Jule Amps Monique part 4

[dmrogers]

Man, that dude beside you looks like Tom Petty!

It is!!!

Seriously, that's a good friend that plays with us on a few shows a year. He is a bassist too. He is gigging with Michelle Malone and Blue Mother Tupelo. His name is Phil Skipper. He's been in the business ever since we graduated.

We had a blast at that show!

 

[BurningSkies]

Thanks. Most of the spur of the moment recordings and updates can be found on my Soundcloud page, and pretty much all action is on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RootShock

Real studio recordings should hopefully happen sometime this winter, most likely here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]




Thanks Ken, there is no editing (obviously from some of my half@assed playing on some of those tracks) or EQ on the bass. Sometimes I have more mid content to my tone, but it depends on the night and what I'm feeling.

One of the reasons I first got interested in the Monique was that while the Kern makes some of the most stunning tones I've ever heard, I found it too 'soft' and 'undefined' in a recorded mix. There were moments that it made such a beautiful sound that I would get distracted by it, but once I heard it in the mix (either live or semi-studio) it never had the punch on the front end of the note that I wanted. The Monique DOES have that, probably at the expense of some of the super extreme 'pretty' moments of grace the Kern has. One of these days, I'm going to record the band and take two lines and use both units so I can compare and also maybe blend them.

In fact, I'm going to dig up some recordings made pre-Monique for a bit of a comparison...

OK, as promised, here's another practice recording dating to the PM era (Pre-Monique). This is the Kern IP-777 loaded with RCA blackplate 5751's, with the same bass (my Dingwall Zebra/Voodoo) in a very similar setting.

https://soundcloud.com/burning-skies/dreamland-archive

You can HEAR the Fender tone stack...the mids are maxed out on this recording, with a bit of boost in the lows and the high's relatively flat, although rolled off somewhat from the bass.

 

[John D Harris]

OK, as promised, here's another practice recording dating to the PM era (Pre-Monique). This is the Kern IP-777 loaded with RCA blackplate 5751's, with the same bass (my Dingwall Zebra/Voodoo) in a very similar setting.

https://soundcloud.com/burning-skies/dreamland-archive

You can HEAR the Fender tone stack...the mids are maxed out on this recording, with a bit of boost in the lows and the high's relatively flat, although rolled off somewhat from the bass.

I love the way Kern's sound, plus they are more versatile than their front panel would lead one to think.

Bigger, pillowy phatness without the Mo's articulation.

I really like both, but hearing the clips is nothing like 'being there' I'm sure.

I think I might want a rack with both pre's & a high quality switcher -- different strokes for different tunes.

My advice: don't sell either!

 

[BurningSkies]

I love the way Kern's sound, plus they are more versatile than their front panel would lead one to think.

Bigger, pillowy phatness without the Mo's articulation.

I really like both, but hearing the clips is nothing like 'being there' I'm sure.

I think I might want a rack with both pre's & a high quality switcher -- different strokes for different tunes.

My advice: don't sell either!

No, I don't really have an intention of selling the Kern (which I bought from Chadds when he got his Monique). I've been pondering getting a separate rack and power amp for it as a second setup. Its probably better suited to recording anyway, since for live I like what the Monique provides in the mix.

It would be interesting to rack them both, then send the each to a different cab in my setup.

 

[maisbass]

No, I don't really have an intention of selling the Kern (which I bought from Chadds when he got his Monique). I've been pondering getting a separate rack and power amp for it as a second setup.

That is exactly what I did with my Read purity pre. I bought a gator rack, and put the Read and a crest prolite in there as a back up rig. It really is a killer setup as well, but not quite Monique.I'll take the read/crest to rehearsal from time to time just to show it some love!

 

[BurningSkies]

I keep meaning to send the Monique back to Jule, since its a 'first state' rack mount and he's got some updates for it, but even with the Kern, its hard for me to want to lose it for however long.

