Tone Available Here
OK, this amp is pretty interesting. While I’m not
sure I would go as far as saying it can sound like
two totally different amps, the Edge and Mid
switches yield a nice variety of sounds and a
bit of a change in how the amp responds. Carr
was going for a Vox deal here, and I think they
hit the mark very well. You can get that “top-
boost” tone easily with the Edge switch set to
Bright, so Beatles chime can be yours. Now
what I really dig is the way the amp breaks up as
you crank it. Through good design or voodoo or
however they did it, this amp has a wonderful,
vocal singing quality when cranked. It just has a
silky-smooth quality that is very pleasant. Turn
down the guitar volume and it cleans right up.
The articulation is big and clear. Notes pop out.
This amp would work well for the John Scofield
funky vibe—and so much more. It has a very in-
your-face immediacy. Think the beginning of the
Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’.”
about that, my ears still kinda work!) So this amp
has enough oomph for your Strat—many lower-
powered amps just don’t. Low output pickups
just cannot deliver sometimes when you have an
amp that’s under 50 watts. As for humbuckers—
badda-boom—this amp is dripping with rock ’n’
roll. When I was just wanking some chords out I
kept thinking “I am Keith Richards.”
Rating:
you want a smoking-hot Vox sound.
Buy If...
The Final Mojo
We live in the age of the boutique amp, and I
think most boutique amps are pretty good. It’s
more a question of finding what works for you
and your sound. Carr makes top-quality stuff.
Their amps are way roadworthy and are built
like tanks. That said, the Artemus offers a particular flavor—it is not a Swiss Army knife-type
amp. It won’t suit every need and, as I said, I
really wish they had included their wonderful
reverb because I am a reverb junkie. But if
you want quality, Vox-like tone, this amp will
rock you. It’s not for metalheads. It’s more
suited to blues and roots folks, and for them
it should be able to do any club gig with style.
So scamper down to your nearest Carr dealer
and have a listen.
Skip If...
you need mega overdrive or reverb.
Carr amplifiers
mSrP $1990
carramps.com
CLICKHere…
As I played the Artemus more, the sound I
heard the most was Rory Gallagher’s. It just
does that dead on. Looking it up, I found that
Rory actually played Vox amps quite a bit. (How
or use a mobile
device to read
this QR code
to see a video
of this amp in
action at
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Our passion is the
true vintage sound!
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PrEmIEr GuITar JunE 2010 151
