Jule Amps Monique Part 2.

[juledude]

Originally Posted by GregC

Very cool! How much will the De-Monique weigh? I scouted around but didn't find the number.

I've got pictures and details coming from James. Silly stuff details like silkscreens can make us all crazy until they are done right.

I'll get it all up on the website as soon as possible. In the mean time, James is often the one that often answers the phone. 805 461 4100.

[juledude]

Thank you for the pictures. Very nice.

Originally Posted by nostatic

What good is a honeymoon without photos? Been working her over this evening, and doing more A/B with the Tecamp front end. I can tell the Tecamp has moved to backup status (for preamp duties...clearly I need a Minnie soon). While the eq on the Tecamp "win" on paper (4 points vs 3, broader spread of the points as far as my ear can tell), I find the eq on Monique just works. It is on the subtle side, but frankly I never have been into radical eq. I love the sound of the dual coils on the Fodera through it - so much I may change back to that choice for ones I have on order. Actually all three of the fretted basses sound great through it. I haven't had a chance to play the RA yet as I've got a short that needs to get sorted out next week.

[juledude]

Love that you caught that look. I'm warped 'cause Grandma's car was a 1940 Studebaker.

Originally Posted by nostatic

So another gig with Monique last night, this time I took her to the yacht club (upscale, baby). I also was rotating in a Lull JJ bass as well - another experiment. The three operative words from the night were: smooth, edgy, cool.

Cool is the visual aspect. While sound is king, aesthetics is queen, or at least a princess. I love the art deco vibe of the birdcage and it is a conversation starter.

Smooth was the drummer's description of the tone. There is a warm pillow aspect live that doesn't really come through on the recordings.

Edgy is my term. Combined with the Baer cab it is easy to make Monique snarl. That warm tubey goodness is easily coaxed into, "listen to me, dammit!"

Trio hit tomorrow where I get to stretch out a bit. I'm going to explore Monique's sensitivity a bit. Well, I'll have 3 or 4 hours with her tonight as well after I drop my wife off at the airport.

Wait, that didn't come out right...

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by juledude

Love that you caught that look. I'm warped 'cause Grandma's car was a 1940 Studebaker.

At least it wasn't an Edsel. That might be considered psychological child abuse...

[Virgil]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I spent a few hours playing and listening last night, going back and forth between the Monique and Puma front end (using the Puma power section). Different feels and flavors. I could get the Puma in the same ballpark as Monique but when I tried to get the warmth it also got wolly and lost articulation. It's funny because I have liked the Puma as a great "middle ground" amp that is a little hi fi but can also get a little old school. But in comparison to the tubes it sounds a bit thin and if I try to thicken it up, it loses articulation. This isn't a knock on the Tecamp - just the difference between a great solid state preamp and a sublime tube preamp.

Now about that Demeter Minnie...

I wish that you had the TecAmp Black Jag 900 to A/B with the Monique. I have a low boost, and a Rock setting that I don't think you have with the Puma. Both of those add warmth without mud and I still maintain my articulation, except that when you turn up the Rock setting, you get distortion of varying degree, depending on the setting.

[nostatic]

In my experience, nothing is quite like tubes. There is a feel that solid state can't quite replicate. The Tecamp heads are better than most in this regard, but still not the same.

Then again, not all tube amps are created equally either.

[Virgil]

Originally Posted by nostatic

In my experience, nothing is quite like tubes. There is a feel that solid state can't quite replicate. The Tecamp heads are better than most in this regard, but still not the same.

Then again, not all tube amps are created equally either.

I can't disagree with either of those comments. How long do tubes last, generally speaking? How much does the D-Monique weigh?

[liam_g]

I'm glad to see that my name "DeMonique" is catching on.

Also happy to see the new products. They deserve success, and I hope that they find it.

Cheers,
Liam

[nostatic]

Preamp tubes can last decades. Not sure about rectifier tubes. Power tubes (which Monique doesn't have) slowly age but I've had them last years as well.

I'll weigh Monique when I get home. Not sure the spec on the Demeter amp - shouldn't be very heavy.

[Baird6869]

I found a perfect lightweight soft case for Monique (dove cage model)! !!

Unfortunately it is for the $1300 Philips CPAP machine I had to get today for sleep apnea.

Seriously, it fits PERFECTLY! Too funny. I will post a pic when I get a min.