 

[maisbass]

I noticed something with my Monique/puma900 setup that I wanted to share with those who are using this setup. As I have stated many times before, the Puma 900 eq produces some hiss, but what I didn't realize it does this even when using just the power section of it (fx return). Yesterday I turned down every knob of the puma900 with the exception of the master of course, and the majority of the noticeable hiss went away.

So even though you are not using the preamp of the puma 900 in this application and just the fx return, there is still hiss from the puma, so turn those knobs down!

 

[maisbass]

I keep meaning to send the Monique back to Jule, since its a 'first state' rack mount and he's got some updates for it, but even with the Kern, its hard for me to want to lose it for however long.

I feel your pain. I'm going through the same thing with my Fodera. I want to bring in my Fodera to Joey and Vinny for a tune up, but I know I'll be without it for a while. I'm not as fortunate as some guys here who have multiple Foderas (you know who you are! Haha! Yes I'm seething with jealousy!). My only backup 5 is a TRB5II which I leave in my office for practice purposes but really can't gig with it, that is why I have been gassing to pick up a sadowsky as a backup.

So I totally understand. Once your comfortable with a setup, it is difficult to part with it! I guess thats why people get 2 or 3 of what they love here! Lol!

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I noticed something with my Monique/puma900 setup that I wanted to share with those who are using this setup. As I have stated many times before, the Puma 900 eq produces some hiss, but what I didn't realize it does this even when using just the power section of it (fx return). Yesterday I turned down every knob of the puma900 with the exception of the master of course, and the majority of the noticeable hiss went away.

So even though you are not using the preamp of the puma 900 in this application and just the fx return, there is still hiss from the puma, so turn those knobs down!

Thanks for this suggestion. I'm waiting for rack ears for my 900 to get the 3U config finalized. They're taking forever to get here from Germany. I'm suspicious as to whether they actually exist as there are no pre-drilled holes on the Puma 900's cover to accept rack ears. Might have to have a local metal worker make some custom ears and drill the holes for me.

 

[maisbass]

Thanks for this suggestion. I'm waiting for rack ears for my 900 to get the 3U config finalized. They're taking forever to get here from Germany. I'm suspicious as to whether they actually exist as there are no pre-drilled holes on the Puma 900's cover to accept rack ears. Might have to have a local metal worker make some custom ears and drill the holes for me.

Np. Post some pics when you get it done. I'm curious to see what it is going to look like!

 

[maisbass]

Btw, gator is making some pretty cool 1/2 space racks if anyone is interested. Check out their site.

 

[Baird6869]

I keep meaning to send the Monique back to Jule, since its a 'first state' rack mount and he's got some updates for it, but even with the Kern, its hard for me to want to lose it for however long.

My Dove Cage is one of the first ones and doesn't have the upgrades. I should send it back, but i also have a newer Monique rack with all the updates and I really don't miss them when I play the Dove Cage.

Maybe I will send it back when it breaks or needs service (likely never!)

 

[foderaman]

My Dove Cage is one of the first ones and doesn't have the upgrades. I should send it back, but i also have a newer Monique rack with all the updates and I really don't miss them when I play the Dove Cage.

Maybe I will send it back when it breaks or needs service (likely never!)

I am in the same position.I think I got mine before you and Jule says send it back when ever Im ready.Not sure of how many undated there are but the only one Im sure of is the push Pull on the Line Out so it will send a stronger signal to some of the Power amps that need a stronger signal but really don,t use separate PA type power amps?

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

dude the upgrade is ESSENTIAL. Mine was also super old and I eventually gave in and sent it to him. He added the 12AU7 driver tube, brought the cinemag tranny on top of the chassis, updated the EQ circuit, and added the push/pull feature for the Line Out. I haven't had to use the Line Out push/pull feature yet but there's def more headroom now going into a power section than before and it sounds even better than it did originally. I'd do it.

