I can't seem to tell if I only love expensive amps or if most expensive amps just sound better to me. I absolutely love this Carr. It sounds like a vintage amp. Not old but properly aged being electrocuted in a smoky club for years.
I’ve had mine for about two weeks and it has blown my mind. Thanks Johan for the great and accurate reviews, the transparency of your recordings is really good and important for guys like me who have to buy remotely (can’t try before buying). Too bad you didn’t get to hang on to the amp, but I guess you’re not short on great amps LOL.
Always loved Carr Amps...some of the best tone you have captured to date. If you can't play a gig with this amp and get some of the best tones possible, then you are doing something wrong IMHO. I currently run an old Fender Deluxe Reverb, a JMP MK II Master Lead 50w, and a Carol Ann OD3 together (blending them to suit) and the Carr would easily hang mixed in that group of tonal bliss. I find the EP Booster, Wampler Tumnus Deluxe, and Drybell Vibe 2 (with an old TC Chorus and Strymon El Capistan) can help push these cleaner/chimey style amps to new uncharted territory. The Strymon and TC also create no hum between the amps when run together. Life is good! Thanks Johan, you're muse(captured via TH-cam) has truly become an encyclopedia of information to questions I ponder late at night. Great to see someone work hard and be able to enjoy the second half of their life pursuing their passion. Great playing as well! Also check out the ProAnalog Vintage Germanium Fuzz if you get the time. That is next on my list for all things ZZ Top fuzz related.
I forgot to mention cabinets affecting tone as well. The Marshall really warmed up when I started using a Diezel New York rear loaded fingered birch cab. I have A/B'd this cab vs. numerous other Marshall bottoms and everyone agreed that the sound was fuller with a more vintage/pure feel(it has 2005 Vintage 30's). The Carol Ann is run into a Carol Ann 1x12 with a Creamback and the Fender has the original Jensen. The mix of these cabs gives you an amazing blend and each is unique in character. Point being cabs/speakers can get overlooked a bit, but end up being a huge piece of the sonic puzzle. The Carr produces an amazing tight low end that seems completely uncompressed and that's a quality I sincerely appreciate. Similar to old Vox AC 30's and the Fender Deluxe; chimey edge of breakup with authority and headroom that gives dynamics from picking. Park amps, Hiwatt DR103, Divided by 13, and Morgan seem to do this in spades as well. Good times!
I say this every time the subject of Steve and his amps in general come up, or my Mercury V (which should be referred to as the letter V, not 5 btw, it stands for the 6V6's that it rides so hard in the power section): It amazes me that dudes will spend 2500-5000k without blinking on a single electric guitar that will really only sound as good as the amp that it's run though (you can take a vintage Les Paul or Fender or Hagstrom etc, and they can sound positively middling and unimpressive played through a cheap average amp)... But will balk at a uniquely superb amplifier that will light up their entire arsenal of electric guitars with superb, uniquely percussive, rich tone, because it costs over two thousand. Wise men always know: an "average" guitar played through a great amplifier with an excellent cab will always beat a "great" guitar played through a ho hum amplifier with a meh cab.
Well there aren't really all that many dudes forking over 5000k for a guitar! That's five million bucks! Hell I've never even spent 2500k. Unless you're talking swedish Kroner, of course.
I haven't heard a bad sound on this amp. Including new demos on you tube. It appears to cover all the classic tones we all love. The perfect amp to take to a recording studio. For me personally, after listening to this amp, I could get all the sounds I need from just the amp. I don't think I'd need any pedals for recording. Live would be a different thing. Johan, do you know if there is much of a difference in sound when comparing the new amps to the older?
Hi Johan! As mentioned, this is very expensive amp. I think, its like 2 Marshals and 1 Mexican Strat. Very nice sound, but I dont know, if I am so good player for such so cool stuff. But thats what I like in YT - I can hear you playing it. So, I wish, we all will have enough resources to get that amp and many more!:-) C.U. Zigfrid
You are a great player! I love your videos! I’m looking for a plexi 50 from 1967. Could the Carr Mercury v be a good choice or do you rather recommend the Germino club 40? Thank you for the advice!
