It might not look like a Matchless or Hiwatt inside but Carr makes great amps. I have a Rambler that sounds amazing, is dependable (serial #25), and has an extremely low noise floor. Filter caps are film and will never need to be changed in my lifetime. I will take this style of construction over any crappy thin single sided PCB with pots, jacks and tube sockets mounted to it. I will even take it over a fibre eyelet board in terms of reliability as you have clearly shown in your videos
One thing worrisome about this amp is the amount of glue. I’m fearful that should an apocalypse, nuclear or otherwise, take place, something inside the chassis might shift position by a micron or two. Best to be on the safe side, hand a toddler a hot glue gun, and have him make sure everything is secure. Oh, wait, they did that? Nevermind then.
Yeah for me seeing the insides made me just avoid Carr completely. They are very expensive here in Europe and honestly that hot glue thing does not impress me. Eventually they might dry and fall off, rattling around in the box. They could have used a number of construction methods that work just fine without a pile of hot glue.
@@Robstafarian Yes even though it is unsightly how much people really see the inside of their amp much, plus they are extremly durable and I am sure there is a reason for the silicon adhesive
I have a Carr Telestar. It's tremendous. Carr's are loved by many. I'm sure Steve Carr can explain "why" they're so liberal with the silicon. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the breast implant factory nearby. Carr's are very durable, great sounding, and look good.
When it comes to user/buyer satisfaction, I'd have to say my #1 heard response is that Carr amps are the ones the player will never sell, or always want back in the future, so there's that. Visually, I think we'd all prefer to see those wires and components tied with some kind of silicone, but that's just aesthetics. Can't argue the thing works. Perils of working with solid core wire.
Given the amount of unnecessary hand work in this amp I’m surprised they make any profit at only $3K. It takes a lot of time to sneeze everywhere so (almost) precisely…
Lyle, since you commented on background feedback, perhaps this should be renamed the "Shriek" amp? I definitely wanted to shriek when I saw all that glop!
Folks, if you own one or more tube amps, learn how to do regular basic maintenance on them. Cleaning tube sockets is easy and SOP. And a but big thanks to Psionic Audio for the rubbing alcohol tip. I've been using more expensive spray cleaners like CRC for that stuff and that's not available at my local drug store.
I am not a glue expert but I'd be terrified of that, over time, the glue would absorb moisture (or get coated in dust) and become slightly conductive. I can't imagine the heating/cooling cycles of an amp are doing that glue any good either. If its silicon I suppose it's fine. Here's hoping Carr knows what they're doing.
Had the pleasure of owning the (new at the time),1st version Carr Mercury V...😉👍👍 The times had me let it go... glad I owned it.😎👍 Hope to own it again in the future😉👍👍 Carr imho make very cool amps😉👍 😎✌👍❤🖖
I had the latest version Mercury V. The single best sounding do it all combo ever. 👍 I sold it due to hard times, went back to my Princeton Reverb. I miss those killer Marshall tones the Carr could pull off though 😎
That thing really looks snotty inside. 😁 But that silicone or glue snot doesn't make it sound bad, does it. And no long wire spaghetti, so signal path is probably kept quite short. If so, it's a good thing. And grid stopper resistors are soldered with short lead to the tube sockets. That's the way it should be done. 👍
It’s way overkill past the point of silliness. And complicates future repairs. In a few places large components are held to the chassis solely by silicone - those are the only things that really bother me beyond the general sloppy look.
Had an Ampeg Reverb-O-Rockett RI that had "EVERYTHING" sealed with that silicone stuff...😂 Which piqued my interest as to why it stopped working🤔 😎✌👍❤🖖
I had one of those for around 3 weeks via a guitarcenter trial run. The amp sounded great but towards the end of the first week and completely out of the blue it made random scratchy noises that sounded sort of like a tube went microphonic-I swapped out the tubes and things were fine for almost 2 more weeks and it happened again. Timely support was not available so I returned it.
Geez these amps are hard to look at with all their snot. Point to point layouts really frustrate me because few people do it well. I’ve discovered that the most efficient layouts mimic how most schematics are typically drawn. From front of amp to the back of the amp: Controls Tube grid & cathode connections Tube socket Tube plate connections B+ circuit & filter caps
Glad to see Slimer from Ghostbusters got a new job at the Carr plant.
Damn! You beat me to it 😂
Epic comment 😂🤣😅
It might not look like a Matchless or Hiwatt inside but Carr makes great amps. I have a Rambler that sounds amazing, is dependable (serial #25), and has an extremely low noise floor. Filter caps are film and will never need to be changed in my lifetime. I will take this style of construction over any crappy thin single sided PCB with pots, jacks and tube sockets mounted to it. I will even take it over a fibre eyelet board in terms of reliability as you have clearly shown in your videos
Same here. My 2003 Carr Mercury sure is a pleasure to own.
@@telecasterbearyep I have same amp also 2003. Makes very little noise and sounds lovely. 4 wattage settings makes very usable at home.
One thing worrisome about this amp is the amount of glue. I’m fearful that should an apocalypse, nuclear or otherwise, take place, something inside the chassis might shift position by a micron or two. Best to be on the safe side, hand a toddler a hot glue gun, and have him make sure everything is secure. Oh, wait, they did that? Nevermind then.
Yeah for me seeing the insides made me just avoid Carr completely. They are very expensive here in Europe and honestly that hot glue thing does not impress me. Eventually they might dry and fall off, rattling around in the box. They could have used a number of construction methods that work just fine without a pile of hot glue.
@@kasakka, That glue looks more gelatinous than hot glue, and appears to be silicone adhesive to my eyes. But yeah, it's an unsightly mess.
