Little Walter Amps?
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: Little Walter Amps?
Let us know how it works out! I ordered some parts for my build last night. Glad you could get in touch with some steel players. I'm sure whoever it is will find something he likes among your amps.
Re: Little Walter Amps?
Matt I will do that, nice to meet other players. The guy was talking to Milkman about the 5b6 circuit and wanted to try one out. Maybe you guys can fill a 5b6 amp niche over there, other then the custom amps already being used.Matt D wrote:Let us know how it works out! I ordered some parts for my build last night. Glad you could get in touch with some steel players. I'm sure whoever it is will find something he likes among your amps.
I didn't think about the 5b6 being a good choice for pedal steel due to it's mellow darker octal preamp tone.
Keep us posted on your build.
Mark
Re: Little Walter Amps?
Mark,
Let me know how it goes with the steel player. I'm on the Steel Guitar Forum as well, although I'm relatively new to it. I'd like to know more about your amp builds.
ken
Let me know how it goes with the steel player. I'm on the Steel Guitar Forum as well, although I'm relatively new to it. I'd like to know more about your amp builds.
ken
KG
Re: Little Walter Amps?
Ken,
I'll post back to this thread after we meet, hopefully positive, if not positive I'll not post and he can post on pedal steel forum all the bad stuff
Mark
I'll post back to this thread after we meet, hopefully positive, if not positive I'll not post and he can post on pedal steel forum all the bad stuff
Mark
Re: Little Walter Amps?
Shoot... I'm doubting there will be any "bad stuff". If that's the case, you let me know. We'll go kick some ass - Detroit style!
KG
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Milkmansound
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Re: Little Walter Amps?
you're welcome 
I have had kind of an uphill battle with some of the other steel players on the forum about ideal steel amps. The little walter craze swept like wildfire when Paul Franklin bought one and started gigging with it. Half of the steel players went out and bought one, and the other half thought it was not a good move for Paul because the tone was less than desirable and the tubes were finicky.
I co-designed my Milkman Pedal Steel Amplifier with Greg Leisz, who is not active on the forum, but is one hell of a prolific steel player and has an amazing ear. We fine tuned the amp to his liking and I am convinced that it is the best possible tube solution for steel guitar at 85W with fixed bias and a power supply that is designed for clean clean clean.
However, I just gave way to the low power masses and am about to release a 50W 6550 based steel/guitar hybrid amp that combines my pedal steel preamp with a guitar friendly channel. My prices have always been lower than the LW amps, because I sell a combo with reverb, however the steel community tends to go the way Paul goes. Thats why there are so many Peavey steel amps out there!
I am stubborn, and still think that the blackface style EQ and noval tubes work better for pedal steel than tweed/octal. Gotta be able to dip into those mids!
Anyway - I hope you can sell some of the cage amps to LW seekers that do not want to pay for expensive woodwork!
I have had kind of an uphill battle with some of the other steel players on the forum about ideal steel amps. The little walter craze swept like wildfire when Paul Franklin bought one and started gigging with it. Half of the steel players went out and bought one, and the other half thought it was not a good move for Paul because the tone was less than desirable and the tubes were finicky.
I co-designed my Milkman Pedal Steel Amplifier with Greg Leisz, who is not active on the forum, but is one hell of a prolific steel player and has an amazing ear. We fine tuned the amp to his liking and I am convinced that it is the best possible tube solution for steel guitar at 85W with fixed bias and a power supply that is designed for clean clean clean.
However, I just gave way to the low power masses and am about to release a 50W 6550 based steel/guitar hybrid amp that combines my pedal steel preamp with a guitar friendly channel. My prices have always been lower than the LW amps, because I sell a combo with reverb, however the steel community tends to go the way Paul goes. Thats why there are so many Peavey steel amps out there!
I am stubborn, and still think that the blackface style EQ and noval tubes work better for pedal steel than tweed/octal. Gotta be able to dip into those mids!
Anyway - I hope you can sell some of the cage amps to LW seekers that do not want to pay for expensive woodwork!
Re: Little Walter Amps?
Very cool stuff, Mr. Milkman!
Are you basing your designs on anything in particular?
Are you basing your designs on anything in particular?
KG
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Milkmansound
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Re: Little Walter Amps?
its steep for sure, but not when you look at what is inside of the damn thing - parts alone for this amp cost more than most other amps sell for
I have thought about trying to make a less expensive version but it wouldn't sound or feel the same. It is what it is. Unfortunately the Bentley is expensive but man oh man is it fun to drive!
The amp is kind of a mish mash of Fender circuits - nothing new - but everything has been tweaked with pedal steel in mind based on my needs as a steel player.
Meanwhile the new 50W will be slightly less expensive - priced the same as the LW, actually, but I only make combo amps with reverb. $2500 is a lot for an amp with no speaker, in my opinion
I have thought about trying to make a less expensive version but it wouldn't sound or feel the same. It is what it is. Unfortunately the Bentley is expensive but man oh man is it fun to drive!
