Carr Amplifiers Vincent 1x12

I am not going to run through the features, the previous reviewer covers it well. I like the Class A combined with the 6L6 tubes. It sounds Class A, but doesn't have the extra sizzle that el84 tubes have in Class A mode. The Drive feature is great. Doesn't add gain, it's more like a built in fat boost. I like it turned up most of the way, regardless of how I set the other knobs. And the 33 watt/ 7 watt feature is awesome. This baby can cover lots of bases, yet it is a very simple amp. I do wish the boost volume was controllable, however. That's my only complaint. I take off a point due to that.

Mainly have played a Strat through the amp. It makes a lovely sound. Can have plenty of headroom, if desired, or you can go totally Billy Gibbons. Sounds great using a compressor, mainly as a boost with just a hint of added sustain. Both my overdrives sound great with it, a Sparkle Drive and a MI Audio Blues Box. The amp is a little noisy. I got it used, not sure if the noise has always been there or not. But it's not enough to bother me yet, as long as it doesn't get worse. I don't know how to describe the overall sound, but I sure do like it. Enough so that I sold my Dr Z Maz 18. The Carr has a good reverb.

Carr has as good a reputation as anyone for build quality. I would not hesitate to gig without backup, although it does pay to always be prepared!

I emailed Carr with a question after my eBay purchase, they got right back to me, and seemed very happy I bought one of their amps.

Been playing since the Beatles played Ed Sullivan. I love this amp. It just makes a great sound, and lots of them, with the different power ratings, the Drive, and the Boost. I can't believe I paid so much for it, but it's so good, I can live with it. I love the huge sound from such a small package.

The 2007 Carr Vincent 1 x 12 combo amplifier is a single channel guitar amplifier. Its notable features are: sweet sounding tube reverb, multiple power settings (7 and 33 watts), mid-boost function, both console and foot switchable (footswitch included) and a separate Drive control. The thing that sets this amp apart is its very warm and responsive tone. It has few features other than the careful tone-oriented details of its design and manufacture. While it is deliberately simple and accomplishes its goals completely, it does not offer multiple channels, master volume, or built-in effects as other amps currently offered do. So, I am not rating it a 10 on features for comparisons sake. It is powered by a pair of 6L6 tubes, has a 1 x 12 Eminence Red Coat speaker and a vintage style cabinet. Its small size is a initially overlooked feature. It is very portable yet extremely capable. Easy comparing to vintage-style 4-10 and 2-12 arrangements in perceived volume and presence.

Very responsive to playing dynamics. Loud and sweet plenty of headroom if desired. You will need to use pedals to get afull range of modern sounds. But, you may find you want to use them less than you sued to with this amp. The tone, responsiveness and warmth is additive. When I use this amp with pedals, it spoints out how they steal dynamics and limit the tonal response. You will be rewarded for using "good" pedals like Keely, Humphrey and Analogman mods and Fulltone devices because you can really hear wat they are capable of through this amp. It is so small even for a 1 x 12 combo. But when you plug in you get an amazingly broad frequency range - very deep bottomthrough a chimey top. It makes using the multiple pickups and the tone controls of your guitar an option again. It has its own sound but I guess I can give you an idea by comparing it to an early Victoria Deluxe (the Carr is more responsive, less noisey) and a Matchless Clubman (the Carr is a warmer and more dynamic). So, it is in very good company

It is very solid. But, I have not had it on the road.

Have not experienced Carr support yet

10

This a 1x12 powerhouse that is suited for many different sized applications and many different types of guitar playing. I play rock, funk, jazz, country and blues and this little thing does all of the them with ease. my favorite tones would include guys like Robben Ford, David Grissom, duane allman, dickey betts but I also play some country and guys like Eddie Shaver, Pete Anderson and Jim Campilongo have tones I try to emulate. this amp can also cop old school jazz tones ala Charlie Christian to Riverside era Wes.