Have you tried any of the Fane Ascension speakers Johan? I got an F70 very recently that sounds amazing: really goes !!kerrang!! and has a great punchy tight bottom end.
Great tones and righteous riffs Johan! killer cools vids on this badass lil Carr! But speaking of vintage amps, have you ever tried a Marshall Artist 4203 1x12 combo? Mine is a 1987 which I've owned since around 1990. 2 EL34's and 12ax7. It's actually Marshalls first attempt at a tube/solid state hybrid. Back in the day all I used was a 1986 Kramer modded with a Floyd Rose and a Seymour/Duncan "Pearly Gates" Humbucker (I still have the Kramer too). And that was all I needed. No transparent boost or OD etc. Just guitar into amp, I always got compliments on my tone and numerous offers for the amp. I STILL have ppl from back then bring up my Kramer/Marshall combo and how great it sounded to this day! If you come across a Marshall Artist 4203 combo, give er a go! Rite on & rock on my man!
I used to have a 15 watt amp - Laney VC15 -and it couldn't hang with a loud drummer, unless it was mic'd into the PA. It sounds like you're pretty loud. How loud was it?
Johan, can you help, i’m trying to decide between the carr mercury v and the fargen mini plex.. I can’t find the fargen to try out myself but your videos of the two sound amazing, do you have a preference or thoughts on one vs the other? Thanks
Would be very happy with either Marshall gives the big stage vibe, but the Creamback got a great low end and those sweet harmonics - even make a strat sound good !
Be careful - there is no such thing as ´a Creamback´, it is Creambacks, there is a whole series of them. The Creamback Alnico and the G12M-65 sounds very good, the others not so much.
I Googled these for about an hour yesterday. I think they're worth every penny. They're all handmade they take a lot of time. And the best components and he really knows what he's doing. There is a smaller one $1,400.
having all these options in a hand-wired amp in a small package is not an easy feat. You can jam anything on a circuit board. I'm not saying one is better than the other but this involves a lot of work.
I don't think they are worth it... Check out Albion Amps, I have 3 of those and they destroyed my 68' silverface Showman, at first I did not want to believe that some no-brand amp destroyed my Showman, but as it turns out they are cheap and designed by Steve Grindrod, the designer of both Vox/Marshall in 70s/80s era and I can say they are definitely worth checking out, especially the GS12 and GS30 series as well as TCT100 which literally melts your brain because it's TOO loud!
it does sound really great, but only last year i paid about the same as this for an original 1969 100w plexi super lead on ebay. i think they might be getting ahead of themselves on pricing! p.s. play strats more often, youre usually on the les paul and i'm a strat man!
Thanks Danny, to me his amp brings something unique to the table, that makes it competitive against vintage amps, but for most new Boutique amps I agree with you. Cheers
Hi Johan I Own a Carr Hammerhead 2-12 & it’s Sounds Great. But the. mercury is a lot more Amp than Mine ha ha ha,,anyway I never heard any Bad Carr Amplifiers yet Rock&Roll my Friend
Way too much room mic Johan - need to hear it up close. Also, not sure it's that good at a Hendrix tone from this video. Maybe next to amp it sounded much better than we're hearing on TH-cam. You need a FuzzFace but with the guitar volume rolled off.
This amp sounds great and they're built like a Tiger Tank! I've been looking at these for awhile. I love the Plexi sound. You NEED to demo the Metropoulos Metro-Plex. It's right up your alley. That thing is a real kick in the pants! th-cam.com/video/qqZmeGtowxs/w-d-xo.html
Heard it again - liked it again.
Thanks Mike, great to hear that!
Mike Foss, I have yet to hear a bad sound out of this amp.
@@LocoDirewolf Amazing tones. Classic
Wow. This sounds incredible! I have the Rambler and now I definitely need a Mercury V
I can't seem to tell if I only love expensive amps or if most expensive amps just sound better to me. I absolutely love this Carr. It sounds like a vintage amp. Not old but properly aged being electrocuted in a smoky club for years.
:-) Well put
Another flavor of greatness like you said. Awesome as usual my friend!
Thanks my friend, glad you like it
Hey Johan,
this was a great sound! Thank you!!! AND a great playing, too!