The amp is kind of a mish mash of Fender circuits - nothing new - but everything has been tweaked with pedal steel in mind based on my needs as a steel player.
Meanwhile the new 50W will be slightly less expensive - priced the same as the LW, actually, but I only make combo amps with reverb. $2500 is a lot for an amp with no speaker, in my opinion
Re: Little Walter Amps?
Seriously?Milkmansound wrote:its steep for sure, but not when you look at what is inside of the damn thing - parts alone for this amp cost more than most other amps sell for
I have thought about trying to make a less expensive version but it wouldn't sound or feel the same. It is what it is. Unfortunately the Bentley is expensive but man oh man is it fun to drive!
The amp is kind of a mish mash of Fender circuits - nothing new - but everything has been tweaked with pedal steel in mind based on my needs as a steel player.
Meanwhile the new 50W will be slightly less expensive - priced the same as the LW, actually, but I only make combo amps with reverb. $2500 is a lot for an amp with no speaker, in my opinion
KG
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Milkmansound
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Re: Little Walter Amps?
unfortunately yes
Also, I have been known to cut deals - like every other manufacturer of everything on earth the street price and the MSRP can differ. I love building these amps, and I believe that the steel players who spring for them use them as their primary amp - so that is worth it to me.
Wait - wasn't this a thread about LW sticker shock?? His amp costs under $600 to build and costs more than mine once you've added a speaker... I should not be defending myself
Also, I have been known to cut deals - like every other manufacturer of everything on earth the street price and the MSRP can differ. I love building these amps, and I believe that the steel players who spring for them use them as their primary amp - so that is worth it to me.
Wait - wasn't this a thread about LW sticker shock?? His amp costs under $600 to build and costs more than mine once you've added a speaker... I should not be defending myself
Re: Little Walter Amps?
Personally I would think the 5b6 is more suited for regular guitar not pedal steel but I have to hear how it sounds.
Nice looking amps Milkman.
After hanging out at the music store all year I'm only more confused as to what guys want from an amp.
Nice looking amps Milkman.
After hanging out at the music store all year I'm only more confused as to what guys want from an amp.
Re: Little Walter Amps?
Yeah, I kind of figured the same thing about the 5b6. Too much early breakup for pedal steel. How loud does the cage amp gets before it starts breaking up?
On the other hand, I play non-pedal steel. I have a '52 Fender T-8 custom and various pre and post war Rickenbackers with horseshoe pickups. On a lot of the early Hawaiian and Western Swing steel guitar recordings I like the tone is pretty fuzzy. Think Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Bob Dunn with Milton Brown, Dick McIntire, and Sol Ho'opii. They made some records that were positively filthy. The trick for lap and console steels is finding just the right kind of soft, musical unobtrusive distortion. Maybe the 5b6 is the circuit that does it. The Rocket actually can be pretty good for the just-slightly-overdriven vintage steel sound.
On the other hand, I play non-pedal steel. I have a '52 Fender T-8 custom and various pre and post war Rickenbackers with horseshoe pickups. On a lot of the early Hawaiian and Western Swing steel guitar recordings I like the tone is pretty fuzzy. Think Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Bob Dunn with Milton Brown, Dick McIntire, and Sol Ho'opii. They made some records that were positively filthy. The trick for lap and console steels is finding just the right kind of soft, musical unobtrusive distortion. Maybe the 5b6 is the circuit that does it. The Rocket actually can be pretty good for the just-slightly-overdriven vintage steel sound.
Re: Little Walter Amps?
I'd love to own a 1x15 5B6 combo amp.M Fowler wrote:I think he just copied the 5b6 plan in Tino Zottola's Building Tube Guitar and Bass Amplifiers volume 1.
I built that amp twice and it's a great amp everyone should own one.
Mark
Almost snagged a Fender last year.
The Fender 5B6 seems simple enough to copy ~ so what is the deal with "Little Walter"?
What are the "Little Walter Amp" prices that members are complaining about?
Any relationship between the Little Walter amp name and the blues guitarist?
Fan of Fender Trainwreck Dumble
Re: Little Walter Amps?
No relationship to Little Walter, it was Phil's nick name so he called his amps that.
Prices are fairly high but he has good clientele and therefore can charge enough to make a living with his passion.
The 5b6 breaks up early it's a tweed so you have to design your amp so that you get more headroom. I like it stock as intended. Talk was to add line out so a Class D power amp could be used.
Mark
Prices are fairly high but he has good clientele and therefore can charge enough to make a living with his passion.
The 5b6 breaks up early it's a tweed so you have to design your amp so that you get more headroom. I like it stock as intended. Talk was to add line out so a Class D power amp could be used.
Mark