Carr Amps: Skylark Special 1x12 Combo

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.

The Skylark’s acclaimed, tube-driven spring reverb has been enhanced for optimum lush, multi-dimensional atmospherics. The redesigned, retro-styled cabinet is now made from lightweight, premium-grade, Baltic-birch plywood, reducing the total weight while better focusing tonal projection. An EZ81 tube rectifier takes the place of the previous fast-recovery diodes for a more responsive, tactile playing feel.

Added together, these features make for an extremely dynamic and expressive combo that’s beautifully suited to the studio and club stage alike.

It’s all put together with the top-shelf parts and construction that Carr is famous for, using military and aerospace-grade power supply components, an added nine more Jupiter signal capacitors (more expensive, but they sound great), and resistors inspired by the golden age of tube amps, all rendered with true point-to-point wiring.

The Skylark — primed to fly when your tone needs wings.

Product features:

• 12 Watts full output - (Brilliant Power)
• Built-in variable attenuator 1.2 watts down to zero - (Ultra Useful)
• Low/High Gain switch – mid-60s to Hot Rod - (Drive)
• All tube Reverb - (Aquatic)
• Extended range Mid control - (from Double Scoop to Bark)
• Extended range Presence control - (Polite to Crystalline)
• Switchable H73 British tone section from our award-winning Bel-Ray
• Lightweight, premium-grade plywood cabinet - (Solid Tone)
• Celestion A-type 12” American voiced speaker – (Dynamic)
• Analysis Plus cable - (Super Conductive)
• 100% Point to Point wiring
• Solen Aerospace Satellite power supply capacitors
• US made Jupiter signal capacitors
• Custom Carr power/output transformers
• Local made saddle leather handles
• Cabinets built in house

Product Specs:

• 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