Check out three killer boutique amps from our North Carolina builders. Swart, CARR and Port City. Dive in and let us know your favorite in the comments!
Seriously need more videos like this. Awesome. If you can, go to the store. It's a great place, even to just hang out. The problem with Southern Pines is you won't want to leave once you're there.
I am from Missouri, the "show me" state. You did! Thanks. Considering that y'all don't sell these amps, that makes you the goodwill ambassador. Love your neighbors...
FYI if you ever watch psionic audio he goes through amp builds while doing repairs and a swart amp is his only A+ grade for build quality and service ability
I have a Swart Atomic Space Tone. It's the best amp I have ever heard in person. That includes boutique brands like Two Rock and Carr, and vintage amps as well. It positively smokes.
I just bought the Swart STR (one in video) because of that repair/review !! The Amp does not disappoint. It looks and plays like a dream AND I know it’s built to last.
Jonathan, that Swart is based off the 60s Gibson tolopogy (which itself is based on the Fender Tweed basics), but its not really "A Fender Tweed" remake. Amazing amp, i freaking love it.
I have a mojotone amp; I think they’re out of NC. It’s a vibroluxe 5f11 model, so kinda like a Harvard. Best amp I’ve played and rides that fine line of sounding good at bedroom levels and being loud enough to keep up with a drummer
Greetings from Nashville north, Louisville Kentucky!! I have played through several Carr amplifiers and they are fantastic. However I own the Swart 45 space tone head with the 2-12 Celestion cream back cabinet. 90% of my guitars are Les Pauls and I love the swart space tone humbucker combination. I like the option for higher clean volume and the tube reverb and trim are second to none. Great video
I had a dark tweed Swart STR Space tone reverb. I put a nite lite jr in it. All good except I like a bit more 'brittle ' high end. I currently have an original format Carr Mercury. I sure do like the sound. Thanks for doing a great job here, Jonathan.
It’s because we all hate Headstrong. 😂 Just kidding, like I said in the video, these are just 3 we happen to have at the shop at the moment. If you ever wanna let us borrow your Headstrong we’ll do a video on it too. Thanks for watching!
@@guitarjonathan ha! I typed that before hearing you say that. I was going to leave it but thought nah - I'll bust their b@lls a bit. I dig y'all's channel
I had Carrs and Swarts in my studio. And one of a sudden I had noise issues I hadn’t experienced before. Single coil guitars felt like an antenna. Going through my pedal board, which is usually not introducing any noise, worsen‘t the situation. Same was with my computer and my phone in the proximity. The Swart was btw extremely hot (loud) and therefore very difficult to tame. When playing through them, I understood why people like them, however they were of limited fun when idling. One stage this is most likely not an issue, but at home/in the studio it didn‘t work for me (at all). In my view, something these builders should take a look at.
They all sound great. One other thing to consider is serviceability-because statistically speaking, they’re likely to need it at some point. There are videos you can find on TH-cam that suggest that, unfortunately, the Carr amps are very expensive to service. Basically, I wouldn’t buy an amp without being able to find pictures of the guts online, because I want to have an idea whether my $3000 amp is likely to cost hundreds of dollars to replace a resistor burning, etc.
The “too expensive to service” argument is not a great one imo. Example, my Friedman DS is one of those amps that everyone brags about the hand wiring and the ease of service blah blah and it is a beautiful amp, however I had bad tubes and cold solder joints issues within the first 2 months of ownership and I’m lucky I’m handy with a soldering iron and was able to fix them myself. My Carr Telstar has been rocking for a few years with no issues whatsoever, it doesn't even need to be biased to sound perfect. despite the point-to-point wiring being messy i don't care because it doesn't need any repairs. PS: sold the Friedman kept my Carr
None were slouches, but if I could only have one 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 Oh it's a hard one here, I loved the cleans coming from the Port City. There I said it. But there's more than one Carr. IDK if only I was rich instead of good looking.
Y’all probably know better than I do. I thought I saw some stuff that said Swart on it when I toured the Mojotone factory last June when I was there for the amp class. But I could be misremembering.
Mojotone is also in the Wilmington 9:57 area in Burgaw NC. They are a national parts maker whose stuff you can buy on Sweetwater and sites like that. They also have schools where you can come to town and they will teach you how to build your own amp which you do during their 2 day class and you take the amp home with you. Very cool company
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Seriously need more videos like this. Awesome. If you can, go to the store. It's a great place, even to just hang out. The problem with Southern Pines is you won't want to leave once you're there.
I am from Missouri, the "show me" state. You did! Thanks.
Considering that y'all don't sell these amps, that makes you the goodwill ambassador. Love your neighbors...
Carr....yes please
FYI if you ever watch psionic audio he goes through amp builds while doing repairs and a swart amp is his only A+ grade for build quality and service ability
I have a Swart Atomic Space Tone. It's the best amp I have ever heard in person. That includes boutique brands like Two Rock and Carr, and vintage amps as well. It positively smokes.
I just bought the Swart STR (one in video) because of that repair/review !! The Amp does not disappoint. It looks and plays like a dream AND I know it’s built to last.
Yep, they are truly awesome amps.