 

[foderaman]

dude the upgrade is ESSENTIAL. Mine was also super old and I eventually gave in and sent it to him. He added the 12AU7 driver tube, brought the cinemag tranny on top of the chassis, updated the EQ circuit, and added the push/pull feature for the Line Out. I haven't had to use the Line Out push/pull feature yet but there's def more headroom now going into a power section than before and it sounds even better than it did originally. I'd do it.

Ya I guess I should just hard to believe it can even sound better. mine was a early one with a 12AX7 driver tube.I did do some tube rolling and put a NOS Mullard rectifier tube in it and a Bugle Boy in the driver position and tried some NOS Tung Sol,s but switch them back to original 6SL7,s .What mod did Jule do to the EQ?

 

[Baird6869]

dude the upgrade is ESSENTIAL. Mine was also super old and I eventually gave in and sent it to him. He added the 12AU7 driver tube, brought the cinemag tranny on top of the chassis, updated the EQ circuit, and added the push/pull feature for the Line Out. I haven't had to use the Line Out push/pull feature yet but there's def more headroom now going into a power section than before and it sounds even better than it did originally. I'd do it.

Thanks Mitch.

You make some valid points.

I might have to send the DC Monique back to Santa Cruz to see her daddy.

 

[foderaman]

I noticed something with my Monique/puma900 setup that I wanted to share with those who are using this setup. As I have stated many times before, the Puma 900 eq produces some hiss, but what I didn't realize it does this even when using just the power section of it (fx return). Yesterday I turned down every knob of the puma900 with the exception of the master of course, and the majority of the noticeable hiss went away.

So even though you are not using the preamp of the puma 900 in this application and just the fx return, there is still hiss from the puma, so turn those knobs down!

I just tried running my Dove cage into the return on my Puma 900 and into a TC112 with my AC LM5 and did not hear any hiss at all and was even quiet panned off center ? You don't have any wiring or grounding problems on any of your equipment or home wiring do you?

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

Ya I guess I should just hard to believe it can even sound better. mine was a early one with a 12AX7 driver tube.I did do some tube rolling and put a NOS Mullard rectifier tube in it and a Bugle Boy in the driver position and tried some NOS Tung Sol,s but switch them back to original 6SL7,s .What mod did Jule do to the EQ?

oh, I guess mine was an even earlier version cause it had NO driver tube....so it was kind of lacking in volume sometimes. Def a necessary upgrade, but a 12AX7 could be cool too....just a bit hotter signal....not sure what he did to the EQ but it was NOWHERE near as drastic as it is now. I almost felt like nothing was happening sometimes and I often had my "low" knob maxed out on the gig and still lacked bass.

Thanks Mitch.

You make some valid points.

I might have to send the DC Monique back to Santa Cruz to see her daddy.

Smart man....def worth it!

 

[juledude]

oh, I guess mine was an even earlier version cause it had NO driver tube....so it was kind of lacking in volume sometimes. Def a necessary upgrade, but a 12AX7 could be cool too....just a bit hotter signal....not sure what he did to the EQ but it was NOWHERE near as drastic as it is now. I almost felt like nothing was happening sometimes and I often had my "low" knob maxed out on the gig and still lacked bass.



Smart man....def worth it!

Yes Mitch, as you know, yours was a very early version, and you always sounded great with Monique. The addition of that driver tube for both the outputs did add a lot of flexibility as to various amps and anything else we want to stick on the back end.

There are some good folks out there who don't want the Push/Pull level boost feature. They like it "original" and I can see their point. It is the music that matters.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

Yes Mitch, as you know, yours was a very early version, and you always sounded great with Monique. The addition of that driver tube for both the outputs did add a lot of flexibility as to various amps and anything else we want to stick on the back end.

There are some good folks out there who don't want the Push/Pull level boost feature. They like it "original" and I can see their point. It is the music that matters.

thanks Jule. I always loved what Monique was doing to my sound. It served the exact purpose I got it for, it just felt like the EQ wasn't doing a lot. Still had that tube warmth I was looking for, but after you upgraded it the EQ suddenly came to life. So much so that I got a Minnie and made it my main amp