Bad Cat Black Cat Reverb 212 Combo

BlackCat Reverb 1x12 special order, usually comes 2x12.30watt tube class A.Two channels, each one is excellent on its own, but no channel switching. You can use an A/B box to switch between them, but I have a hard time balancing the volume going from clean to overdrive.
The best use is to turn up the gain to what you want, set the master vol and role back the volume on your guitar to clean it up. A nice feature is on the back it has 2 electrical sockets for what ever you need to plug in.Has plenty of power and you can attach an extension cab to it. Just be sure to adjust the ohms setting.Is more than enough power for most gigs but I would use an extension cab to push a little more sound around, of course you can mic it.The logo lights up which is kind of cool.Not a lot of features but its all about the sound and tone.

Use 63 strat,60 ES345,91 strat and others.I play blues and classic rock.Not a noisy amp but the single coils can hum alot. The sound of this amp is second to none.The clean sounds are clear crisp and really brings out the sound of your guitar and pickups. Turn up the gain and the bluesy crunch sounds are someware between glassy and warm.Tons of great tone. I have a Marshall tsl602 as well and the this amp sounds so much sweeter.The distortion level is hot, but I wouldnt say its high gain. Its more of a heavey overdrive.I have the Marshall for some the harder driving supper gain suff and channel swithching.The tone this amp puts out is as good as it gets. It all depends on your style and application and budget.

Owned this amp for about 6 months. Has been very reliable.
One thing is the little lights that illuminate the logo burn out kind of quickly. I called them and they sent me some replacements right away.

They answer the phone and will talk with you and answer any questions.
Very nice people, small growing company.

I would buy another if stolen, but may consider the Hot Cat whichs I think has the bluesy overdrive and tone but more gain.
I would have to try it. BadCat amps are awsome and built to last.

I was told that this was one of the first amps shipped out after the NAMM debut. I took a look under the hood and was surprised to see all the caps were labeled "Matchless," so I guess it was made pretty early on. Here's some basic info; 2 channels, 2x12's wired at 8ohms, reverb, 30 loud watts, EL84 output tubes, half power switch, phase switch, and tone, tone, tone! The quality of this amp is really amazing, they really didn't skimp on anthing here. The cab is 13 ply birch, the input jacks, pots and hardware are all high quality, the workmanship inside and outside is second to none. Not a sloppy solder joint to be found. Everything down to the screws that hold the back panels on, is top notch.

This is the best sounding amp I've ever played, bar none! Granted, I haven't played everything out there, but I've played enough to know what I like. Other amps I own include a '66 Deluxe Reverb, '66 Pro Reverb, and a Polytone Mini-brute. For the type of music that I play mostly right now, jazz and funk, the Bad Cat kills them all. The midrange is very complex and really helps cut through the mix. This amp excells at live performances and recording. This is not a bedroom amp! With the volume at 9:00, and the tone knob on click 3 on the second channel (pentode), it's about as good as it gets. It's the biggest and fattest sound I've ever heard. It's right on the verge of break up so it stays clean until you dig in. It's very sensitive to dynamics and volume changes. I've gotten more comments on my tone since I purchased this amp than I ever have before. Even the saxophonist in my band remarked how much better this amp sounded than my others.

Guitars that I use include a ES-335, ES-175, '67 ES-330, '70 Telecaster, and a Telecaster Thinline II. Humbuckers and single coils both sound great but P-90's sound unreal through this amp.

When I received the amp I was having a problem with crackling and a loud humm that would fade in and out. It was tracked down to a bad set of reverb cables. After getting a new set from the factory, the problem has not come back. Bad Cat has since changed the style cables so this should no longer be a problem with newer amps. Other than some power tube quality issues, there's nothing else to mention. I still leave the polytone in the car, just in case.

When I called regarding the issue I was having, the person I spoke with was very helpful and willing to answer my questions. Not much more you could ask for I guess.

