Carlsbro GLX100

Firstly, i should probably mention that this amp is so good, i have 2 of them, which i use together. Both are the old style, in black with the marshall knobs, and not that hideous silver. As previously mentioned, they have 2 high impedence inputs, 3 band EQ clean channel, 4 band EQ 'drive' (or should that be super-sonic-blast-'em-'til-they're-deaf channel), reverb, master volume, additional lead volume, send and return, direct inject etc etc. In short, these babies have everything the small-time gigger could want from an amp. Oh yes, and they're British.
I use both of these together at home, and they're quiet enough for practicing (on both channels)and loud enough to cope with small gigs and halls on their own. Don't even bother to mike these up, they can roar.
Pity the amps didn't come with a 3 way switch, but all you really need is the one way drive switch.

I use these amps with cheap-ish guitars (an AXL tele, and a 'Vintage' Strat) as i don't see the point in buying stupidly expensive kit, when cheaper works just as good.
I use both amps at once thanks to my stereo chorus pedal, which has 2 outputs. I have more effects than i care to mention, but they don't affect its sound none.
The clean channel is exactly that, and the crunch button does just what says on the tin. You can get wonderful trebley twangs out of it, and if you put bass on full with nothing else, you can have a bass-guitar stand in (sounds like a strange idea, but it works). I use a Boss D-1 distortion pedal with middle tone setting and no distortion(!) to get a nice, warm fuzzy overdrive in clean channel. Great for producing those 50s rock 'n' roll sounds!
The 'Drive' channel blows you away. Crank up bass and treble to full, with no mid tones, and you have the Marshall sound. Whack on full Treble and full Hi-mid with no lo tones to get fantastic shred metal distortion.
This amp is truely all things to all people sound-wise.

These amps are tanks. Plain and simple. One survived a trip home on the bus, follwed by a walk in the rain. The other took a ride home in the back of a bumpy Land Rover. Not a scratch on either.
I would gig with these without a problem, they can stand the rough handling of rock and roll.

Two year warranty on both. Never had to deal with company direct.

I haven't been playing long, but i have my perfect rig for both practice and gigging. Other than these i own a 10 watt Marshall amp.
If these were stolen, i would cry, because they don't make the nice black ones anymore, the new ones are all foreign and silver. I would strive to get a pair of old ones again, nothing else would do.
I love the sounds this amp can produce, it does everything rock and roll. The only down sides i see is that beyond level 5, the volume is all the same really, no significant increase. And the damn things weigh 16kg each (i took the feet off mine and screwed wheels on instead).
Before buying, i tried line 6s and Marshalls. These beat them all in my opinion. They are bigger and cheaper than line 6s of similar range. They can do everything a similar Marshall can do, but for less money. If you can get one of these amps, then for god's sake buy the bugger, its the best of its kind.

You can do quite alot with this amp in terms of tone. The crunch switch is nice. I also like the volume toggle.
Performs well in a small gig situation.
Nothing particularly surprising on it, but its got all the things you need.

I'm using active EMGs with this amp.
The clean sound is nice, but I'm not interested in that. I play thrash and death metal. Unfortunately the overdrive on this amp is terrible. It's less brutal than my grandmother, I would NEVER consider using this amp without a pedal, it is just weak.
NOT A GOOD AMP FOR METAL.

I get the feeling this amp is an all-rounder, not great at anything, but will blag alot of styles.

Sturdy build, its hard as nails. It has taken a couple of whacks in the past, no damage.

N/A

I have been playing for 8 years, this amp is my first one with any real power.
I wouldn't buy this amp again, it just doesn't suit my needs very well.
I have given this a low rating for that reason. The overdrive is an important factor for me, and this amp simply doesn't cut the mustard. You can achive good sound with effects pedals, but you can do that on most amps. Really the only reason I use it is for the volume.

