Jule Amps Monique Part 2.

[nostatic]

I also *really* dig the phat going on in the next tune that came on (Mercy Mercy Mercy). Are most of those clips Monique?

Thanks for the props. Are you talking about this clip?

https://soundcloud.com/nostatic-live/mercy-mercy-mercy

If so, then yes, I believe it is Monique - same setup, this time shoved into the corner of a wine bar. Most of the newer clips are with Monique.

This is my typical rig these days, whether it is straight jazz, the funkier stuff or more rock.

 

[makohund]

Yep, that one. Nice and thick.

I have a Carvin BX1500 & IPR3000 to choose from for power, figure I'm good either way, there. If I want some real dirt there's a VT Deluxe, and for crazygonuts an SA MWBD Pro.

I've usually gone for a cleanish grindy (oxymoron?), almost but not quite clanky, kinda heavy on bottom and upper mids. Balls out rock, slammed lower register piano keys... running out of descriptive phrases here. Big Billy Gould fan. Kings X, AIC, early Duff McKagen (not his band so much, but dig his sound), Dave Ellefson, etc.

But not into one trick ponies... also love more classic sounds, funk, jazz, whatever. That's part of what's drawn me to Monique... ya'll are saying she's good at almost *everything*. That's what I want.

My latest tone infatuation, as of the last hour:

 

[Tugboat]

Yep, that one. Nice and thick.

I have a Carvin BX1500 & IPR3000 to choose from for power, figure I'm good either way, there. If I want some real dirt there's a VT Deluxe, and for crazygonuts an SA MWBD Pro.

I've usually gone for a cleanish grindy (oxymoron?)
But not into one trick ponies... also love more classic sounds, funk, jazz, whatever. That's part of what's drawn me to Monique... ya'll are saying she's good at almost *everything*. That's what I want.

My latest tone infatuation, as of the last hour:

Hey Mako....you using the regular IPR 3000 or the DSP version? I just picked up the DSP but haven't used it yet. Wondering if it's necessary, all the features. I was planning on a regular 3000IPR but got this on a great deal. Curious what your thoughts are in general on the IPR's

 

[makohund]

Hey Mako....you using the regular IPR 3000 or the DSP version? I just picked up the DSP but haven't used it yet. Wondering if it's necessary, all the features. I was planning on a regular 3000IPR but got this on a great deal. Curious what your thoughts are in general on the IPR's

Mine is just the regular one. I don't know if the DSP necessary, but if I had it I'd certainly try the goodies out. The HPF alone is something any pre/power rig could probably benefit from. (A lot of heads do some of that internally already.) I already have an fdeck III, so I'm covered there.

I haven't used it much yet... I picked it up because of a stupid cheap deal, and I'd sold my QSC RMX1450. (My old rig was a pre/power with an RBI and the QSC.) The QSC was too big for my new rack, and I wanted a shallower amp to replace it that could fit in my rack if I needed it. I'd heard good things about the IPRs here, elsewhere, and locally, so I went ahead and grabbed it. I've run it instead of the BX1500 a few times, with a VT Deluxe in front of it. Worked great. Sounded great. And it'd take 6 of them to weigh as much as my old RMX. So light I went ahead and stuffed it into the 2U blank space in my rack, just in case I ever needed it as a backup.

Not to much to say, I guess. It's a good power amp. Does pretty much what I expect of one.

I need 2U back to put Monique in there. Probably gonna take the IPR out. The Carvin has plenty of power, is crazy flexible, and of course can do double duty as a full head if needed. Will prob put Monique in the FX return. Simple, plus the graphic EQ comes after that return, so it is there for further room tweaking if I want it. I could also run it directly into either of the amp inserts. (Yet another set of jacks that tap in directly to the power section.) I don't expect to have my best results using the main input, but of course I'm going to try it anyway, just to see. The Carvin at the right settings can be very clean/clear and quite flat, so maybe.

But The IPR is definitely the simpler choice. Would save me a few pounds, get rid of some knobs, etc. If I didn't have either of them already, and was looking to buy, I'd probably grab the IPR and call it good.

 

[bassjnky1]

I understnad that the Peavey organization may actually own Crest Audio. I've heard that there are simularities between the IPR and the ProLite amps.
Can anyone comment on if this is true or how close these two amps may be related?

 

[Baird6869]

I bought the ProLite 2.0 mainly because the IPR1600 seems to have issues with parts shaking loose (apparently a super easy fix, but I am personally not opening a brand new amp and gluing/soldering parts!).

The ProLite and IPR are very similar (almost identical) and Crest is absolutely owned by Peavey.

 

[Tugboat]

Ok...posted this pic on the Baer thread....needed to put it here......sorry for the Droid pic.....

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Monique is winking at you.

 

[Baird6869]

I would love to try my Monique with Baer cabs, but you don't see many in Canada!

Ok...posted this pic on the Baer thread....needed to put it here......sorry for the Droid pic.....

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Monique is winking at you.

 

[Jeff Moote]

I would love to try my Monique with Baer cabs, but you don't see many in Canada!

I have a pair of ML112s that I will bring to the next GTA GTG if I can make it.

 

[nomatic]

Dove Cage by the end of the month for me.....
Very stoked!

 

[Baird6869]

My rackmount Monique (and official Jule baseball hat) is "out for delivery" today!

 

[Baird6869]

I have a pair of ML112s that I will bring to the next GTA GTG if I can make it.

