going further with the adjustments. I connect my tube preamp to the return of my Steelaire RM and in the tube preamp I set the perfect volume for excellent Handroom and then I can act. Unlike other amplifiers that deactivate the front panel of all the controls, with my Steelaire I can work on the gain first and then on the main master, so I can drive the maximum power of 200 watts RMS from the master of my Steelaire for a powerful sound with a spatial Handroom even at stadium volumes. My preamp will never distort and always maintains that spatial sound because the preamp's master has already been calibrated in a perfect position. This is also something that hasn't been mentioned in your discussions about the advantage you have with the Steelaire RM on many amps. Good music, Frank.