New smaller lighter amplifiers

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 6 Oct 2015 1:44 pm

There has been several discussions about new smaller, less heavy amplifiers. In all these recent discussions I hear nothing about the new Evans small light weight amps. Scott Henderson plays through an Evans that is 200 watts, and has a 10 inch speaker. The back is closed. The amp is about 10 inches wide, and 12 inches tall and weighs 21 pounds. Trust me when I say it has the power and tone quality of big heavy Peavey amps. The sound coming from this small little Evans box is just unbelievable. My question is this, why hasn't this amp been mentioned along with Quilter, Little Walter, and all the other new little amps?

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 6 Oct 2015 1:53 pm

Keith, Scott had me included on the tour of that green RE200, and I thought it was most excellent, especially when also feeding a closed-back 15 extension cabinet.
It certainly merits a look.

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 6 Oct 2015 2:03 pm

Lane, Scott Buffington has me scheduled to try the little green monster also. It is out in Oregon right now, then goes to southern California. Don't how long it will be before I can try it. Hate to ask, but why didn't you buy it instead of what you did buy? Just wondering?

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 6 Oct 2015 2:11 pm

I wasn't really even looking to buy the Milkman, but Mrs Gray proposed it as my birthday present.
I prefer the tube sound over the all solid state. I certainly felt the green monster the equal of my Session 400. And they don't make those anymore.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 7 Oct 2015 7:01 am

Has anyone tried using one of these to get a Chalker-type of tone at high volumes?

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 7 Oct 2015 7:22 am

Donny, I have not tried one of the little Evans amps, but I am scheduled to try one. Now to answer your question about playing Curly Chalker C6th, big chords, at extreme volumes. I have heard Scott Henerson's little Evans do it. No break up of any kind, and the tone was as good as it gets. Like you Donny, I did not believe it was possible until I heard and saw it with my own eys. Donny, old guys like you and me have to see and hear things before we belive it. I saw it and heard it, and that is why I am asking about these little amps. I am starting to believe you don't have to have an 85 pound amp with a 15 inch speaker to make a big sound. Scott Henderson's amp weighs 21 pounds, has a 10 inch speaker, and can tear your head off clean at the shoulders.

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 7 Oct 2015 11:02 am

Where in Oregon?

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 7 Oct 2015 11:50 am

Talk to Scott, Larry. It really is a great little amp.

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 7 Oct 2015 1:41 pm

Larry, like Lane said, contact Scott. Scott has a web site and it has his phone number on it. Just google Evans Amplifiers. Maybe if it is close enough to you, you could try the amp before it heads south to California. Scott's last name is Buffington.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 7 Oct 2015 1:46 pm

Keith Hilton wrote:My question is this, why hasn't this amp been mentioned along with Quilter, Little Walter, and all the other new little amps?

I have a couple of early/mid 60's Standel's that have plenty of power and sound better than anything I've compared them to, and they are very light weight. Especially the hybrid Imperial head with a single speaker cab. Bob Crooks nailed it a long time ago. Just too bad there aren't more of them out there.

Ollin Landers · Post by **Ollin Landers** » 7 Oct 2015 2:13 pm

I have been looking to get into boutique tube amps. I really want a milkman creamer 20 watt.

We mic everything and 20 tube watts would be plenty for me.

I'm saving my pennies but every time I have a new medical issue I have to break the piggy bank.

I live about 45mns from Burlington and I may just have to give Scott a a call and try the RE300.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 7 Oct 2015 2:26 pm

Check out that new Milkman head. Dairy-Air. 30 to 40W of all tube power. 15 lbs. yeah!

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 7 Oct 2015 3:08 pm

Whoever is on the amp naming comittee at Milkman sure has a great of humor.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 7 Oct 2015 3:45 pm

Tom Wolverton wrote:Check out that new Milkman head. Dairy-Air. 30 to 40W of all tube power. 15 lbs. yeah!

Should have lots of bottom.

