Jule Amps Monique part 5

[Groove Doctor]

Surfaced a bit of Monique that is normally hidden. Calling it "Drive" for now, but it is a tube drive that in this case is adjustable (fixed in Monique) . In Monique I have it pulled down so there is no way to get into ugly, but this changes things. Jury is still out. May end up calling it the "ugly" knob.

Reminded me of this.....

(I’m sure this won’t be the case @juledude )

A Dirty Monique? (Didn't want to say Ugly Monique)

I can see the marketing already.....
‘Make every weekend a dirty weekend.’

 

[BurningSkies]

@juledude , tell us about 6AK5 tubes. I see that they appear to be fairly easy to source as either Russian or Chinese new stock (around $4.99 each) and it looks like reputable dealers have tested NOS of some of our favorite brands & JAN's at a reasonable price (about $15 a tube).


...also, I think I know where you got the 6AK5 tube idea.

 

[juledude]

Jules, congratulations on producing another product. We all hope for and expect great things from you!

I am intrigued by this hidden drive feature in Monique. Is it possible to modify or upgrade Monique to utilise this? A Dirty Monique? (Didn't want to say Ugly Monique)

The Monique enclosure will not physically accommodate another potentiometer and knob, so I feel it would appear to be a hack to try to add this to existing Moniques. Soon we will have some good folk able to share their impressions of how this works with Simone. That will help me finalize where the range for this Drive level (or Ugly if you prefer ) set.

I will have a headphone amplifier in the booth at NAMM, so players will actually be able to hear what they are playing. Very much looking forward to this.

 

[BurningSkies]

The Monique enclosure will not physically accommodate another potentiometer and knob, so I feel it would appear to be a hack to try to add this to existing Moniques. Soon we will have some good folk able to share their impressions of how this works with Simone. That will help me finalize where the range for this Drive level (or Ugly if you prefer ) set.

I will have a headphone amplifier in the booth at NAMM, so players will actually be able to hear what they are playing. Very much looking forward to this.

I know that people are excited when non-TB bass players are reaching out to me for reaction and information on this on places like facebook and beyond. And they are.

 

[maisbass]

The Monique enclosure will not physically accommodate another potentiometer and knob, so I feel it would appear to be a hack to try to add this to existing Moniques. Soon we will have some good folk able to share their impressions of how this works with Simone. That will help me finalize where the range for this Drive level (or Ugly if you prefer ) set.

I will have a headphone amplifier in the booth at NAMM, so players will actually be able to hear what they are playing. Very much looking forward to this.

Aww man wish I was going!! I'm so so psyched for this!! I was ready to pull the trigger on the Mesa WD800 but paused due to this. I am eagerly awaiting their arrival!

Jule you are the man! If this combination fits my tonal expectations, it will be the optimal, portable rig for me as I gig in so many different situations. Easy subway carry too! Sweet!

 

[maisbass]

Btw, @juledude , what are the output connections on Simone?

 

[pbass6811]

The Monique enclosure will not physically accommodate another potentiometer and knob, so I feel it would appear to be a hack to try to add this to existing Moniques. Soon we will have some good folk able to share their impressions of how this works with Simone. That will help me finalize where the range for this Drive level (or Ugly if you prefer ) set.

I will have a headphone amplifier in the booth at NAMM, so players will actually be able to hear what they are playing. Very much looking forward to this.

So the "ugly" on the Simone can be engineered out of the pedal? I can get all the "ugly" I want from some pedals, I'd prefer my preamp stay "pretty"...LOL!

Thank you for taking the time to answer some of these questions, I know you're super busy getting ready for NAMM...

 

[juledude]

[USE 6R=84226]@juledude[/USER] , tell us about 6AK5 tubes. I see that they appear to be fairly easy to source as either Russian or Chinese new stock (around $4.99 each) and it looks like reputable dealers have tested NOS of some of our favorite brands & JAN's at a reasonable price (about $15 a tube).


...also, I think I know where you got the 6AK5 tube idea.

Really kind of fun. Tubes in this general classification are the 6AK5, the CK5654, and the 6J1. Each have slightly different characteristics for our purposes. Originally designed small to help reduce interelectrode capacitance in high frequency RF circuits. (I just put everybody to sleep, didn't I? ) They can be run as pentode or triode.

