Coming Soon: Milkman Hybrid 250W x 2 Amplifier

[Jon Light]

Big +1 on "Half & Half"!

On my 20W Milkman, one of the things I love is the power scaling pot---essentially a post-preamp master volume.

So I can set the amp near breaking up and push it over the edge either with a fairly clean boost or an overdrive. It can get nicely crunchy while maintaining the volume level with the power scaling.

I am not seeing a Master Volume here, Tim. Any thoughts?

[Tim Marcus]

Bob and Jon - maybe I can address both questions with one answer:

This amp will not distort like my 100% tube amps will. I have set up the preamp to deliver a 100% clean signal to the power amplifier. Master volume will not "push" the preamp at all - although I can certainly add in a master volume if requested. The volume is within the preamp like it was on early Fender amps. Distortion in a solid state amp is not a very desirable sound - on a tube amp, its magic.

So yeah, Bob, you are going to need a pedal for grit. I think something transparent like the Earth Drive or Emerson EM Drive would be a cool sound.

Also, VVR power scaling does not apply here either - this is a clean machine, designed from the ground up for pedal steel players based on what I have been reading on this forum, and hearing from players who either did or did not end up with a Milkman amp. I am very excited to get this into players hands, and at a price point that is not out of reach for the average musician.

Stay tuned!

[Jack Stanton]

Tim,
Any chance of getting it into a smaller cabinet?

[Tim Marcus]

Jack it will also be offered as a head

The cabinet pictured is very small. Any smaller than that and I fear the speaker baffle will cease to sound good

[Ian Sutton]

Ian - I am working on a 15" combo for demo purposes. Once the amp is ready for prime time I will let you borrow it for a little while!

Man, with the 15" too, sounds like it's gonna be a great fit. Really excited about this, Tim.

[Tim Marcus]

For those following my progress - I finally have the amp in a state where its ready for beta testing.

I am going to be sending a few out to some professionals to beat on for a few months, then there will be more news here on the forum.

[Matt Butner]

I would love to hear one of these babies. I think it will be a big hit to many players. The half and half name is really nice. Of course you could always use the slogan- if you don't like my tube amps you should try the utter one.

[Dustin Rigsby]

I'd gladly test one for you Tim.

[Tim Marcus]

we'll see

[b0b]

Will you be bringing one to the Steel Summit at the Starry Plough on March 22, Tim?

[Tim Marcus]

I am going to try to have one there yes. no promises though!

[Jonathan Lam]

i checked my mail, its not here.

[Tim Marcus]

Will you be bringing one to the Steel Summit at the Starry Plough on March 22, Tim?

YES is the answer

I put another one together this week, and I will bring it tomorrow night. Its a Twin sized combo, and I really like the way the amp sounds in this size box. Its a little bit heavier at 40lbs but for a 500W (mostly) tube amp… that ain't bad!

This one looks familiar, because I pulled my personal 85W out of the cab to fit it in - that shed 15 pounds.

[Dustin Rigsby]

i checked my mail, its not here.

Same here Jonathon ! Seriously though, I'm pretty excited about this amp

[b0b]

That amp sounded great last night, Tim. Loud and clean, with a real pretty reverb.

[Tim Marcus]

thanks b0b!

You sounded great on that ZB!

They told me to turn down after a few songs… so I guess I won the volume war

[Mark Fowler]

This is a great product Tim and I'm exciting for you and the players, keep up the great work.

Mark