UB:26 Bad Cat Black Cat Series II Valve Combo - Killer Tones! Finally! - Is My Amp Search Over?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2024
- The Bad Cat Black Cat Series II 1x12 Valve Combo USA Built Amplifier. Killer Tones in a Retro Looking Box - Black Vinyl and Golden Speaker Cloth. For Those Interested in the Black Cat Extension Cabinet see my review here - ( • UB:31 Bad Cat Black Ca... )
When it comes to Valve amplifiers, Fender, Marshall and Vox are just some of the big names that will be mentioned first, and rightly so, since they have helped to shape music history. But aside the well-known brands of days-gone-bye, there is a world of boutique amplifiers out there, brought to us by a handful of dedicated engineers who battle to design those elusive tones guitar players chase after. Bad Cat amplifiers began life around 1999 and it’s inventor, the late James Heidrich had a long history in the amplification world. Various models are available as both Amplifier Heads + Cabinets and Combination Amplifiers with the ability to also hook-up to an extension cabinet if desired.
The new Series II Black Cat combo model has 2 x EL84 Power Tubes and 3 x 12AX7 tubes with 2 Custom Hand-Wound Bad Cat Transformers. The 12” speaker is a Bad Cat v30 custom made for them by Celestion. Having used this amplifier along with a Black Cat extension cabinet in my studio, I really enjoy the tones that can be dialled into this and when it comes to my Fender guitars it really brings out the best in them. As with most valve amplifier combos, weight is one of the drawbacks and if I have anything to say that's a negative... yes it's the weight, not the heaviest I've had but as you get older these things begin to become more noticeable. In this video I give a general overview of all the controls and illustrate tones from both single coil and hum-bucking guitar types. This amplifier does have quite a range of tonal possibilities and therefore it does need time to sit with it, and without doubt the tones you get are excellent... Enjoy!
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- Guitar Backing Tracks - Blues, Ballads and Cinematic
- Stu's Guitar Channel short Trailer
*Brought to you by Stu’s Guitar Channel - Enjoy Playing Guitar.
Excellent review and presentation. Best I’ve seen and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Cuinoz3569 - Many thanks for the kind remark, was a pleasure to make this to help others thinking about Bad Cat gear. If it's of interest, I have also done a review on the extension cabinet you can rig up to this Black Cat combo which you can see on my playlist. Regards: Stu
What a fantastic video have a good weekend Stu ❤😊
Hi Amin - As always many thanks and I hope you also have a good weekend... how did the birthday party go? Regards: Stu
Separation as you say is the key word, and that’s the first thing the Palin Music video says. I have come along the same road as you and on the way bought several amps, Fender BDL was too loud , Orange small valve combo, no reverb and lets out the occasional backfire, I have more pedals than Raleigh and most of what I bought was after seeing reviews on YT.
After even more research I bought the Badcat Black Cat head and speaker, it is terrific, but as you say you have to suss the controls out.
I am a house player, I played gigs years ago , Great video and best regards from Dublin.
Hi hsyduddj - Ahh! Dublin, I have worked there on contracts as a commercial photographer about 20 years ago... lovely city and a lot of beautiful locations. Yes, amplifiers are a difficult product to feel at home with. Back in the 70s I once had a Marshall (60s) valve top that had the most beautiful tones... and then it got stolen! I never could get anything to replace it. It was when I was trying to track down a Matchless Amp is when I came across Bad Cat... I have to say that the folks at Bad Cat are really helpful. Regards: Stu
Thinking of buying this amp or the Cub model.
Hi - If you can, and you have a store near who has both, best to try them out side by side, preferably with your own guitar. I say this because I find there is quite a different tonal response depending on the guitar pick-ups. Not meaning to state the obvious but it is a fair bit of money involved. I have another review video where I show the Extension Cabinet - (th-cam.com/video/w-FgESKT8x4/w-d-xo.html), if you were thinking of doing a Head and Cab arrangement instead of the combo versions - although, as you will see I use both cabinet and combo for different roles. All the best with whatever you get, would be good to hear what you end up doing. Regards: Stu
@@StuGuitarChannel thank you so much for your advice,I appreciate it,I will let you know my choice for sure
@@user-jz4gy2vk4c You are very welcome, look forward to hearing how it plays out for you... Regards: Stu
Such a great amp. I went to the store to check out this and the hot cat. The hot cat was broke so couldn’t compare 😢 I am awaiting for the hot cat to be fixed so I can compare but the black cat killed it! Do you play at low
Volumes? Like talking volume? As that’s what I’d be using. Great playing and review!
Hi Rob - Thanks for chipping in... Yes, the Black Cat is a very nice amp, the clean channel set around - One O'clock - tends to be my go-to setting for my single-coil guitars, and when I need a bit more crunch I use my Spark Boost pedal (th-cam.com/video/66b2PKXsLL4/w-d-xo.html). While channel 2 (Dirty Channel) has very usable distortion tones, I am not using it at this moment. Regarding volume; yes it's no problem to get a good crunch tone and keep the master volume down for use at home. When I use it in my sound studio I do crank it up a little more to get a better dynamic tone - the amp sounds good at low volumes but even better when driven a bit harder. I use the extension cabinet in a sound booth (th-cam.com/video/w-FgESKT8x4/w-d-xo.html) and the combo amplifier (speaker off) next to my computer control panel. As you will know, the Hot Cat has more crunch on tap and the next time I'm in a shop that has one in store, I will certainly give one a try. Do message back once you get to try out the Hot Cat... regards: Stu