This is a fantastic combo. very useable with just the right features needed to span enough musical styles & very convienient 2 seperate master volumes (lead boost anyone?) - footswitch was only 1 way & am currently finding out if I can get a 2 or 3 way to control crunch, select & volume which will really make this a perfect thing to use in rehearsals & small gigs.
I'm a guitar teacher & I purchased this as my other amp (valve) is a fender twin which was just heating up the room a bit too much as the weathers getting warmer.
This amp is just so versatile & although it doesnt have the big tone punch of the twin (but not bad considering its 25% of the price of the twin!!) its tone is very good in both channels (inc crunch) as well as being alot lighter (my back says thankyou) & cooler.

I love this amp - I prefer it to the marshalls & fenders of similar price, it appears to be better built & sounds better in my opinion.
Looks fantastic with brushed metal design & the power light is blue!

very happy - highly recommended

every good for most styles & has a wider tone pallet than similar marshalls & fenders IMO

seems much more solid than similar priced amps.

bought from www.guitarzone.co.uk (the most helpful seller you could probably buy from) with excellently friendly customer service.
carlsbro are also very helpful, answered all my enquiries & definately care about their customers. Also put money back into music industry to support the up & comings & the less fortunate - big respect!

been playing 13 years, would replace with if lost/stolen. I love the two volume feature on this amp, no more volume/eq/boosters needed. this amp is the answer for me, cant wait to try out their valve amps.
thank you carlsbro & www.guitarzone.co.uk for this amazing product

My GLX100 is a 2003 model, in the usual fetching black.
Versatility wise, i use it excusively on the clean channel, through my zoom 707, which gives me all the range of sounds i want, with very few exceptions. Haven't bothered plugging the zoom into the fx loop, as i haven't a clue if thats wwhat its intended for, but may give that a try tomorrow as it has one. Would like the three way footswitch, but not that essential to me due to the zoom. it would be nice if it wasn't so heavy in weight. Also i tend to run it with bass control at about 75%, treble at about 90% and mid at 50%. Never used it above 4., as 4 is fairly bloody loud for practicing, yet to use it for a gig, but in terms of sound quality, the clean is better than my mates 80 watt marshall combo, but the distortion on the carlsbro, imho, sucks. So i don't use it. don't need to anyway, i have a zoom 707, that fills that void perfectly. reverb is good, not outstanding, but better than average. Better Amp than the carlsbro colt 45 i had previously. but if they could reduce the price by removing the uneeded knobs/distortion, it'd be better. i'd give it 5, cos the extra features aren't imho that good, but on the other hand i aint seen a sub #250 amp that has better features, so this bumps it up to a 7. VALUE FOR MONEY

i use it with gould (les paul copy, one humbucker, two active single coils wired in parallel as neck humbucker, ernie ball 10's)), washburn kc40v (ssh ernie ball 10's), and jackson PS37 (HH, ernie ball 9's).
It's not noisy, but it is rather LOUD. catches you off guard when you catch a string when youve just switched it on. Haven't distorted the clean sound, but prior to using 10's on my cheap guitars, the sound quality wasn't as good. can't blame that on the amp though, as the jackson on 9's sounds fine. ditortion sucks imho. but i didnt buy the amp for distortion, i bought it cos it's LOUD, & Very good value for money.

never broken it yet. 14months old today and still fine. no crackly knobs, no sound quality problems. reliable. solid. sturdy. loud.

never used them.

been playing since 94, if it was stolen, i'd probably buy a seperate cab/head job, but, I am extre3mely happy with the carlsbro, i just need something that has more "stage presence". In fact, as soon as the warranty expires (next october), i'm going to take it to pieces and rebuild it as a cab/head job. it's loud enough. it just aint Big enough.
Did i mention it was loud? did i mention it was good value for money? :D

Solid state. I dunno what year mine was made in bit its the older model (the one that doesnt look stupid and cheapy-silver). The amp has 2 channels, clean and overdrive. theres a also a crunch switch on the clean channel. There is a bit problem with it, with the volume; there seems to be massive volume increases from 1-4, but if its turned past 5 the volume barely increases atall up to 10. There is also 2 volume switches. You can switch between them but it is a completely pointless feature.

