Bad Cat Mod Shop Mark Sampson Black Cat 30 30-Watt Head

Description

From Bad Cat:

Introducing the Mod Shop Black Cat 30 — A Mark Sampson Design

The first release from the new Bad Cat Mod Shop is here—and it carries the fingerprints of a legend.

In early 2024, Mark Sampson—co-founder of the boutique amp movement and the mind behind some of the most iconic designs in the industry—returned to Bad Cat. One of the projects he chose to revisit was the Black Cat. What followed is a brilliant revision of one of our award-winning amplifiers. Mark had a way of seeing deeper into a circuit — of knowing what to change, and what not to— guided by a lifetime of experimentation, invention, and obsessive pursuit of tone. The Mod Shop Black Cat 30 is one of the final chapters in that story: a handcrafted, limited-edition amplifier that blends the roots of Bad Cat with a new big, bold voice.

Key Updates:

30 watts of EL84 Power – Four EL84s deliver classic Class A chime, compression, and harmonic bloom
All-new tone stack – Revoiced by Mark to feel more open, bold, and dimensional.
Mod Shop Craftsmanship – Built in California with premium components and the highest attention to detail
This amp is the answer to the question: What would happen if Mark Sampson took a fresh look under the hood of the already iconic Black Cat? This is what happens.

Two Channels, Endless Inspiration

Clean Channel: Classic chime with harmonic bloom
- The Clean channel of the Mod Shop Black Cat 30 is everything you’d expect from a premium EL84 design—chimey, dynamic, and rich with harmonic content. Notes bloom effortlessly, offering touch-sensitive response that rewards expressive playing. Whether you’re fingerpicking, laying into chords, or stacking pedals, the clean tone remains musical, full, and inspiring.
Overdrive Channel: Punchy, open, and articulate
- Switch to the Overdrive channel, you’ll find gain that’s beautifully voiced—tight in the low end, focused in the middle, and airy on top. It delivers punch without harshness, staying articulate and musical at every setting. Even fully driven, the amp retains openness and clarity that lets complex chords and subtle phrasing shine.

Studio-quality Reverb and Bias-modulated Tremolo

The onboard, studio-quality reverb adds depth and space without overwhelming your tone— lush, spacious, and perfectly dialed in. Add to that an analog bias-modulated tremolo circuit for warm, vintage-style pulse and movement that complement the amp’s timeless voice.

Built for the Stage and Studio

With a fully buffered effects loop, your pedals maintain clarity and dynamics whether you’re running time-based effects or modulation. The complete speaker output array gives you flexible options for any cab, session, or stage. And with a built-in direct output, you can go straight into your favorite IR loader or analog cabinet simulation without losing any feel.

Limited production. Built with purpose. Available now.

SPECIFICATIONS

Designed and Built in Costa Mesa, California
Modded by Mark Sampson
Custom Hand-wound Bad Cat Transformers
30 Watts
4 – EL84 Power Tubes
3 – 12AX7 Tubes
2 Channels
Independent Gain and Volume per Channel
Shared Bass, Treble, Cut
Studio Quality Reverb
Bias-Modulated Tremolo
Buffered FX Loop
Custom UK Made Celestion Bad Cat 12” Speaker
Individual Speaker Outputs (4, 8, 16, 2×4, 2×8 ohms)
Line Out
Two Button Footswitch: Channel Select and Tremolo
Baltic Birch Cabinet
3-year Limited Warranty
23.75” Width x 10.375” Depth x 19” Height
48 lbs Combo Weight
Two Button Footswitch Included

Shipping & Returns

Free Shipping

Most orders over $99.00 ship for free inside the lower 48 states. Certain items that are large and heavy do not qualify for free shipping.

We Ship Worldwide!

For information on International Shipping, please call, email or use live chat for rates. Orders shipping outside the Lower 48 States to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and international orders do not qualify for free shipping. Orders shipping to U.S. Military APO/FPO addresses, PO Boxes, and US territories (Guam, Virgin Islands, etc.) can only ship USPS. NOTE: Boxes over 70 lbs each cannot be shipped to these locations.

As a security precaution, orders over $200.00 will only ship to the address your credit card company has on file for you.

*Korg and Mesa/Boogie products are only available for shipment within the USA.

Returns

We want you to be completely happy with your purchase, so we offer a 48 hour approval period on most purchases (see exclusions below). The 48 hour approval period begins when your purchased item is delivered to your door. If after 48 hours you’re not happy with the item, just contact us via phone, email or live chat on our website to arrange for a return authorization (RA#) and return shipping instructions. Any package sent back without prior authorization will be refused.

Returns must be shipped back to us within two days of the RA being issued. Items must come back to us undamaged and in the same condition they were shipped out. All manuals, paperwork, cables, tremolo arms, wrenches, etc… must be included or full credit will not be issued. Any items not conforming to this policy will be subject (at our discretion) to a restocking fee of 20% of the purchase price.

Refunds will be issued minus all related shipping expenses, if free shipping was initially given, the cost we incurred to get the item to you will be deducted from your refund. A 10% restock fee will also be deducted from your refund. Restock fees will be waived for full value exchanges.

Here are exceptions to our return policy.

Custom orders of any kind are non returnable and non refundable. We often charge a deposit before we will place a custom or special order. All special order deposits are NON REFUNDABLE, no exceptions.
Microphones, Harmonicas, In-Ear Systems and any other items that come into contact with your mouth or ears.
Items labeled as BLOWOUT, are non-returnable. These are often being sold below cost and are considered “all sales final”.
Software (this may also include hardware that includes software), unless still in shrink wrap with barcode affixed.
Guitar strings, blank media, and other disposable merchandise.
Guitar or bass pickups that have been installed or used in any way.
Any item advertised as “USED” is non returnable.

*Payments for music lessons are non refundable, no exceptions.

View our detailed Return Policy here.

Early Order Cancellation

All deposits are non refundable. Lots of our products are special orders and in many cases your order has to be built for you at the factory. This is what makes a lot of our products special. Once your order is started, it's being put together just for you. For this reason we ask that you don't cancel your order after you place it with us. If for some reason you absolutely have to cancel your order with us, we will assess you a 25% cancellation charge. This amount is equal to 25% of your total order amount. Ask us before you place your order to see if what you're purchasing is considered a special order.

Damaged Merchandise

Do not accept your shipment if the package shows any signs of external damage. After the item is returned to us we will ship you a replacement. If you receive incorrect or defective merchandise, please call 781-335-0700 within 5 days for a return authorization number.