Carr Amplifiers Rambler 112 Combo

I also own a 2x12 Carr Imperial combo amp. This amp has the same controls but adds a boost toggle switch. Everyone else has given the layout here it seems. Like I feel about the Imperial, if you know what you want and don't need channel switching then this amp fits the bill. Very nice features for such a small amp. I know I don't need more controls.

I see and hear lots of similarities between my Imperial and Rambler. I regard my Rambler to be like the little baby brother to the big amp. This amp is quite amazing for the size. Very clean and warm and absolutely the perfect amp at home or in the studio. It just sounds great without a lot of unnecessary gimmicks. Love the reverb and the tremolo is really nice too.

Top notch craftsmanship complete with George L's on the inside!

Great friendly service. No regrets.

My favorite amp I own. The Imperial is a nice larger amp that is the best big amp I have. The Rambler is a lot more practical and just does everything I want. I run some pedals through it for the dirty sounds and it does them well. Hard to beat these two models for uncomplicated great clean sounds that project. So glad I discovered Carr amps!

This review is of a 2001 Carr Rambler all tube 1x12 combo 28 watts class A pentode and 14 watts class A triode, switchable between the two.Class A cathode bias 6L6 output stage, zero feedback, single chanel with reverb and tremolo.Dimensions:Rambler-12" Combo - 21" w x 17.5" h x 10" d at bottom sloping to 9" at top.Weight: 37 lbs. No stinking effects loop, master volume or head phone jack hey this is a very good cross between a tweed Deluxe and a blackface Deluxe and they did not have those fetures either.The fact that amp is a one channel wonder is great it makes you play your gutiar and not your owners manual. I use this amp in a 30x30 practice room with a band if you can call us that(we are just starting to practice together)and it has more than enough power to cut through the loud ass drumer(got to get brushes)and the bass player on the 28 watt pentode mode and on the 14 watt triode mode it's just loud enough to sound good and get alot of dirty looks from the old lady! This is a great sounding combo for playing the blues and R&B. 100% hand wired point to point with George L Cable, Hospital grade power cord, pine cabniet with floating baffle board,KINGPIN 60 SPEAKERS the Kingpin 60 is a custom designed speaker produced by Eminence. They are loosely based on the mid 60's Jenson C12N. MALLORY 150M COUPLING CAPS,CUSTOM HIGH QUALITY PAPER BOBBIN INTERLEAVED TRANSFORMERS you know the drill this amp is built like a tank and clean as sketers peter.

I play a 1962 vintage RI strat that I bought in 82 with texas special pickups.For playing the blues and R&B(SRV-BookerT)this bad boy nails all the cool sounds that I could want. Tone you say? Oh yes this amp has a lot of TONE!!! Great sounding reverb and very Fender sounding tremolo. This amps sounds like a deluxe meets matchless kind of deal. On the 14 watt triode side of things it starts to break up at 5 or 6. When I say break up I mean that smooth creamy break up like you have always wanted but with plenty of punch to still get over the top. Playing in the 28 watt pentode mode will get you roughly the same kind of sound only with more volume. The cool thing is that the tone stays the same through out the volume range,only changing the amount of tube distortion. The Rambler has great clean sounds at the midway point down on booth power settings and great tube sounding overdrive from say half way up on booth power settings and it is very quite when at idle.

Steve Carr has done his home work boys this amp will be a round for along time! I have only had it for a couple of weeks but its all hand wired and built out of the best componets that you can lay hand on.I will give it a 9 because anything can happen and it always does to me and nothing is perfect.

I emailed Carr amps about which model they would recomend for my style my music and I got a responce from Steve Carr(Owner)back that night. Its seems that he likes his job and he loves his amps. Carr has been very good about answering all of my questions and the fact that they new the dealer and the salesman in Nashiville where I bought it by first name makes me think that Carr Amps is going to easy to deal with. The fact that this amp is all hand wired and not a pc board should make it easy to get serviced by an amp tech. Lifetime warranty on workmanship and three year on parts(tubes and speakers are 90 day)but still a strong warranty in my book.

