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Bad Cat Era 30 Mark Sampson's 30-watts Head Amp - BLACK

The Bad Cat Era 30 is not just an amplifier—it’s 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 through thirty-five years of engineering and artistic vision, this amp is a celebration of tone, versatility, and raw power.
Every component—from the custom transformers to the hand-wired circuitry—has been meticulously crafted to deliver an unmatched 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, no matter your style.

Channel one, powered by the iconic EF86 tube, delivers the kind of harmonically rich, three-dimensional tones that tube enthusiasts dream of. This isn’t your typical EQ: the stepped six position depth control sculpts low-end frequencies with precision, while the Treble control acts as a masterful tone-shaping tool.

Channel two shifts gears with a 12AX7-based preamp for a tighter, punchier tone. Its linear bass and treble controls offer intuitive shaping for everything from vintage chime to earthy, woody textures. Both channels feature independent gain and pre-phase inverter volume controls, giving you complete authority over your sound.

Want the best of both worlds? The included two-button footswitch makes it effortless to switch between channels or combine them together.

Specifications

• Mark Sampson Design
  
• True Point to Point Hand-wired Construction
  
• Made in Costa Mesa California, USA
  
• Custom Bad Cat Transformer Set by Pacific Transformers
  
• DC Filament Heaters in Preamp
  
• 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 Pre-Phase Inverter Volume Control per Channel
  
• 6-way Deep Control and Treble Control on EF86 Channel
  
• Linear Bass and Treble Control on 12AX7 Channel
  
• Global Post-PI Master Volume
  
• Buffered Effects Loop
  
• 4, 8, 16 Ohm Switch for Speaker Outputs
  
• Heavy Duty Aluminum Chassis
  
• Voidless Baltic Birch Construction
  
• Ultra-Durable Heather Tolex with Premium Leather Corners
  
• 2 Button Footswitch Included
  
• Amp Cover Included
  
• 5 Year Limited Warranty

The Latest Amp From Mark Sampson

Marking the return of legendary designer Mark Sampson to Bad Cat after two decades. Blending iconic design with modern craftsmanship, this amp represents over 35 years of Sampson's expertise in engineering and artistry.At Bad Cat, we’ve been crafting the world’s finest hand-wired guitar amplifiers since 1999, blending timeless craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation. From our workshop to the stage, every Bad Cat amp embodies a legacy of sonic excellence and a commitment to inspiring musicians to unleash their true potential. The Era 30 is no exception.

THE BAD CAT ERA 30: WHERE LEGEND MEETS INNOVATION

The Features

Input Gain Controls

Each channel’s Gain control acts as an input volume, letting you dial in just the right amount of signal as you turn it clockwise. Push it further to add saturation in the first gain stage, giving your sound a bold, dynamic character.

Depth Control

The Depth control is a stepped six position rotary switch, each step calibrated with a unique capacitor value to fine-tune your bass response. Turn it clockwise to let more low-end energy flow from your guitar into the amplifier, delivering a thick, resonant foundation to your tone.

Channel Volume Controls

Each channel’s pre-phase inverter Volume control lets you shape how much signal drives the phase inverter tube. As you increase it, you’ll push the tube harder, unlocking harmonically rich gain and delivering the unmistakable warmth of driven tube saturation.

Global Volume Control

The global Master Volume is a post-phase inverter circuit that tames the amp’s output, letting you transition seamlessly from stage-ready roar to bedroom-level quiet. All the while, you’ll retain the unmistakable power amp saturation that defines the Era 30’s sound.

Buffered Effects Loop

The fully bypassable buffered effects loop ensures pristine signal quality, whether you’re using analog or digital effects. For purists, the loop can be completely hard bypassed with a toggle switch on the back, preserving your signal’s pure, unaltered path.

Premium Build Quality

Handcrafted in Costa Mesa, California, with upgraded aluminum chassis, Baltic Birch cabinets, durable tolex, and premium leather details.

Tube Powered

4 x EL84 Power Tubes
1 x EF86 Preamp Tube
3 x 12AX7 Preamp Tubes
1 x 5AR4 Rectifier Tube

Point-To-Point Hand Wired

Each unit is hand wired, point to point, to Mark Sampsons specifications.

Stage, Studio or Home Use

The Era 30's wild side is easily tamed with the global post-phase inverter Master Volume, delivering rich, dynamic tone at any level—from roaring stage power to bedroom-friendly volume.

Mark Sampson Designed

Inspired by decades of iconic design and refined artistry, this amp celebrates tone, versatility, and power. From custom transformers to hand-wired circuitry, every detail is crafted for an unmatched playing experience.