I'm a professional musician and need to have gear that sounds great and is reliable. The Black Cat does both and then some. The only drawback is it's weight. If there are stairs to climb, or if you have a bad back, you might want to consider another model. At nearly 100lbs it's not the most portable amp out there, but the tone really does make up for it. It's not the cheapest or lightest amp out there, but I can't imagine anything that is made better or sounds better. If it were stolen I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

I have had this amp about a year now, it is an early one. It is designed to be the ultimate tone machine. That is all the features needed!!!!! The reverb is voiced perfectly. I find Fender reverb just too much...to reverby. The Black Cat reverb is subtle, more dimensional and less twangy unless you dial in alot. Different tubes can greatly change the way the reverb sings in this amp. I find those tubes to be just as important in the tone department as the preamp, rectifier and output tubes.

I use this with a a multitude of guitars, both single coll and humbuckers. This amp is wisper quiet. The Black Cat is capable of a staggering array of tones with just the Vox type channel. Simply stunning! The 2nd channel is voiced so perfectly just dial in the amount of girth and sustain, trim the high end and you are off and running. It is not brutal Rectifier type distortion but I am capable of getting a very heavy sound out of it without external effects. This amp still delights and surprises me and takes me to Nirvana when I use it.

Ir is overbilt. Transformers look like they came from a power plant. Super heavy unit, almost 100lbs. Built even better than Matchless products and that's saying alot. I use on gigs with no backup just extra tubes.

I discovered Bad Cat on my tone quest. They let me audition several of their amps. I was floored!!! They are the best and are obsessed with providing staggering sound.

I have been playing 28 years. I own several vintage and new Class A amps and others. Compared to all of these the Black Cat just has that "thing". I use them all but I use the Black Cat the most. If it was stolen I would replace it. This amp is worth every penny. Actually, this is one of the few times I think I got much more "product" than I paid for.

This is an addition to my previous review.... I only had the amp for a few weeks when I reviewed the amp last, it's been a few months and I've had time to really explore what this amp can do, this amp is hands down the best amp I've ever had, and I've had a few, a true beauty, sure to put out an outstanding musical experience, no matter what guitar you play, if you fuzz with the controls a bit you can find the nirvana spot, I have never gotten so many complements on good sound as I've gotten after playing through this amp.

Jazzmaster, Telecaster, 1958 reissue Les Paul, ES 330, all sound great in one way or another, you will find a sweet spot for any guitar with this amp, very vesatile yet simple in it's layout, pure quality all the way. The breakup that this amp delivers is like no other, closest thing being a vintage JMI Vox AC30 or AC15, (you can switch between 15 or 30 watts). It also has an outstanding clean sound with a very musical reverb that comes in after the notes.

Could not be Better

Awesome folks at Bad Cat, very personable and responsive.

Matchless DC 30 improved!!! by the original designer, what else do you need to know?, these things are the Ferrari of amps. you know the saying "You pay for what you get" , and in this case, you get the best amp money can buy.

Suede covered Black Cat 30R, purchased June 2002. I got this amp for the sound primarly, but the suede thang is pretty nice. Features have been described below as well as on Matchless DC30 reviews, essentially a DC30 with reverb. For such a simple layout, this amp delivers fantastic rocking tone, very versatile for finding good sounds with both single coil or humbuckers. This amp is about straight up, awesome pure class A tone and not about a multitude of options.

