mikeyg Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Oppurtunity to purchase a carlsbro cobra 90 head. Anyone got any opinions as to whether its any good or what its worth? Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 It isn't so great. It may have its uses but it needs to be dirt cheap, IMV It is the sort of thing they might have at a poor rehearsal room and everyone brings their own kit because iof it..tbh.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moos3h Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Depends on what you are used to. They have quite a fair amount of power for their 'meagre' 90 watts, they actually put out a lot of noise. If you're a player who puts a good sound into the amp (i.e. have a good bass, technique and perhaps a decent preamp) - you'll get a good sound from it without doubt. Cheers, James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sjonnie Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I'm not familiar with the head, but I have played over a cobra 90 combo. I haven't gigged with it, but for rehearsals it was ok, the sound was ok too. I don't think it is rubbish, but not valuable either. What is the price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Don't, unless it's [i]very[/i] cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I used one in the late 80s - very light (nothing in it!) and usable for small gigs. Don't expect it perform like an old trace elliot.... If you are on a very tight budget and won't be playing very loud its ok....but I'd suggest a trawl through evil bay to see what they go for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysbass Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 (edited) I bought one new back in the '80's and I seem to remember it cost around £130 back then, so they shouldn't be asking much for it now. I bought it because it was compact and had day-glo green graphics, which reminded me very tenuously of the look of the UV-illuminated Trace Elliot heads a certain Mr King was using at the time. But sadly, there any similarity ended. I used mine with a compact 1x12" cab and it seemed loud enough for just 90 watts. It has a compression circuit, but the compression isn't adjustable and I could never really detect any audible difference between whether it was switched on or off. Edit: Just remembered that it has a parametric EQ for the mids which I liked. Edited August 1, 2009 by Krysbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 It might come in useful as doorstop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxpop Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 [quote name='chris_b' post='556997' date='Jul 31 2009, 11:55 AM']Don't, unless it's [i]very[/i] cheap.[/quote] +1 I had one and it sounded crap. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 I bought one in the late 80's & just put it in the bin last week. Cost about £80 back then s/h & sounded sh!te. My bro blew it up in the late 90s, then 2 years ago me like a fool, put it into a cowboy music shop in Stirling to ask if it was worth getting fixed. Phoned me back a week later to say they'd fixed it & that would be £45 thank you, tw@s. That's more than it's worth in a working condition. I got it back & then about 4 months later I plugged it in for about the 3rd time & it packed in! Kept it for a while as I thought I might use some bits off it & then last week I had a clearout of rubbish. If it's more than a tenner, don't buy it, they sound total crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltlamp Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 (edited) Wow! 2009! I just got one of these heads along with a goodman 50w speaker cab and I don’t know anything about it?... is the amp a valve amp? My one cost me £20 but it needs a service and the speaker cab needs a repair.. Edited February 27, 2021 by Saltlamp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 On 27/02/2021 at 00:43, Saltlamp said: I just got one of these heads along with a goodman 50w speaker cab and I don’t know anything about it?... is the amp a valve amp? My one cost me £20 but it needs a service and the speaker cab needs a repair. It's a tranny amp. See xgsjx's post above. Fixing it will cost more than it's worth. Save your money and put it towards something newer/better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Wasn't this amp voted the worst amp in the 'What's the worst bass amp you've ever used?' thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 It must be ready for the skip by now. I bought the combo version, 40 years ago. Say to whoever has it, you'll take £20 to take it off their hands. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 Haha. I forgot how crap that amp was. Just burn it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassManGraham Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 I had a Carlsbro head in the 70s. I have had well over 60 amp/cab/combos since then, and sadly the Carlsbro stands out as the worst. To quote ZZ Top I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole! Sorry I can't be positive about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 I had one in the 90’s briefly. It was utterly awful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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