I added a hard case (from Jule) to my Christmas list in any case.

[liam_g]

Lol. Sorry that you have sleep apnea, but that is funny.

[nostatic]

I'll post photos of the studio slips bag later.

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by liam_g

Lol. Sorry that you have sleep apnea, but that is funny.

Nah.... It isn't terrible, but worth avoiding a heart attack for.

Actually, my entire plan was to keep the case and ditch the machine.... Thanks Canadian Medicare!!!

[husky123]

Thanks for taking this daunting task on of explaining that to us Jule....really appreciate it.

Tomorrow I'm going to revisted the sensitivity "knob in" and see what I get. This is fun.

Originally Posted by juledude

This is a bit difficult to answer well in words. More fun to show "live."

When you change the position of the push/pull Sensitivity switch on Monique you are not working with an over-lap situation (there is some) as much as you are changing the characteristics of that first tube.

You are changing its gain and its ability to highlight different frequencies. Those are two big things to mess with.

Pushed in (originally intended to accommodate higher output Active Pickups) that first tube is operating in a more linear range and has less gain (4db). Both of these operating characteristics match up well with Active Pickups. The articulation of notes will be slightly more specific than when the Sensitivity Knob is pulled out. This is a bit like adding "Presence" on a lot of gear.

Pulled out (originally intended for Passive Pickups) the first tube is slightly less linear and has the additional 4db of gain. This gain is not equally full spectrum, but focused below 500 hz. Adds a bit of bump to the bottom so that the Passive Pickup has an opportunity to jump out in the mix. This is something I've come to identify in the recorded sound of Monique.

As soon as you open up the Sensitivity Knob things change significantly and immediately. There is some overlap of characteristics, but more than overlap (duplication of characteristics), it is a different set of characteristics we are getting out of that push/pull switch.

The reason I say above (originally intended...) is because these functions have evolved rather far from their origins. Originally designed in as a straightforward way to accommodate widely ranging pickups, I have been taught by my customers that there is just a heckuva lot that can be done with this capability.

[juledude]

Originally Posted by Virgil

I can't disagree with either of those comments. How long do tubes last, generally speaking? How much does the D-Monique weigh?

Like every component, tubes can quit. They can also last a very long time. I have tube guitar amps out there that are played quite frequently and they have been in service with the same tubes for more than 7 years. Simple vibration dampening goes a long way to increase the life of tubes.

The highest percentage of tube failures are within the first few hours. A good burn-in will catch these. Like all electronic components, it is the first week or so that the next greatly lower level of failures occur.

I don't see a lot of tube failures, and I go through hundreds every year. Still, strange things can happen to all components. Folks here will remember the batch of failed tubes months ago when the rack mount Monique was introduced. After everything was replaced, we found that it was 8 tubes from one batch that had been poorly made.

The heaviest De-Monique is the Rack Mount, and it looks like the shipping weight will be less than 25 pounds.

[nostatic]

Dovecage is 7.8 lbs on my scale. Same as the Lull JJ bass I just got

Here are pics of the Studio Slips bag. I got it with the pocket on the rear, though since the bag is symmetric no real difference between front and rear. I like to have a pocket for power and line cables on a bag though so I have less of a jumble in my main bag (other than backups).

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Here are pics of the Studio Slips bag. I got it with the pocket on the rear, though since the bag is symmetric no real difference between front and rear.

Wow! You can even search by model.... And Jule Monique is actually listed. Very inexpensive too.

Thanks for posting this!

[nostatic]

I am very happy to support small businesses. Purchasing from both Jule and Susan was no-muss, no-fuss.

At the risk of sounding jingoistic, when the De-Monique power amp comes in, the rig will be all built by small US businesses (Jule, Demeter, Baer). Then I'm running Rob Allen, Fodera, and Lull basses through them, with FEA Labs, Boomerang, 3Leaf, Aguilar, Sonic Research, and Strymon pedals. I think my only off-shore things are Jam Pedals (Greece), Boss looper and the Eventide I suspect is made overseas. I'm doing my part to stimulate the economy

[bassdoubler]

the bag looks great! Maybe they'll make me a custom one to carry the birdcage as well as the demeter power section....

[DirtPoorRobins]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

Wow! You can even search by model.... And Jule Monique is actually listed. Very inexpensive too.

Thanks for posting this!

Yeah, studio slips is awesome, they made me a great bag for my cab, love it.