I use an Ibanez SZ520QM through this amp and have also used a fender mex strat through it. The clean channel isnt all that clean, and the overdrive sounds like a #35 metal distortion pedal or something.

It tends to overheat alot and smells like somethings burning. Same thing happens with carlsbro bass amps (bassist in my band has one). My friend also has this amp and the speaker on his blew. This has never happened to mine though, just the burning smell and the overheating. Also my footswitch stopped working! But i didnt put the reliability rating too low because my has taken a hell of a beating (fallen down 3 steps, fallen over in the back of a car... etc) and still works fine

I emailed them to ask them the weight of the old series of the carlsbro amp, basically because i wanted to know the weight of it to compare to the new amp i plan on buying. No reply from them yet, and i emailed them about 3 weeks ago.

Ive been playing guitar for 4 years. This amp was my first proper amp (before it i owned a kustom 10watt). When i first bought this amp (about 2 and a half years ago) i thougth it was amazing and the distortion was the best distortion ever... but when your a beginer all you look for in distortion is a sound so muddy that you cant even hear the guitar. But the distortion is really that bad, just got 'no balls' (low end) to it. The clean channel sucks. I have played many other amps such as: roland cube-60, fender hot rod deluxe, fender cyber deluxe, line6 spiderII, marshall mg100dfx, marshall avt150. but of course the only amps in that list that i have compared this amp to is the Roland cube-60 and the Marshall MG100dfx. I'd say this amp beats the marshall mg, on sound and reliability anyway (mg makes crazy noises when you turn it on, to do with pointless fan cooling system it has). But the roland cube-60 beats this amp in every way shape and form. The roland cube60 is light, has effects, has a hell of a beefy distortion (DYNA amp) which really sounds amazing, the cube60 is light - the carlsbro is one heavy peice of equipment.

I recently bought my amp from my guitar teacher, who imported it from England. It has some nice effects, the crunch switch it nice. A tone that most people strive to get. Has more of an overdrive channel than anything, but I like the clean channel more. It's a VPE amp, which stands for Valve Power Emulation. It attempts to emulate the sound of a tube amp.

Comes with a footswitch where you can change to Crunch or the Lead Channel from Clean.

I'm using a 2004 Gibson Les Paul Standard (with Burst Buckers) or an Epiphone Emperor II Joe Pass and occasionally a Boss AC-2 acoustic or Digitech Hot Rod and Dunlop Crybaby 535Q. The Hotrod is necissary because I don't like the distortion channel. At all. It sounds digital and fake on this amp (and i've had two of them, one didn't work right. But i'll get to that later.) The AC-2 doesn't seem to work on this amp, which is weird, because it works on other amps (like my 25 watt Johnson practice amp.)

I just don't like the tone of the amp. It never plays live right, because it's always either too sharp and trebly, or very bassy. I can just never get the tone out of it that I want, and i'm lucky if I can if i'm just practicing in the room.

I could see this amp being good for Metal or Punk, but I play neither of those styles.

When I bought my first one, the bass knob on the distortion channel wouldn't work unless it was all the way up, or all the way down. I had to send it back. My new one's reverb doesn't seem to work.

They have great customer service. When I sent my first GLX-100 in, they sent me a new one and didn't even bother to fix the old one. Unfortunately, the new one was destroyed in shipping. Here's the good part: After that, they sent me a new one before thinking about anything else, I didn't even have to ship the old one back first. They just sent me a new amp. I did send the old one back, though. They payed for shipping both ways, too.

I've been playing for a few years and the amp just doesn't do much for me. If it were to be stolen, I definitely would not buy another one. I'd save up for a Fender Deluxe or Twin Reverb.

I love the customer service and the little cool blue light, and the clean channel is nice when you're playing in your room.

TRY this amp out before you buy it.

before I get started, I just want to say that I'm not sure what size combo it is off hand, but it's more than a practice amp, but still a combo...it cost #300 so this should give you a guide to how big it is.

