Carlsbro Rebel

The Rebel is a 65-watt tranny amp that uses Mos-fet technology, which was the high tec way to go with amps in the late 80?s and early 90?s. The amp itself is an average sized combo with one 12 inch speaker. It?s covered in a particularly attractive light smokey grey colour tolex. The control panel is on the front face and comprises high and low inputs, a single clean channel gain, FX out and return inputs, overdrive (which pulls out to boost the level of drive), distortion gain (which pulls out to smooth the frequencies), pre set EQ button, bass, middle, treble, reverb, footswitch input, direct injection input (allows direct slaving without distortion) and master volume. On the rear panel there is an input for headphones and twin outputs to drive external speakers. Overall the amp is quite well equipped. It also lights up nicely when in use. Can?t think of many additional features I would have liked when I purchased it new in about 1994.

Sound like a good tranny amp should. Obviously not as smooth as a valve amp but better than most of the hybrid and other solid state amps I have owned. The clean channel lacks that valve sparkle and clarity but gives a lot of headroom before breaking up, which when it does is actually ?bluesy? pleasant. The distortion channel can kick in at bedroom volumes, but when pushed loud and hard it turns really fiery. Is great for metal and heavy rock, a bit to much so for my liking which is ultimately why I sold it and bought a Peavey Classic 30 valve combo when my rock band split and I started playing gigs at weddings etc. The amp reacts very well to FX when played through the loop.

I stay in Aldershot, England, but purchased it from a music shop in Hull whilst gigging in about 1994. Sold it to a friend of my brothers in 1999. I recently borrowed it for two weeks in February this year when my Peavey needed to go to the amp doctor. It was fun playing through my old friend again, hence the review. Since the amp was purchased its been totally reliable and solid over 12 years, although its not been gigged much since I sold it on. I found that the exterior marked a bit easily when being thrown into the back of cars and vans but fair play to the amp nothing has failed or broken.

Don?t know, never had to contact Carlsbro. The word on the street is that all their amps get a good name for being reliable.

As I?ve said before this is probably the best tranny amp that I have owned or played. It does not sound as articulate or chimney as my Peavey or a Mesa F30 that I owned briefly, but gives a good solid sound in its own right. When wound up its very good at the metal and rock thing, but on second acquaintance made my American Strat sound a bit thin. I do however remember the glory days when it was fully wound up and my 70?S Gibbo SG was singing through it. Is someone stole it I wouldn?t care cause its not mine. Overall a good reliable gigging amp, if you get a chance to try or buy one you will not be disappointed.