The Ultimate Analog Cab Sim? Bad Cat PurePath Review (NAMM 2026 Winner)

Fresh off a massive win at the 2026 NAMM Show, we’re checking out the brand-new Bad Cat PurePath! Stephan Hawkes (GTD & Hawkes Studio) takes this passive analog cab simulator for a spin to see if it’s the ultimate solution for silent recording and live FOH consistency. In this demo, we run the Bad Cat Hot Cat 50 Mod Shop directly into the PurePath to explore its zero-latency, analog impulse response capabilities. Whether you're tired of scrolling through digital IRs or comparing load boxes like the Two Notes Captor X and Universal Audio OX Box, this old-school Palmer-style approach might be exactly what your rig needs. We dive deep into all the tactile tone-shaping options, including: Edge vs. Center mic placement Open vs. Closed back cabinet styles Ceramic vs. Alnico speaker voicings Global presence switch and 20dB pad Hear how it handles pristine single-coil cleans, edge-of-breakup chime, and full-on high-gain rock tones without ever needing to mic up a real cabinet or annoy the neighbors. If you are tired of relying on a computer to or tech and just want a straight forward solution to jam with your tube amps, the bad cat purepath might be your new best friend. From Bad Cat: "Winner of a NAMM 2026 "Best in Show" Award, PurePath isn't just another load box or IR loader. It's a fully analog, amplifier-driven speaker simulator with a mechanical reactive load— designed to deliver real amp feel without DSP, menus, or power cables. For players who want the most realistic direct sound possible, PurePath is a breakthrough." https://badcatamps.com/pages/purepath Video Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro & What is the Bad Cat PurePath? 1:24 - Front Panel Features & Switches Explained 2:39 - Clean Tones: Edge vs. Center Mic Placement 3:49 - Open vs. Closed Back Cab Shootout 4:51 - Overdrive Tones & Presence Switch Test 7:07 - High Gain Rock Tones: Ceramic vs. Alnico Speakers 9:27 - Final Thoughts & Conclusion We hope you enjoy this demo of the PurePath and be sure to check out more from GTD: Connect with Guitar Tabs Daily Subscribe for more gear reviews, guitar tabs, and tone chasing: ‪@GuitarTabsDaily‬ Follow us on Instagram:@GuitarTabsDaily Check out the Bad Cat Pure Path here: ‪@bad_cat_amps‬ Check out more from Stephan Hawkes: ‪@stephanhawkes‬ #BadCatPurePath #BadCatPurePathReview #BadCatPurePathDemo #PurePath #purepath #BadCatAmps #NAMM2026 #NAMM2026Winner #GuitarGear #GuitarTabsDaily #StephanHawkes #SilentRecording #AnalogIR #CabSim #TwoNotesCaptorX #UAOxBox #GuitarTone #HotCat50 #AnalogImpulseResponse #SpeakerSim #GuitarReview #RecordingGear #GuitarCommunity