We’re not exactly sure why is happens or what the circumstances have to do with the outcome, but every time an amplifier company gets into the pedal game, chances are it’s going to be something pretty rad. Taking all of that electrical prowess and harnessing it into a smaller form is a tricky thing to pull off, or so one would think. Milkman Sound becomes the latest to attempt such a feat, and their solo flagship pedal is the F-Stop Reverb Tremolo, which we’re going to investigate today.
Utilizing their vast amp knowledge, the F-Stop seeks to recreate two classic effects that are found in vintage tube amplifiers: Reverb and Tremolo. This combination was introduced into the amp community in the early 1960s, and has become a staple sound for guitarists the world over. The Reverb side features a digital Spring Reverb, which is so warm and inviting you’d never know it wasn’t analog. Designed to emulate the tube-driven spring ‘verbs of decades past, it has Blend and Decay controls, making it easy to find just the right amount of reverb for any situation.
The Tremolo side is a pulsating “bias” VCA tremolo effect, one that can go from subtle and slightly tone-enhancing to a fast-paced, nearly angry sound, in only the best of ways, of course. These two effects can be used individually OR in tandem, which is an excellent feature that must be used over and over and over. Even thought the Reverb portion is digital, the signal path and Tremolo parts are 100% analog, keeping your original tone in tact and pristine.
Running on 9V of power, the F-Stop pumps up to 18V internally, for enough headroom that it is comfortable at either the beginning or end of your signal chain. Using modern electronics to achieve an authentic recreation of these effects with similar circuit topography as found in tube amplifiers, this pedal gives you that old tube amp sound in a neat and tidy package. While we did get to check out their collaboration with JHS Pedals in The Milkman Delay Boost, kudos to Tim and the crew at Milkman Sound for their first solo pedal – we hope there are many more headed our way in the future.
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