“His original designs set a benchmark for tone, craftsmanship, and reliability”: Bad Cat's legendary boutique amp designer Mark Sampson has died

The late Mark Sampson, co-founder of Matchless amps and Bad Cat, introduces the new Bad Cat Era 30. He wears a light grey shirt, with the amps and cabs in the background.

Mark Sampson, one of the great pioneers of tube amp design, has died. A legendary name in US high-end guitar amps, Sampson co-founded Matchless and was the brains behind some of the early models coming out of Bad Cat.

Indeed, Sampson had just made a triumphant return to Bad Cat. In January, he unveiled his first design with the California company in over 20 years, the Era 30. Showcased at NAMM 2025, the two-channel 30-watter was planned to be the first of many.