Thanks man, I’m really to hear that!
i clearly need this amp !!!
Cheers! :-)
Chandeleur Bond, likewise
Great sound Johan! Hope you bring your guitar for Midsummer! We all love Hendrix! Cheers!
Thanks Lasse!! Looking forward to midsummer! :-) Cheers
Something magical about that cab 👌
Love your Strat tones. Glad Midsommar!
Glad Midsommar! :-)
Hard to believe that combo is producing all those tones? Great sounding amp!
Stunning tone..so open and brutal. Great riffage as well.
Thanks Matthew, Im glad you like it!
Yeah no effects just straight amp tone and harmonics. That combo is a BEAST!
This amp sounds fun, it’s like an itch when scratched. It’s just so right.
Cheers ;-)
My Mercury V is simply exceptional. Can’t say enough. Versatile is an understatement.
Man, that strat!!!😍
Thanks! :-)
Everything you would ever need is in that amp I'm impressed. Have a good day.
Thanks man, you too!
I’ve had mine for about two weeks and it has blown my mind. Thanks Johan for the great and accurate reviews, the transparency of your recordings is really good and important for guys like me who have to buy remotely (can’t try before buying). Too bad you didn’t get to hang on to the amp, but I guess you’re not short on great amps LOL.
It sounds perfect into its 1x12 cab, amazing tones! :)
What a sweet sounding amp. Thank you Johan Segeborn the Viking God of sound.
Always loved Carr Amps...some of the best tone you have captured to date. If you can't play a gig with this amp and get some of the best tones possible, then you are doing something wrong IMHO. I currently run an old Fender Deluxe Reverb, a JMP MK II Master Lead 50w, and a Carol Ann OD3 together (blending them to suit) and the Carr would easily hang mixed in that group of tonal bliss. I find the EP Booster, Wampler Tumnus Deluxe, and Drybell Vibe 2 (with an old TC Chorus and Strymon El Capistan) can help push these cleaner/chimey style amps to new uncharted territory. The Strymon and TC also create no hum between the amps when run together. Life is good! Thanks Johan, you're muse(captured via TH-cam) has truly become an encyclopedia of information to questions I ponder late at night. Great to see someone work hard and be able to enjoy the second half of their life pursuing their passion. Great playing as well! Also check out the ProAnalog Vintage Germanium Fuzz if you get the time. That is next on my list for all things ZZ Top fuzz related.
I forgot to mention cabinets affecting tone as well. The Marshall really warmed up when I started using a Diezel New York rear loaded fingered birch cab. I have A/B'd this cab vs. numerous other Marshall bottoms and everyone agreed that the sound was fuller with a more vintage/pure feel(it has 2005 Vintage 30's). The Carol Ann is run into a Carol Ann 1x12 with a Creamback and the Fender has the original Jensen. The mix of these cabs gives you an amazing blend and each is unique in character. Point being cabs/speakers can get overlooked a bit, but end up being a huge piece of the sonic puzzle. The Carr produces an amazing tight low end that seems completely uncompressed and that's a quality I sincerely appreciate. Similar to old Vox AC 30's and the Fender Deluxe; chimey edge of breakup with authority and headroom that gives dynamics from picking. Park amps, Hiwatt DR103, Divided by 13, and Morgan seem to do this in spades as well. Good times!
I love to see you play through a Tone King Falcon! This Carr sounds awesome! Maybe after I win the lottery...
I say this every time the subject of Steve and his amps in general come up, or my Mercury V (which should be referred to as the letter V, not 5 btw, it stands for the 6V6's that it rides so hard in the power section):
It amazes me that dudes will spend 2500-5000k without blinking on a single electric guitar that will really only sound as good as the amp that it's run though (you can take a vintage Les Paul or Fender or Hagstrom etc, and they can sound positively middling and unimpressive played through a cheap average amp)... But will balk at a uniquely superb amplifier that will light up their entire arsenal of electric guitars with superb, uniquely percussive, rich tone, because it costs over two thousand.
Wise men always know: an "average" guitar played through a great amplifier with an excellent cab will always beat a "great" guitar played through a ho hum amplifier with a meh cab.
