The Most Versatile Amp I've Ever Played! Milkman Sounds The Amp 100 | Secret Weapons Demo & Review
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- Опубліковано 7 сер 2024
- It does seem fitting for my first real "tube amp deep dive" on this channel to be one where we run direct, no? The Milkman Amp 100 is a class D hybrid tube amp sporting a 12AX7 preamp tube and a 100 watt solid state power amp section. This is an amp with the ability to push some serious volume through a cabinet, a load box, ir loader or even just direct to FOH or your mixer. You've also got an exceptional FET boost that can either sweeten your mids with a slight push or send the whole of the amp into massive breakup. High headroom cleans? Yeah. crazy amp gain? That too. Oh and it's got a truly dreamy reverb. I think it's fair to say that this is the most versatile tube amp I have ever played. Let's dive in and see how the Amp 100 holds up as a stand alone amp, in a stereo wet effects environment, and as part of the easiest Wet Dry Wet rig you'll ever build.
Other gear used:
Origin Cali76
Bondi Sick As (and sick as high shredroom)
Benson Preamp
Benson Germanium Boost
Walrus Audio Julia
CBA Thermae
Strymon El Cap
Neunaber Immerse and Illumine
Strymon Iridium
Walrus ACS1
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro Song
02:44 Review
09:44 Mono Direct Samples
20:49 Stereo Direct Samples with External Cab SIm
30:00 Wet Dry Wet Samples
Recorded in Universal Audio LUNA
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In terms of my Milkman uses and unresolved questions, I'm going to label this video a Godsend... but in truth I feel inspired to invent a new word to describe the value this video provided me. If I find that word, I'll get back to you. In the meantime, I want to provide some feedback to Mark specific to the approach he took in this video, and then say a few things about Milkman The Amp 100 in the context of trying to discern reliable and relevant online information from... well, not so much.
Mark - the balancing act of pace, depth, and clarity on display in Your Milkman use cases is perfect. These variables often fly under the radar and get taken granted, but they can make all the difference for the effectiveness in delivering a sticky message. However, this isn't the reason I'm heaping thanks and praise. It's obvious you clearly thought through a range of scenarios that are legitimately beneficial for a person interested in buying a Milkman or a current owner trying to optimize how they use this fairly unique tool. Far too often I come across videos that leave me wondering if the creator considered for even a moment what the viewer is hoping to find when they clicked on their content. Perhaps an odd correlation, but when I think about videos I've watched on less mainstream alt tunings, it's shocking how many open with 5 minutes of "how to tune your guitar" to the tuning. If a person's playing/writing is sophisticated enough to seek out info on say... Open Dm/C (CADFAD), then I think it's safe to assume their motivation isn't a tuning challenge.
Similarly, the type of guitarist seeking Milkman details is likely to grow impatient suffering through basic information they've already encountered on the product webpage or advertising. Or worse, the lazy and utterly useless cliche of "I know you didn't come to here me talk, you want to hear how it sounds!", followed by 5 minutes of directionless guitar meandering, and completely devoid of any relatable context. I think most guitarists are looking for 1 of 2 primary elements, and your video excelled at providing both of them.
(1) An additional layer of confirmation for buying a specific product
(2) Actual demonstration of practical applications they can use themselves (especially for those who already own it)
As for the usefulness of a majority of online content related to Milkman, the quality of information leaves a lot to be desired. In fairness, this is true of most less established or mainstream products. I've owned The Amp 100 for about a year now and I watched this video because I'm looking for ways to refine how I incorporate it in my setup. Despite having multiple traditional amps, the Milkman is the one I'm using on a daily basis. Pretend for a moment I've also included comments about how great it sounds and performs as a pedal platform, among other common pieces of positive feedback. I've now provided a glowing endorsement... a completely useless endorsement.
Why... because I didn't mention anything about how I use it (or demonstrate real-world practical applications like this video did). The singular application-based reason I like The Amp 100 is the convenience and relative (to other gear) tonal quality it provides in my recording setup. When I'm practicing or working out a guitar part, I'm using an acoustic, even for parts I plan to record with an electric guitar. Subsequently, I don't know or care if it's a good headphone amp to avoid disturbing the baby in the next room. Not once have I stopped to consider if the Milkman would be a contender if I started playing gigs again. I don't own any guitar picks. I play predominantly with a clean tone, and you'd need a discerning ear to recognize when I'm using a fuzz pedal. Some of the pedals I use are marvels of modern innovation, while others are temperamental nightmares. These pedals are largely responsible for my opinion on the merits of Milkman as a pedal platform... and above all, the chances of you having fairly similar pedals in your chain borders on nil.