The amps a relatively new one....solid state, so you can play quietly in a room where your sick ill grandma is sleeping, and not wake her up...if you really want to, but this amp, as most others, really shines when it's LOUD!!!

The amp is versatile in many ways, and comes with either a free one way footswitch or a #49 three way one. Wish I'd have got the three way one now, cos I can't really make use of the extra "crunch" distortion facility or the second volume pot in a live setting with just the one way switch...teach me to be a stingy git...

It has two inputs, a clean section (with gain, bass, mid and treble knobs), an overdrive section (with gain, bass, low mid, high mid, treble and level knobs) and a final section with reverb and two volume pots.

It's good in every way. It's got the power to handle small gigs (i.e. local bar size and a bit bigger) and it's features are very useful for creating an easy foot controlled professional live sound if you have the three way switch.

The added overdrive knobs, low mid and high mid, make the whole distortion sound twenty times better, as it makes it so much easier to refine your sound without the use of a seperate equaliser.

It can play virtually every style going...I've tried country, metal, light rock, and loads of other styles, but it copes with all of them with equal panache...something for everyone here.

I'm using a shitty fender strat copy (but I love it like a son) and loads of effects (I won't name them here, as most of them have true bypass, so they don't affect the sound anyway). It suits my style almost perfectly, and that's cos my style changes from song to song. In the band I am in, it's like every song is being played by a different group, and with a slight amount of tweaking, it's possible to get every classic sound going within reason. Obviousley, it doesn't get classic tones the same as a Marshall would, or metal tones as a Mesa Boogie would, but it's just a great all rounder for a cheapish price.

The distortion is perfect...you can model it to your exact specifications due to the high and low mid knobs, and it's got a wide range of relatively clean to distorted sounds...it should go without saying, but some high standard amps have a surprising lack of range, and can sound like Nirvana when you turn the gain knob to one!!!

It's as solid as a boss pedal. I've not had it long, so it's not broke down, and I don't expect it to.

not dealt with them

I have been playing for about 4 years, but I know what's what (maybe big headed, but who cares, most of the people reading this are in a different country to me...lol) so this review is not just some kid with money buying expensive gear in an attempt to sound better.

I own a Line 6 FM4 Filter Modeler, a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal, a Morley Pro Series 2 Wah pedal and a Digitech X-Series Digital Delay pedal. Can't see how that has anything to do with the amps sound though, but it mentioned it in the criteria, so I thought I'd be a good lad and put it in.

I love it's versatlilty and it's power...it's so cheap for what it does...excellent value for money. I hate the fact that it didn't come with the three way switch in the first place, and I reckon I'll end up buying that anyway, as it'll mean I can make full use of the on board master controls without fannying around with the itty bitty grey push-buttons.

The only problem with this amp is that Carlsboro is a relatively unknown British brand, so it may prove difficult to get hold of for people in other countries, and may be expensive in shipping, unable to provide a warranty and other such nasty consequences. However, I may be wrong, so perhaps you can check out their site...I don't know what it is, but searching on the internet will probably reveal it soon enough.

The Carlsbro GTX 100 is a very good amp. It is great for playing any type of music really, I can produce any sound I want from it. This amp has 2 channels clean and distorted with all the usual features. (bass, treble, level, reverb, mid lo, mid hi) It comes with a pedal which sadly only has one button which switches between clean and distorted but never mind. Im cant be bothered to put the specs down because someone else has previously posted a very good spec sheet, so you can look at that instead.

I have 3 guitars (4th is on the way) but I mainly use my Ibanez rg270 which has Invader Pickups. Like I said before this is great for whatever music you play, It can be totally distorted or clean as a whistle. (It kicks ass playing Punk Rock) The only thing wrong with this amp is it can max out quite easy. I play with the volume on about 6 (which is rather loud) and it is fine. If you up the volume abit more than 6 it is ok until you palm mute. If you do this you will get a unpleasant noise but you can have it all. Another point is the reverb isnt than great but I dont use it anyway so I dont mind. The sound gets a 9 because of these points but it is a awesome amp for its size and money.