Well there aren't really all that many dudes forking over 5000k for a guitar! That's five million bucks! Hell I've never even spent 2500k.
Unless you're talking swedish Kroner, of course.
@@motioninmind6015 think he means 5 thousand dollars, not 5 million dollars.
Awesome sound.
Johan, you are awesome guitarist!
What a versitale amp this things amazing
Sweetest amp i've ever heard!. I think it does marshall better than marshall.
You're almost at 50,000 subscribers.... YEAHHHHHHHH, BABY!!!!!!
Thanks my friend! :-)
peace, bruh :)
That tone at 2:58 is awesome!
BOC Godzilla tone, yeah?
You look like you really enjoy that amp!
I love this amp! 😍
Cheers Eric
For some reason I would find a Johan garage / yard sale an intriguing adventure !
;-) Cheers
7:16 purest and perfect bliss (the whole video is, as ususal, but this tone is most satisfying!)
This amp reminds me of the Supro Black Magic ! Fantastic tone machines ! I liked the Supro Coronado too. Carr is definitely more expensive.
WOW. Nailed it
Thanks! :-)
Kickass
SOOO GREAT sound!
Just honey for my ears !
Thanks, great to hear that!
Sounds great. I wouldnt change any cap or resistor values in the tone stack at all.
Sweet Demo! What were the settings of the Mercury? As seen in the pictures?
What a great sounding, flexible amp !! Did U buy, or borrow it Johan ??
Thanks, I borrowed it!
I haven't heard a bad sound on this amp. Including new demos on you tube. It appears to cover all the classic tones we all love. The perfect amp to take to a recording studio. For me personally, after listening to this amp, I could get all the sounds I need from just the amp. I don't think I'd need any pedals for recording. Live would be a different thing. Johan, do you know if there is much of a difference in sound when comparing the new amps to the older?
I believe your channel is proof that "tone is in the fingers" - because every amp you play just sounds like Johan
Thanks my friend
Hi Johan!
As mentioned, this is very expensive amp. I think, its like 2 Marshals and 1 Mexican Strat. Very nice sound, but I dont know, if I am so good player for such so cool stuff. But thats what I like in YT - I can hear you playing it. So, I wish, we all will have enough resources to get that amp and many more!:-)
C.U.
Zigfrid
Hi! I think it’s actually same price level as the hand wired Marshall. See you! Johan
I LIKE IT!!!!
You are a great player! I love your videos!
I’m looking for a plexi 50 from 1967. Could the Carr Mercury v be a good choice or do you rather recommend the Germino club 40?
Thank you for the advice!
Great sounding amp, and great playing as usual!
Have you ever tried or made a demo of a Sunn amp? Would really like to see.
Cheers
Lol...Johan hits a note and it just starts singing! The power chords sounded brutally good with the Strat.
Have you tried any of the Fane Ascension speakers Johan? I got an F70 very recently that sounds amazing: really goes !!kerrang!! and has a great punchy tight bottom end.
I dont think I have any experience of those
Great tones and righteous riffs Johan! killer cools vids on this badass lil Carr! But speaking of vintage amps, have you ever tried a Marshall Artist 4203 1x12 combo? Mine is a 1987 which I've owned since around 1990. 2 EL34's and 12ax7. It's actually Marshalls first attempt at a tube/solid state hybrid. Back in the day all I used was a 1986 Kramer modded with a Floyd Rose and a Seymour/Duncan "Pearly Gates" Humbucker (I still have the Kramer too). And that was all I needed. No transparent boost or OD etc. Just guitar into amp, I always got compliments on my tone and numerous offers for the amp. I STILL have ppl from back then bring up my Kramer/Marshall combo and how great it sounded to this day! If you come across a Marshall Artist 4203 combo, give er a go! Rite on & rock on my man!
Awesome tone! Are you using the line out to go into the Marshall cab? Doesn't the line out have speaker simulation on it?
Thanks, No I’m using speaker output jack.
Hej Johan, what wood is your Strat made of? Are the pickups original? Tack!
Finally. Every demo of the Mercury is hipsters playing doodly doodly music. I want to hear that thing Rock
I used to have a 15 watt amp - Laney VC15 -and it couldn't hang with a loud drummer, unless it was mic'd into the PA. It sounds like you're pretty loud. How loud was it?