I have been playing for 13 years off and on I use a 62 vintage repo Fender Stratocaster with texas special pickups(wish it had Frailins)and Brian Setzer 6120 Gretch, with a couple of very cool teles. If it very stolen or lost I would freak and then start the man hunt! I would look a buying another Carr amp because I beleve that they are the best deal going. Before I bought the Rambler I played in the same store side by side a Fender Super reverb Ri, Fender Bassman Ri, Fender Deluxe RI and a couple of other all tube amps. The Carr stuff blew them all away, the Carr amps out Fendered the Fenders. None of the Fenders Ri's sound like the real thing to my ears but the Deluxe did sound nice and I bet if you get rid of the junkie tubes and change the speaker it would sound very good.I chose this Carr amp over the Carr amps because of size and sound.I have always wanted a cool Deluxe and I think I found the best one that I have ever heard. The other Carr amps also sound great; the Imperial was my second favorite it sounds great too kind of like a good blackface pro at the edge of breakup. I would like to share this with you I think that the prices for boutique amps and gutiars are outrageous! How many working guys do you know have ten grand to lay out for a super cool old amp and vintage gutiar? Carr amps are priced about right for the product they sell.

Made in 2000. Number 25. Cream Tolex with Carr's standard grill cloth (kind of reddish tweedy look with black and tan lines thrown in); all in all, a sharp vintage look with modern lines. The Rambler has reverb (very warm and lush), tremolo (deep and rich), treble, mid (which has a much wider range than typical), bass, volume, on/off, standby, and pentode/triode. In pentode (full power), the amp is somewhere about 28 watts; in triode, it is more like 14 watts. It comes standard with Svetlana 6L6GCs. I replaced these with Tung Sol 5881s. The Rambler is cathode biased. There is only one channel, no effects loop, extra jacks, etc. You can switch the tremolo on and off using a standard foot switch.

Originally, Steve sent these out using the Carr Liquid 50 speaker, built by Weber VST (a Weber C12NT with a 50 oz. ceramic magnet). Carr stopped using Weber speakers recently, though, and began using an Eminence-built speaker called the Carr Kingpin 60. I have used both speakers in my amp, and I prefer the Liquid 50, but am thinking of using an Alnico magnet speaker to see how that sounds. The Kingpin 60 sounds good, but it doesn't have the same sparkle and bite that the Liquid 50 has.

The Rambler is loud enough for small and medium-sized clubs, and really cuts through in pentode mode. On triode, it also works well in the house.

The Rambler is the fullest-sounding small amp I have heard. It is definitely from the American side of the street, and has a lovely, warm, lush tone. The Rambler is not noisy at all, in large measure because it stays relatively clean until pushed hard at significant volume. Then you get that old-school break-up that everyone wants (at 4 or 5 in triode, 5 or 6 in pentode, with single coils, earlier with humbuckers). Distortion is never great, though, and you will need a pedal if you want more than a little hair. You can get a singing sound at higher volumes, can increase your sustain and break-up with a good overdrive pedal, and can move between the two and clean rhyth tones with the guitar volume. It's all there. No one-setting for this, one-setting for that master volume problems, etc. The Rambler retains it's warm, lush sound when overdriven. It isn't going to work if you play metal or even extreme blues-rock tones (Lenny Kravitz, etc.), but for a very musical, versatile sound, this it. In addition, one of the coolest things about the Rambler is the amount of low end you get in a small package. No other single-12" out there (let alone single-10", which would be close to the Rambler in physical size) could begin to compete with the Rambler's tight, vibrant low end. Carr uses ultra-fast recovery diodes designed to emulate natural tube sag in place of a tube rectifier.

