Bad Cat amplifiers.

[drunkenguitar]

Does anyone here have any experience with these amps? I've been curious as to how they sound. I plan on upgrading from a peavey ultra tube 1x12 combo that I've had for far too long now. I mainly play hard rock/metal and a little bit of everything else. So I'm looking for something pretty versatile as far as being able to get some nice fenderish cleans to some straight out balls to the wall full on rock/metal tones. Thanks.

 

[FourT6and2]

Fairly good amps. However, some of the older ones (like the Hot Cat 30R) weren't designed very well. But, most of the issues have been fixed on newer versions.

Depends on what you're looking for. The only Bad Cat stuff I've played is my Hot Cat 30R and a Custom Shop 50 watt Hot Cat which was one of the best sounding amps I've ever played. My 30R doesn't sound near as good.

You're not going to get Fender cleans from a Bad Cat that can also do hardrock/metal. They are more like Vox or Matchless sounding cleans. The Hot Cat and, from what I hear, the Lynx can get pretty heavy.

They're nice amps, but they don't really sound or interact with the player like any other amp out there.

 

[IPlayHamers]

I love my Tone Cat, but it may not be suitable for your needs. The clean side is more Vox Top Boost and breaks up pretty quickly. I'm actually thinking about swapping out one of the 12AX7's for a lower gain tube to increase headroom.

The overdrive channel will definately get you into metal territory. I've never played a Hot Cat, but some say the drive in the Tone Cat is more brutal.

One thing about these amps is that they are very sensitive to the type of cabs and speakers you use. Through one of the new Egnater 4x12 cabs with V30's, it sounds amazing. I currently use a Diezel 2x12 with V30's and it's perfect for hard rock/metal, but I plan on getting the Bad Cat open cab for mellower tones. I may even try a 2x12 with Blues. I even liked it with a Marshall HW 4x12 with G12H-30's.

It also allows the character of your guitars to shine through.

As I said, it may not be for you. They are really expensive and while versitile, you may require something else.

Check out the Egnater Tourmaster 4100, Traynor YCS50H or YCS100H and if you can wait, I think the VHT SigX is gonna be very serious. I want one of those badly.......

 

[Jimmydeez]

I think you are going to notice a huge difference in tone coming from a peavey. In my opinion the Bad Cat/matchless amps have this deep breath quality that I haven't heard in the other amps I have tried.

For metal you should probably be looking at a HotCat or a Lynx. Most of the other Bad Cats are really made for mid gain type tones.

I am loving my new Bad Cat Lil'15.

 

[ScottR]

I have an Original Hot Cat 30 no reverb and it'll do Metal quite well...just run it into a closed back Cab. I use a Mesa Theile Cab with an EVM12L. the Bad Cat 2x12 doesn't sound as good for the Metal stuff because of the open back

 

[sickboy79]

Hot Cat 30R head owner here. Bad Cat's are absolutely amazing amps. The depth of tone and harmonic content is just amazing. I would also recommend checking out the Hot Cat series or the Lynx. I haven't played a Lynx - but, have heard some clips that sound amazing. I can't say enough good things about the Hot Cat, and Bad Cat amps in general.

 

[IPlayHamers]

One thing I forgot to mention is that the Tone Cat has separate power amps for each channel.

Channel 1 is EL84 powered.
Channel 2 is EL34 powered.

You can also run both together for more options. Essentially you have a 3 channel amp unlike anything else on the market.

 

[FFTT]

Bad Cats are quite versatile, but they have a more refined classic-hard rock
tone than some of the newer sounding metal amps.

Their tone also depends greatly on the speakers and enclosure you select.

 

[A440]

I'm curious about their new amps

they've been running mag ads, but nothing on the website yet

if it matters, most of their combos are not a light carry

 

[sfarnell]

Check out the Tone Cat. I have one listed for sale here on TGP. It is almost brand new. Here's the link: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/349475

 

[NatDeroxL7]

Definitely amazing tone. I have a Custom Shop AB 50, which has an amazingly even gain taper, using the volume/gain controls as overall distortion control, and using the very excellent master volume as the volume control I can get all sorts of tones. The mid switch is also excellent.

However mega-tone comes at the cost of a few luxuries that I had with my Bogner XTC, which were ultra-modern clean-powered sound, no hiss/buzz/anything; also the loop on the XTC was equally as modernly-refined and clean, easy to use. I would have kept the Bogner, but I had to ditch the halfstack rig and needed a smaller combo. This was my favorite amp that I tried as a replacement.

Not as 'modern' in its overall presentation....certainly a couple models do modern scorching gain levels, but there are some 'old amp' type issues that you might run across and it seems they are very picky about tube quality and having a good bias....also the tone controls are crazy...like learning a whole new language, I wish to hell I had a manual cause I just cannot figure out the logic behind the controls.

