Jule Amps Monique part 5

[dmrogers]

The above posts confirm my experience with Monique's controls.

It goes without saying that there would be a difference between my P & J. Then you take into consideration my P basses have very hot pickups (at least compared to the basses at my disposal to test with). But the sensitivity control is like a different animal between the two basses.

Non-linear makes sense as far as the Sensitivity control. Plus the statement by Burningskies about it doing more than one thing at a time. It is a complex control. But very useful.

 

[dmrogers]

Yup. A very nice pairing, IME.

I'm sure it is. I'm really trying to narrow down my next cab purchase. It's not an easy task.

Currently I am considering a pair of ML112s, a pair of CN112s or even a CN212.

I am pretty much sold on the modularity of single 12s, however at 46 pounds the CN212 isn't out of the question.

I'm looking for something different from the GS112s. Cabs with more mid presence. The Baer with the 6" mid really looks impressive.
Decisions, decisions.......

 

[Baird6869]

Does anyone else out there generally leave the Sensitivity set to one setting?

Personally, I have used he Monique at every setting in the last year and a half I have owned one while experimenting, but for the last many months I have just left it at 2:00-3:00 and rarely touch it. This seems to be my tone for everything. I may adjust the EQ based on different rooms, but that's it.

 

[maisbass]

Does anyone else out there generally leave the Sensitivity set to one setting?



Personally, I have used he Monique at every setting in the last year and a half I have owned one while experimenting, but for the last many months I have just left it at 2:00-3:00 and rarely touch it. This seems to be my tone for everything. I may adjust the EQ based on different rooms, but that's it.

I'm still experimenting. For the most part I leave it between 10 and 12. Lately I have been exploring mo a bit and trying some different settings. I noticed, as others did here, when you boost the sensitivity and pull it out, the highs and mids become more prominent. I also notice a lot more sound from my neck as well. I never experienced that before with any other pre. I also noticed when cranking the sensitivity, your technique needs to be spot on because every nuance jumps out.

I prefer a bit of a darker setting, so even when cranking the sensitivity a bit, I will roll off some highs on mo or my tone control. Generally I've been sticking between 10 and 12. That seems to be home for me.

 

[Jerry Ziarko]

Originally Posted by Jerry Ziarko View Post
I have a question about the DI. I've been using a REDDI for some time now, and love the fatness it adds to the FOH tone. How exactly does the DI on Monique function? (pre, post etc) If it is pre, is the signal to FOH just passive, or does it have some tonal characteristics built in?

And so.....

I guess I'll keep asking until someone who uses the DI sees it...

 

[Baird6869]

I also noticed when cranking the sensitivity, your technique needs to be spot on because every nuance jumps out.

Absolutely.

Add a super clear/transparent bass like a Fodera (my #1 with Monique), you need to really watch what you play IME. In fact, my playing has got better/cleaner since I switched from Fender/GK to Fodera/Monique. Mistakes are more noticeable to say the least.

 

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Jerry Ziarko View Post
I have a question about the DI. I've been using a REDDI for some time now, and love the fatness it adds to the FOH tone. How exactly does the DI on Monique function? (pre, post etc) If it is pre, is the signal to FOH just passive, or does it have some tonal characteristics built in?


I guess I'll keep asking until someone who uses the DI sees it...

Post everything. The DI has a separate volume control.

 

[KJung]

Absolutely.

Add a super clear/transparent bass like a Fodera (my #1 with Monique), you need to really watch what you play IME. In fact, my playing has got better/cleaner since I switched from Fender/GK to Fodera/Monique. Mistakes are more noticeable to say the least.

It is a chameleon. With my Roscoe (even more unforgiving and articulate than my previously owned Fodera), the Monique has much in common with my Glock Blue Soul. Wide voiced, deep bass, clean mids, and extended top end response. +1 Again, I notice very little impact of the Sensitivity with that bass, so just kind of set it at noon and play.

With the passive P, it is a bit of a different beast for sure... bright and grindy and quite a bit of bite, which is magnified when the Sensitivity is cranked in boost mode. Interestingly, that is more unforgiving than the Roscoe (I use nickel wounds on my P)... very bright in the upper midrange, which is where the men get separated from the boys on clean technique

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

Absolutely.

Add a super clear/transparent bass like a Fodera (my #1 with Monique), you need to really watch what you play IME. In fact, my playing has got better/cleaner since I switched from Fender/GK to Fodera/Monique. Mistakes are more noticeable to say the least.

+1 for sure. After years of playing vintage fenders with flats and big tube amps, making the switch to fodera/monique has done wonders for my playing, forcing me to REALLY pay attention to my technique.

 

[juledude]

Originally Posted by Jerry Ziarko View Post
I have a question about the DI. I've been using a REDDI for some time now, and love the fatness it adds to the FOH tone. How exactly does the DI on Monique function? (pre, post etc) If it is pre, is the signal to FOH just passive, or does it have some tonal characteristics built in?


I guess I'll keep asking until someone who uses the DI sees it...

Post EQ, Jerry. Every transformer has a voice specific to it. Although Cinemag makes both products output DI transformer, they are not the same. Personal choices and voicing had much to do with what has been chosen.

Don't let that "Post" concern you as much as it might in other products. The EQ in Monique is unlike most in that it is, when all three controls are at noon, pretty much out of the circuit. So in a way you get it both ways. If that makes any sense at all.

I think your question might have gotten lost amid the move to a new thread.

 

[maisbass]

Absolutely.



Add a super clear/transparent bass like a Fodera (my #1 with Monique), you need to really watch what you play IME. In fact, my playing has got better/cleaner since I switched from Fender/GK to Fodera/Monique. Mistakes are more noticeable to say the least.