I have to say I expected this thing to knock me off my seat, and it did but only after I replaced the preamp tubes with NOS tubes, and the Ruby rectifier with a Mullard GZ34. I traded in an old Vox amp for this Bad Cat and I was a little scared at first that I might have made a mistake, with the cheap tubes it sounded somewhat unrefined and harsh to my hears, at least for what I was expecting to hear from it, but with the NOS tubes it is sounding just like I hoped it would or better, like an old Vox AC30 with big balls.
The reverb is OK, don't expect it to sound ike a Fender, I don't think a class A, El84 powered amp needs Reverb anyway, yet the reverb is very musical and adds a nice dimension to the sound.
The half power switch is very usefull, you get a nice crunch at lower volumes with both channels, perfect for recording down in the basement without waking up the kids. When the amps is in full power mode, you get increased headroom, and a loud balsy sound.
I use a 1960 Gibson ES-330 with P-90's, a 1958 reissue Les Paul and a Chandler Tele. Like I said before, it's hard to get a bad guitar match for this amp, the controls are extremly effective and sensitive, so if you fuzz with them a bit you can set it for any guitar, I would say however that the P-90's are my favourite to play with this amp.

Built like a tank, you'll hear that over and over about his things and it's true, top quality construction all the way.
I wish tubes were better these days, I do recommend seeking some NOS tubes for this Cat, although they are not cheap, the sound improvement is worth it.

Very nice folks at Bad Cat, I e-mailed them a question about tubes and got a response the next day.
5 year warranty, Again I expect no problems.

Been playing for 17 years, I've owned all kinds of amps, I love the old class A Vox sound, this Cat nails it with the added benefit of reliability and a beautful voice of it's own, this is a top quailty built and sounding instrument.
They are not cheap, and are heavy as hell, but if you are a purist for good sound, this thing will not dissapoint.

This amp was made in 2001. Very straight forward construction, this amp has two non-switchable channels, Volume, bass and treble control for the clean channel, volume and cut (basically presence) for the crunch channel, and that's it. No fx loops, only Class A tone of it's best. Both channels are perfectly voiced, there is no need for additional controls. A built in power soak would be nice. I use this amp for pop/rock and bought it primarily for studio usage, since 3 months I take this (extremely heavy) piece of gear out for live shows also, 'cause of it's incredible tone.

I use Fender Telecasters (52), a Morgaine Strat with Lindy Fralin Single Coils and a Musicman Axis with humbuckers. It is impossible to get a bad sound of this amp. I use this tree guitars to get different sounds, but I would also play a whole gig only with the Tele; this is the greatest sound. The badcat is a very loud, but quite unit. A half power switch allows to degrade the output, but it affects the sound a bit (less distortion). I rather use a power soak and run the master at 7. It's great. The clean channel allows a wide range form warm but sparkling clean to a beautiful transparent crunch, like adding a bit of dirt. I slave a TC. FX Rack (1210, 2290, G-Major) via a switcher directly to the input 1. The crunch channel two picks up where channel one ends and provides a very defined spectrum of distortion sounds. I run channel 2 dry, for certain sounds I switch both channels (clean with effects, crunch dry) together. Very nice, I get an optimal rythm crunch sound. Channel two works also very well for lead sounds, it's a nice, not much compressed and very open sound. In live situations, I have a Ibanez TS-9 tube screamer added to the signal chain to avoid tweaking the volume. I can't compare this sound; it comes close to a my vintage AC-30 or the Matchless Chieftain, but I definitely prefer the badcat.

I own the amp for a year now, never had a problem. I have an emergency backup in my rack (preamp/power amp), but never had to use it. It's very dependable, and very well built.

Perfect customer care. The company respond within 24 hours to an inquiry and was always of big help so far. Their website is very good, providing also technical information. The 5 year limited warranty doesn't scare me; it's a tank

I play for more than 25 years. I am a gear-aholic and own many of other amps (Brunetti XL Heads, Diezel VH-4 Head, Naylor Super Drive 60 (which I like very much), Vox AC-30, Matchless, Marshalls). I have owned many other amps in the past,like Hughes & Kettner, Soldano, Boogies and so on. My opinion is that nearly every amp on todays market does sound good, but for people which are interested to develop their tone, there are only a couple of excellent amps out there. The Blackcat is one of them.

I bought the amp new in Oct, 2001. The features have been described accurately in earlier reviews, so I'll try not to repeat what's already been said.

