A few clusters surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements on a substrate covered with a layer of metal with negligible SERS activity were realized. We measured SERS spectra dominated by the contribution from only a few carbon clusters for hydrogenated carbon deposited on the nickel-modified silver substrate. The contributions characteristic for various clusters could be identified in the recorded spectra (and hence presence of these clusters in the analysed mixture could be proved), even when contribution of many types of carbon clusters to the standard (averaged) SERS spectrum cannot be reliably identified. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.