• Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Topic: Cat 5 Bonamassa Sig 50W

My Les Paul is just grtting finished up at Historic Makeovers and Kim sent me a little clip of him playing it (with the freshly installed Joe B sig pickups) through his Category 5 Joe Bonamassa signature 50w amp. Sounded great!

DonR, if you're reading this, can you tell us a bit about this particular amp and how it compares to the stock Marshalls that were part of its inspiration? Is this a Plexi type or Silver Jube type amp (with your own added twists, of course)?

I probably shouldn't be asking as I just paid for the HM and the wifey and I have a little one on the way, but...

LOL!

Any chance you'd be interested in a partial trade for a custom Mesa Lone Star 2x12 (great amp, but I have two)? ;-)

Cheers!

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Cat 5 Bonamassa Sig 50W

I live roughly 20 minutes from Kim and the crew at Historic Makeovers...I know lucky me!  Kim's Cat 5 is a great sounding amp, I've played it a few times actually.  To my ears, and not knowing the guts inside, it sounds like a REALLY nice plexi/early metalface Marshall with a boost and killer master volume.  It doesn't sound like a Jubilee to my ears, less gain with the Cat 5.  The old Marshall cab loaded with old pre-Rola greenies doesn't hurt either!  I'd almost rather have that cab than the amp.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Re: Cat 5 Bonamassa Sig 50W

stratpaulguy86 wrote:

I live roughly 20 minutes from Kim and the crew at Historic Makeovers...I know lucky me!  Kim's Cat 5 is a great sounding amp, I've played it a few times actually.  To my ears, and not knowing the guts inside, it sounds like a REALLY nice plexi/early metalface Marshall with a boost and killer master volume.  It doesn't sound like a Jubilee to my ears, less gain with the Cat 5.  The old Marshall cab loaded with old pre-Rola greenies doesn't hurt either!  I'd almost rather have that cab than the amp.

Thanks for sharing! How does it compare, tone wise, with your Metro SLP?

4 Reply by Zen Guitar (edited by Zen Guitar 2013-01-17 09:15:54)

  • Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Re: Cat 5 Bonamassa Sig 50W

Just caught wind of the PRS HXDA... Looks like another tempting Plexi inspired amp to check out!

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Cat 5 Bonamassa Sig 50W

The PRS amp is incredible. Based around a certain old Marshall owned by Eric Johnson. The Cat 5 and my Metro are very different amps, my Superlead doesn't give up the goods at low volumes. The Cat 5 had some of the best lower volume Marshall tones I've heard. My Superlead is a monster though...nothing quite like it.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 1,374

Re: Cat 5 Bonamassa Sig 50W

My Les Paul is just grtting finished up at Historic Makeovers and Kim sent me a little clip of him playing it

I just met Kim at the Orlando Guitar Show last weekend - seemed like a cool guy.  I don't think I've ever met anyone who knows so much about Les Pauls.  Congrats on the makeover, I'm sure it'll be fantastic.

My music & music blog: https://vincedickinson.home.blog/
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  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Cat 5 Bonamassa Sig 50W

Yeah Kim's good people.  I got to chat with him at the show too, always a treat for any guitar fan.  I feel so lucky to live so close to a guy with that friendly, talented, and with such a passion for great guitars.  I don't have the $$$ for a HM right now, but it's cool to see a few of the Forumites' guitars from here and the LPF before they get sent out.  I get to live vicariously through you lucky guys lol.  While all the Les Pauls are cool, you guys should have seen this Flying V that they did...you would have sworn it was a real one from '58.  That guitar blew my mind.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Ridgeland, MS
  • Registered: 2009-08-12
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: Cat 5 Bonamassa Sig 50W

Yes, the V and the Explorer were unreal.

  • Registered: 2010-09-30
  • Posts: 163

Re: Cat 5 Bonamassa Sig 50W

stratpaulguy86 wrote:

The PRS amp is incredible. Based around a certain old Marshall owned by Eric Johnson. The Cat 5 and my Metro are very different amps, my Superlead doesn't give up the goods at low volumes. The Cat 5 had some of the best lower volume Marshall tones I've heard. My Superlead is a monster though...nothing quite like it.

It looks like the Cat 5 should be on its way out to me to demo... Very excited to check it out. Also planning on giving the PRS a spin.

How would you describe the similarities and differences between the Cat 5, the PRS, and the Metro? Can they all get that tucked bass,  "clean" overdrive and bright, crunchy top end of a lead spec Plexi? Being able to get the goods happening at smaller club volumes would be very nice, rather than the amp only singing at cranked volumes.

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Cat 5 Bonamassa Sig 50W

Zen Guitar wrote:

How would you describe the similarities and differences between the Cat 5, the PRS, and the Metro? Can they all get that tucked bass,  "clean" overdrive and bright, crunchy top end of a lead spec Plexi? Being able to get the goods happening at smaller club volumes would be very nice, rather than the amp only singing at cranked volumes.

I was lucky enough to catch Eric Johnson last June at the Plaza Theatre.  He had the PRS in his dirty rhythm spot and truth be told, the amp sounded PHENOMINAL.  It was as good or better than his '68 Tremolo head that he used earlier that year for the Experience Hendrix Tour.  I believe the PRS has a master volume or power scaling so you can get that plexi goodness at giggable volumes.

The Metro (I call it a Metro but really it was a ground up Superlead built to my specs) really is THE sound.  It's big, it's loud, it really is a monster.  When people ask about it I usually use terms like, "800lb gorilla monster" or "voice of God".  It sounds great turned down real low for cleans, but it just begs to be wound up really high for those huge crunch tones.  Not very practical for most real life gigging but such a blast at home if you get a chance to crank it.

The only Category 5 amp I've ever played is the JB amp that Kim owns at HM.  It's 50w and really reminds me of my '74 JMP 50w 1987 head that I own.  The Cat 5 has a bit more gain, more mids, and is perhaps a little more vocal...thicker maybe?  Again I was playing the Cat 5 through Kim's old Marshall cab loaded with pre-Rola greenies so that might have something to do with it.  You get more on the plate with the Cat 5.....a killer boost, multiple channels w/ masters, effects loop, ect. 

They all get that beautiful, snappy plexi-Marshall "kerrrrrang".  For my money, there's nothing like a real-deal old Marshall for tone.  They really did get it right back then.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.