Short Description:

Hand-wired 12-watt American combo with a Celestion 12" speaker, built-in attenuator, tube-driven spring reverb, and a custom two-tone cabinet.

What We Think:

Condtion: Used, Excellent

This rare Carr Skylark Special Two-Tone is a custom-finished 12-watt workhorse that blends vintage low-wattage American vibe with ultra-modern tone-shaping flexibility. Hand-wired point-to-point in the USA, this boutique 33-pound 1x12 combo pairs a Celestion A-Type speaker with top-shelf components, including custom USA-made transformers, Solen Fast Cap film power supply capacitors, and a tube complement of two 6V6GTs, two 12AX7s, two 12AT7s, and an EZ81 rectifier. Built-in versatility shines through its two-position Hi/Low gain switch, dedicated H-73 tone section toggle, full-featured EQ, and lush all-tube spring reverb. Best of all, an integrated variable attenuator lets you step the power down seamlessly from 1.2 watts all the way to a whisper without sacrificing rich 6V6 power-tube overdrive, making this striking two-tone combo an exceptional tool for home practice, studio sessions, and small gigs alike.

Manufacturer Description:

Listen to one classic American guitar recording after another and you’ll hear what so many have in common: the sweet, juicy sound of the tweed and blackface eras. Capable of both delectable clean tones and harmonically rich tube overdrive at real-world volumes, amps like the late-’50s tweed Harvard, Deluxe, and ’60s blackface Princeton Reverb provided a springboard for the Carr Skylark. The new Skylark Special continues that tradition, adding increased versatility and enhanced sonic depths to the time-tested design of the original model.

The Skylark generates 12 watts from a pair of 6V6GT power tubes, but it does far more with that platform than any of the classics that inspired it. By expanding the tone stage with a super-handy Mid control and adding an extended-range Presence control, Carr has given the Skylark far more sonic flexibility. A Hi/Low gain switch and onboard attenuator enhance the drive and output capabilities exponentially, allowing a smooth transition from tweed-to-blackface, and further suiting the amp to a myriad of playing situations. Additionally, Carr has added its popular H73 setting—the Hiwatt-inspired tone section introduced on the Bel-Ray model—to the new Special design, introducing the option of a bold and punchy British voice, selectable on a two-way mini-toggle.

Specifications:

Power: 12 Watts full Attenuated 1.2 watts to a whisper

Construction: Hand wired point-to-point in the USA

Components: Custom USA made transformers, Solen Fast Cap Film Power Supply, US-made Jupiter and Mallory signal capacitors, carbon comp resistors and more

Power: 12 watts, attenuated from 1.2 watts to 0

Channels: One

Tubes: two 12AX7, two 12AT7, two 6V6GT, one EZ81

Controls: Volume, Hi/Low gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Reverb, Presence, Attenuator, Attenuator toggle

Switches: Two position Hi/Low gain switch, H-73 tone section switch, Attenuator in/out, on/off/standby

Features: All-tube spring reverb, built-in attenuator, 8-Ohm speaker out

Cabinet: Hand-crafted from premium plywood and uniquely styled

Speaker: Celestion A-Type 12"

Weight & Dimensions: 1x12" combo 20.5" (W) x 15.75" (H) x 9" (D), 33 lbs