BadCat amps

Lodious · October 2014

Anybody got opinions on these? I tried one (not sure if it was a Hot Cat or a Bad Cat) last year at Coda and really, really liked it. They appear to be incredibly heavy from the spec's on the internet (1x12 15w combo's at 65lbs :-() so It might have to a head and cab. I don't remember it being really heavy, but then again,I might not have moved it.

I don't really understand the product range, is anybody familiar with the 2014 models, or general information / opinions? The K-master looks interesting, is that a feature worth having?

Also, do they still light up the logo? Shallow I know, but I think it looks cool :-)

samzadgan · October 2014

i know that some models, although have their name on it are not made in the US and are made in the far east...and are supposedly not that great. the ones made in the US are suppose to be great...Baroness uses...or use to use them.

stickyfiddle · October 2014

I've never heard a bad one, and really REALLY fancy a Cub 15 IIIR

Lodious · October 2014

I think the chineese ones are no longer available?

samzadgan · October 2014

Lodious said:

I think the chineese ones are no longer available?

yeah i looked it up...they stopped. They were getting a lot of shit for those amps...designed by Bad Cat US, built in China and apparently not well made, so they stopped it.

IvisonGuitars · October 2014

I've got an original Bad Cat Black Cat.

SERIOUSLY great amp. Based on the Matchless DC30 (itself essentially a boutique AC30) but with a different transformer or they moved it in the layout to combat hum (one of the two). Massive 3D swirl and an all round great amp, this is my second, I stupidly sold the first. On these original ones you need an A/B switch to go between channels but the new ones have onboard switching and a master for each channel making it much more versitile. I think @JohnPerry has one?

The logo still lights up...and on mine (and the recent ones?) the eyes of the logo only come on when the standby is off i.e.amp is in play mode...V.Cool! ;-)

The ONLY downside is that the 2x12 combo literally weighs a ton!

Lodious · October 2014

the eyes of the logo only come on when the standby is off i.e.amp is in play mode...V.Cool! ;-)

OMG, that is cool!

Lovely looking amp BTW.

samzadgan · October 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDpeKXMcU8c

they love their Bad Cats

miserneil thats a lovely looking amp...great that you could make up for selling it once!

richardhomer · October 2014

I owned a Cub IIR for a couple of years and it was absolutely exceptional.

Beautiful cleans, great edge-of-break-up. Really outstandingly good.

The only reason I don't still own it is it had negligible clean headroom.

Apart from that - I cannot recommend them highly enough.

koss59 · October 2014

Best amps I have ever owned, I have the 15 watt Blackcat combo and 30 watt head and cab. The combo is heavy but manageable and well worth it for the tones you can get. I no longer really have use for both so might move the combo on so let me know if you fancy a second hand one cheaper.

JohnPerry · October 2014

yep, heartily recommend the Black Cat 15. Mine's a 2013 combo, with individual masters on each channel and, yes, crucially the logo lights up. Fantastic Voxy-type amp with huge grunt (not the actor). Beautiful cleans. Lots of high end - I end up turning the treble almost off for overdrive

Lodious · October 2014

Can anyone comment on the difference between Black Cat and Hot Cat?

JohnPerry · October 2014

seem to recall the Hot Cat has two 12ax7 channels and has a fantastic overdrive sound, though it's maybe 7-8 years since I played one. The Black Cat has a 12ax7 channel and an ef86 channel, a different flavour, and although it also overdrives well on both channels, the Hot Cat is gainier, if indeed that word exists

Lodious · October 2014

Sounds like I want a black cat then.

Lodious · October 2014

How heavy is your combo John?

IvisonGuitars · October 2014

Yeah, wisdom awarded to @JohnPerry. The Hot Cat is a higher gain amp altogether, lot of fans in the US for heavy rock tones (should that read 'Tonez'??) but the Black Cat is the more 'classic' low/medium gain amp in my opinion.

If you're ever anywherenear Worcester, you are most welcome to try mine :-)

JohnPerry · October 2014

Lodious said:

How heavy is your combo John?

54lbs according to the website. Mine's a 1x12. Heavy-ish but I've had worse

Lodious · October 2014

Thanks for the offer Miserneil, that's very generous!

54lbs doesn't sound too bad, I think I've had a combo that weight before, and that was OK.

koss59 · October 2014

Where are you based Lodius? If you're anywhere near Harrogate you're welcome to come play mine and see what you think.

The combo doesn't feel any heavier than my old Maz 18 did, I would say 50 something pounds sounds about right, it's still a one handed lift you just wouldn't want to carry it far.

JohnPerry · October 2014

yes, I said heavyish, but i am pathetically weak too

Lodious · October 2014

Koss59 Thanks for the offer, I'm based in the East Midlands but travel north now and again, so maybe that's a possibility :-)

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BadCat amps

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