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Bad Cat Black Cat Guitar Amplifier Head — image 1

Bad Cat Amps

Bad Cat Black Cat Guitar Amplifier Head

30 Watt, Class A, EL-84 Channel switching head

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Sound Pure's Take

If you are looking at EL-84 heads, this one should be a top contender. The Black Cat's two discrete pre-amp sections offer a plethora of tones. From chickin' pickin' country to raw, in-your-face modern rock tones, this amp covers a lot of ground.

We find the triode side (12AX7) to have a bit more bark in the upper mids. Treble and Bass are interactive on this side and you can really dial in a lot of different sounds. The pentode side (EF86) goes for a more voxish midrange tone. With the 5-way rotary, you can really juice things up with the different positions. This side of the amp has a ton of warmth.

Bottom line: This is an extremely versatile rock amplifier. Doesn't hurt that it's one of the best lookin' amps on the block!

Recorded with this gear

clean Arpeggiated electric guitar neck pickup

Also in this recording Bad Cat 4x12 Speaker Cabinet Blk Os Heil PR-40 Microphone Millennia TD-1 Pre EQ DI Peluso R14 Ribbon Microphone Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Mic Pre / EQ AEA R84 Ribbon Microphone A Designs Pacifica Stereo Preamp

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (neck pickup clean) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(triode channel, Volume 9am, Treble 12 oclock, Bass 12 oclock) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

blues licking guitar neck pickup

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (neck pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(triode channel, Volume 3pm, Treble 12 oclock, Bass 10am) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

ladyland electric guitar bridge pickup

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (bridge pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(triode channel, Volume max, Treble 2pm, Bass 10am) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

loud with an A electric guitar bridge pickup

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (bridge pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(pentode channel, Volume 3pm, tone position 5, cut 9 am) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

scaley electric guitar neck & bridge pickup

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (bridge pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(triode channel, Volume noon, Treble 12 oclock, Bass 10am) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

loud & crunchy electric guitar bridge pickup

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (bridge pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(pentode channel, Volume open, tone position 4, cut open) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

hot n' loud electric guitar neck pickup

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (neck pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(triode channel, Volume max, Treble 2pm, Bass 10am) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

loud and swell electric guitar bridge pickup

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (bridge pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(pentode channel, Volume 3pm, tone position 5, cut 12 0'clock) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

swelling electric guitar bridge pickup

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (bridge pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(pentode channel, Volume 11am, tone position 1, cut 12 o'clock) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

bright bluesy electric guitar neck pickup

hot n' short electric guitar bridge pickup

loud Arpeggiated electric guitar neck pickup

hot n' fast electric guitar neck & bridge pickup

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (bridge/middle pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(triode channel, Volume 3pm, Treble 12 oclock, Bass 10am) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

hot leading electric guitar bridge pickup

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (bridge pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(triode channel, Volume 3pm, Treble 12 oclock, Bass 10am) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

country with a g electric guitar neck pickup

James Tyler Studio Elite Retro electric guitar (neck pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(pentode channel, Volume 9am, tone position 1, cut 12 o'clock) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

loud times electric guitar bridge pickup

McNaught Vintage Single Cut electric guitar (bridge pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(triode channel, Volume open, bass noon, treble 3pm) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

louder times electric guitar bridge pickup

fast times electric guitar bridge pickup

McNaught Vintage Single Cut electric guitar (bridge pickup) played into Bad Cat Black Cat Head(triode channel, Volume 3pm, bass 8am, treble 12 o'clock) into Bad Cat 4x12 Cabinet mic'd with Heil PR-40(close, panned center) into Millennia TD-1 preamp & Peluso 2247 LE(6 feet off, panned left) into Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Preamp & AEA R84(1 foot off, panned right) into A Designs Pacifica preamp feeding Apogee Rosetta 800.

From Bad Cat Amps

Incorporating 2 entirely different preamp sections and a host of well thought out improvements, the practical user controls and backpanel switches render the smooth BLACK CAT the most suitable guitar amp for ANY performance venue.

The Channel ONE 12AX7 "triode" preamp is based on interactive Bass and Treble controls. Minor knob adjustments instantly result in sweeping differences in playing tones. The Channel TWO EF86 "pentode" based preamp uses a 5 position tone knob for instant access to your favorite sounds. The quad EL-84 tube power amp section enjoys more chassis real estate and greater attention to detail regarding tube mountings. Power transformer orientation and tube rectification details have also been revamped. The already legendary BLACK CAT is regarded by many knowledgeable players as the finest, most capable guitar amp available today.

30W

2 Channel with separate preamps (triode and pentode)

Footswitch included

Half Power Switch

Speaker Phase Switch

Master Volume with Bypass

4 Input (2 per channel)

4 EL-84's

Free 3-Year Warranty

Sound Pure stands behind our products. Free three-year warranty on this item. Coverage exclusions live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.

Level of support and expertise that simply isn't available at big-box megastores. Read the warranty →

Returns

Not eligible for Try Before You Buy or the 48-hour approval period. Standard return policy applies — see Terms & Conditions, Section 18 for details.

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