The amp has a lot of mojo!
thinking of getting the head version, I have a 2x12 with two Celestion creambacks, any thoughts on this combination?
Yeah the amp sounds great with Creambacks. Cheers
Johan, can you help, i’m trying to decide between the carr mercury v and the fargen mini plex.. I can’t find the fargen to try out myself but your videos of the two sound amazing, do you have a preference or thoughts on one vs the other? Thanks
Two great amps, I need to play them back to back to compare them though. You can’t go wrong with either.
So, the real lesson I’m taking away here is that sooner or later I should just get a 4x10 or 4x12 cab and run my 1965 Airline 5 watt through it. 😄
Oval speaker cloth cut-out? Is the speaker oval? ;) Odd.
I’m trying to decide between a Carr and a Bad Cat.
great
Thanks!
Would be very happy with either Marshall gives the big stage vibe, but the Creamback got a great low end and those sweet harmonics - even make a strat sound good !
Be careful - there is no such thing as ´a Creamback´, it is Creambacks, there is a whole series of them. The Creamback Alnico and the G12M-65 sounds very good,
the others not so much.
Sweet 6v6?
Sure does sound sweet..... but $2500?!?
I Googled these for about an hour yesterday. I think they're worth every penny. They're all handmade they take a lot of time. And the best components and he really knows what he's doing. There is a smaller one $1,400.
Thanks, I think the Marshall 1974X 18W is at similar price level in US
That amp is pricewise in the range of Friedman Small Box, Bogner Helios, Goldfinger 45 SL..., Suhr SL67, Badger (30 II) and many more..
having all these options in a hand-wired amp in a small package is not an easy feat. You can jam anything on a circuit board. I'm not saying one is better than the other but this involves a lot of work.
I don't think they are worth it... Check out Albion Amps, I have 3 of those and they destroyed my 68' silverface Showman, at first I did not want to believe that some no-brand amp destroyed my Showman, but as it turns out they are cheap and designed by Steve Grindrod, the designer of both Vox/Marshall in 70s/80s era and I can say they are definitely worth checking out, especially the GS12 and GS30 series as well as TCT100 which literally melts your brain because it's TOO loud!
If they ever need a voice dub for godfather
this amp sounds like Johan Segeborn !
Hi, how does this compare to the new Marshall Origin in terms of tone?
This one has a much fuller and richer toner. It sustains much better too.
it does sound really great, but only last year i paid about the same as this for an original 1969 100w plexi super lead on ebay. i think they might be getting ahead of themselves on pricing! p.s. play strats more often, youre usually on the les paul and i'm a strat man!
Thanks Danny, to me his amp brings something unique to the table, that makes it competitive against vintage amps, but for most new Boutique amps I agree with you. Cheers
Jtm 45 + guvnor in to r9 :-) still waiting!
Hi Johan I Own a Carr Hammerhead 2-12 & it’s Sounds Great. But the. mercury is a lot more Amp than Mine ha ha ha,,anyway I never heard any Bad Carr Amplifiers yet Rock&Roll my Friend
Amazing amps indeed, Cheers my friend
they have one at Spacemanmusic.com...it's in ottawa, canada..
Lets's hear a Jet City 20 HV
I'll keep it in mind!
Way too much room mic Johan - need to hear it up close. Also, not sure it's that good at a Hendrix tone from this video. Maybe next to amp it sounded much better than we're hearing on TH-cam. You need a FuzzFace but with the guitar volume rolled off.
In the left speaker, there's almost only close mic
The room sound is really dominant, I suppose because it extends the sound with the reverb of the room.
Too much for some, just right for others...
This amp sounds great and they're built like a Tiger Tank! I've been looking at these for awhile. I love the Plexi sound. You NEED to demo the Metropoulos Metro-Plex. It's right up your alley. That thing is a real kick in the pants! th-cam.com/video/qqZmeGtowxs/w-d-xo.html
step on a Fuzzface pedal in front of it,, lets see if it goes nuts :)
lets at least call it to be continued until you step on a crybabby :)
for 2k ill get my car to sound better than that lol