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Topic: Milkman amps |
Lee Dassow
From:
Jefferson, Georgia USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2014 3:58 pm |
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Hi folks. I was just wondering If those milkman amps
are circuit board built or hand wired like the old fenders were. I think you refer to it as point to point wiring. Tennessee Lee
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2015 Mullen D-10 Royal Precision 9x8,-1990 BMI S-10 5x5-1972 Silver face Fender pro Reverb amp,-1965 Fender Super Reverb Amp,- 1966 Fender Showman Amp Two 15" JBL speakers,- 2006 65 Fender Twin Reverb reissue Amp,- 1982 Peavey Session 500 amp,-1978 Peavey Session 400,Goodrich Volume Pedals,John Pearse Steel Bars, |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 29 Aug 2014 4:51 pm
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| Certain that Tim Marcus will chime in, but to the best of my knowledge, each Milkman amp is hand built by Tim himself with meticulous attention to detail. Could not be happier with my 'Milkman Mini', exceptional product. |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 29 Aug 2014 7:16 pm
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The amps are built on a Turret Board: US made double turrets staked into 1/8" Garolite
From there they are hand wired to the controls and tube sockets. Here's some pics:
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Milkmansound.com |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2014 7:39 pm
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Tim,
That is tuly beautiful workmanship. Fender never even dreamed that his circuit boards could look so orderly and clean. You're attention to detail is awesome!
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer |
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Lee Dassow
From:
Jefferson, Georgia USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2014 8:04 pm
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Very nice work Tim. Thanks for the close ups too, I'm wondering where you get your parts from, capacitors resisters ect. Not trying to be nosy. T.L.
_________________
2015 Mullen D-10 Royal Precision 9x8,-1990 BMI S-10 5x5-1972 Silver face Fender pro Reverb amp,-1965 Fender Super Reverb Amp,- 1966 Fender Showman Amp Two 15" JBL speakers,- 2006 65 Fender Twin Reverb reissue Amp,- 1982 Peavey Session 500 amp,-1978 Peavey Session 400,Goodrich Volume Pedals,John Pearse Steel Bars, |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 29 Aug 2014 8:27 pm
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The coupling and tone caps are made by Jupiter Condenser in Ohio
The resistors are vintage US made Allen Bradley (except for a few key spots where I use carbon metal film to keep down noise)
I make the boards myself.
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Milkmansound.com |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2014 5:41 am
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| Rick Abbott wrote: |
Tim,
That is tuly beautiful workmanship. Fender never even dreamed that his circuit boards could look so orderly and clean. You're attention to detail is awesome! |
i have repaired hundreds of fender amps. i have never found one to be made disorderly and nasty. |
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Lee Dassow
From:
Jefferson, Georgia USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2014 7:15 am
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Tim, Sounds like high quality American parts. Much better than the parts coming from china. The reason I mentioned this is because two amp tech's up in this neck of the woods said that Fender and Peavey were using sub standard parts from china in their new amps. Just what I heard from qualified people. T.L.
_________________
2015 Mullen D-10 Royal Precision 9x8,-1990 BMI S-10 5x5-1972 Silver face Fender pro Reverb amp,-1965 Fender Super Reverb Amp,- 1966 Fender Showman Amp Two 15" JBL speakers,- 2006 65 Fender Twin Reverb reissue Amp,- 1982 Peavey Session 500 amp,-1978 Peavey Session 400,Goodrich Volume Pedals,John Pearse Steel Bars, |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 30 Aug 2014 7:20 am
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Wait. Jupiter caps. Mercury transformers.
What is it with you and Roman gods?
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2014 9:03 am
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Hey Bill,
Don't misunderstand me, Fender built great amps and were nice and neat, but not Milkman nice and neat 
I have spent a fair amount of time inside Fender amps too.
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 30 Aug 2014 9:15 am
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| Lee Dassow wrote: |
| Tim, Sounds like high quality American parts. Much better than the parts coming from china. The reason I mentioned this is because two amp tech's up in this neck of the woods said that Fender and Peavey were using sub standard parts from china in their new amps. Just what I heard from qualified people. T.L. |
This is likely true. The difference is that large amp companies have a bottom line to contend with, and are trying to make amplifiers more of a commodity than an instrument. Milkman is the opposite: I'm making amps that spare no expense, in small batches, and I don't have anyone with a spreadsheet to tell me what to do 
I try to use as many US made parts as I can, and I do all of the assembly and work in California. My cabinets are made in Nashville by a small shop. I realize that this makes my amps more expensive, but my ideals are too lofty to care how that affects sales. I'd rather sell no amps than support a culture where they are made overseas by people that don't play the instrument or even know what it is!
We live in a golden age for quality equipment because of the internet. It allows me to function with no dealers, and no minimum orders and I can keep the quality up with no pressure. You wouldn't buy a pedal steel that came off of an assembly line - the same is true for everything in the signal path especially the amplifier
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
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John Limbach
From:
Billings, Montana, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2014 12:55 pm
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| Tim Marcus wrote: |
| The coupling and tone caps are made by Jupiter Condenser in Ohio |
Tim:
Would you mind saying what functions you use the Astron caps for, as opposed to the Vintage Tone? |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 30 Aug 2014 8:44 pm
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I typically use the red astrons in the phase inverter and the yellow vintage tone in the preamp.
They are similar but made with different foil material (tin versus aluminum). I have tried many different combos and ended up with the red caps on the output side of the amp.
The 40W mini has yellow caps throughout because there is not enough space for the big red caps. The 50W sideman with the tweed preamp on channel 1 has red caps on channel 1.
The new 300w half and half uses Mallory 150 series caps to keep the cost down. I have to test each cap on my oscilloscope to find the foil side and orient them accordingly.
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Milkmansound.com |
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Matthew Dawson
From:
Portland Oregon, USA
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Posted 31 Aug 2014 12:27 am
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| I'd buy a Milkman amp in a second if I had the scratch! Everything done right and made by a steel player with good ears. |
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John Limbach
From:
Billings, Montana, USA
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Posted 18 Sep 2014 1:55 pm
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| Tim Marcus wrote: |
| The coupling and tone caps are made by Jupiter Condenser in Ohio |
Tim: Are the black lines on the Jupiter caps indicating the outer foil lead? Sure would save time not having to check them all.
Thanks. |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 18 Sep 2014 3:06 pm
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yes - that is exactly what they are and yes its a huge time saver!
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Milkmansound.com |
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Bill Moran
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2014 7:22 pm
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| Tim Marcus wrote: |
| Lee Dassow wrote: |
| Tim, Sounds like high quality American parts. Much better than the parts coming from china. The reason I mentioned this is because two amp tech's up in this neck of the woods said that Fender and Peavey were using sub standard parts from china in their new amps. Just what I heard from qualified people. T.L. |
This is likely true. The difference is that large amp companies have a bottom line to contend with, and are trying to make amplifiers more of a commodity than an instrument. Milkman is the opposite: I'm making amps that spare no expense, in small batches, and I don't have anyone with a spreadsheet to tell me what to do
I try to use as many US made parts as I can, and I do all of the assembly and work in California. My cabinets are made in Nashville by a small shop. I realize that this makes my amps more expensive, but my ideals are too lofty to care how that affects sales. I'd rather sell no amps than support a culture where they are made overseas by people that don't play the instrument or even know what it is!
We live in a golden age for quality equipment because of the internet. It allows me to function with no dealers, and no minimum orders and I can keep the quality up with no pressure. You wouldn't buy a pedal steel that came off of an assembly line - the same is true for everything in the signal path especially the amplifier |
Thank You Tim !!!
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Bill |
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