Talk to me about Bad Cat amps

[greatmutah]

I’ve looked at these off and on for a while. I kinda want something a little on the Voxy side back in my stable. I know there was a relaunch of the amps a couple years back and very few of the models now have much in common with the old Mark Sampson designs but some still sound great in videos (that Jet Black sounds awesome). Looking at one of the older Cub 15s, a newer Jet Black and possibly Black Cat or Hot Cat. Any thoughts on these? Not looking for a metal amp. Just more rock tones and clean tones.

 

[newholland]

clean, i love them. definitely matchless heritage.

dirty... the three ive played i didnt like at all. grainy and barky. probably cut well, but sounded mechanical AF. could just be me, cause i know plenty of folks who love them- but sounded too hard to my ears in a bad way.

 

[greatmutah]

It’s kinda why I’m leaning towards something like an older Cub. Single channel, clean to mean sort of vibe.

 

[metropolis_4]

I had a few Cub II’s and one of the first Black Cats and absolutely loved all of them.

The old Black Cats were rebranded Matchless DC-30’s. The newer ones don’t seem to have much in common with the originals and I haven’t had a chance to try them.

I love the older Cubs. They’re amazing amps if you like the Vox AC15 thing. They’re like a Vox AC-15, but with more depth, more low end, and more harmonic character. The older ones had a lot in common with the Matchless Lightning

 

[greatmutah]

Good to know! I’ve seen a couple Cub IIs for decent prices (with the focus/spectrum m switch) and looked at a couple Black Cat 30 heads. I honestly think that’s where I’m leaning. The older Hot Cat seems cool too but I think I’m leaning more EL84 than EL34. And I’ll probably be hunting down a good set of 6p14ps if I go EL84.

 

[Dave Lewis]

I like Bad Cat amps combos and there 3X 12” vintage Celestion 30 cabs .
Stock Celestion V30s have dop on them The Bad Cats don’t have any doping on them
Steven Wilson brought a little combo on stage a few years ago that sounded amaising and made me check out the company .
I’ve still yet to buy a head and cab but not long now until my very significant birthday so hoping my kids have taken all the hints I’ve been dropping this year
This is a interesting BC factory tour

 

[FuzzyAce]

I had a few Cub II’s and one of the first Black Cats and absolutely loved all of them.

The old Black Cats were rebranded Matchless DC-30’s. The newer ones don’t seem to have much in common with the originals and I haven’t had a chance to try them.

I love the older Cubs. They’re amazing amps if you like the Vox AC15 thing. They’re like a Vox AC-15, but with more depth, more low end, and more harmonic character. The older ones had a lot in common with the Matchless Lightning

I would love to play an older Matchless at some point. I still think the Spitfire is a wonderfully, simple circuit that sounds killer. I've built a fews amps mostly based on it and they never disappoint.

 

[newholland]

I would love to play an older Matchless at some point. I still think the Spitfire is a wonderfully, simple circuit that sounds killer. I've built a fews amps mostly based on it and they never disappoint.

all that. spitfires are awesome and id kill for one. a spitfire head and an array of cabs could get me wherever i need to go at humane-ish volumes

 

[newholland]

Good to know! I’ve seen a couple Cub IIs for decent prices (with the focus/spectrum m switch) and looked at a couple Black Cat 30 heads. I honestly think that’s where I’m leaning. The older Hot Cat seems cool too but I think I’m leaning more EL84 than EL34. And I’ll probably be hunting down a good set of 6p14ps if I go EL84.

the hot cat was the one i didnt dig the dirt channel the most. it was such a shame cause clean gads... SO nice.

 

[metropolis_4]

Good to know! I’ve seen a couple Cub IIs for decent prices (with the focus/spectrum m switch) and looked at a couple Black Cat 30 heads. I honestly think that’s where I’m leaning. The older Hot Cat seems cool too but I think I’m leaning more EL84 than EL34. And I’ll probably be hunting down a good set of 6p14ps if I go EL84.

The Hot Cat is cool, they are a very different vibe. They’re in that camp of boutique amps that aren’t Vox, and aren’t Marshall, but still seem squarely in the British camp. Similar to some Z’s and Trainwrecks.

I haven’t played as many Hot Cats, but I remember liking them a lot for clean and low-med gain. Not a big fan of them at higher gain settings

 

[Desertdweller]

Sounds great.

 

[2dor]

Sounds great.

I really liked how it sounds in most vids except Henning's.

 

[LCW]

I have a newer Hot Cat combo. I really dig it. I don’t play clean. Love the dirt channel and gain boost. But I run the gain at about noon. Ch2 low gain is great for Zeppelin tones. Ch 2 in high gain mode is great for Sabbath. I have other amps for metal so I have no need to push this.

The V30 sounds quite good to my own surprise. The built-in reverb is insanely good.

 

[greatmutah]

Trigger pulled. BC30 head incoming.