I truly appreciate John Thompson's approach to running Bad Cat. He always strikes me as honest and humble. They made some polarizing decisions with the new line, such as the loss of the EF86 channel, or going completely to PCB, but I give him credit for moving the designs forward for players, not just for purists.
Massive changes to the amps, but from the clips I've heard it still keeps some of the mojo. Would love to try them in person and compare them to the last versions.
I bought a Black Cat combo in April and it is a highly versatile but easy to use amp. I use delay and chorus pedals in the effects loop and with the built in tremolo and reverb, I usually use it without a pedal board. It does take pedals very well in the clean channel as well.
This company is an enigma. I bought one of the very first, if not the very first 2x12 hot cat combo when Sampson was still with the company. It’s gone through so many changes since then. It started as the new direction of matchless, but I believe after Sampson released his “Star” amplifiers. These amps are a lot different than the first amps they put out.
Black Cat was one of those brands where I felt no need to try them. Buddy bought one a few years ago and it was a GREAT AMP. Now they are one of my favorite amp brands
Really like the new Cub! I had a Bad Cat Judah that I loved. I'd love to get another one in the future. Glad to see them get back to more hand made amp models and away from the EF86 without losing the character of "that" sound.
I have a Black Cat 30r from the early 00's (has 2001 written on the inside). The hand wiring is amazing, doesn't even have a board, and a lot of the components are yellow and have "MATCHLESS" written on them. My guess is when Matchless shut down the guys at Bad Cat bought a bunch of their old components? Absolutely amazing amp, the new Black Cats sound a bit different than the originals.
I have an el84 amp that can switch from ef86 to 12ax7. I really love that option, plus if an ef86 goes down I can switch it on the fly and keep playing. I’m not a tube amp technical person though so probably a good reason he didn’t choose that option here. Bad Cats have always sounded great to me. Edit: forgot to add…well done video and John is #1 at asking the right questions and very quick on his feet. Bravo.
I like the amps though I wish they'd kept the two seperate eqs of the previous line. Adding gain to each amp is cool though, the cub gain sounds different to what I'd expect a Cub to sound like. Only thing I'd like is either an el34 or 4xel84 Black Cat, not for volume but for headroom and low punch you get from higher wattage, might be enough to get me chasing an older one. The Hot Cat and Lynx definitely have improved their gain though, some nice stuff. Was interesting that the black cat pretty much did what vox did in the 60s redesigning because of microphonic EF86s, matchless copies the ac15 ef86 circuit, brings it to bad cat and here we are again removing it. They are probably the biggest changes to the amps, different power sections, different tone stacks.
I bought a lynx, and it sounded great, like really great. For about an hour. Then, the volume dropped out, and it still had power but no sound. I turned it off, then back on, and it started to work like normal for about 45 minutes. The same thing happened again. I changed all the cables and made sure the right impedance was correct, even switched to a different cabinet. Again, it's the same deal. I'm not sure if anyone else experienced this, or maybe I got the one made on Friday. i did make sure the tubes did not crack or come loose. However, the amp is a bit loose from the chassie. This is straight out of the box, new amp day or amp hour. I live in Mexico, so I can't really return it. Hopefully, the amp tech I use can figure it out. Other than that, it sounds great.
My hotcat failed after 6 months, transformer failure. Was repaired under warranty but the amp doesn’t sound right. Badcat won’t swap the unit. These are expensive and the service should be better.
These guys from Bad Cat don't help themselves. I called them two days in a row about a month ago to ask a question on one of there amps, I got an answering machine so I left my name and number and never received a call back.. So that always sets a tone in my mind how customer service is..
You are not buying from them, talk to your reseller. These guys BUILD amps and are probably slammed. They don't have a customer service department. If you have questions then simply talk to the salesman as it's their job to answer your questions in a much more timely manner. If I have a question about my car, I don't call the OEM.
@@kommi1974try telling that to Dr z. I think he'll disagree with you. And he makes excellent amps. Responded to my email within a day and he's always answering on guitar forums. So not everyone is too busy for their customers.
These guys def make legendary amps... but... as a retired veteran, i can tell you Veterans always cringe when people use the words military grade in advertising. Lol. It's not the guarantee of rugged quality you think it is.
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Bad Cat just keeps getting better! Amazing company!!
The thing is, these amps all sound and feel better in person. Great demo, but when you play them for yourself it’s so so good.
correct for recording I like to use a modeler direct to a DAW to make recording easier.
Your playing is so expressive. It carries my thoughts away!
