Bad Cat Era 30 Mark Sampson Designed 2025

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

This 2025 Bad Cat Era 30, designed by Mark Sampson, is a modern boutique amplifier that channels the soul of classic, harmonically rich tube circuits with the precision and reliability players expect today. Sampson’s designs are legendary for their touch sensitivity, dimensional cleans, and musical overdrive, and the Era 30 proudly carries that DNA with a voice that feels alive under your fingers.

This example is in mint condition and performs flawlessly—quiet, responsive, and inspiring. It’s a premium, modern boutique amp that captures the feel of great vintage designs while offering the consistency and build quality of a contemporary instrument.  The original paperwork and cover are included.  We tested all the tubes, as we do with every amp that hits our site.

The 30-watt platform offers an ideal balance of headroom and breakup, delivering wide, three-dimensional cleans that stay articulate, then blooming into thick, complex overdrive as you lean into the strings. Chords remain defined, single notes sing with sustain, and the amp reacts instantly to pick attack and guitar volume changes. It takes pedals beautifully and sits perfectly in a mix, making it a superb choice for studio work, club stages, and players who want expressive dynamics without fighting the amp.

As with all amplifiers at Mahar’s Vintage Guitars, it has been fully inspected, photographed accurately, and evaluated to ensure dependable performance.

We buy, sell, and take trades.

Excerpts from real online end-user reviews:
“Mark Sampson designs are all about feel and harmonics.” – The Gear Page
“Big, three-dimensional cleans with gorgeous breakup.” – TDPRI
“Responds to every nuance of your playing.” – Harmony Central
“Boutique tone done right.” – Reddit r/GuitarAmps
“An inspiring, musical amp.” – Ultimate Guitar

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The largest vintage & used guitar amplifier selection in Northern California
Vintage & Used Effects Pedals

SPECS:

• Case/Cover?: Yes
• Color: Black 
• Dimensions: W 20.75" x D 10.25" x H 10.5"
• Weight: 37lbs 12oz
• Watts: 30 Watts
• Date: 2025
• Power Transformer Brand/Codes: See Pics
• Output Transformer Brand/Codes: See Pics
• Extension Speaker Out? Yes
  
• Reverb or other effects?: No
• Rectifier Tube: 5AR4
• Rectifier Tube Brand: JJ
• Power Tubes: 4 x EL84
• Power Tube Brand: JJ
• Preamp Tubes: 3 x 12AX7, 1 x EF86
• Preamp Tube Brand: JJ
• Filter Caps: Original
• Pedal: Yes
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Tolex/Tweed: Original
  
• Knobs: Original
• Handle: Original
• Power Cord: Included
• Notes:

Shipping policy:

When you purchase this item you are hereby agreeing to this shipping policy. We remove tubes from amps that could be damaged in shipping.  These cases require the buyer to re-install them on delivery - it is very easy with this amp, and we label them so you know exactly where to put them.  We do this because we have experienced shipping issues in the past, and this is our prevention measure.  Vintage amps are sold as-is because they can need service intermittently.  Everything is tested here in our shop on the way into our inventory, and again before shipping.  We will cover shipping damage, but we cannot be responsible for the failure of vintage components in 20-to-50-plus year old amps. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.