It is quite versatile in the respect that it will sound great in a variety of musical settings: pop, jazz, r&b, blues, pop, hard-industrial rock and even contemporary country. It is not versatile in the way that many popular amps are with lots of bells and whistles.

The two channels, cut control and the tone contorl on ch1 contribute to this versatility, as does the 30W switch on the back (giving you more headroom).

I do wish it had an effects loop. I do wish it had channel switching. I contacted the dealer and mfg about mods and both said: no-go. They believe the tone is degraded by these features. Hmmm. Perhaps, but I've played through a number of other incredible sounding amps that did have these features. But, I can live without...

I purchased a Whirlwind A/B/Both switch to do the channel switching and this has worked like a charm. In fact, playing through both channels has been great for certain types of solos!

The reverb is okay sounding. It's satisfactory but it doesn't knock my socks off.

The speakers have been accurately described earlier. I think they absolutely excellent!

I wish it didn't weigh as much as it does. It's a freakin back-breaker. I put retractable, spring loaded handles on the sides and removable casters on it as well, and this has helped very, VERY much! But man, on an amp that weighs over 90lbs and lists for 3500 bucks, why couldn't they do that at the factory??!!!

I'm playing several guitars with the Bad Cat. I think it sounds best with my H-S-H configured Anderson Drop Top. The single coil sounds when used with clean or crunch type amp settings are simply devastating! Crank ch1 to 1:00 or so, go to the nect pickup in SC mode and play Castles Made of Sand or Little Wing, and it'll send shivers down your back! So, incredibly responsive to your right hand technique and attack...whew!!!!

The high gain sounds out of ch2 sound best with the bridge pickup in humbucking mode. I've also found that my PRS Custom 22 Soapbar (3 P90s) sounds just fantastic through this amp.

Anyway, ch1 has more of the classic Vox AC-30 TB sound. Clear, smooth tone. Turn up the vol a bit and you get the incredible crushed-glass crunch.

Ch2 as noted in other review, has more of a modern sounding high gain sound; not a tricked up Marshall, but gets close. It is round, warm and very lush and smooth. It sounds particularly outstanding in the lower registers of the fretboard. I've been using a Boss GT-5 in front of it for some chorus reverb and delay. What I found was that if I add a little bit of the GT-5s clearest sounding overdrive to ch2, it really helps out during solos. The sound is really to die for. I've been searching for this tone for a long time and it's wonderful to have finally found it! I found that without a wee bit of overdrive, I got a spottier sustain/response in the upper registers of the fretboard. Anyway, whenever I turn the amp off after a rehearsal or gig, I find myself saying to myself, "I cannot BELIEVE the sound I'm getting!!!"

No problems. Did have on microphonic tube (EF86). Threw in an amprex bugle boy--man, what a difference!!

As I've experimented quite a bit with the tubes and done the mods mentioned above, I've had the chasis out numerous times. This thing is build like an absolute Sherman Tank!

I've only had it about 7 weeks so I can't really comment on its reliability over the long haul, but it is built amazingly well.

I have not had a problem getting support. I've found the Bad Cat folks to be pretty responsive to quesitons I've asked through email and over the phone; same with my dealer.

I've been playing for over 30 years. I've owned many amps over the years, including a JMI Vox AC30, Marshall JTM45, Fender tweeds, old Ampegs, Boogie (version 1). This is the overall best sounding amp I've owned. It is the most versatile of all the tube amps I've owned too (I own a Line 6, AX2 and nothing can beat that amp for overall versatility, except a Vetta!). But for my taste, the Class A amp has always provided the best overall tone. And this is like a Class A amp on steroids!