If anyone happens to read my post, I'd bet most understood where I was going in the paragraph above, but I'm going to close by driving it home anyway. Nothing I'm about to say is a comment on the merits of specific gear, playing styles, or anything related. If you can't spell DAW, if digital modelers form you're baseline for comparison, if the appeal for you is not disturbing neighbors or family, if your tonal preference is a wall of distortion rain-wrapped in modulation, if you're unaware the heavy mid-focused frequencies currently turning you off can be fixed in a matter of seconds with EQ, and if your primary interest is a reliable amp for live environments, then:
1) The Milkman Amp 100 may still be a great option for you
2) But placing even a small fraction of stock in my endorsement would be a big mistake, specific to you
and
3) You're reading this with the benefit of knowing my opinion is based on a use case and musical elements that are completely irrelevant for you.
You wouldn't be wrong in thinking my entire post is a series of "Captain Obvious" statements either. However, it's not easy to keep this perspective in focus as we swim through a sea of online comments that rarely encompass even 10% of the stupid level of detail I've included in this stupidly long post. It's probably not a big deal for something like a chorus pedal, but it certainly is for something that may be used an unconventional way or for multiple purposes.
It's reasonable to say "wait a minute... every item discussed online is subject to the pitfalls mentioned in this post". Maybe so, but for some reason the scatter diagram of conflicting statements, statements with an isolated focus but lacking clarity, and people who simply appear to be talking out of their ass is abnormally high for this product. In terms of researching gear, there are very few items I've invested as much time towards as The Amp 100. This video is head-and-shoulders above anything I've find to date on The Amp 100 in terms being genuinely useful.
bro WHAT
Pinned.
You might be overthinking this
@@senoralecthompson Look, I get it, and even stated my post was ridiculously detailed and long. In the age of Twitter, Instagram, and TikToc, a generation of people are being conditioned to value short-duration and surface-level entertainment over detail and substance. We're heading towards something similar to 10 min episodes of "Kick-em in the Balls" from Idiocracy becoming the type of content that speaks to the masses. I'm not saying you're one of the morons who will embrace the absurdity of a reversal in Forward Progress, I'm saying I'm not interested in conforming to a dumb-ed down social media environment.
I could have communicated these 6 lines in 5 words - "my post isn't for you", then again I could have responded in a much more dick-ish way too. Your post wasn't overly offensive, but it's the type of impotent online mocking that makes me sigh and ponder, "Why are there so many people with nothing to say, that are addicted to saying something anyway". Is there a "participation ribbon" based on post count that I don't know about?
My post was written for an audience of people similar to me, no matter how small of a minority we've become. The type of people who might conclude from your non-value adding post that either:
(1) you've completely missed the point(s), and for some reason fail to recognize not everyone is exactly like you, or
(2) you're an anonymous online cartoon character who's either had a bad day or has a self-esteem problem.
I doubt there was actually something specific you felt I was "overthinking". But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt anyway, and ask you what exactly am I overthinking?
1) the "do people like my video style and approach" feedback for Mark as a content provider
2) the reminder to consider the correlation between your need/use case in relation to the person providing info
3) my confirmation as an Amp 100 owner that it's a worthy pedal platform / recording amp option
4) warning that the Amp 100 seems to have noticeably less reliable online info than similar products
or
Is what you're really trying to convey, "yer post is more dummerer cuz it got lots of words".
ChatGPT answering? :-)
I’ve got the 50W and simply run it into a Morgan 1 x 12 cab Celestion Creamback. Bought it on release and have used it ever since. I haven’t deep dived nearly as much as Mark nor did I realise how flexible a piece of kit it potentially is. Thanks for all the detail and opening up possibilities. Best vid on this amp I’ve seen
my whole face shrunk in on itself around 27:00 because your TONE IS SO GOOD.
Thank you for sharing such an in-depth demonstration and playing with such sparse sensitivity. It not only show's the amp's technical capabilities but, more importantly, reveals the emotional impact that can be achieved when combined with effects. I learned so much from what is a comprehensive and inspiring master's class.
