Jule Amps Monique part 5

[Jeff Moote]

Placing the FDeck in between will stop any interaction between Monique's input and your pickups, much like an onboard pre will do the same. I find it quite noticeable switching between active and passive on the same bass.

As has been said - not necessarily a bad thing and you may like it better, but you don't get that interaction and instead the sensitivity knob will seem more "flat" across its sweep.

 

[husky123]

Hey guys,

I seriously thinking about jumping back into the fray. Ever since I sold my Mo I've kinda regretted it. Thinking about the DeMonique at this point. Before I had mine mated to my GK MB800 power section and just couldn't quite come to terms with it. I'm wondering how the Demeter power section will compare?

Also, did we ever figure out what frequency or Q the mids are for Monique? Thanks.

 

[KJung]

Hey guys,

I seriously thinking about jumping back into the fray. Ever since I sold my Mo I've kinda regretted it. Thinking about the DeMonique at this point. Before I had mine mated to my GK MB800 power section and just couldn't quite come to terms with it. I'm wondering how the Demeter power section will compare?

Also, did we ever figure out what frequency or Q the mids are for Monique? Thanks.

Yeah, running into an effects return of an all in one head can be uninspiring. Depends what is going on between the effects return and the power amp, and also the input impedance, gain level matching, etc.

I'm a big fan of having an expert literally match the amp with the preamp, which happens with all-in-one amps of course, and in the case of the Monique, happens with the DeMonique and the component Mo/Minnie formats.

Really nice. I have no idea of the freq center of the midrange.... feels maybe 600hz, full octave or somewhere in that range, but hard to determine for me. Sounds musical and is nice to remove a bit of honk if needed from a cab or instrument.

 

[tombowlus]

Placing the FDeck in between will stop any interaction between Monique's input and your pickups, much like an onboard pre will do the same. I find it quite noticeable switching between active and passive on the same bass.

As has been said - not necessarily a bad thing and you may like it better, but you don't get that interaction and instead the sensitivity knob will seem more "flat" across its sweep.

+1 Yup.

 

[jdwinva]

Hey guys,

I seriously thinking about jumping back into the fray. Ever since I sold my Mo I've kinda regretted it. Thinking about the DeMonique at this point. Before I had mine mated to my GK MB800 power section and just couldn't quite come to terms with it. I'm wondering how the Demeter power section will compare?

Also, did we ever figure out what frequency or Q the mids are for Monique? Thanks.

I live in Chantilly, VA so you are welcome to stop by and check out my De-Monique if you wish. I also have a GK Fusion 800 for comparison of the two power sections.

- John

 

[BurningSkies]

I played this way last night for a bit...Kern into one channel into 15sub, Monique into another channel with my 15/6. I only lasted a couple songs before switching back to just the Monique. And I can say that while I always thought the Kern was a quiet preamp, Its nowhere near as quiet as Jule's.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[husky123]

I live in Chantilly, VA so you are welcome to stop by and check out my De-Monique if you wish. I also have a GK Fusion 800 for comparison of the two power sections.



- John

Pm sent! Thanks!

 

[KJung]

My buddy, TBer and 'Monique and Glock owner' Mick Soos asked me to do a comparison of my integrated DeMonique and the Monique driving the Glock Blue Soul via the effects loop (which is what he is doing on occasion).

Here is a picture of the stuff:

I used my Roscoe as the test mule. Interesting:

I first played the DeMonique with the volume at around 10 o’clock and the EQ flat. The sensitivity doesn’t do much with an active bass, but had it around noon. That was LOUD… as loud as I would most likely play most gigs (into the high sensitivity 4ohm Bergantino CN212).

I then left the Monique settings the same and went into the effects loop of the Blue Soul. With the effects return gain and master volume all the way up on the Blue Soul, I got about 80% of the volume of the internal unit at the same line level setting. The DeMonique had significantly more punch and what sounded like upper bass fatness than the Glock Power Section, probably due to effects return impedance or other stuff going on in there. I tried cranking the line and lowering the master (along with pulling out the 'line level boost), and while I could match the volume, it never got as fat.

