Bad Cat Mod Shop Hot Cat 50 Combo is a 50-watt two-channel all-tube combo from the Mod Shop series — a guitar and amplifier representing the latest evolution of Bad Cat's Hot Cat platform, which the company has been refining for over 25 years. A redesigned EL34 power section, more flexible TMB EQ, two channels with independent Lo and Hi mode switching, and a custom-wound Celestion speaker in a Baltic birch open-back cabinet make the Hot Cat 50 Combo the widest-ranging amp in Bad Cat's current lineup — capable of covering country, classic rock and high-gain metal from a single chassis without leaning on external drive pedals.
Four Distinct Voices — the Mod Shop Channel Architecture
Two channels (Clean and OD), each with a Lo/Hi mode switch, produce four clearly differentiated tonal characters. Clean Lo delivers wide, glassy American-style cleans that respond directly to pick attack and guitar volume — the territory of single-coils and clean country. Switching to Hi pushes the clean channel into AC/JTM-style dynamic breakup with full mids and articulate bite. The OD channel in Lo mode occupies classic 1980s British JCM crunch — punchy, forward and controlled. OD Hi opens up modified high-gain territory for harder rock and metal. Both channels share a TMB equalizer, while a global Master Volume and redesigned Presence circuit maintain the amp's character and feel at any output level.
Stage and Studio Ready
The Hot Cat 50 Combo ships with a buffered FX loop, onboard studio-quality reverb, a Line Out, and individual speaker outputs at 4, 8 and 16 Ω — covering any cab or PA configuration without impedance-matching adapters. The open-back cabinet is built from Baltic birch and loaded with a 12" Celestion speaker custom-voiced by Bad Cat for the EL34 power section. Custom-wound transformers are built in-house. A two-button footswitch for channel and mode switching is included, along with a protective cover. Every unit is designed and hand-built in Costa Mesa, California.
KEY FEATURES
- 50W all-tube, power section: 2× EL34
- Preamp section: 4× 12AX7
- 2 channels: Clean and OD, each with independent Gain and Volume
- 2 modes per channel: Lo and Hi — 4 distinct tonal voices
- Clean Lo: wide glassy American-style clean
- Clean Hi: dynamic AC/JTM-style breakup
- OD Lo: classic 1980s British JCM crunch
- OD Hi: modified high-gain for hard rock and metal
- Shared TMB EQ circuit across both channels
- Global Master Volume and redesigned Presence circuit
- Onboard studio-quality reverb
- Buffered FX loop
- Individual speaker outputs: 4, 8 and 16 Ω
- Line Out
- Speaker: 12" Celestion custom Bad Cat
- Cabinet: Baltic birch, open-back
- Custom-wound Bad Cat transformers
- Included: 2-button footswitch (channel and mode), cover
- Designed and built in Costa Mesa, California, USA
- Warranty: 5-year limited
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Output power: 50W
- Power tubes: 2× EL34
- Preamp tubes: 4× 12AX7
- Channels: 2 (Clean, OD) with Lo/Hi mode switching
- EQ: shared TMB (Treble, Middle, Bass)
- Global controls: Master Volume, Presence
- Effects: onboard studio-quality reverb
- FX loop: buffered
- Speaker outputs: 4 Ω, 8 Ω, 16 Ω (individual)
- Line output: Line Out
- Speaker: 12" Celestion (custom Bad Cat voicing)
- Cabinet: Baltic birch, open-back
- Dimensions: 23.75" W × approx. 10.25" D (per manufacturer)
- Weight: approx. 47 lb (21.3 kg)
- Included accessories: 2-button footswitch, cover