The Rambler is great for any style of music where good headroom and a warm, lush sound is needed. It handles chords beautifully, and provides a great stringy sound and a bit of tear on single-note runs. It would seem to be an obvious choice for jazz, country, Chicago and jump blues, early rock 'n' roll, etc. In triode mode, the sound is fat and warm; in pentode, it is tighter, more sparkly, and has more bite. I think it sounds great with humbuckers and single coils. A favorite mix for me is humbucker in the neck and single coil in the bridge. Humbuckers get the amp to break up a bit earlier, and the singles give off a great chime and ring. I've played through the Rambler with a Custom Shop '54 Strat, a Custom Shop Tele with a Strat middle PUP, a Reverend Avenger, a Reverend Rocco, a semi-hollow G&L ASAT Z3, and an old Ibanez Les Paul copy with stock PUPs. All of them work very well, depending on your needs, but this amp with a good Tele or Strat will cover the entire gamut with gorgeous sounds from liquid Strat blues to tight twangy country and fat lush jazz.

The Rambler works very well with pedals, especially something to push the amp into an overdrive (such as the Fat Boost, though it adds bass, which is not needed here at all, the Klon, etc.). It also handles the standard distortion pedal (such as the Sparkle Drive) exceptionally well. At higher volumes, as with tweed-type amps, you need to roll off the bass knob to keep the low end tight; that said, this isn't the type of amp you just dime and play; the best sounds are in the middle, balancing volume with tone to get edge and color in the right amounts.

The Rambler is extremely well made, with a hand-made pine cabinet, a welded-aluminum chassis, true point-to-point circuit construction (components connected directly with the aid of only a few terminal ships), and perfect layout and wiring. Steve uses components that are above and beyond the call for quality, including hospital-grade three-pronged electrical cords, Solen polypropylene capacitors in the power supply (for faster, snappier response and ultra long life), and ultra fast recovery diodes in place of a tube rectifier (for better low end while reatining the feel of a tube rectifier).

I have had a couple of minor problems with my amp, none of which attribute to the amp itself. First was with my Liquid 50 speaker, which Steve replaced free of charge with the newer Kingpin 60 speaker (please see my comments about issues with these speakers above). Second involved tube chatter, which Steve again addressed by sending me clamps that hold the power tubes in place; I also added spring-sleeves to the pre-amp tubes on my own. Other than that, it?s been smooth sailing. If you can't gig with this amp, then you can't gig with any amp (though in some venues, you may need to mic it).

Steve has not only replaced the speaker and given me power tube clamps free of charge, he has answered innumerable emails (usually the same day, and always within a couple of days) and fielded tens of phone calls. The vast majority of my communication had little to do with the Rambler per se, but rather addressed questions I had about cathode v. fixed bias, possibilities for tube switching (don't read cathode biased and think you can use 6V6s), characteristics of speakers and tubes, questions about other amps built by Carr, plans for future amps, general issues of amp design, pedals, and the interaction between various amps and various guitars. Steve is a first-rate guy and his support is better than any buyer has a right to expect in this department: knowledgeable, friendly, candid, helpful, and extremely interested in amps and guitars. As Carr Amplifiers gets busier -- and it will ? it would seem impossible for Steve to remain as responsive as he has been with me, but I am sure he will more than address your needs and concerns. In addition, the other employees at Carr with have been equally excited about their products, nearly as knowledgeable about amps, and very candid and helpful, as well.

All in all, owning this amp has been a great experience, and has made me realize how amazing, appealing, and unique the positive side of the music industry can be, largely because these people are doing what they love to do.

I have been playing for 16 years, in various contexts. I own -- or have owned in the past year, the period that I have been using the Rambler -- a '65 BF Princeton Reverb, a '56 Supro, Custom Shop '54 Strat, Custom Shop Tele, a Reverend Avenger, a Reverend Rocco, and a semi-hollow G&L ASAT Z3.