this amazing amp was built in March of 2001. It is basically an improved DC30. It is BIGGER sounding, clean is cleaner, and overdrive is more refined...it is also heavier...ie....Mark and the crew spared no expense when it came to the transformers......or anything else!!!!! It is built to gig around the world, and that they will...everything the other guys said I wholeheartedly agree with...It is the Dumble of Class A amps. I am from the Betts, Allman side of the tracks, and with a good player, a les paul , and this thing is scary .....dynamics, punch ...sweet...people in clubs look around and give you that,holy cow, howd you get that sound? expression on their face, and then a smile

the left ac30 channel is the clean side, but it also makes real warm distorted channel if you want...a real interactive tone pot...clean like tom petty, or get out of my way Jeff Beck....It is about playing with emotion,,,with your heart , and this amp is emotion.....actually, it is really the last part of the guitar system. the player, the guitar, the amp...screw those FX guys..save your F ... Fulltone money and by a great amp....it will show up sloppy playing, but when you have the connection...........watch out...Mark Samson has topped the top.....the reverb is really nice, and generally I do not even like reverb.....it comes in after the note
the only mod I did .so far.... was to change the speakers.....this is personal....the dissimilar Celestions sound quite good, but are very present....younger players will love these, but I dont play as loud as i used to, so i put in Weber Blues....it is lighter, and warmer, but still sparkely........../like ginger ale......I am kidding...it goes to 11..........

there is nothing in the 40 years i have been playing guitar including Orange Amps, that comes close to this tank like quality....Nothing...

5 year warranty....nothing goes wrong except a microphonic tube now and then......thats not the amps fault....thats shitty tubes

if it was stolen, i would replace it....i am embaressed how many amps I have owned over the past 40 years.......aaahhhh....but I knew I wasnt nuts.this amp grabs me, and people that hear me play, like nothing else I have ever owned....this is the first review I have evr done, cause I needed to tell my fellow guitarists about this...the amp that tears at your emotions.....duane allman would have loved bad cats...../

This amp was made in Feb 2001. There are two channels with channel one for clean blues tones and channel two with a bit more gain. One of the great features of this amp is the 5 position rotary switch that allows you to adjust the tone in conjunction with the cut switch. You can shape the sound depending on the pick-ups in your guitar (single coils vs humbuckers)

The matchless DC 30 sounded better than the Vox AC 30 and the Bad Cat is a beefier, meaner DC 30. Guitar Player magazine always raves over the DC 30 so expect the same or better reviews for this amp. The best amp money can buy hands down. I was reading the reviews for other hand made amps and noticed the name of Eric at Guitar Czar in Salt Lake City Utah kept popping up. I called him and you have a choice of either getting a Matchless, Bruno or Bad Cat or several other name brand amps. What a great guy. See note in section for customer support.

Seven months and no problems. No rattles, just pure class A tone.

Your dealer is the first place you go when you have a problem or a question. Obviously the other reviewer did not purchase his amp from some one that has alot of knowledge of amplifiers. Don't bug the manufacturer if you can help it. The right dealer support is the most critical element once you have decided on an amp and the price is the same.

Better than a Matchless DC 30

The Black Cat is basically a 30watt Class A, 4XEL84 based, point-to-point wired, two channel, Vox AC30/Matchless DC30 with reverb. I am an avid Matchless amp user and have been for quite some time so I figured I would try a Bad Cat since Mark Sampson and Rick Perotta have their hands in the company. Like the DC30 it has two unmatched celestion speakers, half power switch, 4,8,16 ohm taps, phase reverse switch, and two AC plugs. Mine came stock with a GZ34 rectifier tube but there is a slot for an additional rectifier if you desire a cleaner, less compressed tone. The control panel is separated into two channels, channel one controls include volume, bass, treble; channel two controls include volume and tone (5 position rotary switch). Both channels share the cut control, reverb, and defeatable master volume. My amp is covered in a blue sparkle vinyl with a grey clothe front. The Bad Cat logo lights up when the amp is on. Anything sound familiar DC30 owners? There are two inputs per channel to help with different pickup types and strengths. My amp does not have an effects loop or channel switching. There are plenty more controls on a Bogner Exstacy or a Line 6 so I can't give it a 10, right?

