The final installment with Santa Cruz Guitar Company founder Richard Hoover details the remaining steps that takes a collection of wood and wire into an impeccable instrument. Hoover explains how the company's craftsman delicately sand and finish the acoustics with a light touch to keeps them shiny and singing. He describes the pragmatic reasoning behind finishing the body and neck separately before marrying the two. He describes the balance between mechanical precision with the Plek machine and luthier artistry for the individualistic, hands-on set ups and intonation. Finally, Richard outlines why the company is now designing strings specific to their guitars.
In our third installment with Santa Cruz Guitar Company founder Richard Hoover, the master luthier shows PG's John Bohlinger how his team of builders assemble and construct guitars like a chef preparing food pairings. Hoover explains that the finer details like binding, headstock size and shape, internal bracing, and adhesives are critical players in shaping an instrument's sound. Finally, Richard explains how SCGC uses every inch of wood for making acoustic guitars or outside ventures like surfboards and art.
In our second installment with Santa Cruz Guitar Company founder Richard Hoover, the master luthier takes PG's John Bohlinger through the detailed (and scientific) process of analyzing, shifting and "tuning" the guitar's top before repeating the process when the back and sides are joined, and once again when introducing the neck to the instrument build while focusing on keeping everything harmoniously synergized and "tuned."
The company's founding master luthier Richard Hoover invites PG's John Bohlinger inside his NorCal guitar sanctuary. The first installment shares Hoover's deep appreciation and reverence for wood and nature. He explains that he was moved by the redwoods at an early age setting him up for a life among the trees. He then gets into how he sustainably sources exotic tonewoods from across the world before detailing how he mixes violin-making traditions with the modern scientific analysis he's helping collect with Stanford to try and build the best instruments possible.
John Bohlinger and the PG video crew visit the SoCal HQ of the revamped amp builder that has a growl for every guitarist.
Bad Cat Black Cat
The new Black Cat could’ve started with an “American” channel and a “British” channel, promising “classic” tones that remind you of your childhood guitar heroes, but you’ve already heard that promise and you’ve already played that amp. The Black Cat promise is different. Sure, we’re going to share some things in common with our forebears, like an all-tube signal path, powerful transformers, familiar controls and premium Celestion speakers, but what’s under the hood is uniquely Bad Cat.
The heart and soul of the new Black Cat is the immediate feeling of connection you get with it. It’s always lively and toneful, never feeling choked or constrained. Driven by a 20W power amp featuring a cathode bias pair of EL84s, it’s remarkably loud with enough headroom to play with a live drummer yet has an effective master volume control allowing for playing at home with no loss of tone.
Specs:
20 Watts – 2 x EL84 Cathode-biased
2 Channels – Clean and Overdrive
Channel-dedicated VOLUME and MASTER Controls
Global TREBLE, BASS, and CUT Controls
Bias-modulated Tremolo with INTENSITY and SPEED Controls
The Cub was among the original Bad Cat designs – boutique and highly desired, it has been used on countless stages and recordings. Over the years, the Cub’s design has been steadily refined and improved. Every iteration brings something new to the table and our newest Cub is no exception. A single channel amplifier now with two gain modes, the updated original Cub circuitry is accessed in clean mode, while the overdriven mode features a newly voiced, more aggressive side to the Cub.
Specs:
30W – 2x EL34 in Cathode-Bias Class AB Configuration
Single Channel
Clean and OD Gain Modes
Two Discrete, Switchable Master Volume Controls
Global Input Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble, and Presence Controls
The award winning Hot Cat amp was introduced in 2005 to great accolade. As pleased as we are with the original, the time had come for a whole new Hot Cat. We took everything we have learned over the last 20 years and applied it to this limitless reimagining of the Hot Cat. A two channel amplifier now with two gain modes per channel, the Hot Cat provides virtually limitless gain combinations as well as studio quality reverb, and an all new fully buffered effects loop.
Specs:
45W – 2x EL34 in Fixed-Bias Class AB Configuration
Two Channel
Lo and Hi Gain Modes
Two Discrete, Gain and Volume Controls per Channel
Global Master, Bass, Mid, Treble, and Presence Controls
Studio Quality Reverb
Buffered Effects Loop
Bad Cat Lynx
Modern high gain players need tight low frequencies that punch and react quickly to staccato palm muting. They need high frequencies that cut without being harsh and grainy. They need effective midrange shaping with complexity and articulation. Finally, they need blistering gain with none of the noise. The new Lynx is designed to meet and exceed these demands. The Lynx has two distinct channels and a massive 7 gain stages. A new Lo/Hi switch allows exploration of gain stage topology not yet found in any other amplifier from Bad Cat.
Specs:
Designed and Built in Southern California
50W – 2x EL34 in fixed bias class AB configuration
Two Channel
Lo and Hi Gain Modes
Channel-dedicated GAIN and VOLUME controls
Global Master, Bass, Mid, Treble, and Presence Controls
Adjustable noise gate circuit – Patent Applied For