Hard as a rock, never had any problems with it.
The input socket has a plastic nut around it which for some unknown reason broke in half! This is such a little problem (not even that) so I can live with it.

I have never needed to deal with them.

I have been playing a year now and I have had 4 amps and this is definalty the best. It would be unfair to compair it to a Marshel for obvious reasons but you really cant got wrong with this amp. One amp I can compair it with is the Fender Roc Pro 1000, the Carlsbro amp is so much better, the Roc Pro was so distorted is was unbelievable! Try it!
P.S. What BIG amp is good for playing Offspring, Blink 182, Greenday? Im going to upgrade soon and I would like some input. Im looking for the really chunky palm muting sound.

Rock on Gazza

This is a 1990's Carlsbro GLX100. Not the limited edition in red, it's the normal black one with the marshal style knobs. Stats: 100watts RMS, clean channel (with pre-amp gain control, 3 band EQ, two master volume knobs - you can footswitch between them), a crunch channell (a switch to kick it in, no eq or other controls) and "drive" channell which should be renamed "sonic paint stripper" - a lethal fuzz with a 4 band eq thats blows away a boss metal zone or those damn Ibanez things. effects loop. one 12" celestion speaker 100watts RMS (what they put in marshalls and orange cabinets). reverb. D/I out, headphone out, universal input at the back of the amp (attach a drum machine of CD, minidisc player) two inputs on the front of the amp (both for guitar, rather high impedance). in short this has TONS of features. The D/I out is great for gigging 'cos it save your amp having to be miked up, which some people don't like, but it saves bother. with the amp you get a footswitch that'll turn the drive channell on and off. To switch the crunch, drive and switch between the two volume channells you need to get a three button footswitch from somewhere. I was disapointed that it didn't come as standard witht he amp.

First off, I have used this guitar with a lace sensor-ed strat. a custom made strat (pickups - JB Junior, and 2 Cool rails) and a Telecaster.

The EQ lacks some punch on the treble. It doesn't have that twang that you can get from Fenders. It sounds more like a Marshall, round and warm, but a little bit nasty. It has got rather high impedance inputs so distortions sound tight and hard driven rather than fat, fuzzy and sprawling.

If you crank it to 100% volume it'll make a bit more noise than what would be deemed "acceptable".

The cruch channell is exactly that. A bit too much of a volume boost for my liking and how strong it is depends on the out put of your pickups and the balace set between the pre-amp gain and the master volume.

The drive channell is killer. Amazing. Utterly brutal.

If you max out the pre-amp gain, at high volumes it will start to distort slightly, but it is very gentle and sound warm rather than harsh. Compared to marshall valve states, this sounds more like a tube amp. IT sounds more like a tube amp than the laney amps with a token valve in the pre-amp too. Very warm, with a bit of grunt. good for Rock. Bass comes through nice and clear, not muddy, same with the mid rang. the trebble lacks a bit.

when I was taking this home from the shop on the bus, the driver had to hit the brakes, it fell of the chair next to me and slammed into the ground, and the knobs whacked of the chair infront.

No damage.

still works after over a year (ok it's not that long, but it did survive crashing on to the floor of the bus.

Everything seems high quality. and a celestion speaker won't let you down.

tried to find a dealer to get a 3 button footswitch but that's about it.

never had to get in touch.

Been playing for about 4 years. I've been in studio's and played with marshalls, trace elliot, fenders and peavy. You'd get a better clean tone out of a fender, and a better distorted one out of a marshall. but then again, an equivalent marshall won't sound as good clean as this, and an equivalent fender won't sound as good distorted. I Think you get what i'm saying.

I wish it came with a three button footswitch. be able to hit a switch to toggle between the two master volume controls would be a delight for soloing live.

I wish it wasn't so damn heavy. (12 kilos)