Jule Amps Monique part 5

[juledude]

Back in the beginning, I think Jule designed and envisioned bass players using the Monique in front of their regular bass amps, or through the loop. So yes, it will work for you. What I found out is that the Monique sounds so fantastic without another amp's 'color' getting in the way of what it's doing. So...it became pretty clear early on with the unit, was that my real job was to find a way to get other things out of the way. I think that more and more players realized this upon having their hands on Monique, which is why so many people are using pre/power and/or the reason why the 700 came to be.

Yes. The idea was to give yourself a monitor, at least, with the Line Out, and then if you had to, use the Balanced Out to whatever snake happened to be crawling around the stage. The show must go on.

 

[BiigM]

I think i read somewhere in this thread that the monique is not "phantom-power safe". I might remember incorrectly, so if someone (jules maybe ), could tell me if it's true.
It kinda makes or breaks it for me, because you never know if the soundguys accidentally switches it on, or just dont care.

 

[kcole4001]

I'd think the soundguy would be likely to treat it the same as another amp DI.

 

[iamthebassplayr]

I think i read somewhere in this thread that the monique is not "phantom-power safe". I might remember incorrectly, so if someone (jules maybe ), could tell me if it's true.
It kinda makes or breaks it for me, because you never know if the soundguys accidentally switches it on, or just dont care.

Jule Amps Monique part 4 | Page 55 | TalkBass.com

It is best for the sound-folk and us to keep phantom power (~48 volts) off that balanced line. They (sound-folk) are pretty hip to that. So the "default" is to leave the Ground Lift Switch in the Grounded position. The first few Moniques didn't have a ground lift switch.

For the environments where we just can't keep phantom power out of the balanced line (a limited environment) we should "Lift" that ground so the Cinemag output transformer doesn't see that ~48 volts.

As to damage, we shouldn't see any damage either way, but I will always worry that it can happen when we stuff ~48 volts into it. The Cinemag output transformer in Monique is a fabulous device. Cinemag did a great job. It is also the most costly single component in Monique.

You can read the previous few posts for context as well.

 

[BiigM]

In my experience, you never know if the soundguy is careful with the phantom power. I do about 100 gigs a year and it varies a lot!
So I need to know if it will break down if phantom is sent to it.

 

[BiigM]

Answer was given just as I wrote the last post. Thanks.

 

[Jule Potter]

Jule Amps Monique part 4 | Page 55 | TalkBass.com




You can read the previous few posts for context as well.

There are about 400 Moniques out there right now, and not a single report of any damage due to Phantom Power. It is still a good question.

 

[BurningSkies]

I leave my DI lifted since Jule first addressed this. I figure that if there's a problem with my DI, the soundman will let me know and I can ask, and then switch it easily enough.


The big problem is that many entry and mid level soundboards have 'universal' phantom. You can turn it on and off, but it's applied to all channels of the board. My experience is that in many smaller rooms, clubs, bars and band owned PA systems, these boards are also pretty universal.

 

[BiigM]

Yeah it's pretty typical for cheaper mixers to have phantom grouped or on all channels. But actually I'm more concerned about the big gigs because you have no control if what's happening, other than asking and hoping.

 

[maisbass]

I leave my DI lifted since Jule first addressed this. I figure that if there's a problem with my DI, the soundman will let me know and I can ask, and then switch it easily enough.


The big problem is that many entry and mid level soundboards have 'universal' phantom. You can turn it on and off, but it's applied to all channels of the board. My experience is that in many smaller rooms, clubs, bars and band owned PA systems, these boards are also pretty universal.

+1

When I use the Monique D.I., I always leave the ground lifted as well just to be safe.

 

[BurningSkies]

+1

When I use the Monique D.I., I always leave the ground lifted as well just to be safe.

The only guff I've ever gotten from house sound was once or twice guys didn't understand that lifting the ground on the DI is not lifting the ground for the amp and I got an earful about how it was totally unsafe and deadly.

Seriously.

 

[kcole4001]

It is good to know.
So presumably there is no 60 cycle hum introduced because of the ground lift, and if there is it's an easy remedy to just flip the ground switch back on.