I truly appreciate John Thompson's approach to running Bad Cat. He always strikes me as honest and humble. They made some polarizing decisions with the new line, such as the loss of the EF86 channel, or going completely to PCB, but I give him credit for moving the designs forward for players, not just for purists.
Massive changes to the amps, but from the clips I've heard it still keeps some of the mojo. Would love to try them in person and compare them to the last versions.
I bought a Black Cat combo in April and it is a highly versatile but easy to use amp. I use delay and chorus pedals in the effects loop and with the built in tremolo and reverb, I usually use it without a pedal board. It does take pedals very well in the clean channel as well.
This company is an enigma. I bought one of the very first, if not the very first 2x12 hot cat combo when Sampson was still with the company. It’s gone through so many changes since then. It started as the new direction of matchless, but I believe after Sampson released his “Star” amplifiers.
These amps are a lot different than the first amps they put out.
got my cub last month and absolutely love it! Great pedal platform and two master volumes! In total love.
Same for me, the dual master volumes is incredibly useful. Such a great sounding amp too.
All of these amps sound so good. So much variety for any player. Love Badcat!
Thanks for running them dry- just the amp and what they do! So many demos are useless because of all the processing & added fx
The Black Cat is leagues ahead of any amp i've played. Actually, any amp I've heard in the flesh. It is something else
Here a proud owner of a Bad Cat Lynx! this amp is nuts!!!
Bought a Lynx and Lynx 2x12 Cab a couple months ago. Really awesome gear! Def recommend anyone try them out.
Damn John we need to hear you play more often!!
Can't wait for the inevitable Doja signature model
I have been hugely impressed by the Lynx saw I saw Michael Nielsen review it a little whle back - but they're ALL amazing.
I’d like to hear head-to-head comparisons between the last generation and this new one.
I saw Bonnie a couple of months ago and her tone was so glassy and pure!! I was asking around what amp she was using and here's the answer! Awesome!
Steven Wilson plays Bad Cat and he knows sound.
I have no need for 100w tube amps but the small tube amps like this one are fantastic and plenty of power for home and small venues.
Another job well done, John.
The look on John's face throughout the entire interview--it looks like they're congratulating John on begin great and he's in complete agreement.
Love Bad Cat amps! Have not played the Lynx yet but enjoyed the Hot Cat model. Definitely need to try out the Lynx.
January. I can't wait! Hopefully twin Town guitars has them all.
Love that Hot Cat tone. Bad Cat always made some of the most 'musical' amps.
It's the feel for sure
Black Cat was one of those brands where I felt no need to try them. Buddy bought one a few years ago and it was a GREAT AMP. Now they are one of my favorite amp brands
Really like the new Cub! I had a Bad Cat Judah that I loved. I'd love to get another one in the future. Glad to see them get back to more hand made amp models and away from the EF86 without losing the character of "that" sound.
Nice R9 Robbbbbb 😍
I recently bought the new Cub combo. It sounds great, and the switchable dual master volumes feature is awesome.
I have a Black Cat 30r from the early 00's (has 2001 written on the inside). The hand wiring is amazing, doesn't even have a board, and a lot of the components are yellow and have "MATCHLESS" written on them. My guess is when Matchless shut down the guys at Bad Cat bought a bunch of their old components? Absolutely amazing amp, the new Black Cats sound a bit different than the originals.
Wow, fantastic reintroduction to Badcat. I think these guys are great and really care about tone.... looking forward to trying one
Incredible slide intro man!
Strongly considering a badcat
Probably fair to say that my Hot Cat is a big step up on anything I’ve played before.
amazing sound!
BAD KITTEH! BAAAAD KITTEHHH!
Puzzled by the fact that the Black Cat is now a pair and not a quad of EL84s.
I have an el84 amp that can switch from ef86 to 12ax7. I really love that option, plus if an ef86 goes down I can switch it on the fly and keep playing. I’m not a tube amp technical person though so probably a good reason he didn’t choose that option here. Bad Cats have always sounded great to me.
Edit: forgot to add…well done video and John is #1 at asking the right questions and very quick on his feet. Bravo.
Morgan?
@ronmaljak8401 Yep! AC20 Deluxe. Had it about 12 years. Been a good one.
I mean this outta respect, but wow, John's hair looks a bit different! Lookin good man. Love how these amps sound.