This has to be one of the best-sounding, most-versatile small amps out there. Compared to, say, the Dr. Z Maz 18 (which isn't as loud as the Rambler is in pentode, has a different voice entirely with EL-84s, lacks tremolo, has an inferior reverb, and doesn't have the same low-end clarity as the Rambler), the Rambler is warmer and more lush. If you're looking for an American sounding amp, this is it: the hand-made Carr Rambler with its superior parts, design, and layout, and uncomparable tone. The Rambler is not a replica of another amp from the past. It obviously derives in part from the Tweed and BF Fender amps, but it's Carr's own design, and it has it's own sound and flavor.

New 2001
This is a great little amp. single channel with Vol.,treble, bass,Mid, Tremolo,reverb.Pentode/triode switch which cuts to 1/2 power. This is a all tube amp. Very basic
It has one great clean sound.

I have several guitars. 57 strat with emgs, Brian moore C55, Paul Reed mcCarty
The amp has a great clean sound. You have to play it to see what I mean.

Don't know yet . The Guys at Willcutts Guitar shop in Lexington, Ky. will take care of me. Eric, Matt are top notch. Give them a call at
859-276-3519. They carry all the neat stuff.

I have owned or own about everything under the sun. The Carr is a keeper. Ever amp I have will do something different. For a great clen sound this is it. It is not to replace my Plexi Marshall or messa boggie. Just real nice to play clean on.

The amp's features are basic, reverb, tremelo, no master volume but a pentode/triode switch for the output tubes. This is a no-frills tube amp that is built like a tank. Few features is not a bad thing...

Now here is where I disagree with the rest of the reviews. This amp sounded the opposite of what I like, it has a very big, loose, low end and a very tight, hard sounding treble when run in pentode (full power) mode. I prefer a sweet top end and a clear low end. In pentode mode the amp for me was just too hard sounding and the bass was too woofy and loud -- I couldn't crank the bass over about 2 with either a vintage strat or a Les Paul. This amp is meant to be a clean machine, overdrive is not it's thing, you need a pedal. I was hoping that it would sound sweeter in pentode mode, triode mode sounds better, like a BF Princeton somewhat, but then you don't have much headroom or volume so it's pretty much practice only. If the louder setting sounded nicer it would be a giggable amp for me but I sent it back. The amp I tried also had a noise when I played it loud, this seemed to be coming from the reverb tank cover as when I put my hand under the tank the noise stopped. This was not an electronic problem, just the buzzin of the 'verb tank wrapping.
on the plus side, the tremelo is outstanding, the old style trem that uses the output tubes to work, like a brown Deluxe. The reverb also sounded very good.

I returned the amp after one week so I don't know how reliable it would be but I would guess it would be very dependable. The quality of construction seems tops, very heavy duty.

The people who sold me the amp (Eddie at Indoor Storm) were great about everything, I also talked to Steve Carr at one point and he seemed very nice. I would think support would be excellent

This amp is well made but just not my cup of tea, triode mode sounded good but I already have a BF Princeton if I want that sound. I've been playing for 30 years, about half of that time as a fulltime pro, I'm accustomed to good amps, I own a VHT, a real tweed Bassman, etc.
I bought the amp because the soundfile sounded good and the reviews were excellent, but soundfiles don't tell you how a piece of gear will respond to your own playing style. I liked the reverb, tremelo, and the build quality but couldn't deal with the hard sounding highs in the full power mode. Perhaps changing out the speaker or tubes would have helped this but for $1600 I want to like it right out of the box. This is just my opinion, I don't like to leave negative reviews but I'm glad I returned the amp, it just didn't suit me. I am planning to buy a Jamison combo which is about $500 more than the Carr but I think it will be more to my style and more practical for me. Obviously some people love this amp, but not me.

This Rambler is a new amp serial# 31. This one channel amp has a very pro sounding tremolo and a lush tube reverb and NO other things to get in the way of good old quality amp tone. I play classic style rock and roll and some old,new country. This amp fits quite properly.