 

[JBNeedsBeer]

For anyone who is curious, I've got a live recording via the soundboard from Arlene's Grocery using the Monique. It does a damn fine job in a rock setting while sounding big and ballsy down low



Signal chain is Rickenbacker 4003 > FEA De/Cl > Iron Ether SubT (choruses only) > Mountainking Maximum Overdrive > Monique > soundboard.

 

[maisbass]

For anyone who is curious, I've got a live recording via the soundboard from Arlene's Grocery using the Monique. It does a damn fine job in a rock setting while sounding big and ballsy down low



Signal chain is Rickenbacker 4003 > FEA De/Cl > Iron Ether SubT (choruses only) > Mountainking Maximum Overdrive > Monique > soundboard.

Bass tone sounds good. I like the octave on the chorus. Nice.

 

[JBNeedsBeer]

Bass tone sounds good. I like the octave on the chorus. Nice.

Thanks man. The SubT is a great pedal. It replaced my MXR BOD and surpasses it by a large margin tonally.

 

[Jule Potter]

For anyone who is curious, I've got a live recording via the soundboard from Arlene's Grocery using the Monique. It does a damn fine job in a rock setting while sounding big and ballsy down low



Signal chain is Rickenbacker 4003 > FEA De/Cl > Iron Ether SubT (choruses only) > Mountainking Maximum Overdrive > Monique > soundboard.

Outstanding. I am going to see how many times I can play this today. Thank you.

 

[JBNeedsBeer]

Outstanding. I am going to see how many times I can play this today. Thank you.

Thanks! It's actually just a rough mix for right now. I'll definitely share the final version once we have it ready!

 

[Snaxster]

Hey, everyone. It's almost tax time, but also winter is nearly done.

There's something I considered mentioning earlier, but I wasn't sure about it. I know the claim will sound suspect. Here it is:

I believe that the Monique reduces ground hum significantly and single coil hum slightly.​

Whether I'm playing a bass guitar with only single coil pickups, or one with a minor grounding problem, if I play them through another preamp (a homemade point-to-point tube preamp or The Enabler, for example), I hear to varying degrees, but always clearly, whatever hum weakness that bass has. But if I'm playing those same basses through the Monique, the hum is either reduced or effectively eliminated.

Jule, if you are reading this, know that I am not asking you to reveal any trade secrets. But how is this possible? Is it an artifact of your use of DC for the tubes? In any case, I have observed that hum reduction is characteristic of this preamp, and I am duly impressed.

That Monique... what a gal.

 

[Baird6869]

Hey, everyone. It's almost tax time, but also winter is nearly done.

There's something I considered mentioning earlier, but I wasn't sure about it. I know the claim will sound suspect. Here it is:

I believe that the Monique reduces ground hum significantly and single coil hum slightly.​

Whether I'm playing a bass guitar with only single coil pickups, or one with a minor grounding problem, if I play them through another preamp (a homemade point-to-point tube preamp or The Enabler, for example), I hear to varying degrees, but always clearly, whatever hum weakness that bass has. But if I'm playing those same basses through the Monique, the hum is either reduced or effectively eliminated.

Jule, if you are reading this, know that I am not asking you to reveal any trade secrets. But how is this possible? Is it an artifact of your use of DC for the tubes? In any case, I have observed that hum reduction is characteristic of this preamp, and I am duly impressed.

That Monique... what a gal.

I find the same thing!

I am always suprised when people say a certain bass hums like crazy (Fender Americal Dlx Jazz is a good example) but it is dead quiet thru my Monique. I never seem to hear hum and I play active single coil basses (or in single mode) as well as passive Jazz basses.

Be interested to know if there is something to this or we are both just nuts.

 

[Snaxster]

I find the same thing!

I am always suprised when people say a certain bass hums like crazy (Fender Americal Dlx Jazz is a good example) but it is dead quiet thru my Monique. I never seem to hear hum and I play active single coil basses (or in single mode) as well as passive Jazz basses.

Be interested to know if there is something to this or we are both just nuts.

Excellent!! Thank you for corroborating my experience.

We may both be nuts, but not because of this.