Bad Cat bringing back Mark Sampson for new amp

[Duane_the_tub]

It looks like Bad Cat is capitalizing on the value of its Mark Sampson DNA by collaborating with him on a new amp. Funny how that call it the "Era," clearly a nod to the "MARK SAMPSON ERA!!!" hype we see attached to seller postings for basically every BC amp ever made.

I am interested in checking these out. I didn't love the new Cub that I commissioned from John & Co. a couple years ago; it just didn't have that same depth of character I get from my early 2000s combo. Perhaps bringing the guru himself back will change that.

My old Cub is probably my favorite tube amp and the one I turn on the most at home. Awesome tones all the way through its range of gain with no pedals required. I read an interview with Marc Ford (Black Crowes) who had to choose a single tube combo to take on a tour, and his choice was his trusty Bad Cat. The older ones are built like tanks and sound fantastic.

 

[JTM45]

Bad Cat makes some wonderful amps, sound clips are subjective for sure but what I’ve heard so far is wonderful. He just has a knack for subtle nuances that make his amps sound so full and smooth.

Reviews are good so far

 

[cnote]

Never had a Bad Cat, had a friend who loved his Hot Cat. But your post inspired me to look up some clips of the Cub - wow, nice.

 

[DeafDumbBlind Kid]

It looks like Bad Cat is capitalizing on the value of its Mark Sampson DNA by collaborating with him on a new amp. Funny how that call it the "Era," clearly a nod to the "MARK SAMPSON ERA!!!" hype we see attached to seller postings for basically every BC amp ever made.

I am interested in checking these out. I didn't love the new Cub that I commissioned from John & Co. a couple years ago; it just didn't have that same depth of character I get from my early 2000s combo. Perhaps bringing the guru himself back will change that.

My old Cub is probably my favorite tube amp and the one I turn on the most at home. Awesome tones all the way through its range of gain with no pedals required. I read an interview with Marc Ford (Black Crowes) who had to choose a single tube combo to take on a tour, and his choice was his trusty Bad Cat. The older ones are built like tanks and sound fantastic.

View attachment 820268

if I had to venture a guess, 3900 dollars?

 

[Duane_the_tub]

Never had a Bad Cat, had a friend who loved his Hot Cat. But your post inspired me to look up some clips of the Cub - wow, nice.

They're great amps. Bad Cat was born out of Sampson's work with Matchless, and these early Cubs with the Focused/Spectrum switch are essentially Lightning and Spitfire circuits in one box. Hot-rodded Vox that can reach into Marshall territory. Really fun and sounds fantastic.

if I had to venture a guess, 3900 dollars?

From what I understand, Mark himself is going to build the first 10 on his bench. I imagine those will be $5K amps. The production models thereafter, you're probably right on - at least $3.5K. Another thing that makes the old ones so great - if you're patient, you can steal them. I paid $800 for mine.

 

[searswashere]

Dug up made me think he had passed away :/ lol

 

[Duane_the_tub]

Dug up made me think he had passed away :/ lol

Yeah, probably not the best choice of words by me. Mark has been out of the public eye for a long time. Even he admits, I believe in this video, that he's been a hard guy to track down - seemingly by design.

 

[DeafDumbBlind Kid]

Dug up made me think he had passed away :/ lol

 

[searswashere]

Yeah, probably not the best choice of words by me. Mark has been out of the public eye for a long time. Even he admits, I believe in this video, that he's been a hard guy to track down - seemingly by design.

Seems it worked then hehe.

View attachment 820505

Great movie. Frau Blüker!

 

[redking]

The price tag on that amp is more than my two Friedmans and one Soldano combined.

 

[DanD]

They're great amps. Bad Cat was born out of Sampson's work with Matchless, and these early Cubs with the Focused/Spectrum switch are essentially Lightning and Spitfire circuits in one box. Hot-rodded Vox that can reach into Marshall territory. Really fun and sounds fantastic.


From what I understand, Mark himself is going to build the first 10 on his bench. I imagine those will be $5K amps. The production models thereafter, you're probably right on - at least $3.5K. Another thing that makes the old ones so great - if you're patient, you can steal them. I paid $800 for mine.

@Duane_the_tub Is yours the 15W version?

 

[Duane_the_tub]

@Duane_the_tub Is yours the 15W version?

Yessir, 15W 1x12 combo with reverb.

 

[Torren61]

When you say "Bringing back Mark Sampson"...

 

[Duane_the_tub]

When you say "Bringing back Mark Sampson"...

Yeah, I know. Still better than what I wrote originally.

 

[Kikbut]

I’m really jonesin for the ERA. I love my HC-30.

 

[Leee]

I want an HC-30 so bad I can taste it.

How long have you had yours?
What cabinet are you running?

Oh - and welcome from Texas!

 

[Kikbut]

I want an HC-30 so bad I can taste it.

How long have you had yours?
What cabinet are you running?

Oh - and welcome from Texas!

I’ve had the HC-30 for about 3 years. It’s not Sampson era but still is great. I run several different cabinets with it. My favorite combo is with an old matchless brand v30 and a 65 watt creamback in two separate 1x12 cabs.

And thanks for the welcome!