I love Bad Cat. Great great amps…
German Crafsmanship 🤘🏻🎸☮️🎶🍀 Peter is deeply missed in Cologne! No proper techs here anymore 😢
I like the amps though I wish they'd kept the two seperate eqs of the previous line. Adding gain to each amp is cool though, the cub gain sounds different to what I'd expect a Cub to sound like. Only thing I'd like is either an el34 or 4xel84 Black Cat, not for volume but for headroom and low punch you get from higher wattage, might be enough to get me chasing an older one. The Hot Cat and Lynx definitely have improved their gain though, some nice stuff. Was interesting that the black cat pretty much did what vox did in the 60s redesigning because of microphonic EF86s, matchless copies the ac15 ef86 circuit, brings it to bad cat and here we are again removing it. They are probably the biggest changes to the amps, different power sections, different tone stacks.
The LYNX is a chugger! Any plans to make a 100-watt LYNX?
Sweet amps! I am wondering if the master volume will work for bedroom levels too? I am loving these amps!!
I bought a lynx, and it sounded great, like really great. For about an hour. Then, the volume dropped out, and it still had power but no sound. I turned it off, then back on, and it started to work like normal for about 45 minutes. The same thing happened again. I changed all the cables and made sure the right impedance was correct, even switched to a different cabinet. Again, it's the same deal. I'm not sure if anyone else experienced this, or maybe I got the one made on Friday. i did make sure the tubes did not crack or come loose. However, the amp is a bit loose from the chassie. This is straight out of the box, new amp day or amp hour. I live in Mexico, so I can't really return it. Hopefully, the amp tech I use can figure it out. Other than that, it sounds great.
It’s just my personal opinion (and of course I will need to try them in my room), but I think that the “black cat” sounds the best
I would like one of each head 😂😂😂 sound so cool
Always great John-great sounding amp!
Sounds like the Jet Black for Tosin Abasi is going to be a 50w higher headroom Black Cat.
…thats dirtier than I ever need to be….😊
A classic quote from now on….
Good one 😎
Bonnie Raitt! sold
They need to do a Bad Cat "kitty"/"Tom Cat. 2-5wtt amp for people that can't get loud at home.
Awesome to see Louis CK getting into the amp game man I love that guy.
That Black Cat tone circuit is cool, but it’s been around for a while *cough*Carmen Ghia*cough*
If Tosin Abasi likes these amps then they gotta be solid.
Steven Wilson also uses them
My hotcat failed after 6 months, transformer failure. Was repaired under warranty but the amp doesn’t sound right. Badcat won’t swap the unit. These are expensive and the service should be better.
Can you get any of these amps running at bedroom volume?
Anyone compared the new line to the old?
Wow, Louis C.K. is involved in the amp business now!
And Phil Collins!
The closest you’ll get to a Matchless which truth be known outperforms a Dumble. Price/Performance industry leader.
Aww they got rid of the eyes
These guys from Bad Cat don't help themselves. I called them two days in a row about a month ago to ask a question on one of there amps, I got an answering machine so I left my name and number and never received a call back.. So that always sets a tone in my mind how customer service is..
You are not buying from them, talk to your reseller. These guys BUILD amps and are probably slammed. They don't have a customer service department. If you have questions then simply talk to the salesman as it's their job to answer your questions in a much more timely manner. If I have a question about my car, I don't call the OEM.
@@kommi1974try telling that to Dr z. I think he'll disagree with you. And he makes excellent amps. Responded to my email within a day and he's always answering on guitar forums. So not everyone is too busy for their customers.
If I were a young man I would be all over these. Not Fender, Vox or Marshall. These are the cat’s meow.
💚🎸
These guys def make legendary amps... but... as a retired veteran, i can tell you Veterans always cringe when people use the words military grade in advertising. Lol. It's not the guarantee of rugged quality you think it is.
John quit laughing at everything
He’s a doofus
at 9:29 our friend is at it again, hating on gear that isn't tube-based. just like in the 2023 Vai rundown
Because digital amps are garbage and everyone knows it. I hope that stupid fad goes away.
@@kommi1974 i employ the opposite view. there’s all types of cool gear, friend
They are decent, but they are still not soldered !!! But instead clip connections ! Why ??? Solder joints guys ! Get rid of the JJ tubes ! THD
Too much talking
Badcat lost its feline power!! The old ones are closer to the original matchles after Mark left it became pcb boards yet charging boutique prices. 😢
Still sounds like a pocket amp. Badcat just isnt my thing. Thin. No tone.
Furthest thing from the truth though. Maybe a RUclips thing
What do you prefer?
Sweet tremolo.