Jule Amps Monique Part III

[juledude]

Walter told me his amps need at least 3/4 to 1 inch clearance on top if this helps.I replaced the rubber feet on my Monique Dove cage with some taller rubber feet I found someplace on the net.Send me a PM and I will PM you the info on where I got them but they are fairly big.1 1/8 tall by 1 1/2 Dia also had to get a little longer screws to use.

Those stock feet sit up 3/4". They should give the WW plenty of airflow, but taller is good too.

 

[maisbass]

Perhaps I am misspeaking here but it isn't expecting a bit too much

*but isn't it expecting too much...

Darn iphone auto correct! Lol!

 

[monsterthompson]

Perhaps I am misspeaking here but it isn't expecting a bit too much for Monique to sound like an old SVT? ...

I guess for those back line situations where you are forced to use a cab that is there it will be handy to have some other sort of eq source as well with Monique, perhaps a parametric stomp box.

I feel for you guys that have to deal with back line situations. I am so thankful that the gig I have allows me to always use my rig.

Again I do not have my Monique yet so I am speaking merely on just what I have read and concluded here.

No expectations for an SVT sound out of the cab I was using. I just wanted the EQ to do something. The clapped out rehersal space cab was just too much in my case. fEARful has spoiled me. To be fair, my Mesa PH 115 is responsive enough.

I've been thinking of unloading my Jag, but due to the chances I might be backline-using again, I may keep it to allow for extreme EQ adjustments, and use Monique at home.

 

[maisbass]

No expectations for an SVT sound out of the cab I was using. I just wanted the EQ to do something. The clapped out rehersal space cab was just too much in my case. fEARful has spoiled me..

Understood. I couldn't imagine doing a gig without my Baer Ml112. It has spoiled me.

 

[foderaman]

I hear you. I'm in the same boat. I don't know how many times I've added Monique to the shopping cart only to delete it. Only a matter of time.

Those stock feet sit up 3/4". They should give the WW plenty of airflow, but taller is good too.

My early model Dove cage had 1/2inch tall feet that is why I put the taller one on to run with the WW but the feet are not because of the cooling of Monique but for the venting and cooling of the WW Ultra.since there is no fan to the WW . Walter himself told me about the amount that was needed..Remember the Minnie from Jim D has a Fan for cooling !

 

[chadds]

Perhaps I am misspeaking here but it isn't expecting a bit too much for Monique to sound like an old SVT? I know there have been some comparisons because of the similarities in the design of the eq (bandaxall), but how could it be like an SVT, especially since this is only a tube pre without the tube power section that an SVT has? From what I've read here in the thread is that the Monique really makes you hear what your bass is supposed to sound like, just like The Read Purity pre does.

The only problem with the Read Pre IMO was that the eq wasn't that great, but when you bypassed the eq, the Read Pre came to life! I'm hoping the Monique eq will give me better results in sweetening the sound from room to room, but I am not expecting drastic eq changes. I love the way my bass sounds with flat eq settings so I just want the tube response of the Monique and some salt and pepper to taste.

I guess for those back line situations where you are forced to use a cab that is there it will be handy to have some other sort of eq source as well with Monique, perhaps a parametric stomp box.

I feel for you guys that have to deal with back line situations. I am so thankful that the gig I have allows me to always use my rig.

Again I do not have my Monique yet so I am speaking merely on just what I have read and concluded here.

It is a bit to expect the Monique to sound exactly like an SVT. Yet as a pre it has so much feel and girth it seems like you have power tubes. This is one of it's unusual characteristics.

However it is not like the Read Purity.
Imagine your bass sounding like your bass and the fatness we associate with the B-15 simultaneously. The eq does many things and none bad. You want it just turn the knob. The tone controls are musically powerful.

Yes, it can't make a flabby spent cab sound right. Perhaps something can. I haven't found it. I know from the struggles on this sight that not all heads work well on every cab or vice versa.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

I've read Monique described as an "old SVT meets B-15" but I disagree with this as well. Chadds kind of nailed it. It sounds like your bass, but a little thicker and warmer. The EQ is very flexible but never sounds bad. A lot of the sensitivity knob (pulled out) starts to get a little aggression and openness. But I've never thought SVT. Maaaaybbbeee a little B-15, but really neither. Monique is truly it's own thing, I think, and I really dig it. Such warmth and clarity in a matter of seconds, or even with the EQ set flat! I think your instrument, strings, and cab also add tons to this equation, but I've yet to find a sound i didn't like immediately.

 

[monsterthompson]

A bit of noodling time tonight with Monique. I've found a few things.
1 - Still think I need to sell my Dingwall ABZ5.
2 - Not sure I like Monique right into my power amp as much as I like her into the input of my Black Jag 900. The Jag's EQ is much more powerful and flexy. However, Monique and the Sensitivity add a bit of life to the playing feel. It isn't radical, but it is there.
4 - I'm not sure I will be able to run Monique into the Crown power amp I ordered and be happy with the result.
3 - I think I need to rethink how to use Monique's EQ. The Bax is a different animal, indeed.