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 7 Oct 2015 4:50 pm

Tom Wolverton wrote:Check out that new Milkman head. Dairy-Air. 30 to 40W of all tube power. 15 lbs. yeah!

I don't see this amp listed on Tim's website??

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 7 Oct 2015 4:59 pm

It might be too new. It was on his FB page just today.
Meant for fly gigs.

Drew Pierce · Post by **Drew Pierce** » 7 Oct 2015 6:02 pm

Keith, in response to your OP, I have no idea why they don't get the attention of the others you mentioned. The new Evans amps are fabulous.

I played through an old (Darrel Stephens-era) FET500 LV for years and when I got my RE500, I sold the FET without giving it a second thought. The new amp is that much better. I'll be curious how you like the "Little Green Monster". From the Evans website, however, it looks to be basically the same amp as the RE500. Although mine's not green.

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 8 Oct 2015 1:09 pm

Yes, Drew, I think it is the same as your RE500. Scott said he was going to quit making the 500 watt ones soon.

Drew Pierce · Post by **Drew Pierce** » 9 Oct 2015 4:30 am

I suppose this is a question for Scot, but I wonder what the difference is between the RE200 and RE300? I know the 500 is simply a 500w version of the 200w RE200, with the only difference being the power amps. When I bought mine, Scot recommended the 500 over the 200 when I mentioned playing a fair amount of C6.

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 9 Oct 2015 5:10 pm

Drew, you actually know more details about these amps than I do. Why don't you contact Scott and ask him what the difference between the RE200 and RE300.
From talking to Scott about the 500, the reason he said he was discontinuing the 500, is because the people building the power boards are discontinuing the 500. So apparently Scott does not actually build the power amp board, but simply buys them. Scott told me he has a few of the 500's left and when he gets rid of them he will no longer build them. That still leaves the question of the difference between the RE200 and RE300. I know Scott Henderson has the RE200 and it will tear you head off---at the neck. Scott did say he changed the speaker, and I am wondering why? Find out Drew.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 9 Oct 2015 5:17 pm

Right, Keith (strangest autocorrect ever). He's been buying class D power. I'm thinking if the 200 or 300 isn't loud enough,
1) you're too loud, and
2) class D power modules are coming down, get a powered extension cab driven by the line out. You can just scale that up as much as you like.

Keith Hilton · Post by **Keith Hilton** » 9 Oct 2015 5:24 pm

Lane I think you have the right idea. One question on my mind is why did Scott Henderson tell me he changed the original speaker in his RE200? Is there a better choice speaker--for sound--for weight--or why? Maybe only Scott Henderson can answer that question, but don't know when I will see Scott next.

Drew Pierce · Post by **Drew Pierce** » 9 Oct 2015 6:38 pm

It's true, Scot buys his power amps from outside sources. It's also true that amp wattage is something of a mystery to me when it comes to valuation. Peak power and other factors beyond my comprehension come into play. The validiity of comparing 10-40 watt tube amps to 500 watt SS amps escapes me.

As for speakers, John Hughey, a long time Evans player, once told me he tried using the neo speakers available at that time and they would not hold up under the loads he was pushing on C6 in bigger venues. As I recall, he told me he went back to the JBL E130 that originally came loaded in his FET 500s. But that was before the current advancements in neo speakers.

I know that Scot uses the best speaker available for the sound his customers want.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 10 Oct 2015 11:40 pm

Just to add--Scott is a Frank Zappa nut. That makes him cool, in my book.

Ray Uhl · Post by **Ray Uhl** » 11 Oct 2015 6:43 pm

I have a GK500 I use with a DD3 and the speaker in my Vegas 400. It's 500 watts at 4 ohms and 350 8 ohms. It sounds good. I leave the Vegas amp at the Opry show and carry the GK weighing approximately 4lbs. GK makes a GK500 Fusion that has one 12AXT7 tube. I've heard a comparable and less expense Carvin amp that sounds very good. Jack Stoner has the Carvin with the EPS 15 Eminence. He used it at the Heartland Steel Show this year and it sounds good. Plenty of power to get that clean sound at a low volume.

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