The Bad Cat Era 30 is not just an amplifier; it is a bridge between the past and the future of guitar tone. Designed by the legendary Mark Sampson, whose groundbreaking creations have shaped the sound of countless records, the Era 30 marks his triumphant return to Bad Cat after nearly two decades. Inspired by his iconic designs and refined by thirty-five years of engineering and artistic vision, this amp is a celebration of sound, versatility, and raw power. Every component, from custom transformers to hand-wired circuitry, has been meticulously crafted to provide an unparalleled playing experience.
What makes the Era 30 a true masterpiece? Let’s start with its two fully independent channels, each designed to bring out the best in your playing, regardless of your style.
Channel 1, powered by the iconic EF86 tube, delivers the kind of rich, three-dimensional harmonic tones that tube enthusiasts dream of. This is not a classic EQ: the six-position depth setting sculpts low frequencies with precision, while the treble setting acts as a masterful sound-shaping tool.
Channel 2 changes gears with a 12AX7-based preamplifier for a tighter, punchier sound. Its linear bass and treble controls offer intuitive shaping for everything from vintage chime to earthy, woody textures. Both channels feature independent gain and phase-inverter volume controls, giving you complete control over your tone.
Want the best of both worlds? The included two-button footswitch allows you to switch between channels or combine them effortlessly.
Mark Sampson Design
True hand-wired point-to-point construction
Made in Costa Mesa, California, USA
Custom Bad Cat transformer by Pacific Transformers
DC filament heating in the preamplifier
30 Watts of power
4 x EL84 power tubes
1 x EF86 preamp tube
3 x 12AX7 preamp tubes
1 x 5AR4 rectifier tube
2 switchable or mixable channels
Independent gain and post-phase-inverter volume control per channel
6-position bass and treble control on the EF86 channel
Linear bass and treble control on the 12AX7 channel
Global post-PI master volume
Buffered effects loop
4, 8, 16 Ohm switch for speaker outputs
Heavy-duty aluminum chassis
Void-free Baltic birch construction
Ultra-durable speckled Tolex with premium leather corners
2-button footswitch included
Amp cover included