Bad Cat Era 30 Mark Sampson Handwired Head

Handwired w EF86/12AX7 option

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