Some issues that can be semi-common:

-Reverb bleed into the gain channel on reverb models. Apparently this isn't a super-common issue but mine does it, but there is a solution...the FX loop

-Some people say the loop is noisy....mine is not, its also a newer model so that is possibly why. I like the crazy-ass reverbs on my verbzilla better then the built in reverb, so using the loop avoids the reverb bleed problems. I am having a hard time getting the reverb to be equally strong on each channel....I've never had a loop with send/receive knobs before, I always ised series, so I'm learning yet.

-Gain bleed into the clean channel? I haven't really tested this but I think that when my gain is cranked I can hear a bit of hiss on the clean channel, but I think that it is only if the reverb is up.....inconclusive

-Tubes burn out fast. The amps like to be biased hot for the best tone, especially the HotCat....so it eats up cheap tubes, hence the need for good tubes (which it wont come with), and a careful bias. Mine is still stock, I'm just biding my time till my tubes roast and I can upgrade.

-Super-Heavy....I don't really mind this that much but some people do. Almost wish it had wheels LOL.

Footswitch.....the dealer I bought mine from didn't have the footswitch, and I have been waiting for 3 weeks to get the damned thing, still no progress....I have a inoperable footswitch from a HotCat...for some reason it doesn't work with mine...i am getting close to bypassing the dealer and just getting BadCat to exchange the footswitch with me. Otherwise I think the footswitch is excellent in concept....either channel, or both, you can even choose if you want clean-thru-dirty or dirty-thru-clean. Pretty cool.

 

[freaksho]

any reason you're not looking at Mesa?

 

[Jet149]

I love my Hot Cat 30, it is very versitle. It does serious metal very well and the cleans are shimmering! I can't say enough good about this amp and even I sold my Mesa Road King after purching this amp. Very simle layout without all the crazy useless features. Plug and play!

 

[drunkenguitar]

Cool, thanks for all the info guys. I was interested in the Mesa Mark IV series for a while, but I wanted something different. I will be looking further into the Lnyx.

 

[B Vance]

I had a Bad Cat Black Cat 2x12 combo for a while. Nice, versatile amp. It had low-end bass response unlike any amp I'd play or have played since. Only knock is that it weighed in at 92lbs and just about killed me every time I had to move it for a gig. I would highly suggest either a 1x12 or a head and cab option to keep the weight down. It was too heavy so I traded it off.

 

[vchizzle]

some hard rock/metalish tones:

hot cat 100
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=4204229

hot cat 30
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=5142411

I'm gonna try to do some clips over the weekend. I'll try to do some clean, and go after some different types of high gain tones. I only have the 30 now. Unless you are gonna play with a band 90% of the time, I'd go after a 15 or maybe a 30W. The 100 is REALLY loud and doesn't sound as good at lower volumes IMO.

I tried a Lynx 50 a few weeks ago. Its gain is less saturated in tone than than the Hot cat I think, which doesn't help in the metal department. I went in thinking this would be the end all, be all amp for me. the high gain channel just didn't do alot for me. Alot of guys really seem to dig it, and I've heard great clips. But I'll be damned if I could dial in something that made me wanna play. I keep wondering if something was wrong with it, but I don't think so. I just think it wasn't for me. I keep hearing it has more gain than a hot cat, but I didn't find that either. maybe its the less saturated sound. I don't know, I'm still bummed actually. All just my opinion of course.

Like someone else mentioned, Fendery clean - nope. the A/B 50 or Panther might get closer, but still not there.

 

[drunkenguitar]

The second clip sounds very good. Crunchy without being all buzzy. I like it.

 

[FFTT]

Your Hot Cat 100 sound is nothing like the sound I'm getting with mine.

I can do that type of gain, but I'm getting much more of a classic tone
out of mine setting the gain only at about 9:30.

The cleans go from warm and deep to a most excellent crunch.

The overdrive section as I set it up, gets me much more of an ACDC,
ZZ Top or Bad Company style sound.

Individual lead notes from crystaline Vox AC30 to wide open classic Marshall and Hiwatt tones.

The speakers you choose also make a tremendous difference.

 

[vchizzle]

Your Hot Cat 100 sound is nothing like the sound I'm getting with mine.

I can do that type of gain, but I'm getting much more of a classic tone
out of mine setting the gain only at about 9:30.

The cleans go from warm and deep to a most excellent crunch.

The overdrive section as I set it up, gets me much more of an ACDC,
ZZ Top or Bad Company style sound.

Individual lead notes from crystaline Vox AC30 to wide open classic Marshall and Hiwatt tones.

The speakers you choose also make a tremendous difference.

Well, in the original post he was talking hard rock/metal. So that's what I was trying to give clip wise. I've used both these amps in that style a fair amount. It's certainly not the only sound it does and I'm gonna try and record some different tones in the non-aggressive hard rock style.

 

[yellowecho]

I'm don't ever plan on selling my 210 cubIIr.
love
beautiful cleans. thick solid bass. great saturated overdrive. You won't get metal out of it without a pedal with more gain. The Hot Cat should work well for you though.