Jeff,

That would be cool.

I need to check the GTG thread more often! I'm hoping we can nail down a date soon.

 

[B'Boom]

I saw that the Class D power module of the Minnie 800D is exactly the same that the amplifiers GK 800MB and 800MB Fusion. This is a good news because this amplifier GK has a very good reputation concerning their power effective compared with the other micro head rival. For me, it is a good sign, and that encourages me to order a Minnie 800D.

 

[tombowlus]

I saw that the Class D power module of the Minnie 800D is exactly the same that the amplifiers GK 800MB and 800MB Fusion. This is a good news because this amplifier GK has a very good reputation concerning their power effective compared with the other micro head rival. For me, it is a good sign, and that encourages me to order a Minnie 800D.

Please keep in mind that even when different amp manufacturers use the same output section, the way that the amp functions on the whole varies a great deal. This is not just a tonal difference, but actual performance differences which we observe in our bench tests at Bass Gear Magazine.

That being said, yes, Bob Gallien has done probably a better job than anyone else we've tested so far (possible exception of Orange) at delivering solid output which exceeds the (unmodified) rated capacities of the ICEpower module(s) he is using.

With regard to the Minnie 800D, you have Jim Demeter involved, and he's not one to leave well enough alone, either. He is using an actual transformer at the front end of the output section. Yes, it's probably 20x more expensive than just using a simple chip to do the same thing (which most all other companies do, and with pretty good results), but Jim Demeter always designs with a great eye for signal integrity, and if he knows of way to make something which he thinks is better, then he's probably going to take that route.

I have not played through any of Jim's new class-D amps, but I have a ton of his prior gear, and I would fully expect him to do it right.

Plus, I know how passionate Jule is about tone, and I can't see him wanting to compromise at all, either.

 

[B'Boom]

Okay. I thank you for this good information.

 

[juledude]

Thank you Tom for the kind words. Means much to me.

I've had my hands inside a Rack Mount De-Monique (will today too) and even to the casual visual observer it is obvious that James has done a lot of work with this amp. As you suggest, it is by no means a direct "drop" of a power module.

The thing I most appreciate in this incarnation of his 800 D amp is the "touch" I get out of it. This is closer to the instantaneous finger sensitivity of an acoustic instrument than any electronic thing I have ever played.

I'm just glad I didn't have to use up any more time with R&D on my own. Now I owe James some favors.

Please keep in mind that even when different amp manufacturers use the same output section, the way that the amp functions on the whole varies a great deal. This is not just a tonal difference, but actual performance differences which we observe in our bench tests at Bass Gear Magazine.

That being said, yes, Bob Gallien has done probably a better job than anyone else we've tested so far (possible exception of Orange) at delivering solid output which exceeds the (unmodified) rated capacities of the ICEpower module(s) he is using.

With regard to the Minnie 800D, you have Jim Demeter involved, and he's not one to leave well enough alone, either. He is using an actual transformer at the front end of the output section. Yes, it's probably 20x more expensive than just using a simple chip to do the same thing (which most all other companies do, and with pretty good results), but Jim Demeter always designs with a great eye for signal integrity, and if he knows of way to make something which he thinks is better, then he's probably going to take that route.

I have not played through any of Jim's new class-D amps, but I have a ton of his prior gear, and I would fully expect him to do it right.

Plus, I know how passionate Jule is about tone, and I can't see him wanting to compromise at all, either.

 

[chadds]

Thank you Tom for the kind words. Means much to me.

I've had my hands inside a Rack Mount De-Monique (will today too) and even to the casual visual observer it is obvious that James has done a lot of work with this amp. As you suggest, it is by no means a direct "drop" of a power module.

The thing I most appreciate in this incarnation of his 800 D amp is the "touch" I get out of it. This is closer to the instantaneous finger sensitivity of an acoustic instrument than any electronic thing I have ever played.

I'm just glad I didn't have to use up any more time with R&D on my own. Now I owe James some favors.

Ok, WOW!
See this is how it starts..
Cue wallet opening sample....
Cue credit card swipe sample...
Cue PayPal keyboard clicks sample...

I hate to ask you all to stop this torture just because some of us "think" we are GAS free.

 

[toothguy]

Jule + Demeter = Priceless.

 

[tomshepp]

Spoke to Jule the other day and got on the list for a Dove Cage! It was a real pleasure to speak with him and now, I wait..... as patiently as possible for a delivery date.

 

[metron]

I finally had some revealing moments with Monique yesterday. I bought my rack pre last summer just before my band decided to go on hiatus for a bit so I didn't really get to use it. Recently I started playing with a different group of friends and last night we tracked everyone during practice and listened afterward. Of course I brought Monique.

I haven't gushed about the pre yet but I'm about ready to. I don't get into the minutae of tonal descriptions like some here but this thing sounds amazing. I guess a lot of what I would say about has already been said. Everything was set basically flat with the sensitivity pulled out at noon. It was just so good in all the right ways. Fat sounding but not overpowering. Very touch sensitive. Dynamic. Digging in gives transients character that I wouldn't call completely transparent but still clean sounding. Just great!

In the past I have used the Aguilar DB680, Raven Labs 2 channel, new Demeter VTBP-201s and now one of the original VTBP-201 models. They are all great. Now I'm finally ready to say that I'm blown away by the Monique. It's not the most flexible of the group in terms of features but it has all I need and the tone is just a whole bunch of wow.