This video goes into auch great detail. Just bought the 50W version so I’ll be taking notes. Thanks for doing this!
I love this sort of concept. I like keeping a tidy rig. I learned the hard way, lugging Marshall and Boogie stacks, or an array of combos. This helps simplify things in an intelligent way. And I just love everything Milkman is doing. Their amps are tremendous.
Only just came across you channel, but I had to post to second many of the other commentators. Your reviews are EXCELLENT. So in-depth, lots of context, great examples. Really great stuff! (Though I’m not sure I’m ready to leave my all tube amp behind yet 😬😉)
The depth of info here coupled with the amazing sounds throughout is absolutely killer!
I played the Amp 50 in a friend's house, going guitar-amp=speaker cab, and thought "This may well be the best sounding amp I've played thru. I've owned the Ampeg stadium rigs, Mesa Boogie Mk II, a 1961 Blonde Bassman, a '58 Champ, so that bar is not set too low. Am looking forward to plugging in my Amp 100 that's been sent ahead of me on the tour.
Ohhh Mann!!!
I had amplifiers, then digital, simplifier... and the milkman is the best thing I've bought in a long time.
It always goes with me (I need a UDG Case), at work (I'm in an instrument boutique shop), at church, in my home studio, for electric guitar, but also for my acoustic
really the best!
thanks for the demo!!
Congrats on the new space!!!
I have the 50 and use it as a back-up/grab & go for rehearsals-to my main Jerry Garcia rig. And it is fantastic.
I don't use it as a cab sim, since I am almost exclusively a JBL K-120 guy.
But I have used it with a Tele and Strat and it is just a killer Fender Blackface tone with a fair amount of headroom and amazing edge break-up.
Everytime I get GAS for a vintage fender head or combo I remember this and am very grateful for how unbelievable this magical little box sounds.
I would have no issues taking it for a gig of almost any kind. With a 2x12 JBL cabinet it absolutely kills.
I have the 50W baby brother to this one. Love it. It sounds fuller and is louder than most UA-cam videos would suggest. Granted, it won't rock a stadium, but it easily gets loud enough to bother the neighbors. You do a great job of getting the true sound of this across. I have mine hooked up to a 1x12 cab and it's lovely. Thanks for the best review of this that I've seen online!
Great video! Love the desktop/pedalboard design of these Amps. Totally agree with the worth of a Wet-dry-wet setup. Stereo’s great for atmosphere but can be a bit washy at times. Having that dry middle cuts through and like you said, gives you options in the mix. I picked up a Radio EXTC stereo recently which has been great for mixing.
Another option for instant wet dry wet is using a quilter superblock solid state amp as your dry. It has an effects loop which you can use as the split for the wet effects and it has an xlr out with either cab sim or frfr.
I love the deep dives!!!!
Sounds so good!
I’m an acoustic player exclusively right now, but recently moved into a Fender American Pro II Tele. I love a classic Fender tube tone, right on the edge of breaking up.
I can’t be loud where I live. I want a tube amp with the ability to go straight into front of house, or at minimum, have an attenuate to bedroom level. I thought combo amps were my only option to get real tubes, and only a few are equipped with onboard attenuators.
Then I found digital models of tube amps and thought my on option would be a digital pedal or amp.
Then I found Milkman. The Amp 100 is everything I wanted, and it is capable of so much more than I am as a player.
I am leaning hard on the idea of making this investment with The Amp 100.
I’d love to get one of these. Also been dying to try out one of the Victory Tube pre, SS power amp pedals, snd the Kraken, which even has a tube power section.
Kingsley also make excellent pedals tube preamps and drives, which even sound better, with more headroom than the preamp sections of a few staple gigging amps.
Hi Mark, thank you for this video, it's the best I've seen so far on this product. I just used the milkman 100 amp for the first time live yesterday; it was great. I ran my pedals into the milkman and to FOH with the XLR output, so obviously my dry effects and wet effects were in the same chain. It sounded great. My follow up question to this video is if I want to separate my wet effects from the dry, my understanding is that I would need another cab sim at the end of the chain, is that correct? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Justin.
