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Bad Cat Hot Cat 30R

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 9:48 pm
by Guitarbilly
I played one at Atomic Music today and I was really impressed with it. Both channels were awesome. Clean is very Vox like and the Gain channel is very thick and smooth but with good cut. Not a metal amp by any means but it has plenty of gain, just a more classic voicing.
Spring reverb was awesome too.
If I had the $ laying around I'd would've walked out with it.

Re: Bad Cat Hor Cat 30R

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:38 pm
by macgaj3
They're so good. I haven't had a chance to play the newest generation, but I have Lynx and a Hot Cat 15. Both rip.

Re: Bad Cat Hor Cat 30R

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:45 pm
by Lukeburke1
If at any point you want to trade one of your Marshalls for a Hot Cat and some cash… :call: :lol:

Did you happen to see what tubes were in the one you tried? I’m running TAD Red Base EL34s and a Yellow Jacket STR solid state rectifier in the tube socket. The best sounds I got out of it though were with JJ KT77s.

Re: Bad Cat Hor Cat 30R

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 12:13 am
by Guitarbilly
Lukeburke1 wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:45 pm If at any point you want to trade one of your Marshalls for a Hot Cat and some cash… :call: :lol:

Did you happen to see what tubes were in the one you tried? I’m running TAD Red Base EL34s and a Yellow Jacket STR solid state rectifier in the tube socket. The best sounds I got out of it though were with JJ KT77s.
JJ EL34s and Tung Sol 12AX7s. Sounded amazing!!! I'm going to try and get it. I'll take a bunch of pedals I'm not using and see what they can offer me in a trade towards it.
I'm not getting rid of Marshalls but I might start buying Bad Cats on the side :lol:

Re: Bad Cat Hor Cat 30R

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2024 12:29 am
by Lukeburke1
If you do get it, I definitely recommend trying either KT77s or a Yellow Jackets rectifier, depending on what you want from the amp. If you find it too compressed, go KT77. It really opens up the highs and gives it more punch. The tradeoff is that they don’t have as much grind and sizzle as EL34s.

Using a solid state rectifier helps make the amp punchier and grind a little more, but at the trade off of being more compressed.

I also like a 5751 in V3. It tames a little bit of harshness in gain channel