Bad Cat Cub 40R USA Players Series

[@paulfuchs3661]

Phil, you have made hundreds of videos. I can honestly say I’ve learned something new from every one of them. Thank you for taking the time to share your love of music!

[@franksabatino1814]

Always learning & giving me an increased awareness of all thinghings technical & musical sound related

[@intheblues]

These amps stick out of the mix like nobody's business playing live. They are super-cool. Nice work. :)

[@GuitarTabsDaily]

Need to see you with one, Shane!

[@cacaloca5434]

I would love to see you review this Shane. I think I may have settled on buying the 40r

[@RobertKeeleyTV]

John Thompson is an amazingly kind and knowledgable tone junkie, as well as having amp-builder-extraordinaire DNA. He has always impressed me. In fact, I just texted him and said I think I need a Club combo for my shop! Great demo video Phillip!

[@brianice9846]

I just bought a 1x12 combo your Aria is my only pedal between my guitar and amp.

[@JaniceLalla]

I loved every single note you played

[@adambrice99]

The ol' badcat cougar 15 was my first tube amp, still have it and use it today. My ear fell in love with the badcat sound when searching for a pedal platform. Guitars have always been a journey of trial and error but you can never go wrong with bad cat!

[@GuitarTabsDaily]

Amazing review, Phil! John and John at bad cat are both amazing and intelligent guys. You can’t really beat the tone and quality of amp bad cat makes at the price point. Cheers!

[@Jalliams]

Have always wanted a Badcat. So glad they are still on the market, great amps! As you have shown - so versatile!

[@qua7771]

I'll bet if their shop ever does closes, the resale price of these goes through the roof.

[@johnnykuz]

I have a Cub 40R combo, a Cub IV 15/R Combo, and a Cougar 5. Been playing Bad Cat amps since 2010 & they never disappoint. They always stand out in tone & projection in the mix. For me, no other amp compares.

[@chrisggoodwin777]

I watched this video on launch day, and have been wanting one since. I finally was able to order one! I got the Cub 40 watt 1x12 combo, and am now stuck impatiently waiting for it to arrive lol

[@davidwilliams5850]

Very nice overview and demo of the capabilities of this Amp.Perfect for someone learning. Thanks for sharing.

[@JEFFKINGS]

I own a Lynx and that K-Master is an absolute game changer. Being able to take a 40 or 50 watt head to practice or a gig and then turn right around and play it in your bedroom without blowing the doors off is such a nice feature that I don't know why other manufacturers haven't devised their own version of the K Master.

[@jpmillman1]

Fantastic sounding amp! Love the 'vox' breakup on the strat.. wow. Great review, thanks Phil!

[@DavidHBurkart]

Wow. Talk about excellent tone and value!

[@Lucas-sz9ck]

This amp is sweet but I'm stoked on how good Phil is at guitar after doing all these demos.

[@samright4661]

You give the most honest reviews on KZbin in my opinion.

[@Fenderstratosphere98]

Miss your shop in Chandler! I use to go there all the time as a child

[@steverolfeca]

I LIKE that amp. I think it would spend most of it's time set nearly clean, with the EF86, and the boost when needed...

[@gregmelville2051]

I've been eyeing Bad Cat for a while now. Great review, Great playing, Great amp, Great shoes.

[@nocuh]

Foot switching 12ax7 and ef86 inputs with a post-PI master is a great idea and seems so obvious in hindsight

[@reiddillashaw2383]

That's a really nice sounding amp. Thanks for the review. Much appreciated.

[@kjypeace]

Great sounding amp. If it had an IR loader for a direct feed it would be perfect.

[@johnnytruck2009]

Bad Cat is on my bucket list.

[@ImNotOld_ImVintage]

I've been avoiding this video because I absolutely don't need another amp.. But I love these Bad Cats! I'm a bedroom player with no desire to "go pro" so now I just have to keep telling myself that the Cub is enough. I don't need another 40w amp, despite how good I think it will sound paired up with my 40w Victory.

