Bad Cat Mod Shop Black Cat 30 Head (Mark Sampson Mod)

Bad Cat Mod Shop Black Cat 30 Head

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.

Highlights

• Mark Sampson Design: A brilliant revision of an award-winning amplifier, carrying the fingerprints of a legendary circuit designer.

• 30 Watts of EL84 Power: Four EL84 tubes deliver classic Class A chime, compression, and harmonic bloom for an inspiring tone.

• All-New Tone Stack: Revoiced by Mark Sampson for a more open, bold, and dimensional sonic experience.

• Two Dynamic Channels: A chimey, harmonically rich Clean channel and a punchy, articulate Overdrive channel.

• Premium Mod Shop Craftsmanship: Handcrafted in California with custom hand-wound Bad Cat transformers and top-tier components.

Specifications

• Modded By: Mark Sampson

• Designed and Built In: Costa Mesa, California

• Custom Hand-wound: Bad Cat Transformers

• Wattage: 30 Watts

• Power Tubes: 4 – EL84

• Preamp Tubes: 3 – 12AX7

• Channels: 2

• Controls: Independent Gain and Volume per Channel, Shared Bass, Treble, Cut

• Reverb: Studio Quality

• Tremolo: Bias-Modulated

• Effects Loop: Buffered

• Speaker Outputs: Individual (4, 8, 16, 2x4, 2x8 ohms)

• Line Out: Yes

• Footswitch: Two Button (Channel Select and Tremolo)

• Cabinet Construction: Baltic Birch

• Warranty: 3-year Limited Warranty

• Head Dimensions: Width: 20.75”, Depth: 10.375”, Height: 10”

• Head Weight: 31 lbs

• Included Accessories: Two Button Footswitch

Please feel free to reach out to our knowledgeable sales staff with any additional questions!