Jonathan, that Swart is based off the 60s Gibson tolopogy (which itself is based on the Fender Tweed basics), but its not really "A Fender Tweed" remake.
Amazing amp, i freaking love it.
Have a Carr mercury V, Carr Super bee, and A swart AST Pro. They’re all very different but great amps.
I have a mojotone amp; I think they’re out of NC. It’s a vibroluxe 5f11 model, so kinda like a Harvard. Best amp I’ve played and rides that fine line of sounding good at bedroom levels and being loud enough to keep up with a drummer
Swart AST Master MKII through a Swart 1x12 is my drug of choice.
Nice playing! All the amps sounds great to me.
I own a Carr Telstar and is so freaking good. Few controls but no need for more as it just sounds right! No fiddling just playing. LOUD though 😅
Greetings from Nashville north, Louisville Kentucky!!
I have played through several Carr amplifiers and they are fantastic.
However I own the Swart 45 space tone head with the 2-12 Celestion cream back cabinet. 90% of my guitars are Les Pauls and I love the swart space tone humbucker combination.
I like the option for higher clean volume and the tube reverb and trim are second to none.
Great video
I have a Swart Antares with the Creamback speaker and love it! Played through a Super Bee and was really impressed.
All sound great! But if I had to select one as a "daily driver". I think, it would be the Carr. But that would depend on the type of gig and my mood.
I had a dark tweed Swart STR Space tone reverb. I put a nite lite jr in it. All good except I like a bit more 'brittle ' high end. I currently have an original format Carr Mercury. I sure do like the sound. Thanks for doing a great job here, Jonathan.
Awesome video folks!
Have the 12” SuperBee. Luv it!
this is pretty dang neat!
Left out Headstrong! Give Wayne some love! Love my lil king S.
I second that. I’ve had all kinds of amps. My Lil King Reverb is fantastic!
It’s because we all hate Headstrong.
😂 Just kidding, like I said in the video, these are just 3 we happen to have at the shop at the moment. If you ever wanna let us borrow your Headstrong we’ll do a video on it too. Thanks for watching!
@@guitarjonathan ha! I typed that before hearing you say that. I was going to leave it but thought nah - I'll bust their b@lls a bit. I dig y'all's channel
I had Carrs and Swarts in my studio. And one of a sudden I had noise issues I hadn’t experienced before. Single coil guitars felt like an antenna. Going through my pedal board, which is usually not introducing any noise, worsen‘t the situation. Same was with my computer and my phone in the proximity. The Swart was btw extremely hot (loud) and therefore very difficult to tame. When playing through them, I understood why people like them, however they were of limited fun when idling. One stage this is most likely not an issue, but at home/in the studio it didn‘t work for me (at all). In my view, something these builders should take a look at.
It was h Carr for me. All sounded great.
They all sound great. One other thing to consider is serviceability-because statistically speaking, they’re likely to need it at some point. There are videos you can find on TH-cam that suggest that, unfortunately, the Carr amps are very expensive to service. Basically, I wouldn’t buy an amp without being able to find pictures of the guts online, because I want to have an idea whether my $3000 amp is likely to cost hundreds of dollars to replace a resistor burning, etc.
Swart amps are very straight forward just like a hand wired fender on an eyelet board. Easy to service and they are built great.
The “too expensive to service” argument is not a great one imo. Example, my Friedman DS is one of those amps that everyone brags about the hand wiring and the ease of service blah blah and it is a beautiful amp, however I had bad tubes and cold solder joints issues within the first 2 months of ownership and I’m lucky I’m handy with a soldering iron and was able to fix them myself. My Carr Telstar has been rocking for a few years with no issues whatsoever, it doesn't even need to be biased to sound perfect. despite the point-to-point wiring being messy i don't care because it doesn't need any repairs.
PS: sold the Friedman kept my Carr
I liked the Swart. Great sound.
None were slouches, but if I could only have one 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 Oh it's a hard one here, I loved the cleans coming from the Port City. There I said it. But there's more than one Carr. IDK if only I was rich instead of good looking.
i liked the Swart a lot
I’m not sure which one I would choose if I had to. They all sounded great. Maybe the Carr?
Swart!!!
Carr 🤘🏻
Greg Germino 👌👌👌
Nice. I think Germino is from NC
You’re right! I really wish we’d have had one of those to try as well. Those are amazing amps.
Cool
Tophat!
How bout Headstrong?
Came here to say the same thing.
They do all sound good eh?
HOLY SH!T,,
You said it brother.
Germino
Forgot Mojotone! But maybe Mojotone assembles the Swarts?
Lol...not a chance.
Nope. Michael at swart does his own thing.
Y’all probably know better than I do. I thought I saw some stuff that said Swart on it when I toured the Mojotone factory last June when I was there for the amp class. But I could be misremembering.
Mojotone is also in the Wilmington 9:57 area in Burgaw NC. They are a national parts maker whose stuff you can buy on Sweetwater and sites like that. They also have schools where you can come to town and they will teach you how to build your own amp which you do during their 2 day class and you take the amp home with you. Very cool company
@@kevinwalsh9974Yep!
Their next class is in March. It’s a lot of fun if you’ve ever thought about building an amp.
Hillbillies know how to make amps!
The Gibson amp was cheap crappy material bad layout very over priced