So essentially use Monique as an effects pedal between the Puma preamp and power amp? Wouldn't be my first choice but go for it. I rant Monique into the front end of the Puma (as an effects pedal before the preamp) and didn't really care for it. As much as I like the Puma as a head, I didn't like the two preamps running together. I much preferred Monique into the effects return, and Monique into Minnie is even better to my ears.
Worth doing the experiment though. Plugging cables around is cheap.
Funny thing is that if I wouldn't have done the comparison between the Read and Monique, I would have never ventured down this path, because I was really happy how Monique sounded at saturday's gig. But now that I did, the sky is the limit. Honestly that Read pre is something else. It still can hold its own with the big boys. Its a shame its out of production. Who knows what it would have evolved to...
So I did some more comparisons early this morning before leaving for work which is before 7am (my neighbors are just loving me!), all different ways.
I tried plugging directly into the Puma 900 and putting Monique in the fx loop. It worked out really well. It really is rare that piece of gear can play so well in so many different configurations. Monique is an incredible piece of gear. I really liked the way it sounded. I got all the goodness and flexibility of the Puma, and the fatness of Monique. Nice!
Basically I really am splitting hairs here now. Honestly every configuration sounded really good and I would be happy with any of them. If I had to choose a winner for me, I would still say the Read into Monique is the best, but not by far. The Puma with Monique in the fx loop sounded really good too. Perhaps not as thick as the Read, but sounded a bit cleaner, not as dark. But the cool thing is, having the Puma in front, if I want to darken it a bit, just turn the taste knob. A lot of options there.
So for today (haha), I'm leaning towards plugging into the Puma 900 and running Monique in the fx loop (although the true test will be at my next gig). I get the flexibilty of the Puma eq, Monique fat tubeyness, and a pristine DI to boot. I didnt feel like I really lost anything tone wise by doing this, as opposed to going Monique into Puma fx return. And of course not having a rack around is nice too, although after playing with that Read again, I think it will be making an appearance now and again with my Crest Pro power amp.
So one last test which I havent tried yet is Fodera, Monique, crest.
And at some point I will try to record all of these and try to post them as well.
Nostatic, I know you're set on your Monique, Minnie setup, but you should try just for sh*ts and giggles your Monique into the fx return of the Puma, even though you would never use it that way. It is pretty interesting to do. I can also see why you wouldnt like Monique into the Puma front end. I wouldnt want the Puma front end to color the tone of Monique going into it. I think Monique in the fx loop is a better alternative. Try it out.