Cool video, man. I think the amp is an interesting product, but it doesn't quite sound like a conventional tube amp. It definitely sounds like it's lacking the power tubes. If you're looking for a mellow clean sound, it's a solid option. I think your video highlights what it's good at though. I could see myself using this as an amp entirely for my wet signal, leaving the foundation of my tone taken care of by my tube amp. The Milkman would work really well as the wet only amp in a wet/dry setup. I definitely don't want it as my main tone though. It just doesn't sound amazing on its own.
I have the 50w and love it. I fly a lot snd this amp and a small pedalboard goes into my luggage and done.
I see you use Temple boards. I just got into effects pedals heavily, you and a few others influenced my pedal purchases. My question is, what power supply do you use? And do you use the temple quick release mounts?
Had one for a while. It was my first foray into an ‘amp-less’ rig. I thought I was getting the tube feel with a silent stage. What I got was something way too similar in sound to modelers 2/3 the price and with WAY less versatility. For my needs, I ditched it and continued down the ampless rabbit hole. As a point of clarification, I did really like it. The sounds I got out of it were excellent, but the feel wasn’t there because a speaker moving air wasn’t there. It sits in a weird spot where it’s not as good as an all tube amp, and it’s no better through in ears than a modeler. It’s perfect for someone, just not me right now.
I agree. The tube doesnt make it sound or feel better than a modeler. The one thing it does have on modelers is a power amp so you can run it into a regular cab. I really like this thing, too, but when comparing prices and features, an internal power amp doesn't make up for how much this is lacking behind even something like an hx stomp.
It’s interesting; I’m also obviously someone who deals HEAVILY in ampless / digital / direct rigs. But while I really do love my direct set ups and I think the folks at strymon and walrus are making great amp sims; I find that they’re ag their strongest running great clean tones. I can get great driven tones out of them but even with an IR loader or other cab sim behind the milkman the way drives and volume boosts hit the preamp tube just feels different and real. I’m lukewarm but generally positive on the internal cab in the milkman but man when you get it pairs up with impulse responses you like the big drive tones are just a different world from full digital.
@@markjohnstonofficial Yeah. I agree. Cleans/cleanish are basically perfect with full digital or analog pedals mixed with the digital platform. And all the mod and ambient effects come trough beautifuly. But higher gain drives, fuzzes and boosts almost never respond good enough when going into digital platform and the final result is kinda meh, always.
@@markjohnstonofficial Do you have any recommendations for impulse responses? Recently picked up an ACS1 and I love the tones you get out of it. Also, have you ever tried using the line out on your H620 for a similar Wet/Dry/Wet configuration?
What are you using now? I’m starting the amp less journey and keen to hear where you’ve been and ended up!
So, what else would I need to get a wet and dry into headphones, to practice, noodle around and compose with? I love the clarity and ambiance you can get with two cabinets, but I’m mostly playing at home.
Hey Mark, I'm hearing some fizziness even with cab sim enabled with my Milkman 100, and I hear it here in your video as well. At 16:51 for example when you add some gain, there is a fizziness that is "outside" the tone to my ear. It is driving me a bit crazy... Do you hear that as well?
Have u seen the Thermion Zero? Ive been wanting to create a wet dry wet pedal rig with the milkman amp 100 and the thermion zero. The tones u get with the milkman are glorious!! I love your style too!
I have not. Will have to look into it
@@markjohnstonofficial its worth a look. Definitely a cool amp in a pedal
Would you say that you need more than just the milkman 100 going direct to get the best out of it? I’ve heard people using the Universal Audio Ox with it, but that would add another 1k to the bill? Just wondering what the best way to get the best sound out of this bad boy within a cheaper price range. The cab from milkman is nice as well, but that also comes with a hefty price tag. Anyway, great information and video! Cheers
What about some kind of volume control device/s between the Milkman and the digital pedals after it? A Boss LS-2 perhaps?
dude...1) nice video...thanx for the review! 2) are you the twin cousin of Guthrie Govan?
Nice demo. I wonder how it differs with the Milkman 50 tonally.
Different feature set (50 doesn’t have a boost but does have a trem) and has lower headroom/breaks up faster
I'm guessing this is passthrough (sorry if I missed that). Seems it would sound good going into a Laney Lionheart 1x12 cab or Fender Tone Master FR-12, mostly for outdoor gigs.
26:55 I can’t tell where the drive is coming from on this board.