They could’ve saved some time by filling the whole damn chassis with resin instead.
@@NILOCOgov Carr probably decided not to do that for fear of a lawsuit from Mr. Dumble. Someone should tell them that he died last year.
@@Robstafarian Yes even though it is unsightly how much people really see the inside of their amp much, plus they are extremly durable and I am sure there is a reason for the silicon adhesive
I have a Carr Telestar. It's tremendous. Carr's are loved by many. I'm sure Steve Carr can explain "why" they're so liberal with the silicon. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the breast implant factory nearby. Carr's are very durable, great sounding, and look good.
the case is certainly a stylish design to look at. Funny to see the inside as almost chaos to trace around..
When it comes to user/buyer satisfaction, I'd have to say my #1 heard response is that Carr amps are the ones the player will never sell, or always want back in the future, so there's that. Visually, I think we'd all prefer to see those wires and components tied with some kind of silicone, but that's just aesthetics. Can't argue the thing works. Perils of working with solid core wire.
that;s one of the nicest sounds i've heard on your channel yet.
Yup, great sounding amps, insane construction.
I owned one. The thing is glorious when cranked. Hard to find speakers that will fit in it though. Most are about 1/8” too deep.
For almost $3K you would think it would be neatly done - Looked like Shrek Sneezed!!🤧
Given the amount of unnecessary hand work in this amp I’m surprised they make any profit at only $3K.
It takes a lot of time to sneeze everywhere so (almost) precisely…
Lyle, since you commented on background feedback, perhaps this should be renamed the "Shriek" amp? I definitely wanted to shriek when I saw all that glop!
Folks, if you own one or more tube amps, learn how to do regular basic maintenance on them. Cleaning tube sockets is easy and SOP. And a but big thanks to Psionic Audio for the rubbing alcohol tip. I've been using more expensive spray cleaners like CRC for that stuff and that's not available at my local drug store.
I am not a glue expert but I'd be terrified of that, over time, the glue would absorb moisture (or get coated in dust) and become slightly conductive. I can't imagine the heating/cooling cycles of an amp are doing that glue any good either. If its silicon I suppose it's fine. Here's hoping Carr knows what they're doing.
Man that thing sounds great to me! What guitar were you using in this?
Thanks! That’s my SG.
Had the pleasure of owning the (new at the time),1st version Carr Mercury V...😉👍👍
The times had me let it go... glad I owned it.😎👍
Hope to own it again in the future😉👍👍
Carr imho make very cool amps😉👍
😎✌👍❤🖖
I had the latest version Mercury V. The single best sounding do it all combo ever. 👍
I sold it due to hard times, went back to my Princeton Reverb. I miss those killer Marshall tones the Carr could pull off though 😎
That thing really looks snotty inside. 😁
But that silicone or glue snot doesn't make it sound bad, does it.
And no long wire spaghetti, so signal path is probably kept quite short. If so, it's a good thing. And grid stopper resistors are soldered with short lead to the tube sockets. That's the way it should be done. 👍
I bet Carr wishes a CZcams video hadn't actually shown the inside of one of their amp.
Are you sure about that? czcams.com/video/DRyR40A0og0/video.html
looks like they got a overwhelming discount deal on that silicone glue...🚀
Hi Lyle, I'm interested: those blobs of glue/silicon visually look awful. How do you look at that method from a techs perspective? Thanks!
It’s way overkill past the point of silliness.
And complicates future repairs.
In a few places large components are held to the chassis solely by silicone - those are the only things that really bother me beyond the general sloppy look.
Had an Ampeg Reverb-O-Rockett RI that had "EVERYTHING" sealed with that silicone stuff...😂
Which piqued my interest as to why it stopped working🤔
😎✌👍❤🖖
I had one of those for around 3 weeks via a guitarcenter trial run. The amp sounded great but towards the end of the first week and completely out of the blue it made random scratchy noises that sounded sort of like a tube went microphonic-I swapped out the tubes and things were fine for almost 2 more weeks and it happened again. Timely support was not available so I returned it.
Somebody's sister gone wild with the craft glue? This is one ungodly state of a build! Around $2700 US dollars for this?
That looks fun to work on 😆
Strange, I had a Carr Mercury V 16 watt and it had none of that hot-glue crap inside. 🤔
Wonder if its something new they decided to do?
Geez these amps are hard to look at with all their snot. Point to point layouts really frustrate me because few people do it well. I’ve discovered that the most efficient layouts mimic how most schematics are typically drawn. From front of amp to the back of the amp:
Controls
Tube grid & cathode connections
Tube socket
Tube plate connections
B+ circuit & filter caps
You build one then and tell me how easy it is to do it the way ur saying
Looks like dirty Mike and the boys had a party inside.
Re the "almost feedback"... one of your tubes may be microphonic. ;-)
Carr Dablark!
Jesus
WTF sneezed inside that poor guys amp!😳
Is that a Rigol DS1054z ? I could use an O scope. It does the job?
Yup. It’s quite good.
Looks like someone sneezed hard into that circuit board and sealed it shut. Not a good look.
#1. 👍👍👍
Why does it look like someone very sick sneezed inside that amp?
What's that thing that looks like a speaker voice coil inside the chassis?
It’s a speaker voice coil. ;)
See the Skylark features on their site.
Sure like to use silicone
I have never seen a manufacturer smear so much snot around inside an amp
I tryed thought its a not good tone amp! No spine thin & weak
Sloppy work for such an expensive amp...Phlegm Fest😅
What a shameful mess in there... Just wow!
what a sneeze fest
That is not what I expected when you opened the amp. That doesn’t look professional or well made.
Well, it seems that the component layout is quite OK and wiring is kept short.