Hot Cat 50
The Hot Cat 50 is the latest evolution of Bad Cat’s now-legendary Hot Cat platform. For over 25 years, the Hot Cat has been Bad Cat’s high-gain reference amplifier for professional musicians. This latest version raises the bar even higher with a redesigned 50-watt power section, a more flexible EQ, two seamless channels, and switchable Lo and Hi gain modes.
While the Black Cat 30 offers classic, expressive tones, the Hot Cat 50 is designed for players who crave bold contrasts: powerful cleans, aggressive crunch, and high gain in a no-compromise amp.
Simply put, the Hot Cat 50 is the most versatile amplifier in the Bad Cat lineup. It easily covers every style, from classic country and rock to high-gain metal, and does so with stunning precision. It also comes equipped with the practical features players actually need, including an effects loop, built-in reverb, a direct line out, and a two-button footswitch. Built to be the centerpiece of a professional rig, it integrates easily with pedals and rack effects.
Plug a single-coil guitar into the clean channel in Lo mode and the amp delivers crystal-clear, American-voiced cleans, just like you’ve heard on records for decades. Switch to Hi mode and a Telecaster will reveal punchy, articulate, and biting Paisley-style country tones. Swap the Tele for a Les Paul without changing settings, and the sound evolves into percussive, mid-forward classic rock—the kind of punchy rhythm sound found on AC/DC records.
The second channel sounds more like a classic JCM-style circuit, with plenty of crunch and aggression, firmly rooted in 1980s rock. With the gain set around 2 o'clock, the tones fall squarely into classic rock territory. Flip the mode switch to Hi and the amp becomes even more menacing, with modified high-gain tones perfect for harder rock and metal.
• Designed and manufactured in Costa Mesa, California
• Custom-wound Bad Cat transformers
• 50 watts
• 2 EL34 power tubes
• 4 12AX7 preamp tubes
• 2 channels – Clean and OD
• 2 modes – Lo and Hi
• Shared TMB EQ circuit
• Independent gain and volume per channel
• Global master volume and presence
• Studio-quality reverb
• Buffered effects loop
• Individual speaker outputs (4, 8, 16 ohms)
• Line out
• Baltic birch cabinet
• Two-button footswitch (channel and mode)
• Slip cover included
• 5-year limited warranty
Width: 20.75"
Depth: 10.25"
Height: 10.5"