Carr Rambler too bright...what's a good production amp alternative?

[Paul Conway]

Title line says it all. Carr Rambler....great with humbuckers, but with a strat it's got way too much high-end....

...so: I need something with a similar amount of clean headroom, that takes pedals well, and that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Any ideas?

[FiestaRed]

try using a Cannabis Rex speaker with it

[Paul Conway]

What effect will that have, would you say?

[dsw67]

Really? I think my Rambler is just perfect, for Strats, Tele's, LP, etc.

I'd suggest an eq pedal perhaps? For me it's easier to tone down a bright amp than the other way. I guess I would try a few things before getting rid of the amp.

[pula58]

what speaker are you currently using in that Rambler?

[FiestaRed]

The Rambler I bought had a C-Rex in it. I've tried other speakers with it as well. I can see the effect that the C-Rex has on the tone. It still retains the tone of the Rambler yet softens the high end.

[Paul Conway]

Emi Wizard in mine. In pentode mode, I have the treble at the lowest setting, and the mids no higher than 10 o'clock. My strat is pretty toppy, and there is no way to dial that out at the amp..

...however, I do want to retain a tight low end....and get that 'hear the string windings' tone rather than total smoothness...

[dsw67]

I have a Webber Ferromax in mine. Love it, sounds pissah! (which means really good here in New England.)

[unvs]

Is it bright on the bridge only, or on the neck as well?

[balde]

Wizard is a very top heavy speaker. Don´t own a rambler, but compared the wizard and cannabis rex extensively.... cannabis might be a good call. Will round out some highs, but mantain clarity. It has very nice bass response, and it´s warm, and clear

[pageburst]

I love the amp with both my strats and I certainly don't like overly bright or stiff amps. Clear warm and deep is exactly what I get from my Strats and Rambler (it's got an original kingpin)

The biggest improvement i got from the Rambler is when i changed the preamp tubes to Tungsol and the tone of the amp really filled out. It was not subtle

Keep in mind though the Rambler is a BF voiced amp and while i think it is less mid scooped than say a DR or Twin it ain't gonna have as much mids as a more marshally voiced amp.

[brianr0131]

Anything from Dr Z should do well.

[pula58]

The Wizard can sound very brite with an amp like that. Change the speaker....roughly $100 for new (ceramic magnet) speaker...way cheaper than a new amp!

IMHO How a rig sounds has to do with many factors: guitar wood, pickups, amplifier circuit..and speaker, etc. The speaker has a huge impact on the sound of an amp.

[picnic]

I had a Rambler for about a year and then got a Fargen Blackbird 40 watter. Teh Rambler lost in a shootout when I decided to keep only one. The BB to my ears was a better sounding amp. Richer, sweeter, fuller. I had Wizards in both

[Bandalero]

I too am the polar opposite in this regard because the overall tone of the Rambler with a Strat was the single biggest reason that I purchased it. In fact, I rarely use it with an LP or with humbuckers.

However, I'll agree with others here who have already noted that the Rambler can indeed be overly bright when loaded with the ultra-sensitive Eminence Wizard (sensitivity = 103), and the very same thing was true of the Eminence 'Special Design' speakers used in DRRI's. Way-way too bright IMO!

I'm using a Scumback H55/65w with my Rambler for the most part (sensitivity = 98) and it tames the highs down quite a bit.