Jule Amps Monique part 5

[MarkA]

Can't help myself....
Comparing the DeMT to a Th500 reminds me of ....





I have both amps. Use them. The DeMT is a special amp and the TH is a great amp.

Funny.

Can't imagine taking a Tonehammer over Monique, let alone saying you can EQ in similar tones. In my brief experience with the TH, I found it very artificial and cold.

I have a TH500 now -- that, a Markbass F500, and Monique are all more or less on trial, you could say. I can spend some time with all, but can't keep all in good conscience. There are things I like about each and, so far, things that bug me. The TH500 is more 2D to me than both the Markbass and the Monique in that when I play chords the notes seem to blur together, where they are rounder and more distinct with other amps. I also found it cold and artificial (not to mention inarticulate) when I first played it, but I've found that dialing the gain down very low and the drive very high gets harmonic complexity I like while still keeping things tight. I also boost mids, low, and high to varying degrees... Your mileage may vary. Don't want to sidetrack the thread, but since this was mentioned here...

I find the Aggy and Monique to be pretty different, though I guess there's some overlap. Aggy is not touch responsive the way Monique is.

 

[KJung]

Funny.



I have a TH500 now -- that, a Markbass F500, and Monique are all more or less on trial, you could say. I can spend some time with all, but can't keep all in good conscience. There are things I like about each and, so far, things that bug me. The TH500 is more 2D to me than both the Markbass and the Monique in that when I play chords the notes seem to blur together, where they are rounder and more distinct with other amps. I also found it cold and artificial (not to mention inarticulate) when I first played it, but I've found that dialing the gain down very low and the drive very high gets harmonic complexity I like while still keeping things tight. I also boost mids, low, and high to varying degrees... Your mileage may vary. Don't want to sidetrack the thread, but since this was mentioned here...

I find the Aggy and Monique to be pretty different, though I guess there's some overlap. Aggy is not touch responsive the way Monique is.

IMO, you need to work with the Aggie a bit more... one of the most touch responsive amps I've ever played. With the gain turned way down... not so much, similar to the Monique with a passive bass and the Sensitivity under 9 o'clock IME. Took me a while to get there... keep working that ratio between gain, drive and the amazing semi-parametric midrange control.

+1 That the F500 (my main gigging head for many years) is very clear and quick and clean.... very different from the Aguilar for sure.

That being said, did I mention that the Minnie power amp is sumpin' sumpin'!

Three fabulous amps/pre's IMO and IME. +1 that each will do some things the others won't for sure.

 

[monsterthompson]

Funny.



I have a TH500 now -- that, a Markbass F500, and Monique are all more or less on trial, you could say. I can spend some time with all, but can't keep all in good conscience. There are things I like about each and, so far, things that bug me. The TH500 is more 2D to me than both the Markbass and the Monique in that when I play chords the notes seem to blur together, where they are rounder and more distinct with other amps. I also found it cold and artificial (not to mention inarticulate) when I first played it, but I've found that dialing the gain down very low and the drive very high gets harmonic complexity I like while still keeping things tight. I also boost mids, low, and high to varying degrees... Your mileage may vary. Don't want to sidetrack the thread, but since this was mentioned here...

I find the Aggy and Monique to be pretty different, though I guess there's some overlap. Aggy is not touch responsive the way Monique is.

Saying the TH is 2D agrees with my ears, and the Mo is definitely 3D. There are certainly characteristics of the TH that I could see being desirable (particularly since I can hear some of them in my Buster, which I do like very much), but not as long as the overal 2D feel is there. That 2D quality of the TH vs 3D of Mo has me thinking Ken must be pulling an April Fools joke a few months ahead of schedule. I guess there is no accounting for taste... and I would know since I'm an accountant

 

[MarkA]

There are all sorts of things I need to work on (or with) a bit more.

