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Carr Rambler
Posted: 1/27/04
Carr Rambler 1x12 combo
The late Cesar Diaz told me he regarded Steve
Carr to be a "modern day Leo
Fender". Whether there's any truth to that assertion, it's high
praise coming from such a respected builder as himself. Leo Fender
is obviously one of the most important figures in the history of guitar
equipment, and many feel he set the standard for amplifier (and guitar)
design. Carr Amplifiers produces
a versatile range of handcrafted, all-tube, point-to-point wired models
that owe a lot to the spirit of Fender days gone by. Gorgeously-detailed,
American-voiced clean tones accompanied by lush reverb are two hallmarks
often associated with the Carr brand....much like the popular Fender amps
of the mid 1960s. The Carrs are not clones of any amps, however.
Steve Carr has certainly borrowed from the past; but he contributes his
own knowledge and innovative enthusiasm which is evident in his entire
line of products .
The Carr Rambler
first hit the market in the latter part of 1999 and continues to expand
its reputation as a superbly-crafted lightweight combo amplifier.
Sporting a pair of 6L6 power tubes operating at around 28 watts in pentode
mode and 14 watts in triode, the Rambler's no-nonsense controls, big clean
sound with reverb & tremolo, and portability make it a wise choice
for stage, studio or home use.
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Jason's Quick Summary:
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| WHY BUY?- An extremely common-sense
approach to a 1x12 combo: completely hand-wired, big 6L6 clean tones,
tube driven reverb, tremolo and very portable due to a lightweight pine
cabinet. The Rambler can be operated at either 28 or 14 watts, making
it ideal for a variety of playing environments. It is exceptionally
easy to dial in warm Class A cathode-biased clean tones due to a legible
and simple control panel. Tones remind me of the best blackface and
tweed textures (the latter especially in triode mode) with some of the
finest reverb sounds I've heard in any amp. Takes pedals like
a dream. The amp can be coaxed into creamy power-tube distortion
when cranked in triode mode...but syrupy clean sounds are the Rambler's
forte. Not quite as tight-feeling or sounding as a typical blackface
amp...rather a bit thicker and warmer. On a personal note, I've owned
a Rambler since the first batch came off the bench and it's still
my #1 all-around amp. No maintenance issues in nearly five years
of heavy use...regular tube wear notwithstanding. The current Ramblers
exhibit improved fit and finish with tighter tolex seams and an attractive
new grillcloth. Carr continues to refine and improve his products
over time. If you're looking for an easy-to-lift, clean-toned American-style
combo with reverb, it would be hard to top the Rambler. Carr is also
known for attentive and accessible customer service. The Rambler
is the Fender that Fender doesn't make. Also available in 2x10, 2x12
and 1x15 configurations. |
| WHY BYE?- May not be loud
enough to play unmiked for some guitarists participating in loud bands.
Low notes can sometimes get a little flubby when the amp is pushed hard.
Not a distortion-oriented amp...guitarists will need pedals to push the
Rambler into high-gain territory. No master volume for those wanting
power tube overdrive at low volumes. No extension speaker cabinet
outputs. Older Ramblers have shown a tendency for minor tolex separation
at the seams on top of the amplifier. This seems to have been addressed
with alterations in tolex application techniques on later examples.
Not a cheap amp with list prices well over $2000. |
An early Carr Rambler in black
tolex
Top-mounted control panel
Control panel moving from left
to right: input- volume- treble-middle-bass
Reverb & two-knob tremolo
Pentode/Triode switch- standby-
jewel pilot lamp- on/off
Rear view of Rambler
Special design Kingpin 60 ceramic
speaker
Rambler's tube chart
Heavy-duty power cable
Video
Clips of the Carr Rambler
Here are some MPEG video samples of the Carr
Rambler 1x12 combo amp played by Jason
Barker. Click on the appropriate links to view the presentations.
Some of these files are large in size so give them time to download.
Recommended for broadband users.
For more information, visit: www.carramps.com
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