Sound Pure's Take
If you are looking at EL-84 heads, this one should be a top contender. The Black Cat's two discrete pre-amp sections offer a plethora of tones. From chickin' pickin' country to raw, in-your-face modern rock tones, this amp covers a lot of ground.
We find the triode side (12AX7) to have a bit more bark in the upper mids. Treble and Bass are interactive on this side and you can really dial in a lot of different sounds. The pentode side (EF86) goes for a more voxish midrange tone. With the 5-way rotary, you can really juice things up with the different positions. This side of the amp has a ton of warmth.
Bottom line: This is an extremely versatile rock amplifier. Doesn't hurt that it's one of the best lookin' amps on the block!
From Bad Cat Amps
Incorporating 2 entirely different preamp sections and a host of well thought out improvements, the practical user controls and backpanel switches render the smooth BLACK CAT the most suitable guitar amp for ANY performance venue.
The Channel ONE 12AX7 "triode" preamp is based on interactive Bass and Treble controls. Minor knob adjustments instantly result in sweeping differences in playing tones. The Channel TWO EF86 "pentode" based preamp uses a 5 position tone knob for instant access to your favorite sounds. The quad EL-84 tube power amp section enjoys more chassis real estate and greater attention to detail regarding tube mountings. Power transformer orientation and tube rectification details have also been revamped. The already legendary BLACK CAT is regarded by many knowledgeable players as the finest, most capable guitar amp available today.
30W
2 Channel with separate preamps (triode and pentode)
Footswitch included
Half Power Switch
Speaker Phase Switch
Master Volume with Bypass
4 Input (2 per channel)
4 EL-84's
Free 3-Year Warranty
Sound Pure stands behind our products. Free three-year warranty on this item. Coverage exclusions live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.
Level of support and expertise that simply isn't available at big-box megastores. Read the warranty →
Returns
This item is not eligible for the Try-Before-You-Buy 48-hour audition. Standard return policy applies — see Terms & Conditions, Section 18 for details.
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Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC
Come hear it in our control rooms.
Sound Pure is a working studio in Durham, NC — a 1,000 sq ft live room and two pro control rooms. Book a session to audition gear in a world-class acoustic space before you buy.