I must admit, I expected this amp to deliver. Its pedigree is extremely strong and I'm already sold on the Class A tone, so what did I have to lose. I should start with the one thing that is new on this amp that I've never had on any of my el84 based Matchless units - reverb. Most guitar players are at least somewhat familiar with the Fender reverb tone - be it a Deluxe reverb, Super reverb, or whatever. The Bad Cat does NOT sound like that however, it is an improvement over the much bemoaned Matchless Chieftain reverb. The Bad Cat reverb seems better suited as a subtle, spacial effect rather than a soup-y, surf thang. But it CAN get really deep too, I just don't think it sounds as musical as a Fender unit. I can live with it though. <br>The first thing I noticed when firing up the Black Cat was the great improvement of channel 1 over the original Matchless C30. It definitely sounds like a vintage AC30 - kind of like the Edge's tone on some of the new U2 stuff....really. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. The tone controls are effective and musical. Even with the single rectifier, there's a good amount of headroom on the channel. Add a little reverb and you've got a great blues, jazz, or R&B channel. Crank it up and you've got a sweet, gritty, raw class A tone that overflows with harmonic content. I am a Fender guitar nut so I couldn't even tell you what this thing sounds like with a Les Paul but it sounds wonderful with my old strat and tele. <br>Channel 2 is fantastic for overdriven tones. There is a lot less headroom on this channel, even with my single coil guitars, but I would imagine most wouldn't use this channel for anything other than medium overdrive to distortion anyway. Of course, the tone of this channel will immediately remind Matchless users of the C30 channel 2. The master Cut control is a vital tool in finding the right tone; the vari-switch adds gain and girth but the highs need to be adjusted with the cut control. I found channel 2 to be as musical and toneful as a C30 but with a bit more gain than I rememeber my DC30 having. Also, it seems to be a bit tighter on the bass end than the C30. I'd love to read other opinions on this. I primarily play pop and this amp really has a great tone for that application. I usually set the amp on channel 2 with just a little bit of dirt in the sound. I then use pedals for more distorted tones or back a little off the volume for cleaner sounds. This amp is very sensitive to touch so you can get a pretty good array of sounds from just your guitar. Somehow, the tone of this and similar amps seems to blend in a live and studio mix much better than other designs. I'm probably full of it but it just seems like it does. I get comments all the time on the tone of my class A amps (including Matchless stuff too). Who knows why, they just seem to sound better in a mix. <br>Oh, here's a gripe, if I didn't have a full-time job on the side I could have never afforded this amp. List price is currently $3500! Ouch! Another gripe, 95+ pounds! It's heavier than a DC30! I'm not even 30 years old and it breaks my back to load it in and out. By the way, get used to using the half-power switch unless you play large venue gigs. This amp is LOUD.

No problems yet and it appears to be mil spec in nearly every way. I'm pretty stupid and rarely gig with a backup.

I've tried to call them to get a tube chart for the amp and to inquire about getting a head box made for the chassis. No response via email or phone. Only a 5 year warranty - sounds like the lawyers told them not to go the lifetime warranty route.

I wrote a positive review on the DC30 a couple years ago because of the uniqueness of tone and quality of workmanship Matchless is known for. Bad Cat, in my mind, is the next logical step in Mark Sampson/Rick Perotta's brilliant amp design. The Black Cat Reverb incorporates new features desired by many original Matchless C30 owners such as reverb, a tighter bass, a better channel 1, etc. and keeps the features C30 players love like half power, cut control, great master volume, etc. Mark has tweaked the his classic C30 design without compromising tone and quality. I wouldn't suggest throwing out your Matchless gear because it is incredible stuff too but, if you're looking for the next step in Mark Sampson's ingenuity, Bad Cat is it.