Carr Artemus? Anybody try one yet?

[sonic1974]

here's a description:



Class A

Four EL84 power tubes
Tube rectifier (5AR4/GZ34)
Fixed bias with external test points and adjustment control
Two power settings: 30 or 15 watts
Mid and Edge toggles for expanded tonal palette
Polypropylene satellite (aerospace) capacitor power supply
100% hand-wired
Solid pine dovetailed cabinet
1x12, 2x12, 1x15, and head configurations
Description

The Artemus delivers versatile EL84 clean tones with great openness and clarity to biting or smooth touch-sensitive overdrive. The fixed bias output stage offers wonderful punch with a smooth break-up when pushed. The Edge and Mid toggles sculpt tones from mellow to aggressive. The input modified cascode 12AX7 circuit emulates EF86 thickness and gain without problematic microphonics. This is a new interpretation of a favorite aspects of AC sounds with all the stellar Carr component, craftsmanship, and cabinet qualities. (Look for reviews of the Artemus in issues of ToneQuest, Vintage Guitar, Premier Guitar, and Guitar Player.)
Specifications


Power 30/15 watts
Tubes 2 12AX7, 4 EL84, 1 5AR4/GZ34
Channels 1
Controls Volume, Bass, Treble
Switches Edge (bright and upper mid boost), Mid (flat or scooped), 15/30 Watt

[GTRJohnny]

I am hoping to try it for the first time on Sat. If so, I'll write something up. :)

[joek86]

I have one coming in two weeks in Black Gator.

~Joe

[pittster]

Mines sat in it's cardboard box since yesterday waiting to be opened.

Plan is to open it up tonight!!

I'll post a review after the weekend.

[sonic1974]

Pittster,

Did you try the Artemus yet? Please review it for us. :) thanks.

[Wombat]

Premiere Guitar just did a review in the June or July issue if you are interested, but I am curious to hear it in person, too.

[joek86]

Hopefully mine will ship early next week!

~Joe

[Bryan T]

A friend of mine got one to go with his Vincent (Viceroy). I only got to try it at lower volumes and on the 15 watt setting. I thought it felt kind of stiff. Not really what I was expecting. I'm curious to hear it louder.

[guitarblue cat]

Traded in a couple of amps yesterday for the 1x12 black combo version of this tone monster and spent a good part of the afternoon enjoying this amp at different settings and volumes with a variety of guitars. The tone sits somewhere in a unique "pocket" between Fender and Vox, and, no matter what pedal or guitar I fed it, the amp sounds marvelous and responsive and had me feeling that the two amps I traded (VibroKing and Mesa Express 25) for this were well worth it, the tone is simply that wonderful. There is a depth of character to each note such that complex chords articulate with warmth and chime that blooms into the room. There is no doubt that one can easily gig with this amp, there is plenty of power on hand. There is certainly a reactive nature to the envelope of each pick attack or fingerstyling that compels me to try and play more accurately to get the most of the tone from the guitar. No matter singles or humbuckers, the amp doesn't mind and it is easy to readjust the tone controls to accomodate a wide range of gain structures. I'll be playing more today to further explore this, but this is, by far, one of the finest amps I've ever played or owned, and I have owned quite a few. Definitely a keeper. And please use high quality cables when demoing this amp (I use Solid Cables), they do make a big difference.

[joek86]

Glad you like yours, it's a pretty cool amp. However I didn't like the speaker that came with it and changed it to a WGS Vet-30. I will say that I like the amp but it doesn't come close to knocking my 65Amps Tupelo off it's top position. Just my opinion........

~Joe

[Rick360]

Howdy,

I take it the Artemus is sort of like Carr's take on the AC-30?

[joek86]

Howdy,

I take it the Artemus is sort of like Carr's take on the AC-30?

I'd say that it leans that way but is not a dead on copy....I think, depending on the settings, that it has some Fender sprinkled in too.

~Joe

[Tealightcandles]

No 12AX7 is ever going to act like an EF86, im(uneducated)o. I don't really like Carrs in general though and love every outlet that a Matchless has been plugged into, so I'm bound to be biased.

[guitarblue cat]

Toally agree about 12ax7s. What is unique here is the way Carr implemented the two stages of the 12ax7 in a cascode configuration to emulate the EF86 gain structure; effectively obtaining the tone without the noise. I've had Vox (not solid state), Matchless and Bad Cats over the years and I liked them, great amps. No question about that. There is a bit of Fender sprinkled into the sound. The thing is that, not only is the OD very sweet when cranked, this amp takes pedals beautifully too. I've resurrected a couple of HomeBrew OD pedals that I thought I was going to let go. It's all about combinations of things. Also, I am a huge fan of Eminence speakers. When I tried patchig the amp though my Mojotone 4x12 cab loaded with Wizards and Guvnors, that was outstanding, even with an impedance mismatch going into 16 Ohms. Anyway, I'm happy with this amp and, having built 6 Metro heads at this stage (Jtm 45, 2-50 W 1987 plexis and 3 - 100 W 1959 SLPs) I had been looking for a lower wattage amp that would be easy to move aournd and had great tone for lower volume practice. This is working well so far.

[tcforec]

PLayed one at Fat Sound last week and it sounds like another great Carr product. A little stiff at very low volume but really smooth with some chime when cranked up both in 15 and 30 watt modes. The switches work well also and whatever speaker was in it sounded great. I played everything in there that day and the Artemus and Rambler both seemed like they would be great pedal platforms (which is what i was looking). I normally play a '94 SC30 on the EF86 side so I kinda dug the Artemus' chime mixed with smooth.

[pittster]

it's had a great review in the new edition of 'Guitarist' magazine.

I love mine.

[Csgband]

any updates?

[douglee]

Played through one today, and was blown away, so much so that I'm spinning my wheels, deciding what to get rid of so I can buy it. One of those "not a bad sound in it" amps. Of course, I was using the store owners' Suhr Strat, and it may be the best playing and sounding Strat type guitar I've ever played!

[Csgband]

Man I am so confused.

[joek86]

I have an Artemus with Black gator tolex. I am luke warm on it for my own needs, but I am comparing it to a Redplate and a 65AMPS Tupelo.

But, the other guitarist in our band loves it and thinks that it sounds better than his 1974X Marshall. He actually wants to buy one and get rid of the 1974X. Secondly, my son loves it and has kind of taken it over......he is an absoloutely smokin player and uses it for Classic hard rock, pop, and even metal with pedals.

That is another good point, the amp takes pedal well, boosts and the BB preamp.

~Joe

[antbosca]

My take from playing one at Willie's in St. Paul was that it's really impressive. Great low end from the combo, really usable range of volumes. Very detailed; a good strat through it, you just hear ALL the guitar. It reminds me a little of a good Matchless in that way, though it's definitely got some Vox vibe in there too.

[daddyo]

Hv-z39RKE74 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv-z39RKE74)

[douglee]

Got an Artemus today, found it on eBay for only 1200 bucks! I think I'm in love.

[Slowlicks]

Got an Artemus today, found it on eBay for only 1200 bucks! I think I'm in love.

1200....... You Luck Bugger... I love that amp... Its the only EL84 amp I like..... Killer with a strat. I was a G Guitars and the sales guy in there was demoing the amp with a 62 reissue Strat. OMG!............. Talk about spank and tone.
Just an amazing amp.

[douglee]

Dude, I just happened to search for one on ebay, and the seller has just in the last few hours listed it, with a Buy It Now of 1200. I reacted quickly! It's in perfect condition. Black Tolex. I listed and sold my Carr Vincent. It sold easily, and it all worked out without really spending any additional funds.