Which Head Should I Get?

[ablueskytragedy]

I've been looking for a class A tube head for a while. I've been looking at a Marshall JCM2000, as I've seen a lot of local bands use it and I've tried it out and am fairly happy with the sound I get from it. I was looking on eBay for one and found one around $400 that I wouldn't mind picking up.

Then, just for fun I searched Badcat amps, because I know that they're the best of the best when it comes to tube amps and a lot of professionals use them. As I expected I saw a bunch of combos and such priced in the thousands, then what caught my eye was a FLAWLESS Badcat HEAD, the BC30R, for a mere $600. A $600 Badcat head comes out once in a lifetime, and even though it doesn't have a drive I figured I could always pick up a tube screamer or something to accommodate it.

Now my question is, playing Pop Punk/Rock music, would I be better off just getting a standard Marshall JCM2000, or should I pick up the Badcat?

[patrickhowell]

These two amps are incredibly different. The Bad Cat is a handwired amp base on a Vox AC30. At that price, I would pick up the Bad Cat over the Marshall for sure. Marshall JCM2000's are built on a circuit board and have a ton of weak spots in the contruction. If you get he bad cat and an overdrive pedal like the Fulltone Fulldrive or Fulltone OCD, you'd be really set for pop-punk.

[mylastflight]

BC30r? you mean black cat 30r? for 600? how the fuck is that possible. and if so its a two channel head but weird. i own one so yeah. if youre talking about black cat patrick is right its a vox ac30 on steroids. but to be honest jcm 2000 doesn't sound good compare to other amps out there for that price. IF this is true black cat being 600 dollars. GET THAT cuz if you get that amp even if you find yourself not liking it, anyone in harmony central or the gear page will do a trade with you. where did ya find that deal?

[splitsecond]

im guessing whoever is selling that bad cat isnt sure what they have or is desperate for money, snatch that up and if you dont like it sell it or trade it for something else.

[iAMhollyood315]

well if you had the Cash a Mesa Dual Rec would he be sick. but i acutally just saw the edgar winter band and the guitarist had a jcm2000 and it had the gnarliest tone. get out there and play some tube amps you might be suprised at what you may find

[Ghostpsalm]

well if you had the Cash a Mesa Dual Rec would he be sick. but i acutally just saw the edgar winter band and the guitarist had a jcm2000 and it had the gnarliest tone. get out there and play some tube amps you might be suprised at what you may find

i think that's the best recommendation. there are a lot of great tubes out there. i'm absolutely positive you could find one that's better than the jcm2000.