Mark Sampson’s Final Amp Design — A True Masterpiece

Badcat Era 30 | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 32This week on Golden Age of Gear, we’re diving into something truly special — the Bad Cat Era 30. Designed by the legendary Mark Sampson (Matchless, Badcat), this EL84-powered amp is his final masterpiece before his passing, and it absolutely rips.Derek and Joey put the Era 30 through its paces, blending the EF86 and 12AX7 channels, exploring its touch sensitivity, dynamic response, and its surprisingly massive punch through a Revv 4x12 cab. From studio-worthy cleans to gritty vintage breakup, this amp delivers tones that are anything but ordinary.In this video, they’re running the Bad Cat Era 30 into a Revv 4x12 cabinet loaded with a pair of WGS ET90s and Veteran 30s, mic’d up with a Telefunken M81 and an AEA N22, with only an Avalanche Run in the effects loop for added space.Whether you're a fan of EL84 tones or just curious what the last amp from a true legend sounds like — this is one you don’t want to miss.👇 Let us know in the comments:Have you played a Bad Cat? Got a favorite EL84 amp we should check out?