Thought about selling my Carr Raleigh

[JC Freddy]

I’m a bedroom player / 4 track recording type so I like low watt small amps. Bought a Raleigh used online. Played it at my apt in FL for awhile and thought it sounded OK, but I had nothing to compare it to there.

FF 6 months, got a chance to A/B it with a silverface champ I had in NJ. Different amps, but the Champ sounded so much better. Made the Raleigh sound boxy and thin in comparison. Anemic. Champ took pedals better too. Guy I bought the Raleigh from said he retubed it and it was good to go, so I figured the amp just wasn’t so great. Was thinking about selling it, but figured I’d check the tubes he put in and check the biasing.

Turns out for whatever reason he had a 12AU7 in there along with a 12AX7. Changed that and biased it. Huge difference. Sounds fuller, takes pedals better. Overdrive channel now sounds great with reverb, where previously that channel sounded pretty bad with pedals.

Shame I played it for so long without bothering to check the tubes and bias. Was beginning to think I wasted $1000. Won’t make that mistake again. I wonder how many great amps get bad reviews over mistakes like that.

 

[JustABluesGuy]

Glad you finally got that sorted out!

 

[Wally]

Interesting…a single-ended amp with fixed Biasing.

 

[mightysteve]

Apparently it started in 2011 as a fixed-bias amp, with bias points and adjustment pot in the rear. In 2020, it changed to “self-bias” (cathode bias). The updated owner’s manual on the Carr site reads, “Power Tube Bias– The Raleigh is a self-bias amplifier and does not require adjustment when changing power tubes. The new self- bias arrangement starts with serial number 711 February 2020.”

It *is* interesting that there are very few fixed-bias single-ended amps. I would guess that this is because it’s a little more expensive, and most single-ended amps were intended to be cheap practice amps back in the early days. The Fender Harvard is another small amp that uses fixed bias, but it’s push-pull, like it’s stablemate, the cathode biased Deluxe, and considerably more powerful than the Raleigh or the Champ.

 

[riachuelo]

I have a Raleigh that took me a while, too. Like you, I was using it mostly at home to practice and to record demos. It sounded fine, but I always wished it would just open up a bit more. Well, a few months ago the band I play in built a little practice space and I took the Raleigh there, where I play it just a tad louder. Not dimed, mind you, but past the halfway mark. Man, it turned into another creature entirely. Lovely breakup, rich harmonics. It was like, ah, ok, that’s where it wants to be. And even at 3W, the thing can roar — plenty loud for a small gig.

 

[AKBluesDude]

Glad I looked at this thread. I've had a Carr Mercury on my radar for awhile from Reverb hunting and wasn't even aware of the Raleigh. Sounds like the 12" Raleigh might be a better choice for me. I can't recall an oops like this but have gotten happy results from tube swaps or more commonly running through a different speaker . . . with amps getting great reviews that I was initially scratching my head over.

 

[76standard]

I’m a bedroom player / 4 track recording type so I like low watt small amps. Bought a Raleigh used online. Played it at my apt in FL for awhile and thought it sounded OK, but I had nothing to compare it to there.

FF 6 months, got a chance to A/B it with a silverface champ I had in NJ. Different amps, but the Champ sounded so much better. Made the Raleigh sound boxy and thin in comparison. Anemic. Champ took pedals better too. Guy I bought the Raleigh from said he retubed it and it was good to go, so I figured the amp just wasn’t so great. Was thinking about selling it, but figured I’d check the tubes he put in and check the biasing.

Turns out for whatever reason he had a 12AU7 in there along with a 12AX7. Changed that and biased it. Huge difference. Sounds fuller, takes pedals better. Overdrive channel now sounds great with reverb, where previously that channel sounded pretty bad with pedals.

Shame I played it for so long without bothering to check the tubes and bias. Was beginning to think I wasted $1000. Won’t make that mistake again. I wonder how many great amps get bad reviews over mistakes like that.

I can’t tell you the number of similar stories I’ve read or heard. My amp tech says close to 75% of his work is tubes and biasing. Enjoy your new amp.

 

[loudboy]

I stupidly passed on a Hammerhead for $800, still kicking myself, what a great amp.

 

[76standard]

I have a Raleigh that took me a while, too. Like you, I was using it mostly at home to practice and to record demos. It sounded fine, but I always wished it would just open up a bit more. Well, a few months ago the band I play in built a little practice space and I took the Raleigh there, where I play it just a tad louder. Not dimed, mind you, but past the halfway mark. Man, it turned into another creature entirely. Lovely breakup, rich harmonics. It was like, ah, ok, that’s where it wants to be. And even at 3W, the thing can roar — plenty loud for a small gig.

Amps are like muscle cars, you have to open them up to appreciate what they are capable of doing. I have a vintage 40 watt Pro Reverb that just blooms when I push it a bit, say 60% or greater. That’s when the amp is on the edge of breakup and starts to compress. I think that is what Leo and his amp development crew had in mind when they created so many of his iconic amps.

 

[ashtone54]

Glad I looked at this thread. I've had a Carr Mercury on my radar for awhile from Reverb hunting and wasn't even aware of the Raleigh. Sounds like the 12" Raleigh might be a better choice for me. I can't recall an oops like this but have gotten happy results from tube swaps or more commonly running through a different speaker . . . with amps getting great reviews that I was initially scratching my head over.

A close lifetime friend gave me this Mercury a couple months ago. He doesn’t play electric any longer. I love small wattage amps because you can actually turn them up to the sweet spot without pissing off the sound tech. It took me a minute to figure it out, but I’ve used it on live shows with a mic on it.
8 watts and it sounds twice as loud as my Vibro Champ, with way more low end.

 

[AKBluesDude]

A close lifetime friend gave me this Mercury a couple months ago. He doesn’t play electric any longer. I love small wattage amps because you can actually turn them up to the sweet spot without pissing off the sound tech. It took me a minute to figure it out, but I’ve used it on live shows with a mic on it.
8 watts and it sounds twice as loud as my Vibro Champ, with way more low end.
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Thanks for the input on the Mercury. Much appreciated. I'll keep it on the radar. I also like the low watt bedroom volume amps or slightly higher wattage ones with an attenuator. I have a 5 watt SWART STR showing up today and a friend is cutting me a deal on a Tone King Gremlin. Both have been on my bucket list for a long time. A low watt Carr would be a nice addition to round out my amps. But will have to wait on some more disposable income.