Agreed. My technique has improved so much since 2007 when I purchased my fodera. Now even more so with mo.

 

[BurningSkies]

Does anyone else out there generally leave the Sensitivity set to one setting?

Personally, I have used he Monique at every setting in the last year and a half I have owned one while experimenting, but for the last many months I have just left it at 2:00-3:00 and rarely touch it. This seems to be my tone for everything. I may adjust the EQ based on different rooms, but that's it.

I used to toggle back and forth between somewhere around 2 o'clock and somewhere around 10 o'clock. For material where I want it to sound a bit compressed and a bit more lo-fi the 2 position ends up sounding more like classic hot running tube amp. While the 10 is definitely more open, less compressed and 'prettier' to me. It sits in the mix differently. Lately I've been planting it at the 10 o'clock position for most if not all of our set time. They're both useful sounds to me, but I don't want to have to tweak the output levels and on stage I have other things to think about besides twisting knobs on my amp. I'm way more likely to mess with that stuff in rehearsal. And I can tell which settings work better for which songs and which get the guys in the band moving more.

 

[dmrogers]

Does anyone else out there generally leave the Sensitivity set to one setting?

Personally, I have used he Monique at every setting in the last year and a half I have owned one while experimenting, but for the last many months I have just left it at 2:00-3:00 and rarely touch it. This seems to be my tone for everything. I may adjust the EQ based on different rooms, but that's it.

I am still experimenting as well. I pretty much had a standard setting with my Thunderfunks. I would make small EQ & Timbre adjustments to that setting for room variations.

With Monique, I am still trying different settings. Mostly with the Sensitivity, but to some degree, with the EQ. Right now, I am really getting into the Sensitivity at 8:30/9:30 setting with my new P bass. I just sounds so clear and full.

I have started playing the J bass again with Monique and I find that I can set the Sensitivity from 11:00 to 2:00 and get a great tone.

I am sure that after getting more live gigs with Monique under my belt, I'll eventually settle on a more default setting.

 

[jdwinva]

I recently upgraded my Monique to a De-Monique and WOW what a difference! It has more punch, better tone, and is dead quiet. As an added bonus my rig is 2U smaller and 8 lbs lighter. Thank you so much Jule and James!! I just spent an hour with De-Monique and reached a new tonal nirvana I was using a 2U power amp previously that gets a lot of love here on TB but the Demeter 800D installed into Monique takes it to a whole new level folks.

 

[KJung]

I recently upgraded my Monique to a De-Monique and WOW what a difference! It has more punch, better tone, and is dead quiet. As an added bonus my rig is 2U smaller and 8 lbs lighter. Thank you so much Jule and James!! I just spent an hour with De-Monique and reached a new tonal nirvana I was using a 2U power amp previously that gets a lot of love here on TB but the Demeter 800D installed into Monique takes it to a whole new level folks.

Nice! There is definitely something to say about a power section 'tuned' to optimally work with bass guitar (hi passing and other 'stuff' that Demeter probably puts in there), and also a power amp and preamp that are designed to optimally work together IMO.

 

[Baird6869]

I recently upgraded my Monique to a De-Monique and WOW what a difference! It has more punch, better tone, and is dead quiet. As an added bonus my rig is 2U smaller and 8 lbs lighter. Thank you so much Jule and James!! I just spent an hour with De-Monique and reached a new tonal nirvana I was using a 2U power amp previously that gets a lot of love here on TB but the Demeter 800D installed into Monique takes it to a whole new level folks.

I was kinda hoping you hated it and went back to the Crest.

I may have to look into the whole Minnie/800D thing one day soon.

 

[maisbass]

I was kinda hoping you hated it and went back to the Crest.

I may have to look into the whole Minnie/800D thing one day soon.

Me too. Ug. I've been fighting it for a while now but may have to make a move as well. The only things that have stopped me were (1) the price of the Minnie and (2) Its nice to have my Puma ready to go as a backup in case there was ever a problem with Monique.

Basically if Monique fails live, I can quickly switch to the Puma 900 pre. If my Puma fails, well then I yell to the sound guy to feed monique into my monitor mix.

But I must admit I really am curious to hear the tonal differences between using Mo/minnie and Mo/crest.

It would be great if someone can post some comparison recordings with both the crest and the Minnie?

 

[mothra2]

I recently upgraded my Monique to a De-Monique and WOW what a difference! It has more punch, better tone, and is dead quiet. As an added bonus my rig is 2U smaller and 8 lbs lighter. Thank you so much Jule and James!! I just spent an hour with De-Monique and reached a new tonal nirvana I was using a 2U power amp previously that gets a lot of love here on TB but the Demeter 800D installed into Monique takes it to a whole new level folks.

May be saying much more about what you previously used (its input sensitivity/impeadance) than the fact that things improved that much with the Demeter (matching issue vs perceived performance).
Full context is king there...

 

[jdwinva]

May be saying much more about what you previously used (its input sensitivity/impeadance) than the fact that things improved that much with the Demeter (matching issue vs perceived performance).
Full context is king there...

Maybe, but the Crest Pro-LITE 2.0 has the correct input sensitivity and excellent specs. I think it's more about a perfect match between Monique and the Demeter 800D. The Crest sounded good but the Demeter sounds better.

 

[mothra2]

Maybe, but the Crest Pro-LITE 2.0 has the correct input sensitivity and excellent specs. I think it's more about a perfect match between Monique and the Demeter 800D. The Crest sounded good but the Demeter sounds better.

I'm having a hard time finding the exact input specs on that amp...