So, some magic going on with the integration James and Jule did with the Minnie

Pretty 'not scientific', and of course, I could dial in more fatness if I ran the Monique into the front of the Glock at a lower level, but IMO, at least in this case, the Minnie power section is the thing

 

[chadds]

I find the Sensitivity does all kinds of things with an active bass. It can tailor just the feel, punch or give. It brings on grind or back off for clarity. In between it makes big tube warmth and spread. Way up and the rig will pleasingly just breakup with strongly plucked chords and go back to clean with a gentle touch. I mentioned before, other players were looking for pedals that weren't there.

Our mileage does vary.


Let me add. The number of variables is huge. Touch, strings, setup including closeness of pickups to strings, freshness of batteries, tubes, amp, speakers, ideal volts and impedance between pre & amp, color of the carpet.

 

[KJung]

I find the Sensitivity does all kinds of things with an active bass. It can tailor just the feel, punch or give. It brings on grind or back off for clarity. In between it makes big tube warmth and spread. Way up and the rig will pleasingly just breakup with strongly plucked chords and go back to clean with a gentle touch. I mentioned before, other players were looking for pedals that weren't there.

Our mileage does vary.


Let me add. The number of variables is huge. Touch, strings, setup including closeness of pickups to strings, freshness of batteries, tubes, amp, speakers, ideal volts and impedance between pre & amp, color of the carpet.

My comment was probably a bit too strongly stated. Of course, huge difference from off to 9 o'clock, no matter what, and +1 some subtle feel differences with the active bass between noon and 3 or so. VERY subtle though. With the passive P, a bit more impact on both feel and a bit of tonal change (I assume due to the impact of increases and decreases in impedance interacting with the top end response of the passive pickups, loading, etc., etc.).

I'll tell you what, the Roscoe sounds REALLY good through this amp.

 

[nostatic]

So, some magic going on with the integration James and Jule did with the Minnie

Yup. Some of us have said this before but there are those that will just look at the ICE module and say, "oh, it's the same as xxx..."

 

[nostatic]

I'll tell you what, the Roscoe sounds REALLY good through this amp.

Same with the Foderas. I think it takes the ultra-articulate EMG/Pope thing and gives it a bounce and roundness that is damn-near perfect to me.

 

[KJung]

Same with the Foderas. I think it takes the ultra-articulate EMG/Pope thing and gives it a bounce and roundness that is damn-near perfect to me.

+1 I actually purchased this with my P Bass in mind (tubes, old school design, etc.). I'm actually digging it more as a matchup to the very modern, smooth, punchy Roscoe at this point. It is interestingly quite similar to the Glock Blue Soul in its clean, wide footprint, but a bit warmer and fatter up top, which is a good thing.

That P Bass and Aguilar TH500 is just the 'sound in my head' for that more vintage, passive thing, and I just need to let that alone and be happy with it!

I was thinking the Aguilar might be redundant. Who would have thought that it is more the Glockenklang that is a bit of an overlap!

 

[KJung]

Yup. Some of us have said this before but there are those that will just look at the ICE module and say, "oh, it's the same as xxx..."

Yeah, amazing how many amps use that same or similar module and perform at WAY different levels. +1

 

[nostatic]

+1 I actually purchased this with my P Bass in mind (tubes, old school design, etc.). I'm actually digging it more as a matchup to the very modern, smooth, punchy Roscoe at this point. It is interestingly quite similar to the Glock Blue Soul in its clean, wide footprint, but a bit warmer and fatter up top, which is a good thing.

That P Bass and Aguilar TH500 is just the 'sound in my head' for that more vintage, passive thing, and I just need to let that alone and be happy with it!

I was thinking the Aguilar might be redundant. Who would have thought that it is more the Glockenklang that is a bit of an overlap!

I think this is why a number of people have bought and kept Monique, and also why a number of people haven't taken the plunge. They assume that it is "the tube thing" and have an expectation of SVT or something with hair, etc. The reality is that Monique reminds me more of something like a Putnam 610 console - it is just "right" and it is hard to get a bad sound out of it.

