I have been unhappy with my amp selection for a long time. I wont go thru all of them, but one thing I finally realized was I never played a venue in which I could utilize the amp and get it to its sweet spot (too loud) OR didn't have enough volume (not enough). So, I've sold off a bunch of stuff and believe I've narrowed it down to these two. I always get great advice here, so wanted to throw this out there, so which one would you pick and why? Looking for things like poor customer service, or loop stinks, or great gain, good for gigging, etc.
Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
- Thread starter marcg71
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ksmith63
New member
Re: Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
You should play both to see which one you like the best. No one's opinion really matters here but yours.
I have never owned a badcat (hope to some day, I hear great things about them) so I am a little biased towards Budda.
-My Superdrive 80 has not had a single problem in the 3 years I've owned it. I gigged with my band as often as possible and it never let me down or sounded bad.
-I emailed Budda some questions before I bought one of their amps. Who responded? Jeff, the design engineer. Any question I've had over the last couple years they have responded to very quickly and thoroughly. I have never had any problems but I would expect something similar.
- Are Bad Cat amps cathode biased? Buddas feature this and it is very nice to be able to change tubes without having to take it to a tech.
- The speakers that Budda uses are custom made Eminence and they are fantastic. Supposed to be based on a vintage 30 but they are much different (and better). They have a very full/ thick brown sound to them without the nasal tones of a vintage 30. Another reason why you should try both amps.
You should play both to see which one you like the best. No one's opinion really matters here but yours.
I have never owned a badcat (hope to some day, I hear great things about them) so I am a little biased towards Budda.
-My Superdrive 80 has not had a single problem in the 3 years I've owned it. I gigged with my band as often as possible and it never let me down or sounded bad.
-I emailed Budda some questions before I bought one of their amps. Who responded? Jeff, the design engineer. Any question I've had over the last couple years they have responded to very quickly and thoroughly. I have never had any problems but I would expect something similar.
- Are Bad Cat amps cathode biased? Buddas feature this and it is very nice to be able to change tubes without having to take it to a tech.
- The speakers that Budda uses are custom made Eminence and they are fantastic. Supposed to be based on a vintage 30 but they are much different (and better). They have a very full/ thick brown sound to them without the nasal tones of a vintage 30. Another reason why you should try both amps.
Re: Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
ksmith63 - Thanks for the info. I've tried the Budda which was great. Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate the Hot CatR any where local. Which is part of the problem. I played the Hot Cat once over a year and a half ago and was blown away, but it wasn't the R version.
ksmith63 - Thanks for the info. I've tried the Budda which was great. Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate the Hot CatR any where local. Which is part of the problem. I played the Hot Cat once over a year and a half ago and was blown away, but it wasn't the R version.
ksmith63
New member
Re: Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
I had problems finding any Badcat amps as well. Maybe find one on craigslist that you are 'interested' in just so you can go play one.
I had problems finding any Badcat amps as well. Maybe find one on craigslist that you are 'interested' in just so you can go play one.
Brewtone
New member
Re: Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
I owned a Hot Cat R 30W 2x10 version for awhile. The amp sounded very nice on the clean channel, took pedals well, and was very versatile. The gain channel I found to be kind of ratty and overly compressed, I got better tones out of it running it as a "pushed crunch" channel and boosting it when I needed more. The loop just did it's job, which is a good thing. It was kind of a pain having to switch channels with a A/B switch but it forced me to separate my pedal board into a dirty and a clean chain, which gave me the opportunity to really evaluate each one on each channel.
In the end I sold it because even though it sounded great, it was by far the most inconsistent and finicky amp I've ever owned. The controls were very interactive and had a narrow range of usable tones making this amp extremely difficult to dial in a good consistent live tone.
Thats my .02 cents
Good luck with your search
I owned a Hot Cat R 30W 2x10 version for awhile. The amp sounded very nice on the clean channel, took pedals well, and was very versatile. The gain channel I found to be kind of ratty and overly compressed, I got better tones out of it running it as a "pushed crunch" channel and boosting it when I needed more. The loop just did it's job, which is a good thing. It was kind of a pain having to switch channels with a A/B switch but it forced me to separate my pedal board into a dirty and a clean chain, which gave me the opportunity to really evaluate each one on each channel.
In the end I sold it because even though it sounded great, it was by far the most inconsistent and finicky amp I've ever owned. The controls were very interactive and had a narrow range of usable tones making this amp extremely difficult to dial in a good consistent live tone.
Thats my .02 cents
Good luck with your search
ksmith63
New member
Re: Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
Great advice Brewtone, and I would like to add some to my post.
You mention the Badcat having a narrow range of usable tone. Is it like a Mesa amps where there are tons of options, just a pain to reach them all?
My Budda is pretty much the opposite. It is fairly difficult to get a bad/inconsistent tone out of it but the "Budda" tone is all it does. If you like the tone (I love it!) then great, but it doesn't do much else. It does have a bright switch and a mid boost but all in all it is the "Budda" tone.
Great advice Brewtone, and I would like to add some to my post.
You mention the Badcat having a narrow range of usable tone. Is it like a Mesa amps where there are tons of options, just a pain to reach them all?
