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info    updated 15/2/2010

Cage

Cage Amplifiers by A F (Pete) Cage, Damascus, MD

Callaham

Since 1989. Bill Callaham, Winchester, Virginia, USA Currently a guitar and parts maker. Made  tube amps in the past.  Amps are featured on Callaham's internet archive pages from 2000-2007 but not as at Jan 2009. Following and images from their archive pages.

Callaham amps specs from 2000 Callaham web

Camaro

Made in Canada.

Camelot

Camelot 1960s Amplifiers made in Japan.

Carl Martin

"Manufactured since 1993.

We use serial numbers but one has to mail in to get the exact date, which we have." [Source: Soren, Carl Martin, email 24/3/2008]

search at http://www.vintageguitar.com

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Carl+Martin

Carlsbro

Since 1959, Carlsbro Electronics Limited, Nottigham, England

...all our equipment was issued with a serial number which was stamped into the metal of the early valve amps and then a self-adhesive number was applied to the back of all subsiquent units. ( from about 1974 the transistorised units also had a separate F/P number inside the front panel to identify the model ).

There is no "date code system" to the serial numbers except for the period 1988 to 2000 where the first two digits were the year of manufacture ( to within about 6 months ).
All the serial numbers going back to 1973 are held in an old archive of manually written books which are too numerous to archive into an electronic file, so any enquiries about dates etc need a search through them which can be somewhat laborious as you can imagine.

I wish you luck with your project and if you find yourself with a couple of free years on your hands, you can catalogue our archive! LOL [source: Peter Longley, Technical Advisor, Carlsbro Electronics Limited, email 12/2/2007]

Carlsboro 2008 Pricelist

Carlsbro schematics

http://www.chambonino.com/carlsbro/carlwires.html

http://analogguru.an.ohost.de/

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Carlsbro

Carlsbro forum

http://www.carlsbro.com/forum/

Carlton

Made by Ray Carlton,  Melbourne, Australia

Carlton schematics

http://www.schematicheaven.com/post70s.htm

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Carlton

Carol-Ann Amplification

Alan Phillips is the owner of Carol-Ann Custom Amplifiers, LLC. a full service custom boutique tube amplifier builder located in North Andover, MA, on Boston's North Shore.

"The business was formed in to a fulltime LLC in 2006, though there are many amps out there that I've built since 1985, only amps built after 2002 bearing the Carol-Ann name. In the early days I built a few solid state PA power
amps as well as solid state and tube guitar amps. Most of the early guitar amps were Marshall derivatives.

Dating Carol-Ann amps

Serial Numbers take a 6 digit form xxyyzz, where xx is the year, yy is the month, zz is the production number for that month.

Limited edition amps may have a different numbering scheme that makes it often impossible to tell the production date.
Some amps may not have had a serial number written on them simply because that step was omitted during a very busy production run. If any owners contact you with this scenerio, I can provide the correct number for their amp.

The serial number is either engraved or written on in black, red, silver or gold, It is always located on the back panel.

Recently I've started writing the number inside the chassis in gold pen too.

A couple of amps have cryptic messages inside them. This was  the case when I knew a customer who was buying the amp was closely associated with another Company and the amp would very likely be reverse engineered. I don't bother about this any more. It is what it is and I've chilled out about it.

Contrary to common rumour, I don't goop production amps at all. With the exception of one amp that was fully gooped with Military spec encapsulating compound, I use a material that is an industrial black hot glue to protect the circuit from physical abuse and to help shield sensitive areas from induced environmental noises such as stage lights. This material can be easily removed for servicing with the use of an industrial hot air gun to soften it. I guess it does prevent the passive onlooker from reverse engineering or from taking meaningful photos of the circuits, but if someone wants to know what's going on, removing the material is real easy.

The name came from my sweet Italian wife Carol-Ann. I built an amp for myself in 2002 when I just moved to the States, right after we got married. To be honest, we couldn't really afford it at the time and the way I got around Carol was by naming the amp after her. I figured it would make it more difficult for her to be mad at me." [Source: Alan Phillips, email 12/8/2008]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Carol-Ann+Custom+Amplification

Carr Amps

" We started Fall 1998. All amps have a serial number on the chassis and there is a tube chart stuck to the inside wall of the cab that has the serial number too. Most of the amps are dated on the tube chard and all are dated inside the chassis." [Source: Steve Carr, email 21/3/2008]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carr_Amplifiers

search at http://www.vintageguitar.com

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Carr

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Carr+Amplifiers

Images eBay:

Carver

Carver Amplifiers are made by audio equipment designer Robert W (Bob) Carver.