Right after I typed that I thought twice about it. I find it easy to set the Aggie so that I can cross into mild-to-moderate overdrive with touch -- I guess it's pretty touch responsive in that regard. I don't find that it has the same sort of bounce/sweet-spot that I experience with Monique or with a Mesa Walkabout. But I am pretty new to "toobs" (even tubes plus solid state power sections) and I guess I don't always find the right vocabulary to communicate what I'm feeling.

I find the touch responsiveness of the Aggie to be more of a sonic thing, Monique to be more of a feel thing. I rarely go for breakup.

Might need to mess around more, but that's as well as I can conceptualize/communicate it right now.

IMO, you need to work with the Aggie a bit more... one of the most touch responsive amps I've ever played. With the gain turned way down... not so much, similar to the Monique with a passive bass and the Sensitivity under 9 o'clock IME. Took me a while to get there... keep working that ratio between gain, drive and the amazing semi-parametric midrange control.

+1 That the F500 (my main gigging head for many years) is very clear and quick and clean.... very different from the Aguilar for sure.

Three fabulous amps/pre's IMO and IME. +1 that each will do some things the others won't for sure.

I am a hopeless and obsessive twiddler of knobs -- at least when I first get to know a piece of gear. I am exploring the ratios, no fear!

 

[KJung]

There are all sorts of things I need to work on (or with) a bit more.

Right after I typed that I thought twice about it. I find it easy to set the Aggie so that I can cross into mild-to-moderate overdrive with touch -- I guess it's pretty touch responsive in that regard. I don't find that it has the same sort of bounce/sweet-spot that I experience with Monique or with a Mesa Walkabout. But I am pretty new to "toobs" (even tubes plus solid state power sections) and I guess I don't always find the right vocabulary to communicate what I'm feeling.

I find the touch responsiveness of the Aggie to be more of a sonic thing, Monique to be more of a feel thing. I rarely go for breakup.

Might need to mess around more, but that's as well as I can conceptualize/communicate it right now.

+1 in that there is definitely something special about the touch sensitivity of the Monique for sure.... unique vibe when you crank that sensitivity with a passive instrument for sure! Wonderful piece of gear, and a very organic 'crunch' up top (not harsh) when you dial up the sensitivity with a passive instrument and dial back a bit of top end. VERY nice.

I am a ZERO break-up guy also... I dig it 'warm but clean' for sure.

Edit: If you like twiddlin'... the TH500 and Monique should both make you very happy! There is a LOT of tonality in the TH500 in modest cuts using the semi-parametric mids. Be sure to play with that.

 

[Michelsen]

I'm seriously digging my Monique-Minnie-Thunderchild115AF setup on double bass. The FOH guys really seem to like the DI.

Now that Aguilar made its way to this conversation;
- Has anyone got experience with Mo-Min + DB112 ( or 2x DB112 or DB212 ) ?

I'm thinking of getting more "classic rock" sounding cab/stack for those gigs and bands where I pretty much only play electric bass. I think 2x12 or 2x15 would be enough.
Bergantino NV115 ( possibly x2 ) also looks interesting, but Aguilar might just do the trick. What do you people think? I played a DB210-Fender Bassman 100t stack once and it sounded amazing in a practice room!

I think the Bassman 100t is probably the only amp I'd wanna have on top of Monique. Sure the LMIII rolls along easily as a backup-amp on the road.

I play a fender cs 59'p and a AC lg4, passive stuff ( allthough the Alleva I just got has a damn fine preamp, really! ), folky stuff, rock too.

I always come up with these questions...should I feel bad about it ?

 

[nostatic]

The DBs are fairly mid-forward and a bit on the heavy/hard to carry side of things. I can vouch for Baer ML112 with Monique/Minnie. It can do classic rock until the cows come home. Or you can go 212 or 115. The paper cone mid and no tweeter is pretty magic IME.

 

[Mark Sacchetti]

I would suggest Duke's Hathor line of cabs. Still light weight but more of the tonal palette your looking for.

 

[MarkA]

It can do classic rock until the cows come home.

That's shortly after bar-closing, isn't it?

 

[Groove Doctor]

I can vouch for Baer ML112 with Monique/Minnie. It can do classic rock until the cows come home. Or you can go 212 or 115. The paper cone mid and no tweeter is pretty magic IME.