[@WyattBrown377]

came for the amp, stayed for the epic spongebob sneakers

[@boseefusmacmurphy1156]

It's weird you and I don't go for the same guitars and pedals, but still go for the same amps. I think you just sold this amp to me, except the digi-verb, it's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. Your reviews always seem fair and honest.

[@RyoCanCan]

I don't even play guitar that much and I love it. Killer idea, we definitely need more people to try doing this. And damn that sounds so nice at lower volumes.

[@kogabear1]

Although I'm no longer a "6" stringer and have gone to the low side I still have a mint, bought it new 25 years ago Tube Works 720 head and 4-10's that does everything the amp you show. So at one time someone did. Nice sounding vidio.

[@tmsglobal5848]

Been looking forward to this review. Thanks Phil!

[@garymcaleer6112]

Excellent, Phillip. Good sound, bro! Many of your posts makes me regret not being able to get up close and personal with the gear you share, let alone purchase after hearing it first-hand. My money's gone, man!

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: At least one of the Hartke amps switches from a solid state preamp to a 12ax7 tube preamp. Clean is pretty close, dirty, it is two different amp sounds. Good Demo of the Badcat.

[@selloutlabel]

They valvetronix amps can kind of do this you set two preset saved with the red or green channels on the tube and can use the footswitch to switch between. It uses a 12ax7 and switches between class A and class ab

[@resington]

Wow Phil that high gain sound was shockingly brutal!

[@_mysilentblue2227]

That is definitely a very nice sounding amp.

[@brettvincient]

This sounds pretty amazing, thanks for sharing!

[@monmixer]

40 watt is more than I have never needed with a mic on it. I have not tried this though. I don't have money to experiment right now. I do work in live entertainment and covid is finally starting to take a toll on me. Lot of gigs booked October but not a lot right now. Dynamics is the key to a good sound. and hott tubes of course.

[@hobertgordon7465]

The fat switch on the strat woke that guitar up, made it sound so much better

[@BillieSwift]

Added to my wishlist for Christmas!

[@DMSProduktions]

So it has the POST phase inverter master volume, or PPIMV! The BEST kind of master volume! GET that PI cooking @ low volumes!

[@gtr1952]

That sounds awesome with the SG!! That's what I saw Rhett Shull playing on stage, sounded great also! That could be my new head, I've got just the 2X12 cab for it!! 8) JMHO --gary

[@dividedbytimestudios]

That Strat sounds great

[@Jesse_Johnson]

I have a HW Cub 40. I run that and a DRRI at the same time. It’s massive.

[@Gottaloveguitars427]

Vox does something similar by allowing you change the tube bias and power class

[@jpmillman1]

And while I have your attention. Phil, you inspired me to start building guitars, now 5 months later my first guitar will be sold at a local store (they were impressed!), still got to name it tho, so not there yet. Thnx for the inspiration phil! Anyway, how about a review of guitars build by your fans? Love to mail you some pictures, but.. where and how?

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Sounds fun.

[@jpmillman1]

@@PhillipMcKnightoh nice, quick reply! can I mail you some pictures or maybe a vid? And if so, where and how?

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Yes Send to [e-mail] and Im always slow to reply.

[@jpmillman1]

@@PhillipMcKnight no worries, you're a busy man :) hope you don't mind to get the full story in the mail. You literally changed my life.

[@thesaj1110]

Please review this amp again with delays and modulation up front to see how well the amp can handle that. Thank you.

[@javierarias1199]

great review thanks

[@JR-to8sn]

And you didn't mentioned that the DNA of Badcat is a Matchless as Samson left Matchless and helped design the Badcat. So if you've always wanted a Matchless but can't afford one, get the Badcat Cub.

[@TheMrMRsmoke]

Bad cat still its own thing tho ive played matchless chieftain and clubman and i also played bad cat cub iv, hot cat and classic before and its not hrd to tell the different. If anything theres a PRS amp that sounds similar to matchless i forgot what it was it could be the sonzera!

[@JR-to8sn]

@@TheMrMRsmoke That's true, but I think the Cub and clubman (I think it was that one) sounds very similar. And at 2K less a BC is a great option. I will caveat that I have a Cub III 15R and it's the handwired version so it might sound somewhat different than the players series. I've not played the Hot Cat (too much gain for me) or the Classic (Fenderish) versions.

