UB:26 Bad Cat Black Cat Series II Valve Combo - Killer Tones! Finally! - Is My Amp Search Over?

[@cuinoz3569]

Excellent review and presentation. Best I’ve seen and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.

[@StuGuitarChannel]

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

[@Tstdycgyr]

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.

[@StuGuitarChannel]

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

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a good weekend Stu ❤😊

[@StuGuitarChannel]

Hi Amin - As always many thanks and I hope you also have a good weekend... how did the birthday party go? Regards: Stu

[@StuGuitarChannel]

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[@MrBossei]

Wonderful amp! It’s definitely worth the extra money to get a quality amp. Many spend lots of money on guitars but play them through poor, cheap amps. Strange. 😀 (My best decision was to buy a Tone King amp)

[@StuGuitarChannel]

Hi MrBossei - Thanks for chipping in... always appreciated. Interestingly it was a Tone King I was after but could not at the time get the one I wanted... here in the UK. That led me onto Bad Cat and I went and tried the only one available close by and just loved it as soon as I hit a chord. I find the Black Cat is quite chimey sounding but it just depends on what I'm using - my only dislike... is the weight... as you get older you just can't do the valve amplifier thing so easily anymore ;-) I have a couple of budget guitars here and they sound great through the Bad Cat which supports your point very clearly. I do love the Tone King though... regards: Stu

[@MrBossei]

@@StuGuitarChannelI have the smallest Tking. The Gremlin. It’s light but only five watt so your Bad Cat is way more powerful. And you have built in reverb where I have to use an external pedal. Pros and cons. Both sound great. 👍🎵

[@Afterasimplelife]

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!

[@StuGuitarChannel]

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 (kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGfFY4OBjdh_gpY). 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 (kzbin.info/www/bejne/rV6pmHiJgLlrrpY) 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

[@MarkStearle]

Thinking of buying this amp or the Cub model.

[@StuGuitarChannel]

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 - (kzbin.info/www/bejne/rV6pmHiJgLlrrpY), 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

[@MarkStearle]

@@StuGuitarChannel thank you so much for your advice,I appreciate it,I will let you know my choice for sure

[@StuGuitarChannel]

@@MarkStearle You are very welcome, look forward to hearing how it plays out for you... Regards: Stu