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SHOCKING: Bad cat - You Need To See This

Billie Joe Armstrong’s punk rock riff machine, Orange’s mighty micro-amp, and the $150 acoustic that gives us serious John Mayer vibes – it’s MusicRadar’s monthly guitar gear roundup, the July 2026 edit

Featuring hot new gear from Harley Benton, Epiphone, Bad Cat, Shergold, IK Multimedia, Mooer Audio, Gibson and more

MusicRadar

“Each of them impacted the instrument in their own way, as luthiers, hitmakers, session players, or air guitar-inspiring soloists”: Remembering the guitarists we lost in 2025

2025 has been a big year for the guitar, but we've also had to sadly say goodbye to dozens of guitar greats, from many eras, and every imaginable genre. Here, we recognize those guitarists, and their contributions to the instrument

Guitar World

“A tighter, louder and gutsier tone from an already stellar-sounding amp”: Bad Cat Mod Shop Black Cat 30 review

Remixed and refreshed by the late, great amp-guru Mark Sampson, thisBlack Cat has two more tubes, 10 more watts and a whole new voice

Guitar World

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

“Martin and Taylor, watch out. There’s a new small-bodied build on the block”: This is all the new guitar gear that has caught my eye this week – and I think I've been convinced to finally go wireless

All-new drops from PRS, Furch, Victory and more

Guitar World

“If you seek complete Vox-style satisfaction without shortcomings or compromises, the Era 30 comprehensively delivers on all fronts”: Bad Cat Era 30 review

Legendary amp designer Mark Sampson’s final opus for Bad Cat is the culmination of a lifetime of design excellence and could be his finest creation

Guitar World

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Mark Sampson was the father of the boutique amp revolution”: An interview with the late, great Mark Sampson, the trailblazing amp designer behind Bad Cat and Matchless

Just before he died, guitar amp guru Mark Sampson sat down us to discuss his reunion with Bad Cat, and with the storied US amp company's John Thompson, he laid out a future vision for what boutique amps should be

Guitar World

“His original designs set a benchmark for tone, craftsmanship, and reliability”: Bad Cat's legendary boutique amp designer Mark Sampson has died

One of the great pioneers of US high-end tube amps, Sampson co-founded Matchless and had recently returned to Bad Cat after a two-decade absence

MusicRadar

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“His expertise and vision have always set the standard for what a great amplifier should be”: Matchless Amplifiers and Bad Cat Amps luminary Mark Sampson – one of the leading minds of the boutique amp movement – has passed away

Sampson had recently returned to Bad Cat, and was even involved in launching the Era 30 tube amp at this year's NAMM

Guitar World

“This monumental collaboration signals a new chapter in Bad Cat’s commitment to exceptional tone”: Bad Cat marks the return of amp design guru Mark Sampson with the Era 30

The legendary designer is famed for founding Matchless and his early Bad Cat builds –now he’s returned to the boutique firm after 20 years

Guitar World

“Nick’s knowledgeable depth, thoroughness and fairness in his reviews earned him a distinguished position as a true authority”: Remembering Nick Guppy, Guitarist magazine’s guitar amp guru

Mesa/Boogie, Bad Cat, Blackstar, Boss and more pay tribute to longtime Guitarist writer Nick Guppy, who died suddenly in April

Guitar World

“One of the best-sounding USA amplifiers currently available”: Bad Cat Jet Black head review

Bad Cat’s new addition combines its classic signature sound with a unique new high-gain voicing – and the results are remarkable

Guitar World

“A significant leap forward in sonic performance and flexibility for guitarists of all styles”: Bad Cat finally launches the Jet Black – the guitar amp at the heart of Tosin Abasi’s new rig

In recent years, the Animals As Leaders virtuoso has turned to tube amps after moving away from Axe-Fx – and now the Bad Cat Jet Black plays a pivotal role in his new setup

Guitar World

Bad Cat Black Cat 1x12 combo review

An old favorite returns as Bad Cat reboots its trailblazing tube combo with an updated circuit, while preserving the exclusive voices and character of the original

Guitar World

Tosin Abasi teams up with Bad Cat Amps and is using a prototype Jet Black model on tour with Dream Theater

The Animals As Leaders guitarist is also playing a Lynx head, and you can hear them in action as he joined John Petrucci et al for an all-star performance of DT's The Spirit Carries On

MusicRadar

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