Carver at wikipedia

http://www.proaudioreview.com/article/430

Carver schematics

http://www.schematicheaven.com/post70s.htm

Carvin

Since 1946. Founded by Lowell C Kiesel who sold under the Kiesel name until 1949 when Carvin brand was introduced.

http://www.carvinmuseum.com/whatmodelguitaramp.html

http://carvin.electricshockmusic.com/newsite/

Carvin catalogs and ads http://www.carvinmuseum.com/otherads.html

Carvin schematics

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schempage.php?cat=1

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Carvin

Carvin forum http://www.carvinbbs.com/

Caswell

Since 2006. Tim Caswell, programmable tube heads, California.

Celestion speakers are possibly the world's most famous guitar speaker brand.  They were made in England but sadly that is no longer the case.  Chinese manufacture is well underway.  The following information was provided to jedistar 13/9/2009:

"Here are some news on Celestion speakers, namely Alnico Blue.

Celestion has now two versions of the speaker, one made in England, one made in China.
There is no way you can differentiate between the two, no stickers like made in china etc.

The China speaker is made for Korg inc. They in turn manufacture a very famous guitar and bass amp brand. Even the Beatles played these amps way back then.

My sources from the UK tell me that there is no audible difference anymore in regards to UK/China production of any Celestion speaker, but the point is, we, the punters should know where things are made, at least that is my opinion.

So here is the list
 

Alnico Gold and Blue UK

Alnico Gold and Blue for Korg China

Heritage series
Greenbacks UK

Classic series
Greenback China
Vintage 30 China
G 12's China

Dating Celestion Speakers

Celestion speakers: At this link go to the drop down and go to "Chassis Date Secrets"

http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/features/drdecibel/index.asp

Label changes before and after Rola purchase

Identifying Greenbacks: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=67646&highlight=dating

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Celestion

Ceriatone

Kits

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/CeriaTone

Image eBay:

Cerwin-Vega

In 1954 Gene Czerwinski, an aerospace engineer, founded Cerwin-Vega. In 1957, Vega introduced the world’s first solid state amplifier, rated at 125 RMS. [Source: Cerwin-Vega]

Image eBay:

Challenger

by David Bogen

Callenger amp conversion

see Bogen

Chandler

J.C. Stewart Electric LLC. Chandler Amps, Newtown Square, PA 19073 about 10 miles west of Philadelphia

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Chandler+Amps

Checkmate

Teisco, Japan. mid 1960s

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/checkmate-guitaramp-combo/May-06/20042

http://www.larryjohnmcnally.com/Teisco/

http://www.preoccupationrecords.com/teisco/

http://www.mark-cole.co.uk/teisco/history.htm

Review http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/product/Teisco/Checkmate+17/10/1

Image Guitar Shop:

Chicago Blues Box

Since 2001. Dan Butler, Elmhurst, Illinois.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Chicago+Blues+Box

Chicago Musical Instruments

see CMI Electronics

Clark Amplification

Since 1995. Mike Clarke, Cayce, South Carolina. Tube amps and effects. Builds accurate Fender® and Marshall® replica amplifiers.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Clark+Amplification

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2007/Dec/Review_Clark_Gainster.aspx

Cleartone Musical Instruments

(CMI)

Note there are 2 CMIs.

In 1966 Jim Marshall made a huge mistake and signed a 15 year arrangement with international distributor Rose-Morris.  Rose-Morris marked up international sales 55% vs market rate at time of around 15%.  This limited the potential market for the amps, hence not many were sold overseas.  Under the terms of the deal Jim was unable to market the Marshall name directly. In order to keep turn over up Jim established other brands and distribution arrangements for Marshall made products under other names eg. Park.  Jim founded a wholesale business Cleartone Musical Instruments which sold Slingerland, drums and other lines.  He made the Park line for his friend John Jones and distributed them under Cleartone Musical Instruments or CMI.  From 1976-1977 PA gear and a small number of guitar amps were made under the CMI brand.  [Source: Jim Marshall, Father of Loud,  By Rich Maloof ]

Image Treasures of Equipment:

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Cleartone+Musical+Instruments

CMI Electronics

Chicago Musical Instruments (CMI) was a musical instrument marketing empire created by M.H. Berlin. Berlin got his start at Wurlitzer's music store in Chicago. In 1919 he opened the Martin Band Instrument Company, renaming it the Chicago Musical Instrument Company six months later. [Source: Wingspread Records ]

Amps made by CMI Electronics include:

Gibson Chicago Musical Instruments (CMI) owned Gibson from 1944 until 1969. [Images eBay ]

Kalamazoo (Gibson budget line) amps were made by CMI in Chicago from 1965 - 1967.   [Source: Blows me away ]  [ Image: Kalamazoo Amp Field Guide ]

Maestro - A brand on a broad range on equipment by CMI [Source and image (GA45) Wingspread Records ]

Sabre [Images Sabre Reverb1 eBay:]

SG [Image: Craiglist]