I was REALLY surprised how good the Bear ML112 sounded with upright AND a P-Bass. The ML212 (2x12" & 2x6") at 4 ohms pushes a lot of air and as single cab setup should get a serious look in IMO.

 

[nostatic]

That's shortly after bar-closing, isn't it?

Or after Katie bars the door...

 

[chadds]

Or after Katie bars the door...

OMG!!!

LOL

 

[juledude]

Or after Katie bars the door...

That's it.

Happy Holidays everyone.

The very creative and all 'round wonderful, EE Bradman has put together a bunch of A/B samples with a few more different pieces of gear. I am grateful for his work.

We'll probably have them up on the Jule Amps site later, but they can be pondered here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[MarkA]

That's it.

Happy Holidays everyone.

The very creative and all 'round wonderful, EE Bradman has put together a bunch of A/B samples with a few more different pieces of gear. I am grateful for his work.

We'll probably have them up on the Jule Amps site later, but they can be pondered here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Listening now -- extensive and cool! Gotta come back with headphones.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Last Wed. I mailed my Monique rack mount to Demeter for the 800D power amp upgrade. James just called me and said it's ready. One week turnaround is what they promised -- and will have delivered. Excellent!

 

[juledude]

Last Wed. I mailed my Monique rack mount to Demeter for the 800D power amp upgrade. James just called me and said it's ready. One week turnaround is what they promised -- and will have delivered. Excellent!

I've gotta have a talk with James. That's faster service than I get.

 

[B'Boom]

Thank you my dear Jule about your advice concerning the vacuum tube rectifier EZ80. I put one of these tube ( Philipps N.O.S labelled General Electric), and I like very much the tone very punchy of this tube ( little more compressed ). The sound is a little less round and three-dimensional compared with my other tubes EZ-81 OUR RCA, Sylvannia, Mullard), but it is exactly a very good alternative with to compared with those.
Thanks again and merry Christmas to you and all TB'ers.

 

[funk7856]

Last Wed. I mailed my Monique rack mount to Demeter for the 800D power amp upgrade. James just called me and said it's ready. One week turnaround is what they promised -- and will have delivered. Excellent!

Awesome! I'm about to do the exact same thing with my rack mount Monique. That Demeter power section matches up so well...

 

[mothra2]

That's it.

Happy Holidays everyone.

The very creative and all 'round wonderful, EE Bradman has put together a bunch of A/B samples with a few more different pieces of gear. I am grateful for his work.

We'll probably have them up on the Jule Amps site later, but they can be pondered here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I can certainly hear the 'bounce' most are talking about ... nice!

 

[maisbass]

Last Wed. I mailed my Monique rack mount to Demeter for the 800D power amp upgrade. James just called me and said it's ready. One week turnaround is what they promised -- and will have delivered. Excellent!

You are very fortunate and I am glad this worked out for you so quickly. I had called James to order a Minnie directly from him and left a voicemail but I did not hear back from him. I'm sure he is a busy man. I wound up finding a store on ebay who sells the Minnie's brand new from Demeter at a discounted price (approximately 200 dollars less when you add on tax and shipping when ordering direct from Demeter). I assumed the store had them in stock because they listed they had 4 available, but they did not. I was told that it would ship directly from Demeter. This was last week and it still has not shipped yet. I received a tracking number from UPS, but this was just a generated number, so the unit has not actually shipped.

While I am delighted that I am obtaining a wonderful piece of equipment at a discounted price, I'm a little bummed that I may not receive it until after Dec 25th. I guess this store is not on James priority list since he offers the Minnie for them to sell at a discounted price. Very understandable.

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up, if you order a Minnie from this ebay store, be prepared to wait some time for it to be delivered. In the end, I do feel it will be well worth the wait since I will be getting it at a discounted price. Not complaining here (I know it sounds like it ), I'm just eager to get my hands on it and play with it!! I have many gigs lined up this month I was hoping to use it on. Oh well.