I use several Tom Anderson single coil and several PRS humbucker and P-90 models. A little noise is generated because single coils+vacuum tubes+crappy electrical service in bars = some noise.If you would like a system that does not generate ANY noise stay at home and watch t.v.

I have used it on about 6-7 gigs with no backup. I replaced 1 microphonic power tube. This is all real normal for a tube amp. I called Carr Amps and talked to Steve Carr and he is sending a replacement tube.

I have called Carr Amps 2X and spoke to Steve Carr 2X. One time for info on other models and one time to mention the micro tube. Tube will be replaced per Steve Carr

I have been playing way too long to buy production line junk. My line up is Dr.Z Maz 18 and a Carr Rambler. These two pieces greatly compliment each other in tone quality and construction quality.

No channel switching or master volume but very comprehensive with volume, 3 EQ, reverb and tremolo. Features 2 6L6 power tubes, as well as combination of 12 AX7s and 12 AT7s for tube driven reverb and tremolo. Solid-state rectifier.

Got to be the most "full" sounding small amp around. Very Fendery with spacious reverb. Amazing roots rock or bluesy/jazz amp. No distortion other than a typical cranked up non-master volume Fender-type of sound. Great clean headroom.

9 since it's my first Carr. Looks pretty solid though. Handwired circuitry might promote reliability. Very well put together.

Mr. Carr talked with me at length on the phone before my purchase and exhibited a great technical knowledge of tube amplifier construction. Seems to be an easy guy to deal with and he's been quite helpful in educating me on aspects of this amp.

Price seems a little steep for anything of this size but the tone is undeniable and I haven't been able to find anything else in this power and weight category to even compare. Really wonderful sounding amplifier with an incredibly rich and complex clean tone. My old tubescreamer is warm through this setup and very round sounding.

all the basics are here. volume treble mids bass reverb trem speed and depth. you really don't need much more than that. no master volume but a pentode/triode switch in case half power saturated 6l6's are your thing. 1 12" carr special design mfg. by weber vst. purple tolex upon request, very nicely done, by the way...

the rambler excells at tones from glassy clean to gritty crunch. i play a telecaster(68 custom) thru it and can coax a bunch of different sounds. the no master volume thing works very well in tandem with the pentode/triode switch. if it's too loud, bring it to half power and turn it up to crunch out! it's not a metal amp, but that's just fine if lower gain is your thing. hit the front end with a clean(or dirty) boost pedal and the rambler takes it and still responds to pick attack. the reverb doesn't get as drippy as a fender unit, but hey, it's got one knob to fender's three...

i've only had the amp for a month, but i've used it on recording sessions for 12 hour days and it's performed wonderfully so far.. i'm sure it'll make it thru a gig with the same dependability, assuming no beer makes its way into the chassis....

steve carr is really excited about his amps, and it shows. i met him at a guitar show, and spent the next hour talking about capacitor values and plate voltages. he let me play thru each of his amps in my own way, and answered every question i had. he wasn't afraid to turn them up to "10", either! his emails are answered quickly, and in a very friendly manner. ups broke my rambler's power tubes and steve sent another set, gratis. he even told me step by step how to change them - very cool.

i have a lot of amps(marshall, park, vox, ampeg, fender). do i need them all? yep. i also needed the carr rambler. it has the ability to go from twin glassy clean to ac-30-on-10 grindy grit with the turn of a knob. the in-between tones kick ass as well. of course, metal guys and grrls need not apply, as your gain jones will not be fulfilled, but, your living room will be a much happier place if you add this to the corner next to the stereo. you can rock along to your records and sound great. and it looks really cool in purple.

Bone simple one twelve combo amp with reverb and a tremolo. No distortion channel. Built like an old amp without a master volume. I think it's about 30 watts or so and can be brought down to about half power.

