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Bad Cat Amplifiers
Bad Cat amplifiers are what happens when vintage-inspired tone meets modern muscle. Hand-built in the USA with boutique insides — Class A circuits, rock-solid transformers, and killer touch sensitivity — Bad Cat amps throw down rich harmonics and glassy cleans for players who care more about feel and breakup than fancy screens and modeling. Whether you're after chiming sparkle or thick British grind, you'll find the tones you love with a Bad Cat amp.
Bad Cat Amps: Hand-Built Boutique Tone, Made in the USA
Bad Cat amplifiers are hand-built in the USA using Class A circuits, premium transformers, and point-to-point wiring. Known for rich harmonics, expressive touch sensitivity, and a range that runs from glassy cleans to thick British-inspired breakup, Bad Cat amps deliver boutique tone for players who care about feel and response. American Musical Supply carries Bad Cat amplifiers, cabinets, and pedals with 0% interest financing and VERY fast and free shipping.
What Defines the Bad Cat Sound
Bad Cat amplification is rooted in vintage-inspired circuit design with a modern builder's attention to detail. Every amp uses hand-selected components and true point-to-point wiring, meaning each connection is made by hand rather than through a printed circuit board. The company's designs lean into Class A operation, known for its harmonic richness and natural compression. Roll back your guitar's volume knob, and a Bad Cat amp cleans up smoothly. Dig in with your pick, and the amp responds with more gain and saturation. Bad Cat amps carry a 5-year warranty, reflecting the confidence behind their construction.
Bad Cat Amplifiers Across the Lineup
The Bad Cat lineup covers several power ranges and voicings, each aimed at a different playing scenario.
The Cub V is available in 15-watt (EL84) and 40-watt (EL34) configurations as both a head and combo. It features switchable 12AX7 and EF86 preamp tubes, tube-driven spring reverb, dual master volumes, and a buffered effects loop. Switching between preamp tubes changes the amp's character significantly, giving you access to different tonal personalities from a single amplifier.
The Black Cat has been one of Bad Cat's most recognized designs, and the recent Mod Shop Black Cat 30, revised by co-founder of the boutique amp movement Mark Sampson, pushes it further with four EL84 power tubes and a revoiced tone stack. For players who need more volume from that same foundation, the Jet Black doubles the output with a second pair of EL84s, delivering 38 watts with independent two-channel operation.
For high-gain players, the Lynx is a 50-watt head with two distinct channels: a classic high-gain voice and an ultra-modern channel built for tight, articulate saturation. It includes a uniquely designed noise gate and a buffered active effects loop.
The Ocelot brings Bad Cat tone into a lunchbox format with Two Notes Torpedo integration for built-in cabinet simulation, selectable 1W/20W power modes, and headphone output for silent playing. It’s a strong option for home recording and smaller stages.
Why Players Choose Bad Cat Amplification
Bad Cat amplifiers occupy a space where craftsmanship and tone take priority over feature count. These aren’t amps loaded with digital modeling or dozens of presets. They’re focused, intentional designs that reward players who shape their sound with their hands, their volume knob, and their pick attack. That focus is why Bad Cat amps show up in studios and on stages where tone quality is paramount. Browse our full selection of guitar amplifiers and see how Bad Cat compares.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bad Cat Amps
Where are Bad Cat amps made?
Bad Cat amplifiers are hand-built in the USA using point-to-point wiring and hand-selected components.
What is the warranty on Bad Cat amplifiers?
Bad Cat amps come with a 5-year warranty. Speakers are covered for 3 years, parts and accessories for 2 years, and vacuum tubes for 6 months.
Can Bad Cat amps handle high-gain tones?
Yes. The Lynx is specifically designed for modern high-gain playing with tight low-end response, effective midrange shaping, and a built-in noise gate. The Jet Black and Ocelot also reach into higher-gain territory.
Experience Bad Cat Amps at AMS
From the hand-wired Cub V to the high-gain Lynx, Bad Cat amplifiers are built for players who want tone they can feel. American Musical Supply carries the full Bad Cat lineup with 0% interest financing and VERY fast and free shipping, so you can bring boutique amplification home without the wait. Browse our Bad Cat selection and find the amp that responds the way you play.
