Carr Super Bee review

A compact combo with three flavors of Black-panel tube tone, onboard attenuation, and no sting in the tail

Carr Super Bee
(Image: © Carr Amplifiers)

Guitar World Verdict

The Super Bee is an outstanding achievement for a low-watt tube combo with built-in attenuation and reverb, and three souped-up Black-panel amp voicings delivered with power and authenticity.

Pros

  • +

    Three classic amp voicings.

  • +

    Great build.

  • +

    Power scaling that preserves touch-sensitivity.

Cons

  • -

    Not cheap but you get what you pay for.

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In this technological age, guitarists are more likely to toggle between a Deluxe Reverb and a cranked Super Reverb from an amp modeling processor than use the real thing. Thankfully, veteran boutique amp designer Steve Carr, who hand-builds extraordinary point-to-point wired tube amplifiers at his North Carolina workshop, will have none of this digital hogwash. 

Carr’s latest creation, the Super Bee, is a lightweight 10-watt all-tube combo with reverb and built-in attenuation. It features a novel rotary “Sting” switch that offers three curated Black-panel amp-voicings that range from glassy warmth to revved-up punch. 

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