Mini-LEEDS21 Carry-On
Backing off my guitar volume and flipping the
coil-tap switch to a single coil, I lowered the
amp volume to around 4 to 6. The Carry-On
provided a transparent clean sound, complimenting the bright and punchy qualities of the
500T in single-coil mode. After stumbling up
the stairs and discovering that I’d been playing for about three hours straight, I was sold.
While I had the amp, I got the chance to use
it in the studio to double guitar tracks. I ran a
’ 72 Fender Telecaster reissue with Warmoth
baritone neck, Rio Grande Dirty Harry single-coil in the bridge and the stock Fender jumbo
humbucker in the neck. The combination of
the Carry-On’s raw crunch, the bite of the
Telecaster and the low end of the baritone
strings supplied plenty of low growl, complimenting my Sound City L120’s darker tones.
The Carry-On also accepts pedals very well,
if the gain provided by the amp isn’t enough.
It handled all the distortion and fuzz pedals I
threw at it like a champ. I only wish this amp
had a line out, so I could have slaved out the
Sound City for even more volume.
amp that may make it more desirable than
using a vintage amp live, or even in studio
situations. The sturdy power supply is one.
The other is that the Carry-On runs at modern
voltages, unlike older amps that were made
to run at lower voltages. This allows the Carry-On to achieve its full potential, giving you
1960s tone without having to change the caps
on your vintage amp. Designed to give the
player straight to amp tone, the Carry-On will
make you forget all about a master volume
(which squashes your preamp tubes anyway).
While pedal effects makers and software companies may try to reproduce it and may come
close, there is nothing quite as inspiring as
standing in front of a revved up valve amp at
full volume. Hiwatt, Sound City, and Marshall
enthusiasts would do well to check out Roy
Blankenship’s amp line. The Carry-On comes
at a street price that makes it obtainable for
a boutique amp—especially next to that plexi
you’ve been watching on eBay. Now I just
have to save my pennies to buy one, or skip
the country with the one in my basement.
you’re looking for classic British tone
Buy If...
Skip If...
21 watts is not enough
Rating...
5.0
ONTHEWeb
Click here to hear sound
clips of the amp in action at
premierguitar.com/reviews
The Final Mojo
Though the Carry-On recreates the sound of
old, there are some very modern traits to the
Blankenship Amplification
Street $1499 (includes ballistic nylon
carry bag and shoulder strap)
blankenshipamps.com
BLACK CAT HAS JUST RELEASED FOUR GREAT PEDALS FROM THE ORIGINAL LINE:
The famous Freddie Fuzz :
Black Cat OD- 1
Modernized version of the Univox classic:
Black Cat Super Fuzz
OD- 1 and Silicon Fuzz Face in one box:
Black Cat OD-Fuzz
Based on the Maestro Bass Brassmaster:
Black Cat Bass Octave Fuzz
SAME GREAT DESIGNS,
BETTER BUILT WITH A
NEW BOUTIQUE LOOK.
Sara says,
“They’re Purr-fect!”
BOUTIQUE GUITAR EFFECTS SINCE 1993 MADE IN THE USA 203.764.2644 WWW.BLACKCATPEDALS.COM
156 PREMIER GUITAR DECEMBER 2009