[@Zilegil]

@@TheMrMRsmoke I’ve always heard the sonzera described as “blackface-like” Idk if Matchless has a similar circuit to a blackface fender. Or if they’re just wrong 😂 The Sonzera is their budget amp. Still expensive AF since it’s PRS but still

[@TheMrMRsmoke]

@@Zilegil like i said i forgot which one :(

[@Amp497]

@@JR-to8sn Guitarists are very sensitive about their amplifiers. I have been in the amplifier repair and restoration business for many years. I would have to look at the schematic diagrams of the hand wired and circuit board models to see if there is really any difference. At the low frequencies at which guitar amplifiers operate, 20khz and below, hand wiring and circuifboard wiring do not play a crucial role in the sound generally. As always, the difference in the tone is in the ear of the beholder. I would say that the hand wired, point to point, is much more sturdy, and highly recommended for touring.

[@Michael.Jamie.Foxxworthy]

Is the handwired video on its way?

[@shawnbbbross9439]

It'z the SHOES MAN, THE SHOES!

[@indystips2547]

Love the "guitar face" from 7:43 - 7:54. Lol

[@michaelmattson3515]

Now that’s an amp. I’m getting ready for a new amp. Mine is from 1985. It’s a 75 Reverb Marshall.

[@jerrychiasson9857]

Getting the Paw …. And the double Drive for my Marshall origin 20….. it’s back ordered probably going to be a couple months before shipping from musicians friend…..

[@megafauna7]

Spongebob shoes baby!!!!

[@fbrc]

The title needs "Bad Cat," in it😸

[@overvieweffect9034]

ok, I actually want this amp now

[@1axe1amp17]

It’s a trick. Just about any head will sound good through that cabinet.😎

[@Johnnybananass-_]

MI Audio did this in the super high tech amp they built years back I’m certain. You could switch between amp tubes in different channels

[@mentula3784]

Thought you might break into song at 4:00

[@iantaylor1524]

I see the Peavey EVH Wolfgang headstock behind the bad cat amp!! Beautiful piece of wood. Can I buy it Phil????

[@cacaloca5434]

Thank you for this review! I was looking more into their amps this past week. I want the 40r combo, but it seems to be out of stock. Guitar center seems to have them priced higher than the main site. Same with the paw. Inflation lol

[@dwalks637]

Amp sounds awesome, but I can't stop staring at that Satriani Ibanez on the wall.

[@diego2246]

Wonderful!!!!

[@pearcefitzpatrickodonovan480]

Sounds good

[@drewmcdowell1622]

As the bad cat people will tell you, you're not actually getting breakup from your power tubes

[@roinerov9348]

The bass is there, but maybe a little more crispness, treble, in the sound would be even better.

[@dfoe108]

Great amp! Can you get some Marshall-esque sounds out of it?

[@gillamb8669]

A cool friendly amp 👍 Hot looking too 🤘

[@stepvanjoe3469]

Sounds great Phil, didn’t Seymore Duncan do something similar years ago?

[@danieltravis5082]

I was really surprised at how good the high gain sounds were.

[@tamresidence8467]

Hi from Italy! Phil are there sensible quality audio differences of this amp against the HW Cub IV 40r you own? I cannot find your video on the HW Cub IV !! Great review 🙂👍

[@coachtd2163]

Wondering about amplifier hiss at idle. Across, let's call them voices.... How quiet is the amp at different volume/gain levels? At what levels does the amp start to hiss.... cause they all do eventually......

[@nunyabusiness3437]

fender and vox didnt do it because their iconic amps were designed before overdriving tubes on purpose was a thing. its that simple but number of components its certainly a factor.

[@mbrighton1802]

I see that sg bro. Keep it up

[@taylorshredzz]

torn between the Cub & Hot Cat

[@daleturner3507]

Sounds amazing it’s a little expensive for my abilities.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

An amp can be expensive for your wallet, but perceived talent (or lack of same) should be no barrier to buying gear you like the sound of.

