Carr Skylark Special – Vintage Roots, Modern Freedom
The unmistakable sound of classic American recordings shares one thing in common: the sweet, rich tone of the tweed and blackface eras. Iconic amplifiers like the late-’50s tweed Harvard and Deluxe, or the ’60s Princeton Reverb, defined what great tube tone should feel and sound like.
This heritage became the foundation of the original Carr Skylark.
The Skylark Special takes that proven concept and expands it significantly — offering more tonal control, more flexibility, and greater depth, while staying true to its vintage soul.
At its heart, the Skylark Special delivers 12 watts from a pair of 6V6GT power tubes, but it goes far beyond traditional designs. A newly expanded tone section adds a practical Mid control and an extended-range Presence, giving the player far greater control than the classic amps that inspired it. The Hi/Low gain switch combined with the built-in attenuator allows smooth transitions from tweed-style breakup to blackface-style clarity, all at usable, real-world volumes.
One of the standout additions is Carr’s acclaimed H73 tone section, inspired by classic Hiwatt circuits and first introduced in the Bel-Ray. Activated via a mini-toggle, it adds a bold, punchy British-voiced option, dramatically broadening the Skylark’s sonic palette.
The tube-driven spring reverb has been refined to deliver lush, spacious, three-dimensional ambience. A redesigned, retro-styled cabinet made from lightweight premium Baltic birch plywood improves projection while reducing overall weight. The inclusion of an EZ81 tube rectifier, replacing fast-recovery diodes, results in a more responsive and tactile playing feel.
As expected from Carr, the Skylark Special is built to the highest standard. It features custom USA-made transformers, military- and aerospace-grade power supply components, and an increased number of Jupiter signal capacitors, chosen purely for their sonic benefits. Everything is assembled using true point-to-point hand wiring in the USA.
The result is an exceptionally dynamic and expressive 1×12 combo — equally at home in the studio or on a club stage.
The Carr Skylark Special — when your tone needs wings.
Specifications
Power
12 watts full power, attenuated from 1.2 watts down to whisper level
Construction
Hand-wired, point-to-point, made in the USA
Components
Custom USA-made transformers
Solen Fast Cap film power supply capacitors
US-made Jupiter and Mallory signal capacitors
Carbon composition resistors and other premium components
Channels
One
Tubes
2 × 12AX7
2 × 12AT7
2 × 6V6GT
1 × EZ81 rectifier
Controls
Volume
Hi / Low Gain
Treble
Mid
Bass
Reverb
Presence
Attenuator
Attenuator Toggle
Switches
Hi / Low Gain (2-position)
H73 Tone Section
Attenuator In / Out
On / Off / Standby
Features
All-tube spring reverb
Built-in attenuator
8-Ohm speaker output
Cabinet
Hand-crafted from premium plywood, retro design
Speaker
Celestion A-Type 12″
Dimensions & Weight
1×12″ combo
20.5″ (W) × 15.75″ (H) × 9″ (D)
33 lbs (approx. 15 kg)
Guitar2Amp – Authorized Carr Amplifiers Dealer
Guitar2Amp is an authorized dealer of Carr Amplifiers, offering original products, professional advice, full after-sales support, and VAT invoices.
Shipping or personal pickup available.
