Short Description:

EL84 Chime Meets 5881 Authority

What We Think:

The Carr Telstar is a uniquely voiced boutique combo that blends vintage American and British influences into a remarkably expressive and versatile amplifier. Hand-wired point-to-point in the USA with premium components, including custom transformers, Jupiter capacitors, and vintage-style carbon composition resistors, it delivers exceptional touch sensitivity and harmonic richness. Its innovative tube complement and switchable 53/58 voicing allow players to move between tweed-inspired warmth and a more refined, articulate response, while the Lean/Lush switch further expands the amp's tonal character. The onboard tube-driven spring reverb and built-in attenuator make it equally inspiring at stage volumes or in more controlled environments. Loaded with a custom Carr Valiant 12" speaker and housed in a lightweight birch cabinet, the Telstar offers a distinctive voice that is dynamic, responsive, and unmistakably musical.

Manufacturer Description:

Ever thought you’d love to marry the sonic qualities of a deep, bold 6L6 and a chewy, harmonically complex EL84 in one amp? The Carr Telstar does just that, and blasts a new tonal template into the stratosphere as a result, attaining myriad ‘brand-new classic’ tones you previously didn’t know existed.

The key to the Telstar’s unique capabilities lies in its merger of two very different power tubes in the same push-pull output stage: a 5881 (6L6GC type) exerts solidity, control, and a bountiful low end; an EL84 slathers on sinewy, complex, overtone-laden shimmer and bite. There’s really nothing like it, yet put them together and the plethora of tones available are instantly inspiring. 

Dial it all in with the aid of a Lean/Lush switch to tailor the body of the tone and a 53/58 switch to alter the gain structure and the frequencies the Tone control emphasizes, and there’s an amazingly broad range of colors and textures to explore. The Telstar easily achieves recognizable renditions of traditional sounds — tweedy, Marshally, blackfacey — all with superb dynamics and playability. But the amp’s real beauty is in the way it crafts utterly original blends from the broad sonic palette, which instantly sound iconic and expressive all on their own. Dial it all anywhere from 16 watts to 0 via the Telstar’s built-in attenuator, and it’s perfect for home, club, and studio alike.

While the Telstar always uses one EL84, the 5881 (6L6GC type) can be swapped for other conventional octal types. For you tube tasters, consider that that means it’s much easier to find a good, relatively affordable single NOS 6L6, EL34, 6V6 or even EL84 tubes than it is a matched pair. The vintage-tube explorations open up untold depths of sonic variation in the Telstar, while mixing and matching a variety of new-make tubes also enhances the amp’s flexibility. Add Carr’s lush tube-driven, long-spring reverb and it’s one big shimmering pool of three-dimensional tone in an appealingly compact package.

The Telstar’s circuit is assembled with Carr’s legendary hand-wired, point-to-point construction, using Satellite grade power components, signal elements from the golden age of analog amplification, and other high-end parts. It’s all bolted into a highly resonant house-crafted cabinet made from thin walled ultra-ply, with a ‘stressed member’ speaker baffle for optimal character. 

The Telstar — launch into a bold new universe of expressive tone.

Specifications:

Construction: Hand wired point-to-point in the USA

Components: Custom USA made transformers, Solen Fast Cap Film Power Supply, US-made Jupiter signal capacitors, 60s style carbon comp resistors, and more

Power: 16 watts

Channels: One

Tubes: one 12AX7, one 12AT7, one 6SL7, one EL84, one 5881 (6L6GC type) (swappable for 6V6 or EL34)

Controls: Lean/Lush switch, Volume, Tone, Reverb, 53/58 switch, Attenuator

Switches: Lean/Lush switch, 53/58 switch, on/off/standby

Features: All-tube spring reverb, built-in attenuator, 8-Ohm speaker out

Cabinet: Hand-crafted from thin wall birch ultra-ply and uniquely styled

Speakers: Carr Valiant 12"

Weight & Dimensions: 1x12" combo 21" (W) x 17.5" (H) x 9" (D), 39 lbs