Cornford Carrera vs Carr Mercury, Part II: the Carrera (click 'watch in HD' link)

[johnnylighton]

Thanks for doing this comparo!

How loud do you have to crank the Carrera to get *good* distortion tones? Too loud for home use if neighbors are closeby? Or can you turn it down and still have it satisfying?

[peebz75]

It's perfect for home playing, great distortion at pretty much any volume. The Carr's clean clean tones are nicer, I think, but the Carrera's distortion tones are just great.

[doze31]

Hi What's the mic did you use?

thanks

[peebz75]

Audio-Technia AT2020.  Great all around mic for $99 bucks.

[nutha]

Thank you for your review.

How about your opinion about pedals with both amp?

Cheers,

[peebz75]

Afraid I don't use pedals much. Have the Sparkle Drive but mostly use it for clean boost. Also use a Barber Tone Press occasionally. Both amps seem to take the pedals well, but the Carrera has an effects loop so it's more versatile in that regard. The effects loop works really well. Thanks for your comment.

[Gizmotron44]

Having both parts open and flicking between I prefer the Cornford. There is more depth and richness. Both are very good. I own a carerra but to me i prefer it. I guess as both sound good each person will have a varying opiion. P.s that 335 looks great. could you do the same clip with the carerra and the 335. i bet it is so rich and warm. also which setting is the carerra the 9 or 8 pin?

[peebz75]

Interesting... most people like the Carr, but if I had to choose just one, I'd go for the Carrerra because it's more versatile. I can go from decent clean to killer distortion with just my guitar volume.

As for the 335, it looks beautiful but it's not in shape to play. It's an original 60's but the headstock was broken so no real value. With the set neck and no easy access to the electronics, a fortune to fix. One day maybe... Thanks for commenting.

PS: Carrera is on the 9 pin.

[Archer993]

I bought a Mini Mercury - fantastic amp. Loud enough to play with others - and a loud drummer. It does seem to like humbuckers better than single coil.

[peebz75]

So where's your demo? ;-)

[snotmale]

Cornford has more wider sound, but the Carr has more sparkle - Hell have both! I have the Cornford Roadhouse and love Carr amps..!

[peebz75]

Funny you should say that... I'm looking at ABY boxes now! As you say, I love the 'sparkle' of the Carr - the harmonics are killer and yet still beautifully warm overall.  Great string to string clarity too. And the Cornford - the natural tube distortion is amazing. I hate to give it up and try to find something in a pedal for the Carr. So I may well keep both. We'll see... Thanks for your comment.

[Archer993]

I'd say the Mercury is the winner.

[snotmale]

I have more than one amp and I hardly ever run run in isolation. Stereoing gives so much more dynamic and once you are spoilt by it, nothing else will do!

[peebz75]

What do you use to split the signal?

[snotmale]

AB and ABY boxes can cause grounding problems so you have to be careful and lucky! But for me, I simply use the stereo capability on my Digitech Digidelay, set for a mild reverb setting only. No Hiss, Piss or Plonk, either on or off - no matter if single coils too. When used with my Tweed Deluxe and the Cornford is quite magical! (The Roadhouse has no reverb unlike the Carrera).

[peebz75]

Thank you!