Golden Age of Gear - hosted by Joey Landreth & Derek from Revv Amps
This is the golden age of guitar gear! With so many awesome options available for players, it’s a thrilling time for musicians of all styles.
Join Joey Landreth and Derek Eastveld as they hang out and geek out over the gear that’s inspiring them right now. From killer pedals to amazing guitars, they’ll showcase the tools inspire and excite them, helping to fuel their creativity as guitarists.
Golden Age of Gear - hosted by Joey Landreth & Derek from Revv Amps
Mark Sampson’s Final Amp Design — A True Masterpiece
Badcat Era 30 | Golden Age of Gear Ep. 32
This 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?