Jule Amps Monique Part III

[TheButlerdidit]

OK, that does it! I've been reading from thread #1, 1st post. I thought when I saw the picture that it looked like the bag from my Series 1 CPAP. Sure enough, I followed the link, and it's the identical bag!

So now I not only have to save my money to buy a rackmount Monique, but have to decide whether to save up the additional moolah to get the birdcage version (since, after all, I already have the travel bag).

Marcus

Do you guys think the De-Monique dove cage version would fit in the CPAP bag?

 

[Lia_G]

Do you guys think the De-Monique dove cage version would fit in the CPAP bag?

There is no De-Monique dovecage. But you can buy the separate Minnie D power amp that has the same form factor as the base of the dovecage. I have no idea if the Minnie would also fit in the CPAP bag. Jule mentioned having some bags made up to fit both, but I'm not sure if they're available yet.

Cheers,
Liam

 

[maisbass]

Do you guys think the De-Monique dove cage version would fit in the CPAP bag?

Studioslips.com offers a clamshell bag with the option of adding a padded pocket for the Minnie.

 

[juledude]

i think i remember reading back a bit that some guys were swapping the EZ81/6CA4 rectifier tube...i have a nos Mullard and RCA on the way and just curious as to the results that you guys have had with the swaps - what is the stock tube that comes from Jule

Ran across something important today during upgrade work on a Dove Cage that has been with the customer for about three years.

The customer replaced the stock 6SL7 tubes with JAN 5691 tubes.

It worked. Sounded kinda sweet. Kinda compressed. The levels were a bit low, but it worked.

Upon closer inspection I confirmed that the military issue JAN 5691 tubes were drawing twice as much current (as per the specifications) from the filament supply as the stock tubes. Not good.

This additional current puts an unusual burden on the power transformer and components in the DC filament supply. This builds up heat and heat is not a good thing. Obviously, after three years Monique handled it, but I do not recommend these tubes.

 

[BurningSkies]

Ran across something important today during upgrade work on a Dove Cage that has been with the customer for about three years.

The customer replaced the stock 6SL7 tubes with JAN 5691 tubes.

It worked. Sounded kinda sweet. Kinda compressed. The levels were a bit low, but it worked.

Upon closer inspection I confirmed that the military issue JAN 5691 tubes were drawing twice as much current (as per the specifications) from the filament supply as the stock tubes. Not good.

This additional current puts an unusual burden on the power transformer and components in the DC filament supply. This builds up heat and heat is not a good thing. Obviously, after three years Monique handled it, but I do not recommend these tubes.

Thanks for warning me away from these tubes nearly a year ago. BTW, on casual listening, the brown base Tungsol is winning against the RCA blackplate. Both were bought recently, and both sound better than the Sylvania.

 

[Lia_G]

Just curious ... Why do you keep a sold cab in your sig? Obviously you're free to do so. Just curious as to why.

Cheers,
Liam

 

[Lia_G]

Ahhh I see. glad it worked out and you were able to sell it quickly.

And sorry for the OT.

Cheers,
Liam

 

[BurningSkies]

Ahhh I see. glad it worked out and you were able to sell it quickly.

And sorry for the OT.

Cheers,
Liam

Its cool. It was a great cab. I sold it when I was clearing out stuff last year since I didn't really use it any more. I seriously do whatever I can for a seller, I rushed out, got boxes, double boxed, took the morning to bring it to UPS and get it weighted and priced, etc.

On the other side, when I reposted it, I put up pics of the cab, then a pic of it boxed and in the back of my car and ready to go...and the REAL buyer couldn't resist. Took all of a day to get out the door.

 

[juledude]

Thanks for warning me away from these tubes nearly a year ago. BTW, on casual listening, the brown base Tungsol is winning against the RCA blackplate. Both were bought recently, and both sound better than the Sylvania.

Thank you my friend.

I do like the Tung Sol. We continue to ship current Monique tube sets of a Shuguang 6SL7 in the first position and that Tungsol 6SL7 in the EQ position.

Something that can be helpful if you purchase your own Tung Sols, is to wrap that plastic (brown) base with metal foil tape (as are all shipped Moniques). This goes a long way toward keeping noise out of any of these plastic based tubes, not just the Tung Sol.

The above works because those tube clamps on the Monique 6SL7 tubes are more about making a good ground connection to the metal surrounding the tube base than they are about holding the tubes where they belong.

We use a 3M steel tape that is tin plated (stupid expensive), but even aluminum heating system tape is better than nothing.

 

[BurningSkies]

Heeeeeyyyooooo!