The reverb is great.
The boost function is very nice. It takes some getting used to. It can be too much boost at low volumes. It can be a little midrangey with humbuckers. that said, the boost is perfect with single coils, IMO. I would give an 8 here is b/c I wish it has a boost level control. the boost is fixed but the level is fine for most live playing situations.
the eq really works great.
the drive control is killer, really changes the feel of the amp in a good way but doesn't add a bunch of gain. turned down low the amp is very smooth and buttery. turned up high the amp really opens up and on the 33 mode--this is where the amp really screams.
that leads me to the 33/7 switch which is a nice feature. The amp is plenty loud at the 7 setting. I play various medium sized venues 8-10 times a month. I only use the 33 very rarely, like if I'm outside unmiked. yes, its that loud.
the reason I'm gonna give a 9 here is twofold. first of all, the amp is very compact and easy to carry. at the same time its built like a tank-no rattles to be found.
secondly, and my favorite feature, is the fact that you can change tubes without rebiasing. the other day I slapped in some 6v6s and sweet Deluxish tones were coaxed out, from tweed to brown to black.
Kt 66s were nice, but sounded a lot like the stock 6l6s. I just put in a set of winged C El34s and I was blown away.

high ratings in the category is the norm for carr amps. this is the 4th Carr I've had. 2 Hammerheads and a Rambler. this amp picks up where the rambler leaves off. You can get a lot of the Fenderish clean tones that you get with the Rambler (think Deluxe meets Twin). but you definitely get more drive with this amp.
you can get smooth, darker jazz tones with the drive control down and the volume below 9 o'clock. you can get Fender-y surf clean with the great tube reverb. I play lots of country, twangy honky tonk stuff and this amp is awesome for that.
you can get a classic rock tone with a LP and the 33 watt setting, not unlike a small Marshall in a box.
I play lots of styles from sco-ish funk to skanking reggae to rocking Stones stuff, to heavier Southern rock with this amp.
this amp is not the choice for metal.
I play many different guitars with my vincent. It loves my Trussart steelcaster or any Tele for that matter. My custom built 55 strat is also gotten a lot of playing time with this amp. I recently got a McInturff Carolina Standard and the bridge pickup into the Vincent is one of the best LP-ish tones I've ever witnessed. and I've played a lot of Pauls.
if you play a hot LP, the neck pickup can get a bit mushy with the boost on. You'll need to turn the bass down.
I think this amp is best utilized in live/band use. I don't think it is the best for home use. A Carr Mercury is what you need for that.

like I stated before, I've owned 4 carr amps and have never had a single problem with one. pretty amazing huh. and I play about 75 electric guitar gigs a year.
I also work at a boutique guitar shop and Carr is one line that we NEVER have any problems with. I don't think we've ever had a send a Carr back for service.
99% of any problem I'm sure you would ever see out of a Carr amp will be a bad tube or a reverb tank damaged in shipping. these amps simply don't break down.
if you want to see some real eye candy, open up your Carr amp and check out the point to point wiring. I liken it to a work of art.

Steve is great. all the guys at the shop are very helpful. if you have a problem, email them and they will get back to you within 24 hours.

I love this amp. I've had it now for 3 months so the honeymoon is over. It has become my #1. I also own a Dr. Z Maz 38 and a Bad Cat Trem Cat. I sold a Bad Cat Cub IIR to get this amp and haven't had one regret.
I've been playing guitar for about 18 years.
As for other guitars that I use, besides my earlier mentioned gear, I have two Historic Les Pauls, a 58 and a 68 Custom. a McInturff Terrycaster and Royal II. PRS McCarty, McCarty Trem and Hollowbody II. Hamer Artist Custom. I also have a Nocaster that I built as well as a 60 style Strat that I built.
for overdrive/boost I use a Burris Boostiest some gigs, also a Xotic Ac Booster, Maxon Overdrive Pro, Keeley Java Boost, and a Keeley comp (which works great with this amp--my pedal steel licks never sounded so good!!)
for effects I use a keeley modded Line 6 DL4, Digitech EX-7 Expression Factory (with a true-bypass looper cuz its a tone suck but I deal with it b/c its a super versatile pedal), and an old ibanez CS-9 stereo chorus
I'm not some rich guy, but a single 30 year old musician and guitar salesman that spends all his time thinking about or playing music while spending all his money on gear. Tone is very important to me and I don't buy an amp without obsessing over the decision beforehand and playing about 30 other amps.
If this amp was stolen, I would have to get another.
Mine is #006 and was reviewed by Vintage Guitar mag.
one downfall to this amp is that it is expensive and therefore I think the amount of real pro players that will get to own this amp will be limited. but I know that US-made, top notch quality doesn't come cheap.