[@TheDrunkenScoundrel]

Me dozing off in my chair: When is Phil going to drop a review….BAM!

[@TheDrunkenScoundrel]

Watched Chappers’s review of the BadCat v2…… I’m getting one. Its amazing.

[@suzannecoholic1467]

SWEET!

[@smartmammal9926]

Price point puts them in the serious gigging player category :)

[@Goth108]

Been listening to this demo in the background. I have no clue what the amp sounds like, at all, I only have this guy's voice stuck in my head. You can't be serious with this format of demonstrating things.

[@1515hockeyman]

Cool shoes!

[@phillippitts6294]

Nice amp, a little more than I can afford .

[@yisrraelescotocabrera2792]

`SOUNDS REALLY COOL.....!!!

[@tankdarla637]

So its a vintagey amp, no modern hi gain?

[@vanhalen5150jhs]

nice amp

[@brandonproctor3639]

I especially liked it with the Strat

[@hawg427]

The Player Series is their PC based boards compared to their HandWired versions like the Hot Cat correct?

[@Madchris8828]

Oh an amp? Hmmm I may be in the market for an amp.

[@seanbrooks2583]

Phil is using the pick of destiny.

[@ColinStuart]

Phillip, thanks muchly for this video! For that kind of money, I'd rather an older VOX AC30.

[@Fenderstratosphere98]

You can find a vintage VOX AC30 for $1500?? WHERE??

[@hubbyofmad5122]

First time that I've noticed you using the pick and then tucking it away to finger pick. Now to find out if you have been watching Chris Buck or has Chris been watching you 🤔😜

[@ALTDOK667]

Is nice!

[@Black-Jack-2022]

👍😎

[@jetblack7044]

nice

[@lukepace8546]

Why are most tube amps worth owning priced so high these days? It's not new technology, the research for the overall design was completed by the mid/late 50s, and most components for them can be had fairly cheaply.

[@thekramer1097]

Because of the snobbery. I would say tube amps can be considered as luxury goods, and in the end results in high prices no matter how much technology advances

[@54fighting5]

Free market capitalism. If they couldn't sell em they would stop making em. This is NOT directed at Bad Cat or this amp but, my own theory is the more they cost, the harder it is to find bad reviews. The average Joe doesn't like to admit they paid high $$ for gear they don't like. Same with guitars, pedals, amps, cars, stereo equipment etc. I guess that could be a form of snobbery.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Let’s be honest, guitar tube amps isn’t a huge industry compared to the total industry of amplifiers both guitar and stereos back in the 50s. Tubes themselves are a luxury item by default because there isn’t 1/100th of what use to be made 70+ years ago! It’s a micro industry with loads of hype targeted towards a micro sized customer base.

[@edpetrikk2027]

It’s not a Katana…but I guess it will do…😎🎸

[@mikeroadblock]

you're fabulous

[@iantaylor1524]

I’ve got an old Korean peavey EVH Wolfgang special here and it’s been sat without strings on due to a refret needed. Would you be interested in doing a sharpen my axe episode with it at all? I’ll pay for it doing and shipping but I’m a massive EVH fan and it kills me every time I look at it sitting so sad for itself and now Eddie has passed, he would be turning in his grave to know I have it in this condition 🤮🤮 There are other issues with it also like a missing tuning key, and needs a new floyd rose system replacement as it has worn down so much the screws don’t fit anymore. It’s well played and toured but now she needs you.

[@joesteffe6155]

Amps with Autotune can u talk about that Pls

[@unfcknblvbl]

Watches video, searches for wallet...

[@bitcoinsig]

Is this an advertisement? I see that you showed product provided at the beginning, but were you paid to review this amp, is it a loaner? I personally like it when youtubers are direct when they have been compensated by a companies marketing department to make a video, which could be directly called an ad. Like when you are paid directly or get to keep the amp, which is a payment, I would prefer to know upfront. Just a suggestion for the future.

[@lomoholga]

Because they don’t need to Fender has been pumping out the same amps with minor variations for decades and ppl keep buying them Just like they keep making the same strats with horrible blocky neck joints and vibratos that go out of tune