Recently picked one up after falling in love with them from these video, but I can’t quite get a non-muddy drive, fuzz, or distortion tone on it.
Tried an Earthquaker Palisades, a Swollen Pickle Fuzz.
High output humbuckers haven’t gotten me there either.
Is yours just coming from the Benson preamp, or a boost off-board?
What are your thoughts on the milkman the amp 100 vs uafx dream 65? Specifically the feel of the breakup from both units?
I play modellers nearly all the time now having owned +sold a ton of tube amps.They are things of beauty and no modeller ive ever played feels or sounds EXACTLY the same as a tube amp even with a tube power amp due to the phase shifter modelling (in part), ive owned a LOT of both.This thing is a simple way to get a good basic sound if you cant be bothered with editors/menus.However you stilll need effects,speaker cab etc,In the end it,s no real "win" It will not sound "better"than a good modeller particularly as its a cleanish sound,Pedal power amps are readily available now so its not really good value.
Didn't realize the power section was SS, interesting
Can this be set up as a WDW, amp(s) in the room kind of rig? Three passive speaker cabs...no DAW or FOH type of stuff...just a dry center cab in the middle and two wet cabs left and right, and me sitting in front them? If so, what would be the routing and additional needed pedals?
Not without extra gear I imagine. The amp100 has a single speaker out so you’d only be running one line to one cabinet.
Harley benton custom line thunder 99 might get you there. Stereo power amp in a pedal.
For the cabsim direct from the amp, what interface did it go through?
Apollo Twin
Can you use the cab sim XLR out and a cabinet at the same time?
Yes
Did you have amp models on in the iridium?
Only cabinets
Have you tried the Victory Duchess v4?
No but victory is really high on my list of modern amp solutions like this that I want to try.
I only watch Mark Johnston videos in 4,029,302,850p HD
4k for the real ones
ชอบมากๆสั่งซื้อได้ทางไหน
Can somebody compare this to the Universal audio Dream 65.
I have both. I bought the Milkman and a 1x12 cabinet to replace a Dream and PRRI.
Overall, I would say that they're on par. The weakest point of the Milkman is the built-in cab simulation. It's a bit dark and doesn't have the same clarity of those in the Dream. If I run both with the same cab sim in Ableton, I can get both pedals to sound very similar. The Milkman is not quite as scooped and lacks a bit of the top-end chime in the Dream, but I found that it takes pedals better and is easier to dial in. The built-in JFET boost is also great. I've been able to get back a little of what I think is missing in the top end with a Chase Tone Secret Preamp set on bright.
An aside . . . It sounds great through a cab, but not as good as my Princeton. I knew this going in and it's kind of the price you pay for the versatility of the Milkman. I'm still looking for ways to kind of close the gap between the two - currently thinking about a Kingsley or Tubesteader pedal/preamp.
The reverb in the Milkman is good, but not as good as the spring reverb in the Dream, which is really hard to beat. I'm not sure if there are dip switches in The Amp 100 that for adjusting the reverb like there are in The Amp 50.
I think I made my buying decision 😂
I can see it has a better build quality it looks Nices and a couple more options, but I think it is pretty similar to a Joyo Tweedy at about a quarter of the price. That has the same tube in the preamp and a 20 watt ss power amp.
"breakup very cleanly"? sounds like getting drunk soberly.... apart from that: nice review of a great amp.
Cleanliness isn’t just the amount of drive. Fake amps / badly designed amps can have a lot of strange artifacts, weird overtones, etc that rear their ugly heads when you hit the tubes harder. This breaks up without that crap, therefore cleanly
@@markjohnstonofficial I see what you mean, but I don't agree. I love that amp, but it breaks up strangely and way too early for me.
@@stefanstrittmatter6459 the 100 watt version? I agree on the 50 watt but this amp has the most clean headroom of any tube amp I currently own.
Can i have one of your amp modeler in pedals? I have been looking for one i just don’t have the money.
No
@@markjohnstonofficial can I have one of your amp modeler pedals?
@@johnbleeker8249 yes
Bruh 😂😂😂
effects effects effects, reverb reverb reverb. the real amp sound?...
Forget the elevator music..Wheres the Metallica Riffs!!
On someone else’s channel
@@markjohnstonofficial Everything is "elevator music" unless it's chug metal. :/
🤣🤣🤣