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Jule Amps Monique Part III

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#641
Hi Blaine

I haven't played through any of the gear you mention so can't comment, other than to say I know it's high quality. For my gear I went from using a mike pope preamp to using Monique and in he future I'm looking at plugging Monique into the Mike Pope for a little added EQ options. As for the sound I've managed to get the best recorded tone ever using a sadowsky 5 strong in passive mode into monique set close to flat and with the sensitivity out and approx 2. Everyone comments on how good it sounded. Perhaps the thing that I get most though is the 'feel' of monique. She gives ghost notes that extra oomph that makes them a complete part of your line. This is unlike any pre/amp I've played in the past.

So far I think the sound of Monique is great in the clean/ slightly overdriven side of things. I've not had as much success with the grittier end of things although this may be due to my cabs (Acme Low B).

For me I haven't regretted Monique at all and that's up against the Mike pope and an Avalon U5 and a Genz Benz Streamliner. In my pursuit of tone I think I'm done.

Let me know if you're up this way and you can definitely check it out for yourself.

Cheers

Ben



basshack said:
Hi Ben,

Thanks for chiming in. Yep yours was the one I found reading all the posts in this thread. I'm still hoping to find one down south but hey I almost came up for the Queensland chapter Ozbass Forum GTG last year so anything is possible. I went to the Sydney one last year and the Adelaide one this year. Strange I know.

I'm a hack on the bass so that's where the handle came from. But my son's name is Ben and he's a player too. Much better than I am but then he does have lessons.

So just how good are these units? Is the hype true and I shouldn't be without one? I currently run with a Tecamp L212 and Glock Blue soul favouring my Dingwall mostly so my sound is pretty clean, if not hi-fi. I play at Church mostly having gotten out of the gigging scene years back. I play to relax and chill but I like it to sound nice. My old valve amp is past it's use by date and I'm not liking any pedals that emulate valve amps yet. So convince me that these will bring out a better sound from my rig and it's $1500 well spent.

Cheers
Blaine
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#642
BenHack said:
Hi Blaine

I haven't played through any of the gear you mention so can't comment, other than to say I know it's high quality. For my gear I went from using a mike pope preamp to using Monique and in he future I'm looking at plugging Monique into the Mike Pope for a little added EQ options. As for the sound I've managed to get the best recorded tone ever using a sadowsky 5 strong in passive mode into monique set close to flat and with the sensitivity out and approx 2. Everyone comments on how good it sounded. Perhaps the thing that I get most though is the 'feel' of monique. She gives ghost notes that extra oomph that makes them a complete part of your line. This is unlike any pre/amp I've played in the past.

So far I think the sound of Monique is great in the clean/ slightly overdriven side of things. I've not had as much success with the grittier end of things although this may be due to my cabs (Acme Low B).

For me I haven't regretted Monique at all and that's up against the Mike pope and an Avalon U5 and a Genz Benz Streamliner. In my pursuit of tone I think I'm done.

Let me know if you're up this way and you can definitely check it out for yourself.

Cheers

Ben
Click to expand...

Thanks Ben,

I have played through both the Streamliner and U5. But didn't gel with either, I'm not after gritty for what I do but more depth from my instruments if I can get it.

Maybe I will find myself up your end of the country, if so I'll give you a call and talk shop for a while.

Cheers. Blaine
 
#645
monsterthompson said:
just played one and I'm addicted.
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She's pretty awesome... :D

I'm putting her though her paces right now:
Monique01.jpg
 
#647
My ultimate amp choice will be between the Tardis DeMonique and Baer Valkyrie. Both should have incredible tone but quite different form factors and several other considerations. Not an easy decision.
 
#648
When one plugs Monique into xyz bass amp that has it's own pre-amp, is it strictly a function of which plug in one uses, i.e. effects etc. to bypass the built in pre, or is it manufacturer design of the bass/power amp determining if you get only Monique, or a blend of the built in pre and Monique?
 
#649
mntngrown said:
When one plugs Monique into xyz bass amp that has it's own pre-amp, is it strictly a function of which plug in one uses, i.e. effects etc. to bypass the built in pre, or is it manufacturer design of the bass/power amp determining if you get only Monique, or a blend of the built in pre and Monique?
Click to expand...

In most amps, plugging into the effects return bypasses the pre. A notable exception is the markbass Little Mark, which has a parallel effects loop. Not sure about other markbass heads.

Cheers,
Liam
 
#653
mntngrown said:
When one plugs Monique into xyz bass amp that has it's own pre-amp, is it strictly a function of which plug in one uses, i.e. effects etc. to bypass the built in pre, or is it manufacturer design of the bass/power amp determining if you get only Monique, or a blend of the built in pre and Monique?
Click to expand...

I like the question. It is important to me in my work.

Every "pre" (and every amplification stage) must add its character to the sound. Depending on their design, some add a lot of their character and some add very little. All this is getting around to saying that if you can somehow avoid the pre-amplifier in an amp and just rely on Monique you will have more control over your sound.

The uncomfortable word we can get to with more than one pre-amplifier in the signal chain is "mush." Detail (especially playing characteristics) and note definition can be quickly lost. It is similar to running a picture through a bunch of copies (ever watched a bootlegged vid?). At the end, the picture is similar, but not nearly so close to the original.

So if they exist, a pre-amplifier bypass switch is cool, or using the Return on an effects loop, or on some amps it just says something about "Power Amp Input." All do the same thing, which is eliminate the additional pre-amp stages.
 
#660
Jazzdogg said:
Has the Baer Valkyrie started shipping, or are you one of those lucky cats who's had a sneak peek? :)
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No, I'll just be following reviews from those who get in on the 1st run. The Valkyrie offers FET as well as tube pre-amps but Monique has exquisite tube tone. I'm interested to see how the Valkyrie tube section stacks up.

IntrepidCellist said:
I don't see how they have different form factors. They're both 2U integrated heads... one will be heavier, though.
Click to expand...
You're right. Probably not so much the form factor as the tone stack and some of the design goals.
 
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