 

[KJung]

I think this is why a number of people have bought and kept Monique, and also why a number of people haven't taken the plunge. They assume that it is "the tube thing" and have an expectation of SVT or something with hair, etc. The reality is that Monique reminds me more of something like a Putnam 610 console - it is just "right" and it is hard to get a bad sound out of it.

+1 again!

 

[maisbass]

Same with the Foderas. I think it takes the ultra-articulate EMG/Pope thing and gives it a bounce and roundness that is damn-near perfect to me.

That is saying a lot because I was never a fan of EMG's. IMO, with the exception of some boutique basses, when you put EMG's in a bass, they totally take over and are usually very "active" and aggressive sounding. The fact that a preamp like Monique can do that is pretty impressive to me.

I've noticed EMG's tone taking over in some of the lower end basses I've tried. I guess thats do to the fact the wood is not playing much of a role or enough of a role tone wise to blend with EMG's. The EMG's seem to take over in these situations IME.

I have Fodera Duncans in my Emperor Elite II and it definitely sounds big, warm, and fat through Monique. Absolutely love it.

 

[KJung]

It is going to be an interesting battle between the Glock Blue Soul and the DeMonique over the next 6 months or so. Fun! Quite similar, and both have their advantages.

- The DeMonique's power section seems a bit more hefty, but I've never come close to running out of headroom with the Glock and my 4ohm cabs. The DeMonique kills the Glock at 8ohms though... impressive.


- Both preamps are warm, accurate, wide and crisp. The DeMonique definitely has more 'meat down low'. The cones get a flappin' for sure. I can hear the DeMonique nicely break up when I really dig in, while the Glock stays uber clean. Could probably lower the gain on the preamp on the Roscoe (lots of burpy low mids coming out of that bass, and also some sub bass from the pre), but that touch of break-up sounds very nice

- Something wonderful about the size of the Glock and the 'no tube' thing... simple, small, uber quality (even a touch higher 'fit and finish' than the very nice Monique). Built like a tank for sure.

- Noise... about the same... both quiet and beautiful.

Surprising how 'relatively' similar they are. I again would not have thought that. They don't sound the same of course, but they come from the same tonal universe for sure.... hi fi quality in the best sense of the word, and what seems like honest, real world power ratings.

I feel pretty flush with goodness at the moment

 

[3rdcurve]

Dibs on Ken's Tardis if it doesn't make the cut!

 

[dmrogers]

Placing the FDeck in between will stop any interaction between Monique's input and your pickups, much like an onboard pre will do the same. I find it quite noticeable switching between active and passive on the same bass.

As has been said - not necessarily a bad thing and you may like it better, but you don't get that interaction and instead the sensitivity knob will seem more "flat" across its sweep.

I would guess it does, at least reducing the impact of the impedance variation of the sensitivity knob. It would change a passive bass to 'active bufferend' going into the Monique, I believe.

I don't think that the output impedance on the FDeck is all that hot, but yes, it is likely to be a bit different from going straight passive, so you will likely hear a difference. Who knows, it might sound better (but will likely be slightly different, either way).

These comments got me thinking and I had to test the theory out. I have been running the fdeck on the front end of the pre since I got Monique.

I tested it last night and tonight (not ultra scientific, switching cable from fdeck to straight in to the pre). Tonight I tried it with the Sensitivity at various settings. Sure enough, I could tell a significant difference. I didn't believe it was a big deal last night, but tonight making sure the line level was set the same and with various Sensitivity setting, it was pretty noticeable.

It's not that the fdeck sounds bad, but my initial feeling is that the sensitivity without the fdeck is smoother, more musical and more responsive to right hand attack. Almost like the fdeck is driving the front end pretty hard.

I have taken the fdeck out of the chain for now and am going to play it this way for a while to make sure my initial feelings are correct and that my ears are not playing tricks on me.

Now, the only problem is, placing the fdeck between the pre and the power amp does weird things to the pre level going into the power amp. Like the fdeck is not at unity. You have to turn the line level way down for the same volume setting. Burningskies discovered this very early in his research.

I was using a new passive P bass. I also tested with my J. I would like to hear other peoples response that have the fdeck as well and passive basses.