I can't believe how this amp sounds. I heard a guy playing this in a store and it knocked me out. Never knew of Carr Amps, but I sure do now. My wife was about to put a hurtin' on me for coming home with it, but I don't care. It sounded too good. I play classic rock with a little blues. I love bands like Creedence Clearwater and Z.Z. Top. I even play a little western swing kind of like Asleep at the Wheel. This amp helps me to get close to those sounds, but I use a distortion pedal with it for the heavier stuff. This a killer sounding reverb.

I just got it this week so I don't know yet.

The dealer was nice. There's a premium on these amps supposedly because there aren't many of them. I have not talked to the manufacturer. I don't think there will be any problem selling these things.

I've been playing for the last fifteen years of my life. I used to have an old Fender Twin I used forever but got tired of hurting my back with it. This Rambler amp has the same big sound but at quieter levels and I can load it in my car with one hand. It isn't as loud as the Twin was but that's normal cause this isn't a big amp. I feel a little more at peace now that I've got a great replacement. It's very pricey, but I got what I paid for. This is my new baby.

32 Watts (Pentode) or 14 watts (Triode) Class A cathode bias 6L6 1x12 combo. Reverb and tremolo. Single channel, no master volume. Zero feedback. Ext. speaker jack, tremolo footswitch jack. Controls: Volume, Middle, Treble, Bass, Reverb, Speed, Intensity, Pentode/Triode, Standby switch. All-tube, point-to-point wiring. Floating baffle board.

Will serve most musical tastes short of heavy metal as this is not a high-gain amp. Optimal amp for roots, blues, country, etc... One knob reverb capable of subtle tones to a drenched surf sound. Tremolo is outstanding with wide range of speed and intensity. Have not seen an amp this compact with reverb and tremolo. Supreme three-dimensional clean tones at low volumes. Crank the volume to get a tweed-like breakup. Switch to the triode mode for even more grind at a very reasonable volume.
I've gigged in a small club with this model and was in love with it immediately. Very easy to get a Texas blues tone (such as Fabulous Thunderbirds-era Jimmie Vaughan) or an extremely happening country-rock twang. Plenty of warmth and depth for jazz stylings also.
Very punchy with great bass response for its portable size. Articulate treble response with no trace of shrillness whatsoever. Reverb quality is noteworthy. Lots of shimmering depth without sacrificing tone.
Very reasonable amount of volume given size and specs, but not overly loud. Would probably need to mic with a full band for stage use. Plenty of volume for small venues.
Works equally well with single-coils or humbuckers. Astonishing fullness of tone at low volume settings. If you live in apartment, this is the one.

Excellent workmanship in all categories. Interior wiring is super clean. No circuit boards to crack. I'm struck by the simplicity of the wiring. First class components in every category befitting an amp in this price range. A totally handcrafted amp.

Steve Carr and his staff are professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and accessible. E-mails have been promptly returned. This is my second Carr Amp, and the customer service doesn't get much better than this. Lifetime warranty for original owners of the amp.

This amp is special. It may be the ultimate studio and around-the-house amp if you like a rootsy, non-processed tone. Finally a small easy-to-carry amp with reverb and tremolo, all-tube, point-to-point wiring.
As the Carr website says, the Rambler is "Bluesy and Buttery." The tone contols are very effective and whole amp has a very cool tone-oriented vibe about it.
Cosmetics are attractive to me. I've seen Ramblers in cowboy leather covering, black, and cream tolex. Cabinet workmanship is excellent, durable, and stylish.
Of special note is the control panel which is tastefully-done in a white background with black letters format. This is very easy to read in all lighting situations and is reflective of a great attention to details in this product.
I haven't seen anything else resembling this amp in function, style, and tone on the market.
It's expensive, but is fairly-priced given the engineering and production process of this hand-wired and assembled tone machine.
This is the richest sounding amp at low volume that I've ever played. I'd say this amp would be similar to a more powerful and punchier tweed Fender, such as a Deluxe, but with a lot more presence and power.
This amp is an inspirational joy to play. I love it so far.