Peach Guitars | Spotlight | Bad Cat Amplifiers

If, like us, you’ve got a taste for the finest valve amplifiers around, then you’re going to have heard of Bad Cat!

Bad Cat are one of California’s very best, and as California is widely considered to be the “Home of Tone”, you know they are a force to be reckoned with! 

We were really fortunate to be invited out to their brand new facility last month, it’s super impressive and you can be sure that some real magic is going to become a reality behind those doors! We shot some incredible content and even spent some time with Technical Director and amp designer extraordinaire, Peter Arends, at his own, personal workshop, what a treat! 

Of course we’re going to rave about the quality of Bad Cat amps, but what we really need to do is show you guys why they are so great! So let me introduce to you the current Bad Cat line up; The Hot Cat, Cub, Black Cat and Lynx, the next generation of Bad Cat builds!

The new Hot Cat is a cutting edge re-imagining of the original model introduced back in 2005.

With a 2-channel design, this amp is incredibly versatile and offers tons of tonal options. Channel 1 features the signature Bad Cat sparkling clean tone with brilliant highs and abundant lows! Channel 2 is a flame-throwing, high-gain channel with extraordinary string-to-string note definition and rich harmonic content. 

The Cub was amongst one of the first amplifiers adorned with the legendary Bad Cat name. It’s famed for its extremely simple yet versatile circuitry, offering incredible punch and chime whilst setting the standard for touch responsiveness. Over the years the amp’s design has been refined and improved with every iteration bringing something new to the Cub. This latest design is no exception.

The Cub features a single channel design with two interchangeable and dynamic overdrive modes. If you’re looking for an amp with a versatile nature then you’re in luck, this amp covers chimey cleans, soaring leads and everything in between! 

The Black Cat’s history goes all the way back to the original boutique amplifier designed and hand-crafted in Southern California. For 2022 Bad Cat went back to the drawing board and re-designed this amp from the ground up. 

With two unique channels this amplifier is loaded with tons of tonal options for you to explore. Channel 1 offers a more traditional Black Cat sound, it's bright, clear and remains highly responsive no matter what you chuck at it. Channel 2 has all of the complexity and chime of channel 1 but with plenty of gain on tap, so if you're looking to play some lush leads then you're in the right spot. 

What makes a truly great modern high gain amplifier? That is the exact question Bad Cat set out to answer when designing the Lynx, and they’ve certainly delivered! It offers tight low end frequencies that punch and react quickly to staccato picking & palm muting whilst also possessing all the high range to cut through any mix.

With two distinct channels, and a massive 7 gain stages, this amp will definitely blow away any cobwebs! Channel 1 covers all of the classic high-gain tones we know and love, from a gritty clean right the way to a tight 80’s thrash tone. Channel 2 is an absolute fire-breather with a massive sonic footprint, designed with today’s modern players in mind this channel is articulate and revealing. 

By now you’ve probably come to the same conclusion as us, that Bad Cat are competing at the very top and putting on a display worthy of all of our attention! Keep your eyes on our Youtube channel for some really fantastic footage from their new facility, it’s worth the wait I promise!

As always, you can buy with confidence from Peach Guitars. From meticulously inspecting each piece of equipment, professionally setting up each guitar, tracking every package, and delivering the best after-sales customer service, our team will do our best to make you feel welcome and offer genuine, professional advice.