Reviews

The July-August 2012 issue of The ToneQuest Report has an interview with Steve Carr about the design of the Bloke and a review of the amp. The magazine is only available in print, so run out and get you one. Meanwhile, here's a nice quote: Our impression of the Bloke is one of an exceptional performance amp that can handle literally any venue....Highly recommended for those about to rock. - The ToneQuest Report, July-August 2012

The September 2012 issue of Vintage Guitar has a review of the Bloke. Here's an excerpt: [The Bloke is] a rock star, able to produce classic '70s stack tones. Its tight punch and gainy tones make perfect for the player who wants to drop their '70s Brit-style head and cab for a 1x12 combo. - Vintage Guitar, September 2012 Pick up a copy of the magazine or read the review here: No Regular Fella (920kb pdf).

The Sportsman goes up against other tube combos in the Gear Roundup section of Guitar Player magazine's April 2012 issue. If you love small American combos but wish for more headroom, reliability, and tone options, you are the target market for the Sportsman.- Guitar Player, April 2012

The Bloke gets a pick in Best in Show, Guitar & Bass magazine's coverage of the NAMM 2012 tradeshow. This is one mean-sounding amplifier. - Guitar & Bass, April 2012

In the March 2012 issue, Premier Guitar included the Bloke among their favorite new amps at the Winter NAMM 2012 tradeshow. The article is available at premierguitar.com: Winter NAMM 2012.

Premier Guitar gave the Sportsman a 4.5 out of 5 rating in their December 2011 issue, saying, The Sportsman’s ability to nail vintage, clean, and overdrive sounds—and move beyond them in breadth of tone—arguably makes this Carr a contemporary classic. The entire review is available at premierguitar.com: Carr Amplifiers Sportsman.

The October 2011 issue of The ToneQuest Report features an interview with Steve Carr and a review of the Sportsman. If you can't wait for your ToneQuest subscription, we've got the article here: Carr Sportsman, The ToneQuest Report, October 2011 (1.1mb pdf)

From our friends at Artisan Guitars...

Testimonial: Carr Sportsman – Field Review (excerpt)

The mid knob is very functional and fattens up the sound giving it what Fender Princeton amps can not do. The bass dial surprises me in this 10 inch model using Jensen's new Falcon speaker. Very functional bass, dimed if need be with no flubbies! I see it introduced at the 2011 namm footage ,disclaiming that this speaker with the propriatary secret green cone has arrived and has a design mission to sound big,much like a 12 would!... The reverb on this is very special in that it has a lush quality that seems to blend with overdriven tones without sounding nasty making it very useable. Better and more playable verb than my princetons. I just played it tonight direct, using no pedals with a Gibson custom shop 329'. It supplied the range of tones needed without footstompin the pedals like the other player were doing all night. Read the entire testimonial at Artisan Guitars.

On newsstands now, the September 2011 issue of Vintage Guitar features a review of the Sportsman.

With the Carr Sportsman, you don't have to hunt to find a great tone. Whether jammed with single-coils or humbuckers, its versatile tone stack, high-end components and built quality make it an easy task. - Vintage Guitar, September 2011

On The Hunt - Sportsman Review in Vintage Guitar, Sep 2011 (976kb pdf)

In the spring of 2008, the Slant 6V was updated to include independently adjustable reverb in both channels and circuit tweaks to improve its already outstanding tone. Guitar Player magazine reviews the updated Slant 6V in the February 2009 issue, earning the Guitar Player Editors' Pick. Reviewer Darrin Fox writes, Big props to Carr for churning out an amazingly useful and versatile amp that celebrates tube-tone nerdiness in an ultra-gig-worthy package.