PurePath in Action: Kenyon Reed Tests Bad Cat's Passive Analog Cab Simulator

There are more ways than ever to get a guitar amp into a live or recording setup. Modelers, plugins, impulse responses, reactive loads, and digital cab simulators have made going direct easier than ever.

But what if you really just want to use your real tube amp?

That’s where the Bad Cat Pure Path comes in. To demonstrate how this unit performs in the wild, guitarist and tone creator Kenyon Reed took to YouTube to put a pair of Pure Path units through their paces in a full direct stereo rig. Running two of his favorite tube heads—a Blankenship Twinex on the left and a Black Tweed on the right—Kenyon walked through what makes this passive analog line direct unit such a game-changer for silent stages and direct recording.

What Is the Bad Cat Pure Path?

The Pure Path takes a completely different approach to direct tube tone. Most modern direct solutions are active and rely on digital impulse responses (IRs). The Bad Cat Pure Path is a 100% passive analog cab simulator, load box, and direct recording solution designed to work seamlessly between your amplifier and the rest of your signal chain.

Because it operates passively, it draws all the energy it needs directly from your amplifier’s speaker output—no software, no IR libraries, no screen menus, and no power cables required.

Simply connect the speaker output of your amp head to the Pure Path, and it provides the load your amplifier needs while shaping the signal to deliver a natural, speaker-like response. From there, a balanced XLR signal goes directly to Front of House (FOH) or your recording interface.

Real Tube Tone Direct to FOH/Studio

In his video, Kenyon highlights how the Pure Path solves a common dilemma for tone purists: keeping real tube amps at the center of a modern, quiet rig.

• Silent Recording: You can run a cranked tube head late at night or in a small home studio without placing a microphone in front of a deafening speaker cabinet.
• Silent Stage / Direct to FOH: Touring guitarists can bring their favorite physical tube amps on stage and send a direct signal straight to the PA system without needing stage volume from a physical cab.
• On-Demand Cab Pass-Through: If you do want to use a speaker cabinet, a toggle switch on the back lets you choose whether to pass the signal through to a live cabinet or keep the entire rig completely silent.

Dialing in Front-Panel Tone Controls

In his hands-on demo, Kenyon walked through the front panel of the Pure Path to show how easy it is to sculpt your tone directly from the box without needing to touch your amp's favorite EQ settings:

• Mic Position (Center vs. Edge): Switching from Edge (darker, rounder) to Center brings out high-end clarity. In Kenyon's testing, the Center setting helped mid-heavy overdrive pedals cut through the mix without sounding harsh or spiky.
• Open vs. Closed Back: Switching to the Closed cabinet setting introduces a tubbier, boxier, and warmer low-end character, while Open offers an airy, spatial dispersion.
• Speaker Style (Ceramic vs. Alnico): Ceramic provides a robust, immediate, in-your-face response. Switching to Alnico smooths out the top end and tames low-end tubbiness. Kenyon made great use of this by running Ceramic on one side and Alnico on the other for an expansive stereo image.
• Level Pad (-20 dB): Helps manage hot output signals before hitting external mic preamps or audio interfaces.
• Presence Control: Offers a subtle high-frequency boost when you need extra top-end sheen.
• Ground Lift & Phase Switches: Essential tools for dual-amp setups. Kenyon noted that when dialing in his stereo rig, switching the Phase toggle instantly fixed an out-of-phase condition between his two amp heads, while the Ground switch eliminates unwanted loop hum.

A Flexible Way to Use Your Tube Amp

Modern modelers have made guitar setups incredibly flexible, but for players who love the feel, feedback, and natural warmth of their real tube heads, convenience shouldn't mean leaving your amp behind.

As Kenyon Reed demonstrated, the Bad Cat Pure Path provides a seamless bridge between both worlds. It is a simple, portable analog line direct tool that lets you run a tube head silently, send it direct to a mixer or interface, and enjoy real tube feel—all without digital friction.

Be sure to check out Kenyon Reed’s full video review on YouTube (@KenyonReed2) to hear the Pure Path in action.