Another green-light Monique in the house:

New:

Old:

Also, for clarification, the Tung-Sol brownbase I'm using is an OLD one (NOS vintage), and it sounds great in the V1. I'm using a JAN RCA blackplate in the V2...and it's the one that was getting noisy and microphonic in V1 and works fine in the EQ spot.

Also, last night I made one last tube switch...I removed the Mullard rectifier (or as my band says 'rectumfier') and put the stock JJ tube back in, based upon what Chadds was saying about it having less sag and more punch. Its true. I was REALLY enjoying playing it last night with the JJ. It seems 'quicker' and punchier on the front of the notes.

 

[BurningSkies]

Also, here's a questions for Jule and whoever.

I've been running my FDeck HPF-3 in between the Monique and the IPR for the past 8 months or so quite happily. Its basically been there since I got it, and I've had no reason to change. Last night while I was goofing with my setup, I decided to try it in front of the Monique. Remember, the HPF-3 is a unity gain device and I run it with the volume full-up. I run a TRS 1/4" from the Monique to the HPF3, then a TS 1/4" to the in on the IPR. My output level on the Monique with this setup is a comfy '12 noon' position.

Now, when I moved the HPF3 out front of the Monique's instrument input and ran the TRS between her and the IPR I found that I needed to CRANK the output about 90% for the same volume. I tried the same with the TS and found the same to be true. I tried it without the HPF (just bass into input) and found again the same to be true, needing to crank the Monique output to 90% to get the same volume. A return to my original setup with the HPF in between the pre and power, and I could bring my Monique output back down to noon again.

Any insight why the HPF-3, a unity gain device in between pre/amp would do this?

 

[JGR]

The HPF may be buffering the preamp out and protecting it from loading effects of the poweramp input since the HPF likely has a much higher input impedance, but that's an easy amp to drive, so you should be able to push it at a relatively low master setting. I'd check the tubes.

 

[esa372]

Any insight why the HPF-3, a unity gain device in between pre/amp would do this?

Curious... What is the output's setting when the HPF isn't in the chain at all?

 

[BurningSkies]

The HPF may be buffering the preamp out and protecting it from loading effects of the poweramp input since the HPF likely has a much higher input impedance, but that's an easy amp to drive, so you should be able to push it at a relatively low master setting. I'd check the tubes.

Its not a tubes problem, as far as I can tell. In fact, its more of curiosity for me. I've used a number of different tubes in it in recent times and they've all produced roughly the same output range. I was wondering if it was an impedance related thing, but I'm not really versed on how impedance works when it comes to amp input.

I also say I don't think its a bad tube situation because I've had that with this unit before, and the output was CONSIDERABLY less, exponentially less.

 

[BurningSkies]

Curious... What is the output's setting when the HPF isn't in the chain at all?

The preamp's output setting is nearly full up to get the same volume without the HPF in line, where I run it at about half-throw with it in line, which is hard to say anything specifically quantifiably, because I don't have a measuring device.

 

[JGR]

Doesn't sound right - what are your amp's attenuators set at? Even with them about noon, I'd think you should be able to drive the amp to clipping with the preamp master no more than half way...

 

[mbelue]

You using the same cables throughout?

 

[BurningSkies]

Doesn't sound right - what are your amp's attenuators set at? Even with them about noon, I'd think you should be able to drive the amp to clipping with the preamp master no more than half way...

My attenuators are both set as you can see here:

(The amp is not bridged, but the channels are jumped and the attenuators are run the same. Live I often run the IPR bridged with the attenuators set much the same, or sometimes up to 'noon' without clipping.)

I get no clipping happening with the Monique's output at noon and the HPF in place, and it set for unity gain. I find that I'm more likely to hit the clean headroom limit on the HPF with transients if I push the output level much harder than that. The input on the Monique has a push/pull for a -4db on the input and that's where I have that set. When I pulled the HPF out of the signal chain I did pull it for a non-attenuated input.

 

[BurningSkies]

You using the same cables throughout?

Last night when I was doing the 'testing' I ran:

-Monique->TRS->HPF3->TS->IPR (my usual)
-HPF ->Monique->TRS->IPR
-HPF-> Monique->TS->IPR
then
-Monique->TRS->IPR (no HPF)
-Monique->TS->IPR (no HPF)
-Monique->TS->IPR (no HPF, different TS)

No change in levels with HPF in front of the Monique vs. not using it at all. No change in levels between different TS cables or between the TRS and the TS.

After this I re-set up the:
-Monique->TRS->HPF3->TS->IPR
as I usually run it and had my usual levels with the Monique output set at noon.

 

[BurningSkies]

Also, note, in my 'original' picture:

The line level IS cranked. This is a shot from the first night I got the HPF and was taken before I started playing that night. So it looks like its not new/different, but I may have forgotten that I had to bring back the Line level.