FYI - I'm going into a Mesa PH 115. I'm getting a small amount of hiss.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

I'm running my Fodera Imperial in passive mode with the tone knob rolled off about 45% and my EQ on Monique is:
High: 12-1 o'clock
Mids: 2 o'clock
Lows: 3 o'clock

regardless of the room it seems to just sound perfect. Every soundman I've encountered since gigging with this rig is blown away.

 

[monsterthompson]

just noticed that my poweramp bridged is kicking out more warm fat love. half power is missing something. anyone else notice a wattage issue?

 

[monsterthompson]

Just went back to Monique into the power section for some stereo play-along work, and I just might like that a little better now with the "mix." I was running a touch of compression from the Jag preamp section. I've got a Diamond Comp pedal I need to fold in. Any suggestions on signal chain location?

 

[stingraysvt]

I think the thing that caught my attention about the Monique was someone described a "3D quality and Heft" to your tone, and I can cop the sound of a SVT with some extreme EQ'ing on my Streamliner, but not that 3D quality and heft that envelops you.

Not that it's all SVT, but those are the two most important qualities I'm looking for from the Monique.

 

[nostatic]

just noticed that my poweramp bridged is kicking out more warm fat love. half power is missing something. anyone else notice a wattage issue?

On the Jag? No power amp "watts" on Monique.

 

[nostatic]

Just went back to Monique into the power section for some stereo play-along work, and I just might like that a little better now with the "mix." I was running a touch of compression from the Jag preamp section. I've got a Diamond Comp pedal I need to fold in. Any suggestions on signal chain location?

Try all of them and see what you like. Frankly I don't run compression much with Monique, and the last thing I want to do is run into the front end of another preamp (tried it with the Puma - hated it).

It really comes down to whether or not you like the Monique vibe. It isn't for everyone imho. If you want surgical eq you won't really get it. You might find that you prefer running the Jag and rolling the taste to around 1-2:00. That might get you a fat enough tone. It won't feel the same as Monique, at least IME, but depends on your basses, your technique, and what you're trying to accomplish. No single best solution because there are so many variables.

If you have any type of recording setup run Monique into that and record some stuff. Be sure to play the track in a mix - then see what you think. That's what it was originally designed to do. But again, no one-size-fits-all.

 

[monsterthompson]

On the Jag? No power amp "watts" on Monique.

yes. didn't realize it had become unbridged. same settings on Monique + bridging on the Jag sounded better. didn't think the power amp watts would change the tone that much. it should just be clean power at living room volume.

 

[Baird6869]

Try all of them and see what you like. Frankly I don't run compression much with Monique, and the last thing I want to do is run into the front end of another preamp (tried it with the Puma - hated it).

It really comes down to whether or not you like the Monique vibe. It isn't for everyone imho. If you want surgical eq you won't really get it. You might find that you prefer running the Jag and rolling the taste to around 1-2:00. That might get you a fat enough tone. It won't feel the same as Monique, at least IME, but depends on your basses, your technique, and what you're trying to accomplish. No single best solution because there are so many variables.

If you have any type of recording setup run Monique into that and record some stuff. Be sure to play the track in a mix - then see what you think. That's what it was originally designed to do. But again, no one-size-fits-all.

Well said.

My favourite amp before I found Monique was a Mesa M9. I would likely still be using one if I wasn't forced to look at alternatives after 2 different M9's died on gigs.

In any case, the M9 is pretty different than Monique to say the least and I still made the transition to Monique quickly. I also love the GK and Ampeg SVT tones.

Monique may not be for everybody, but it definitely isn't just for folks that like the Ampeg (insert other brand here) or other specific signature tones.

 

[monsterthompson]

I'm just finding my way here with the EQ. I think the Bax is throwing me a bit because I'm not used to it.

 

[nostatic]

I tend to run pretty much flat. Depending on the room I might add some low if I need some beef or some mid if I need some cut (not usually a problem with the Baers). I just find that in my hands the eq doesn't really change the overall sound that much, so I leave it flat and play. The sensitivity knob actually seems to have the most sway over the vibe of the preamp.

 

[monsterthompson]

I just find that in my hands the eq doesn't really change the overall sound that much, so I leave it flat and play. The sensitivity knob actually seems to have the most sway over the vibe of the preamp.

+1

 

[juledude]

My early model Dove cage had 1/2inch tall feet that is why I put the taller one on to run with the WW but the feet are not because of the cooling of Monique but for the venting and cooling of the WW Ultra.since there is no fan to the WW . Walter himself told me about the amount that was needed..Remember the Minnie from Jim D has a Fan for cooling !

I do not entirely understand the cooling requirements of all these Class D Amplifiers. I'd also follow what the designers suggest. It does seem that the cooling requirements are device specific.

So that I know how it happens, I have tried to overheat the Minnie. James says it can happen. Unfortunately I have not been able to do so in my shop. This is in part because unlike tube amps, Class D amps make no heat if they aren't making sound. The 800-D Minnie is said to have some sophisticated over-temperature sensing circuitry that shuts itself down when/if it does get too hot. (I suspect the WW does too.) Probably means I just need to play louder longer.