Jule Amps Monique part 4

[chadds]

Do we need a "SubClub" for folks who don't want to or won't send their Moniques back?

Give me a number.

 

[BurningSkies]

Do we need a "SubClub" for folks who don't want to or won't send their Moniques back?

Give me a number.

I'll do it eventually. I keep saying that. You know, when I don't have any gigs...

Mine has SOME adjustments made to it. I don't have the output push/pull, but I believe that Jule did use the second half of the 12AU7. IIRC it came back the first time with slightly different componentry as well. Remember, I DID send my out just a few short days after I got it, so its been back and forth a couple times already.

 

[maisbass]

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?

Nope. No problems at home or with any other equipment. I don't want to derail this thread with a technical discussion or tecamp stuff, especially since the same discussion occurred in the Tecamp thread. So the readers digest version… I spoke with Thom Eich at Tecamp and he sent me his personal unit. The same hiss occurred.

The hiss is not over bearing where you would hear this on stage, but it is there. You also have to crank the Master up a bit to hear it (10 o'clock). At this volume, when I turn the pots all the way down counterclockwise (most noticeably with treble pot of course) the hiss pretty much goes away.

Perhaps its more noticeable with the cabs I'm using. Or perhaps my Tecamp was a different production line run than some others which had this issue.

As I said its not really a big deal live, unless you were mic'ing a cab for recording purposes. Then I could see it being an issue.

 

[Fat240]

Here is a pic of the TRS to XLR that I use. Also a pic of my bamboo that arrived yesterday.

 

[BurningSkies]

Here is a pic of the TRS to XLR that I use. Also a pic of my bamboo that arrived yesterday.

I use a similar one, but shorter...I have a one-footer that remains in place in my rack. I also have used a TRS to TRS without a problem.

 

[tombowlus]

Nope. No problems at home or with any other equipment. I don't want to derail this thread with a technical discussion or tecamp stuff, especially since the same discussion occurred in the Tecamp thread. So the readers digest version… I spoke with Thom Eich at Tecamp and he sent me his personal unit. The same hiss occurred.

The hiss is not over bearing where you would hear this on stage, but it is there. You also have to crank the Master up a bit to hear it (10 o'clock). At this volume, when I turn the pots all the way down counterclockwise (most noticeably with treble pot of course) the hiss pretty much goes away.

Perhaps its more noticeable with the cabs I'm using. Or perhaps my Tecamp was a different production line run than some others which had this issue.

As I said its not really a big deal live, unless you were mic'ing a cab for recording purposes. Then I could see it being an issue.

I noticed this, as well, when I did my recent review of the Puma 900. Nothing overbearing or all that unusual, but it is there.

 

[juledude]

I'll do it eventually. I keep saying that. You know, when I don't have any gigs...

Mine has SOME adjustments made to it. I don't have the output push/pull, but I believe that Jule did use the second half of the 12AU7. IIRC it came back the first time with slightly different componentry as well. Remember, I DID send my out just a few short days after I got it, so its been back and forth a couple times already.

Maybe you should wait 'till you are touring out here. I'll buy dinner. Of course it'll be a burrito.

 

[Randyt]

Here is a pic of the TRS to XLR that I use. Also a pic of my bamboo that arrived yesterday.

"""Ah...drinking from the cool sippy cup of tone""

Nice!!!!

 

[Quackhead]

So I have a question, do any Monique users play their Rob Allen basses through this amp? I am considering an RA and I've heard the piezos are hot. How have you gone about taming the massive low end? Turning down the trim pot on the bass? A high pass filter? Thanks...

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

Todd should know all about that....

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

So I have a question, do any Monique users play their Rob Allen basses through this amp? I am considering an RA and I've heard the piezos are hot. How have you gone about taming the massive low end? Turning down the trim pot on the bass? A high pass filter? Thanks...

I am using a RA Deep 4 fretless (piezo pickup) and a RA Solid 4. The magnetic pickup for the Solid 4 is wound very hot. Both basses sound wonderful through this tube pre. I always use an Fdeck HPF Pre in front of the rig to tame the useless low stuff.

