CARLSBRO CS 100 PA 1960s

We are happy to offer for sale this rare vintage Carlsbro amp head / PA. Details as follows:

• Year of manufacture: 1968/1969
• Country of origin: UK (Nottingham)
• Serial number: 2734
• Power Output: 100 Watts RMS
• Circuitry: All-valve (vacuum tube), point-to-point hand-wired on a tag board
• Inputs: 4 High-Impedance jack inputs (each with an independent Volume control)
• Main Volume: Overall output level control
• Mains Input: originally a round Bulgin 3-pin connector, later converted to modern IEC
• Mains LED / light: missing

Comments:

Founded by Stuart and Sheila Mercer in Nottingham in 1959, Carlsbro is one of the oldest British amp brands, predating Marshall. The "CS" series (including the CS 60 and CS 100) was the cornerstone of the company’s reputation. While technically Public Address (PA) heads, they were frequently used by guitarists and bassists for their massive headroom and high-quality "British sound”. The front-panel "Echo" jack input and output served as an early version of an effects loop, designed to integrate external tape delay units like the Watkins Copicat. These early units are highly regarded for using heavy-duty "lay-down" or C-Core transformers, which were very similar to those used in mid-to-late 1960s Marshall Plexi amplifiers. Stuart Mercer actually sold his valve heads to Jim Marshall's guitar shop before Marshall began building his own amps. Often described as a "cross between a Marshall and a Hiwatt," these amps are prized today for their exceptional reliability and clean headroom. 

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