Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $1,944
High-end/Boutique
$300
$701+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 23, 2026.
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Description
Unleash your guitar's true potential with the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier, a masterful blend of vintage tone and modern versatility. This two-channel powerhouse offers a dynamic range from smooth cleans to gritty overdrives, making it an ideal companion for both studio sessions and live performances. The heart of this amp lies in its meticulously crafted all-tube design, featuring 3 x 12AX7 preamp tubes and 2 x EL84 power amp tubes, delivering 20 watts of pure sonic bliss.
A standout feature of this amp is its Bad Cat Exclusive Custom UK Made Celestion V30 speaker, ensuring a rich and articulate sound that resonates with every strum. The intuitive control panel allows for fine-tuning with options for Volume, Master, Treble, Bass, and more, while the Bias-Modulated Tremolo and Reverb effects add layers of depth to your soundscapes. Whether you're switching channels or engaging the tremolo, the included footswitch offers seamless control right at your feet.
Designed with the modern guitarist in mind, the Black Cat 30 also boasts a transparent buffered FX loop, multiple speaker outputs, and versatile connectivity options. Crafted in the USA, this amplifier is a testament to superior craftsmanship and innovation, ensuring it remains a staple in your gear collection for years to come.
Key Features:
- 2 channels offering diverse tonal possibilities
- 20 Watt all-tube configuration
- Preamp: 3 x 12AX7 tubes; Power amp: 2 x EL84 tubes
- 1 x 12” Bad Cat Exclusive Custom UK Made Celestion V30 speaker
- Volume, Master, Treble, Bass, Cut, Intensity, Speed, and Reverb controls
- Bias-Modulated Tremolo and Reverb effects
- Transparent Buffered FX Loop
- Comprehensive connectivity: Instrument input, FX Loop Send/Return, Footswitch, Line Out, Speaker outputs
- Includes padded protective cover and 2-way footswitch
- Made in the USA
Product specs
| Available since | August 2024 |
| Powerrate in W | 20 W |
| Speaker size | 1x 12" |
| Power Amp Tubes | EL34 |
| Channels | 1 |
| Reverb | Yes |
| External FX Loop | Yes |
| Recording Output | No |
| MIDI Interface | No |
| Connection for External Speaker | Yes |
| Headphone connection | No |
| Footswitch connection | Yes |
| Incl. Footswitch | Yes |
| Weight in kg | 21,3 kg |
FAQs
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What type of tubes does the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier use?
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The Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier uses EF86 and 12AX7 tubes in the preamp and EL84 tubes in the power amp, providing a rich, dynamic tone.
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Does the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier have a built-in reverb?
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Yes, the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier features a built-in reverb, allowing you to add depth and ambiance to your sound.
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Can the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier be used with an external speaker?
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Yes, the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier includes a connection for an external speaker, offering flexibility in your setup.
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Is there an effects loop on the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier?
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Yes, the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier is equipped with an effects loop, enabling you to integrate external effects seamlessly into your signal chain.
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Does the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier come with a footswitch?
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Yes, the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier includes a footswitch, allowing you to switch between its two channels easily during a performance.
Videos
Phillip McKnight
BadCat's Black Cat Amp
BadCat's Black Cat Amp
Phillip McKnight
No Talking...Just Tones | Bad Cat "Black Cat"
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Bad Cat Black Cat Demo | First Look
Premier Guitar
NEW Bad Cat "Black Cat" FIRST LOOK Demo
Palen Music Center
We Love These Amps! The Bad Cat Black Cat is here!
Alamo Music Center
Chime and Grind | 2022 Bad Cat Black Cat Amplifier
JayLeonardJ
HOLY CHIME BATMAN - Bad Cat Black Cat Review
EytschPi42
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier.
User experience
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Some users report reliability issues, requiring the amp to be sent back for repairs twice, which can incur significant shipping costs.
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Owners have noted that the Jet Black's clean channel offers a thick Fender-like clean tone with EL84 power, breaking up around noon on the volume knob.
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The Black Cat is seen as a "suped up AC15," favored for its familiar sound with added quality of life upgrades, making it a preferred gigging amp option.
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The Jet Black model receives praise for its built-in attenuation, which users find effective, enhancing its usability across various settings.
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The Cub III 15R is appreciated for its EF86 side and the K Master volume control, though its "middy sparkly charm" can get lost in a band mix.
Source
Comparisons
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A recommendation is made to consider a Made in England AC-30 for those specifically seeking a Vox sound.
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The Black Cat 20w is described as having a gain structure similar to a Vox but with slightly more compression as the volume increases, a characteristic of Bad Cat amps.
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The Era 30 is viewed as a more "Voxy" option compared to the Jet Black, aligning closer with Matchless DC-30 tones and offering notable tone stack improvements.
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The Black Cat 30R, now renamed the Sampson 30, is highlighted for its EF86 channel performance, positioning it between the Black Cat and the Lynx models.
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The Cub III 15R is noted for its solo play 3D, sparkly sound, but it struggles to stand out in a band setting compared to the 90’s AC15TBX.
Source
Value and pricing
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Hand-wired models like the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo have consistently remained high-priced, unlike the more affordable PCB board versions.
Source
Features and functionality
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The newer Black Cat models without the eyes have a Channel 1 that closely resembles the Vox AC30, providing a clean to edge-of-breakup sound.
Source
Use cases and applications
5.0 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 5 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
About his amps, Troy Van Leeuwan states, in an interview with Guitar.com, "It's the Black Cat model, a thirty-watt combo that is both thick and sharp. The best combo I've ever played."
In the article "Bonnie Raitt: Return of the Blues Baroness" from Premier Guitar, Bonnie Raitt is mentioned using the Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier as part of her gear setup.
Audley Freed’s musicality and easy-going attitude have garnered him gigs with Cry of Love, The Black Crows, Peter Frampton, Dixie Chicks, Joe Perry, Sheryl Crow, and, many many others. In our Truetone Lounge interview, Audley shares everything from riding to gigs in vans with his early band, Cry of Love, to playing with Jimmy Page at the Greek Theatre, to his current position as one of the most in-demand sidemen in the world. Freed also talks gear, with his Senn Pomona, 1965 SG Special, B-Bender equipped Pomona, Lazy J amp, and his minimalistic pedalboard.
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Genre Usage
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Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Bad Cat Black Cat 30 Combo Amplifier, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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