My Budda is pretty much the opposite. It is fairly difficult to get a bad/inconsistent tone out of it but the "Budda" tone is all it does. If you like the tone (I love it!) then great, but it doesn't do much else. It does have a bright switch and a mid boost but all in all it is the "Budda" tone.
Brewtone
New member
Re: Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
I guess saying that there is a narrow range of usable tone really isn't the best way to word it. I guess it was just a pain to dial in, especially in a live setting. I had it sounding really good once and made the mistake of not noting my settings, my 3yo daughter started turning the knobs and it took me forever to dial it back. When I did use it live it was a nightmare to dial in for a particular room (vs my other amps). So it doesn't have alot of options, just a very hard to find "sweet spot" if that makes any sense.
I found it easier to get a bad tone out of the bad cat than a good tone, but when I found it it was definitely in the Matchless tone territory.
I guess saying that there is a narrow range of usable tone really isn't the best way to word it. I guess it was just a pain to dial in, especially in a live setting. I had it sounding really good once and made the mistake of not noting my settings, my 3yo daughter started turning the knobs and it took me forever to dial it back. When I did use it live it was a nightmare to dial in for a particular room (vs my other amps). So it doesn't have alot of options, just a very hard to find "sweet spot" if that makes any sense.
I found it easier to get a bad tone out of the bad cat than a good tone, but when I found it it was definitely in the Matchless tone territory.
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
I'm no expert on these amps, but I've played my ex-boss' Hot Cat (single 12" 18-watt version) and I share Brewtone's opinion on its dirty channel. I thought it compressed too much, and had an EQ curve that I didn't like - very 80's Rockman-ish.
I'm no expert on these amps, but I've played my ex-boss' Hot Cat (single 12" 18-watt version) and I share Brewtone's opinion on its dirty channel. I thought it compressed too much, and had an EQ curve that I didn't like - very 80's Rockman-ish.
ksmith63
New member
Re: Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
Buddas are notorious for being loud compared to the wattage rating, the opposite of say...peavey or mesa. The 30 to me was on par more with a 50 watt amp. The one I played was easily as loud as my friend's Sovtek Mig 50. I have never played a Badcat so I can't compare the volumes between the two.
Buddas are notorious for being loud compared to the wattage rating, the opposite of say...peavey or mesa. The 30 to me was on par more with a 50 watt amp. The one I played was easily as loud as my friend's Sovtek Mig 50. I have never played a Badcat so I can't compare the volumes between the two.
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
Funny, that was my exact experience with the Hot Cat 30 2x10'' combo I had. I wasn't sure if I just didn't "get" the amp or it really was that difficult to get to work in some rooms. I was kinda hoping the "R" series was going to revoice things for the better, but apparently not.
Funny, that was my exact experience with the Hot Cat 30 2x10'' combo I had. I wasn't sure if I just didn't "get" the amp or it really was that difficult to get to work in some rooms. I was kinda hoping the "R" series was going to revoice things for the better, but apparently not.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
For fear of sounding like a broken record on here, try to find a Bogner dealer. One time, I was at a big boutique music store demoing amps and started throttling a Shiva 1-12 EL-34 Reverb, and the owner of the store ran down the stairs from his office to find out what he was listening to, and he said "it figures...I love that amp."
But without spending that kind of money, I've gotten really good tones out of the Alchemist combo that is half as much money.
For fear of sounding like a broken record on here, try to find a Bogner dealer. One time, I was at a big boutique music store demoing amps and started throttling a Shiva 1-12 EL-34 Reverb, and the owner of the store ran down the stairs from his office to find out what he was listening to, and he said "it figures...I love that amp."
But without spending that kind of money, I've gotten really good tones out of the Alchemist combo that is half as much money.
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Tone Master General
New member
Re: Bad cat hot cat 30r or budda sd 30?
I have been using a Hot Cat 30 for 5 years now. It is the easiest amp to dial in and has the BEST TONE of any amp I have owned or played, including, VHT Pittbull 45, Zinky Blue Velvet, Bogner Shiva & Metropolis and Budda. I use a Fender Custom Shop Strat and a PRS Custom 22. The Hot Cat 30 is a very expensive amp and there is a reason why. The Hot Cat 30R(reverb) has a different tone than the Hot Cat 30, please know this. If $3000.00 is in your budget for a new amp, THE HOT CAT 30 IS FOR YOU. I should know, I AM THE TONE MASTER GENERAL.
I have been using a Hot Cat 30 for 5 years now. It is the easiest amp to dial in and has the BEST TONE of any amp I have owned or played, including, VHT Pittbull 45, Zinky Blue Velvet, Bogner Shiva & Metropolis and Budda. I use a Fender Custom Shop Strat and a PRS Custom 22. The Hot Cat 30 is a very expensive amp and there is a reason why. The Hot Cat 30R(reverb) has a different tone than the Hot Cat 30, please know this. If $3000.00 is in your budget for a new amp, THE HOT CAT 30 IS FOR YOU. I should know, I AM THE TONE MASTER GENERAL.
