Bad Cat Hot Cat Series - User Manual

Bad Cat Hot Cat Series Amplifier
Owner’s Manual
Welcome to the Bad Cat Family of Amplifiers
Congratulations and thank you for purchasing a professional tube amplifier from Bad Cat. As
with all Bad Cat products, your amplifier is designed from the ground up to provide the very best
tones possible in a rugged, reliable package. Each one of our pro quality models is constructed
with Bad Cat’s commitment to making the highest quality, hand-made, American-made
amplifiers.
Caution
With a little care and caution, your Bad Cat amplifier should provide you with years of trouble-
free operation and enjoyment. Please avoid damp areas and moisture during operation of the amp
and in storage. This includes placement of beverages near or on the amp that could spill into the
amp’s chassis. Liquids can easily damage tubes, switches and other parts. Immediately
disconnect the amp from power source should a spill occur and dry the amp thoroughly prior to
switching on the amp again. Drying may require the complete removal of the chassis from the
cabinet and the removal of the tubes for cleaning. Avoid tipping the amp, using it in unbalanced
positions, or lifting it unassisted to awkward heights. A little common sense will go a long way
in making sure the amp does what it’s supposed to do: provide you with dependable operation
and great tone on a consistent basis.
Grounding
Please check thoroughly that the ground tip on the power cord plug is connected to true ground
prior to operation of your Bad Cat amp. Using unfamiliar junction boxes can cause potentially
dangerous floating grounds. Please do not cut or defeat the ground tip.
Operation
If this is your first all-tube amplifier. Please become familiar with a few issues that differentiate
your amp from solid-state or hybrid amp products. Only a few precautions are required but they
will insure that you will get the most of your new all-tube amplifier. Vacuum tubes are “old
world” thermal devices that require more attention than transistors, but that’s the reason they
sound so much sweeter and more musical than integrated circuits and other solid-state
components. A little heads-up on following points will ensure maximum performance from your
Bad Cat amp.
1

Summary

Caution and Safety

Grounding Precautions

Importance of proper grounding for amplifier safety and preventing damage.

Amplifier Operation

Maintenance Guidelines

Preamp Section Overview

Front Panel Controls

Input Jacks

Details on the amplifier's input jack functionality and usage.

Volume Control

Explanation of the clean channel volume control and its amplification stage.

Channel 1 Tone Control

Description of the 5-way tone knob for Channel 1 sonic range.

Channel 2 Gain and Edge

Explanation of Gain and Edge controls for the overdrive/distortion channel.

Channel 2 Level Control

Explanation of the Level control for preamp signal into the power section.

Bass, Treble, and Midrange EQ

Description of Bass EQ, Treble EQ, and Midrange switch controls.

Reverb and Brilliance Controls

Description of the Reverb circuit and Brilliance control.

Master Control

Explanation of the Master control for the 2nd channel output level.

Back Panel Connections

Power and Safety Features

A/C Plug, On/Off Switch, Standby Switch, and High Tension Fuse.

Rectifier Selection

How to select between solid-state and tube rectifiers for tone shaping.

Effects Loop

Send/Return Jacks and Send/Return Level Controls for effects.

Auxiliary Connections

Auxiliary Return Jack and Reverb Footswitch Jack.

Speaker Output

Details on connecting extension speaker cabinets.

Speaker Impedance and Footswitch

Selecting speaker impedance and using the footswitch.

Troubleshooting Guide

No Power Issues

Steps to diagnose and fix amplifier no power issues.

Output and Sound Issues

Diagnosing weak output, hum, feedback, and other adverse sound issues.

Limited Warranty Information

Bad Cat Hot Cat Series Specifications

General

Type	Tube Amplifier
Effects Loop	Yes
Power Output	30W or 100W (depending on model)
Controls	Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass, Presence
Inputs	1 x 1/4" Instrument
Outputs	Speaker Outs
Tubes	Power: 2 x EL34 (30W) or 4 x EL34 (100W)
Weight	Varies by model
Dimensions	Varies by model
Channels	2 (Clean and Lead)