The Amp Garage

Stanz · Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Posts: 147 Location: Alameda NAS

Milbert Amplifiers, GAGA-50. It appears he has done some pretty cool stuff with car amps. His concept here was to make it basically idiot proof from a users perspective, taking care of bias, power mains, output, tube selection, while delivering a quality amp tonally.

I haven't heard any clips, or better yet, actually played one. My burning question while reading about it was, "Yeah, but how does it sound?" I love it though when people stretch the norms, and he appears to have blown them out of the water.

http://milbert.com/guitar/products

video: have to scroll down the list on the right side of the video frame to Milbert, about 20 down.
http://namm.harmony-central.com/SNAMM09

50 watts, all tube driven
Auto bias
Can use any power tube, 2, 3, 4, at a time
No OT, can drive any speaker and will not blow if output is open or shorted
Power supply to drive pedals
Weighs 5 pounds

blah blah blah

The list is pretty impressive. My first impression is that the cleans would be impressive, and bass response is no longer an issue due to limits of OT.

billyz · Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 543 Location: Austin, TX

OTL amps have been around for many years. I believe Futterman was one of the first to successfully develop them. They seem to always promise the ultimate in performance. They are not without their own set of issues though. There seems to be something about a transformer coupled amplifier that we keep going back to.

It will be interesting to hear this one in action.

MilbertCom · Joined: 01 Dec 2009 Posts: 1

Traditional OTL designs are usually hallmarked by high tube noise (sputtering, etc.) and high failure...many parallel tubes are driven hard in attempt to power the speaker. GAGA-50 is nothing like a traditional OTL amp. It uses patented technologies, offers numerous real benefits, and is unique on the planet in these days when much isn't.

rfgordon · Joined: 02 May 2006 Posts: 618 Location: Virginia

OK, MilbertCom, spell it out for us. Post a clip, link to a video, or something. This forum is full of very experienced players and builders, and we expect something deeper than brochure-speak when the praises of a new design are sung. We love new and great ideas, but credibility must be earned.

M Fowler · Joined: 16 Jan 2008 Posts: 3435 Location: Minnesota

Milbert,

Your amp looks very interesting and would fun to listen to that at an amp show, maybe I'll finally make it to one show.

Mark

Andy Le Blanc · Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 1758 Location: central Maine

The hardest reality about new concepts is that, two things tend to happen.

One: Someone buys your patent(s), and then refuses to manufacture or market,
which deprives you of your own idea and puts you in the poor house.

Two: No one in the market implements the idea your manufacturing untill
the patent runs out, which puts you in prime position to put yourself in the poor house.

Sell it and go broke, make it and go broke.

Send me one, I'd love to try and sell it. The weight issue with tube gear is
going to be a huge sell point as the boomers drift into oblivion.
Prime chance to optimize market returns, and even if it sounds on par
with an mp3, the youth market for that tone is there already.

FYL · Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 472

malt · Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 55 Location: NOrWAY

Hi,DEVILDOG AMPLIFIERS in Norway also build otl amplifiers http://devildogamps.com/theotl.php

dr. who · Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 399

where's the soundclips of these amps?

FYL · Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 472

Andy Le Blanc · Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 1758 Location: central Maine

The last I saw this it was called a zero-hysteresis amplifier and WAS being produced by the David Berning company.

It's an audio amplifier with ...

radio frequency impedance conversion instead of an opt, allowing automatic
stabilization of all the operating points of tubes and to fully DC-couple the
vacuum tube portions of the circuit. The audio impedance conversion is done with a fixed-frequency RF carrier,
like maybe the speaker load is connected between the ground return of the
primary power supply and the primary of a 250kHz impedance-converter bridge.

Tell me it ain't so.......

It was exposed in GlassAudio Vol. 12 #1 2000......
and detailed further in Vol. 12 #2.....

Andy Le Blanc · Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 1758 Location: central Maine

www.davidberning.com/technology/patent5612646

Structo · Joined: 17 Oct 2007 Posts: 6296 Location: Oregun

From what I can tell, this amplifier has solid state output converters.

After a brief search I cannot find any sound clips.

Funny how when this amp was mentioned, Mr. Milbert (if that is who posted) responded.

Mr. Milbert I would like to hear this amp and hear more about these Berning converters.