Company History & References

 

About Soundgas – Company History & References

Overview

Soundgas is a UK-based specialist in vintage audio equipment, studio restoration, and boutique design. Founded by Tony and Jo Miln in the early 2000s, Soundgas began as a passion project dedicated to restoring and preserving classic recording gear. Over time, it has grown into a respected international resource for musicians, producers, and collectors seeking rare and fully serviced studio equipment.

Operating from its custom workshop in Derbyshire, Soundgas combines traditional analogue expertise with modern precision engineering. The company’s team of engineers and technicians have restored hundreds of tape echoes, amplifiers, and effects units for clients around the world.

Soundgas Originals

In addition to restoration and brokerage, Soundgas designs and builds new equipment inspired by classic British studio circuits.

  • Soundgas Type 636 – the company’s first in-house design, created by Head Technician Huw Williams, re-engineering the original Grampian 636 preamp into a high-quality modern unit while retaining its distinctive character.

  • Soundgas Type 636P – initially designed by Huw Williams and further developed by Max Dawson, this transformer-balanced preamp and distortion unit evolved from the Type 636 and defined the Soundgas approach to original hardware design.

  • Soundgas Type 636P2 – designed by Huw Williams and further developed by Max Dawson, the dual-channel version refined the circuit further and was reviewed by Sound On Sound magazine’s Sam Inglis in 2024.

  • Soundgas Type 636-500 Series – created by Max Dawson and Ryan Hingley, this compact 500-series module brings the same circuit topology and tonal qualities to modular racks.

Each unit is hand-built and tested in Derbyshire using selected components and meticulous quality control.

Vintage Gear & Expertise

1969 Moog IIIc Vintage Modular Synth & Ribbon Controller

Soundgas has earned a reputation for meticulous restoration of classic units such as the Roland RE-201 Space Echo, Binson Echorec, and a wide variety of vintage synthesizers. Head synth tech is James Walker well known throughout the music industry for his expertise. Soundgas' serviced gear has been used by artists, producers, and studios worldwide.

The company’s long-standing focus on reliability, authenticity, and sonic integrity has made Soundgas a trusted name among both collectors and working musicians.

Press & Publications

Soundgas has been featured in numerous international publications and online media, including Guitar World, Sound On Sound, Electronic Sound, DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, and That Pedal Show. The company also supplied six restored Roland RE-201 space echoes for Still Point by Daphne Oram performed by Shiva Feshareki at the BBC Proms (2021).

See our Press & Publications page for full articles, videos, and reviews.

Community, Education & Training

Soundgas is committed to nurturing new generations of audio technicians. Since 2017, the company has trained eight in-house engineers through practical mentorship, sharing deep knowledge of analogue circuitry and studio restoration.

From 2026, through its Gasaways initiative, Soundgas will donate 10 % of monthly prize-draw proceeds to music-related charities such as MAP Charity (Leeds), while supporting creative education and access to music technology.

Auctions & Brokerage

Soundgas occasionally handles private collections and estate sales of high-end vintage studio equipment through its brokerage and auction service. This specialist operation was featured in Electronic Sound and gained widespread attention for managing the Andrew Weatherall sale in 2022.

All brokerage sales are conducted with full transparency, combining careful documentation, testing, and after-sale support.

Legacy & Ethos

Every Soundgas machine is built, restored, or curated with the same guiding principle: For the Joy of Sonic Adventure.

From rare studio gear to new designs inspired by analogue classics, Soundgas continues to bridge the worlds of vintage authenticity and modern creativity.