Description

The Mod Shop Hot Cat 50 represents a focused evolution of a proven platform, refined through hands-on work by the Bad Cat team. Rather than adding complexity, the Mod Shop process centers on improving feel, balance, and musical response. Each channel has been carefully adjusted to expand its usable range, with gain structures that remain bold, articulate, and expressive across all settings. The result is an amplifier that responds naturally to picking dynamics and volume changes, rewarding intention instead of relying on excess gain or switching.

A 50-watt power section provides authority, clarity, and headroom, while remaining responsive at real-world stage and studio volumes. The effects loop is fully transparent and designed to integrate cleanly with modern pedalboards, preserving the integrity of the core tone. Every modification in the Hot Cat 50 Mod Shop serves a clear purpose: improved touch sensitivity, stronger note bloom, and a more cohesive feel from clean to driven sounds. This is not a reimagining of the Hot Cat — it is a deliberate refinement, built to give you confidence in every setting.

FRONT PANEL:
-Input: Plug your guitar in here. Always use a good quality screened instrument cable.
-Gain 1: Controls the amount of gain or distortion in Channel 1. To keep a cleaner signal keep this control lower. To get higher gain, run this control higher.
-Gain 2: Controls the amount of gain or distortion in Channel 2. To keep a cleaner signal keep this control lower. To get higher gain, run this control higher.
-Bass: Controls the amount of low frequency in the preamp. Counterclockwise decreases the amount of low frequency and turning the control clockwise will increase the low frequencies.
-Mid: This control is very important in the shaping of the overall amplifier tone. Full counter-clockwise will scoop out the midrange frequencies emphasizing the bass and treble frequencies. Pushing this control clockwise will increase the amount of midrange in the amplifier.
-Treble: This control manages the treble frequencies. Turning to the right, past noon will brighten the signal adding more high frequencies and attack. This control is designed so that generally keeping it at the noon position is a good starting point.
-Volume 1: Controls the room volume or amplitude of channel 1. Run this control to balance your volume with Channel 2. Higher settings are recommended for the most visceral feel.
-Channel Toggle Switch: Use this switch to toggle between channel 1 and channel 2
-Volume 2: Controls the room volume or amplitude of channel 2. Run this control to balance your volume with Channel 1. Higher settings are recommended for the most visceral feel.
-LO/HI Toggle Switch: Each channel has two modes, LO and HI. HI Mode activates an additional tube gain stage.
-Master: The Master is a global volume/output level control. When running Ch 1 and Ch 2 volume high, use this global master to tailor your amplitude to the room.
-Presence: The Presence knob is a global control of the highest frequencies after the FX RETURN stage of your amplifier. Use it to set the overall brightness of your amplifier. Higher settings sound more modern, lower and middle settings sound more vintage.
-Reverb: Controls the wet/dry ratio between the unaffected dry signal and the wet, affected reverb signal. Turning this control to full counterclockwise will remove the reverb from the circuit. Turning the control clockwise will gradually increase the amount of reverb in the circuit. Set it where you feel it suits your playing style and circumstances best.

REAR PANEL:
-Power Unit: This is where you connect your power cable. Use IEC power cable only. The cable should only be connected to a power outlet that is compatible with the voltage, power and frequency requirements stated on the rear panel.
-Power Switch: When engaged voltage is applied to all internal circuits except for the high voltage for all signal amplifying audio stages.
-Standby Switch: Applies the high voltage to all signal amplifying audio stages.
-HT Fuse: The value of the H.T. Fuse is specified on the rear panel. Never use a fuse of the incorrect value or attempt to bypass it.
-Footswitch: The supplied 2-button footswitch is connected here. The footswitch enables you to switch between Channel 1 or Channel 2 and LO or HI mode.
-FX Loop Send: This output jack sends a -10dB low impedance signal to your effects devices, regardless of if it is a pedal, a rack unit or an entire chain of effects. Use a shielded instrument cable.
-FX Loop Return: High Impedance input to the recovery stage of the FX Loop and a direct input to the power amp. This jack disconnects the preamp signal from the power amp when used in case you want to utilize the power amp only. Plug a shielded instrument cable into this jack and connect to the effects.
-Speaker Outputs: There are overall 5 speaker outputs, 1x 16Ω, 2x 4Ω and 2x 8Ω. Both 4Ω as well as both 8Ω are wired in parallel. In case you want to use two cabinets at the same time, 2x 16Ω cabinets should be connected to the two 8Ω jacks, 2x 8Ω cabinets should be connected to the two 4Ω jacks. NOTE: Always be sure that your amplifier is connected to a proper load or a speaker cabinet before the amplifier is switched on.
-Line Out: Non frequency compensated output with a tenth of the output level to drive post effects or external power amps when running a wet/dry system or a speaker simulation device such as IR loaders.

FEATURES:
-Designed and Built in Southern California
-Hand-wound Bad Cat Transformers
-50 Watts
-2 – EL34 Power Tubes
-4 – 12AX7 Tubes
-2 Channels
-Lo / Hi Gain Switch
-Two Button Footswitch: Channel and Lo/Hi Switches
-Independent Gain and Volume per Channel
-Shared Bass, Mid, Treble
-Global Master Volume and Presence
-Studio Quality Reverb Independently Tuned for Each Channel
-Buffered FX Loop
-Custom UK 12” Celestion speaker (Combo)
-Individual Speaker Outputs (4, 8, 16, 2x4, 2x8 ohms)
-Line Out
-Baltic Birch Cabinet
-5-year Limited Warranty
-20.75” Width x 10.375” Depth x 10” Height (Head Dimensions)
-31 lbs Head Weight
-23.75” Width x 10.375” Depth x 19” Height (Combo Dimensions)
-48 lbs Combo Weight
-Two Button Footswitch Included

SKU: BCP2205MSK112120VBLACK