 

[BurningSkies]

Maybe you should wait 'till you are touring out here. I'll buy dinner. Of course it'll be a burrito.

I love burritos.

I'm not bad in the kitchen... if you were closer, I'd bring round some motivational foods.

 

[nostatic]

So I have a question, do any Monique users play their Rob Allen basses through this amp? I am considering an RA and I've heard the piezos are hot. How have you gone about taming the massive low end? Turning down the trim pot on the bass? A high pass filter? Thanks...

You can cut a bit of bass on Monique or at the bass. I find it sounds great, but I'm also using the Baer ML112 cab which is very articulate in the mids. That really helps the RA speak in a mix. Basically when I switch between Fodera and RA I just move the bass eq on Monique.

I had an fDeck but found it didn't make much of a difference in my case. Per Jules there isn't a lot (any?) sub freqs coming out of Monique.

 

[Quackhead]

OK thanks, I thought I remember someone saying that there is a lot of sub bass from a Monique. I'm probably getting my posts mixed up. It happens when you're on here as much as I am.

I have yet to decide on cabinets at this point and both the RA Mouse and the Monique are dream items that will hopefully come true in the next few months. After being out of work for so long, other things like socks and underwear take priority.

You can cut a bit of bass on Monique or at the bass. I find it sounds great, but I'm also using the Baer ML112 cab which is very articulate in the mids. That really helps the RA speak in a mix. Basically when I switch between Fodera and RA I just move the bass eq on Monique.

I had an fDeck but found it didn't make much of a difference in my case. Per Jules there isn't a lot (any?) sub freqs coming out of Monique.

 

[maisbass]

I am using a RA Deep 4 fretless (piezo pickup) and a RA Solid 4. The magnetic pickup for the Solid 4 is wound very hot. Both basses sound wonderful through this tube pre. I always use an Fdeck HPF Pre in front of the rig to tame the useless low stuff.

I don't have a Rob Allen but definitely +1 on the fdeck hpf. It works wonderfully. It is a staple on my gigs to control low end rumble in some pretty nasty rooms I play in.

 

[BurningSkies]

My experience is that the Monique can pass a lot of deep low. IIRC the design doesn't filter the lows, and that bass control is a wide shelving. I found using the HPF-3 was noticeable both in speaker excursion and in what it did to 'clean up' a bunch of rooms.

If you don't have a tone that pushes that deep low, or you don't have a bass that's presenting it, it may not be an issue.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I don't have a Rob Allen but definitely +1 on the fdeck hpf. It works wonderfully. It is a staple on my gigs to control low end rumble in some pretty nasty rooms I play in.

I use a Fishman Plat Pro DI with my Mouse, and LOVE the Depth knob = variable HPF. It complements the Mouse very well when I vary my technique.

 

[MarkA]

I picked up a Monique Tardis (pre only) recently. There was one in the classifieds for a pretty good price, and I've been thinking about one for awhile, so...

Also came across fair deals on a couple of amps that were on my radar for awhile -- an Aguilar TH500 and the elusive Markbass F500 (been wanting to try one for two years now, probably). Coupled with my big ol' Genz GBE 1200, I've now got more amp-related stuff than I feel entirely justified having at one time, but I'm looking at a new cab and feel I can't really, properly evaluate what stays and what goes until I've A) tried it through the new cab and B) tried it live, in a group setting.

So far, I've only tooled around with Monique at home...

• through the effects return of the F500
• through the effects return of the TH500
• through the MASTER effects return/Power-Amp-In of the GBE
• through the FET channel effects return of the GBE

I also, briefly, tried it through the front end of each amp, but the sound quality really is noticeably better going through the effects returns.

The MASTER return/power amp in of the GBE and the Aguilar seem to bypass gain and EQ entirely. The FET channel return on the GBE bypasses (I think -- will doublecheck) the GAIN and CHANNEL VOLUME, but runs through the EQ and variable filters (LOW BOOST, MID CUT, HF ATTACK). The return on the Markbass, curiously, runs through its EQ and filter (VLE, VLF) sections as well. (I wonder if there's a way to switch that -- would be great if there was.) A shame as, while there are things I like about both micros, the F500 edges out the Aguilar for me solo, but the Aguilar seems truer, at least at first blush, to what's coming out of Monique when used as a powerplant. The GBE, however, is both more clear and more immediate/solid feeling than the other two on its own and when used as a power amp for Monique, so almost all my playing has been done through that.