To my knowledge, only the 6J1 is in current production. There does seem to be a large quantity of NOS 6AK5 and CK5654 available. They are half the price of their larger versions. Not expensive. They are, as we will soon see, capable tubes. Yes, they are small in size, but they do deliver the big girth notes we have come to appreciate.

 

[BurningSkies]

Really kind of fun. Tubes in this general classification are the 6AK5, the CK5654, and the 6J1. Each have slightly different characteristics for our purposes. Originally designed small to help reduce interelectrode capacitance in high frequency RF circuits. (I just put everybody to sleep, didn't I? ) They can be run as pentode or triode.

To my knowledge, only the 6J1 is in current production. There does seem to be a large quantity of NOS 6AK5 and CK5654 available. They are half the price of their larger versions. Not expensive. They are, as we will soon see, capable tubes. Yes, they are small in size, but they do deliver the big girth notes we have come to appreciate.

The small size would also help reduce microphonics if I understand things correctly. But yes, I see what appear to be well tested old stock at really nice prices. You can tell that I'm already excited about it.

 

[juledude]

So the "ugly" on the Simone can be engineered out of the pedal? I can get all the "ugly" I want from some pedals, I'd prefer my preamp stay "pretty"...LOL!

Thank you for taking the time to answer some of these questions, I know you're super busy getting ready for NAMM...

Totally agree with you, but it was time to see if those who have occasionally asked, "What if we added a couple more Dilithium Crystals to the Warp Drive, Jule," can really be made a bit happier. Easily removed, and maybe the bottom (closed) position of the potentiometer should be where Monique sits now. That way we could turn this "Ugly" knob off and forget it.

Plenty of time to respond now. My job for the rest of the week is just to show up and be pretty. ;-)

 

[BurningSkies]

Totally agree with you, but it was time to see if those who have occasionally asked, "What if we added a couple more Dilithium Crystals to the Warp Drive, Jule," can really be made a bit happier. Easily removed, and maybe the bottom (closed) position of the potentiometer should be where Monique sits now. That way we could turn this "Ugly" knob off and forget it.

Plenty of time to respond now. My job for the rest of the week is just to show up and be pretty. ;-)

Jule, being pretty isn't work for you...although I know it's hard being one of the beautiful people.

Hope you have some fun there too.

 

[juledude]

The small size would also help reduce microphonics if I understand things correctly. But yes, I see what appear to be well tested old stock at really nice prices. You can tell that I'm already excited about it.

My experience has been that microphonics are a serious concern in these small tubes as they are in larger versions. One would think they would be less susceptible to microphonics, but that has not proven to be the case. Just as every Monique runs an overnight test cycle to winnow out recalcitrant tubes and other tasty bits, the same testing will be required in Simone.

 

[juledude]

Jule, being pretty isn't work for you...although I know it's hard being one of the beautiful people.

Hope you have some fun there too.

Got the Fabulous M there with me, so it will be fun.

 

[BurningSkies]

Got the Fabulous M there with me, so it will be fun.

Is this her first time? I can't remember her being there before. Seems like a selling point in a room full of smelly dudes.

 

[juledude]

I know that people are excited when non-TB bass players are reaching out to me for reaction and information on this on places like facebook and beyond. And they are.

Been quite the adventure. Amazing how challenging it is to build simple things.

 

[juledude]

Is this her first time? I can't remember her being there before. Seems like a selling point in a room full of smelly dudes.

No, not her first visit. She has been attending NAMM with me for years. Folks will tell you, "She's one of the gang." Besides, players (the smart ones) know that she is the one to talk to if the matter at hand requires organized adult behavior or any other subject outside my skill set.

I am a fortunate, grateful man.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Very cool stuff, will Simone run off phantom power and do you have a price yet

 

[BassJuju]

That is very cool and I can hardly wait to hear it!

 

[juledude]

Very cool stuff, will Simone run off phantom power and do you have a price yet

No capability of running from Phantom Power. Runs on 9 volt (2000ml) wall wart. Pricing must wait until the final cage for the chassis has been completed.

 

[maisbass]

No capability of running from Phantom Power. Runs on 9 volt (2000ml) wall wart. Pricing must wait until the final cage for the chassis has been completed.

@juledude
Perhaps you missed it but earlier I had asked what are the controls and outputs on Simone? Can't see from the pic.