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/CMI+Electronics

Collins Amplification

"Manufacture started in  2002, Oklahoma City Oklahoma
Tube chart inside cabinet lists date of manufacture, serial no. and who it was made for." [Source: Collins Amps, email 12/8/2008 ]
Image reproduced with permission Collins Amplification:

Colorsound

http://www.fetishguitars.com/mrt/index.html

http://www.jacquesstompboxes.com/page4.html

http://www.geocities.com/stompbox2001/newfinds.htm#swell

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/effects.php

Colorsound schematics

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schempage.php?cat=1

http://analogguru.an.ohost.de/

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Colorsound

Columbia

Images Yahoo auction:

Comins

Since 1992, luthier Bill Comins built a Comins combo with George Allesandro in 2003.

Companion

Catalog http://tix.gozaru.jp/other.html

Coral

1967-1969.

Cornell/Plexi

Denis Cornell, United Kingdom

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Cornell

Cornford Amps

"1997 was the 1st Cornfords, and we have all of the dates at the office." [Source: Cornford amps, MySpace message 9/4/2008]

http://www.myspace.com/cornfordamps

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Cornford

Pete Cornish

UK made effects.

Image Pete Cornish G-2 ebay

Coron

http://www.jacquesstompboxes.com/page3.html

http://www.locobox.com/coron.html

http://tix.gozaru.jp/stompbox.html

Coron schematics

http://analogguru.an.ohost.de/

Review http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Coron

Images Coron Overdrive 1980s eBay:

Coronet

These were the first Japanese Department store solid state amps with discrete components soldered to a tag board usually which were sold as Coronet in Australiasia, and as Teiscos or similar elsewhere. [Source: tdpri forum]

I remember that Coronet was the brand I could afford in the 1970s while I was drooling at Twin Reverbs.

Images eBay:

Cosmosound

Italian small amps with Leslie rotating drums and effects pedals 1960s and 1970s

http://www.geocities.com/stompbox2001/page2.html

Crafter USA

Since 1986. Korean amps.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Crafter

Crate

Produced since 1979. Early solid state amps looked like a crate - hence the name.

"Unfortunately, there is no [dating] equivalent for Crate.  However, there were only two serial number systems in place for Crate; pre 1988, and post 1988.

 The post 88 serial numbers coincide with the Ampeg system, but the pre 88 system is a little less organized." [Source: Scott Noel Patterson, LOUD Technologies, email 27/3/2008]

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crate_Amplifiers

Owners manuals http://www.crateamps.com/html/manuals.cfm

Crate schematics

http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electronics/schempage.php?cat=1

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Crate

see Ampeg

Image original 1980 Crate eBay:

Creer

Images Creer model 7700 eBay:

2 inputs , reverb and tremelo. The speaker is a 10 inch and is labeled 25P30S V.C 80 Made in Japan. The case size is 16" in height 12" across and 9" deep.

Crown

Made in Japan 1960s. Note example below speaker Guyatone.

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Crown

Image eBay:

Crowther Audio

Effects from Paul Crowther, New Zealand since 1976. Include the famous Hotcake.

Interview with Paul Crowther

Crowther schematics

http://analogguru.an.ohost.de/

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/brand/Crowther+Audio

Cruise Audio Systems

1999-2002?. Mark Altekruse, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA. Tube and non tube amps.

Article Cruise Audio Launched with high-end guitar amps.

Website not on archive past 2002.  Following product list, specs and images from archive:

Cruise MQ4 Multi-Quartet 2 x 12 Combo
Four Channels of Outrageous Tone--plus channel Blending, Wattage Selection and much more!   Specification

Cruise MQ4H Multi-Quartet Head
The Ultimate All-Tube Head (specs as for combo above)

Cruise 412S/A
A very toneful 4 x 12 cab!. Specification

Cruise 212S/A and 212/S
Cruise 2 x 12's: a standard straight front and a new angled 2 x 12. Specification

Preamps Stock and Custom Shop Specifications

Reviews http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/brand/Cruise+Audio

CTS

Chicago Telephone Supply,

1896: Company is founded in Chicago by A.J. Briggs and his son, George, as Chicago Telephone Supply Company.
1902: The company moves to Elkhart, Indiana.
1960: Name is changed to CTS Corporation; it had been known informally as CTS for many years.
1962: CTS goes public on the New York Stock Exchange. [Source and detailed history Funding Universe]

Grew from telephones to radio in the 1920s - exited the consumer electronics market in late 1970s. Speakers still made till at least 1986 as they appeared in a catalog of that date.  [Source: The Gear Page]

Square magnet speakers - Image eBay:

Custom Sound

Custom Sound amps were made in Leeds, UK.  This example was made in 1984.

Custom Tones Inc

Maker of the Ethos Overdrive, USA