Before I forget: I am playing through a Dr. Bass 2x12 with a 6" mid. Faital Pro drivers, supposedly good to 10 KHz. My main pass is an EMG loaded P/J that's very clear and articulate.

Impressions:

By mixing the TUBE and FET channels on the GBE (which I recently bought a rack for and pulled out of hibernation) I've managed to get a sound that makes me think, "Yeah, I can see lugging this thing around." Fat, grindy, clear, articulate, and responsive, all at the same time. At least, I couldn't imagine wanting much more from my tone.

Plugging in Monique, though, made the aforementioned seem slightly thin, harsh, and sterile by comparison. Playing around with the Sensitivity knob (both pulled out and pushed in) also yields a feel that's almost magical for fingerstyle. People talk about "bounce" and that's what it feels like -- bounce. Really touch responsive. Almost vocal with some licks, depending on how you play it. Trying to achieve the same with the GBE -- that's when it felt harsh (though it was educational going back and forth and trying to get the same effect with my fingers). Monique is really punchy and articulate, though the GBE has more lethal transients when slapping. Running the bridge pickup soloed also sounds really good with Monique -- eminently usable and not too thin at all.

The HIGH control sounds more like a HI-MID/almost-treble to my ears (per KJung) as well. The MID sounds good almost anywhere. The SENSITIVITY is the money control.

The only gripe I've got so far -- and I feel almost guilty saying this, given all the love Monique's got here -- is that the top end rolls off (or seems to) too early for me. I like to use my tone controls and, except when I'm soloing the back pup and roll off a hair, I've got both open full with Monique. The resulting sound is one I like and can see myself using often -- and I love the feel, especially fingerstyle -- but I feel I've got nowhere to go with it, in terms of brightness. It is VERY smooth, very polished, very pro. It is not lacking (again, proof will be live, in a group) in high end per se, and harmonics (opening to Portrait of Tracy) can be played clearly and audibly, but there is a little bit of top end air/grind that I often like that's not there. I like (depending on what I'm playing of course) just a little bit of that, and I like to control it with the TONE knob on my bass. Adding some HI at Monique helps some, but, again, it's not how much there is, it's where it seems to roll off.

Running through the FET channels effects loop (to take advantage of the EQ and HI ATTACK) helps some... some things I like about the resulting sound more, some less, but it's more complicated and I feel the sound loses a *tiny* something.

Going back and forth between the Genz with my preferred settings and Monique through the POWER AMP IN on the Genz, the Genz seems thin and harsh for a moment when coming from Monique, the Monique seems slightly veiled up top when coming from the Genz, but one adapts (maybe subconsciously adapting technique and hand placement) to both pretty quickly and both are enjoyable to play.

Maybe telling: I've been doing most of my playing this last week through Monique. It is a lot of fun to play and, I think, adds a dimension of responsiveness to the instrument. I suspect it'll work great live, when I finally get a chance to try it that way. (Work schedule and other obligations say that might be awhile, but it will happen.) I'll have to see how I like it when I finally get around to ordering a Big E cab -- if I like it enough, I might see about getting the Demeter amp installed.

So, yeah. That's all I've got to say. Less experience with Monique than most here packed into more words, but maybe someone will find it helpful.

If anyone has anything helpful to say about the top end -- or if there is any simple way to open it up slightly -- please chime in! Maybe my feelings (already mostly positive) will change once I've played it live.

-Mark

 

[chadds]

Some of your air top end may be found in the sensitivity. Dial out some lows and mids and see if you still have girth and your highs.

 

[nostatic]

fwiw, I think Monique sounds better through a dedicated power amp, and wrt the highs, wait to get into a band situation before you start chasing the air. On a related note I initially struggled with the dual coil pickups on one of my basses (my main bass is EMG PJ). I just didn't have the sizzle and air with the dual coils. But every gig recording I listened to had the bass just sound spot-on.