3rd Power Aurora vs Bad Cat Cub V EL34

The 3rd Power Aurora and the Bad Cat Cub V EL34 are both amplifiers sharing glassy, dynamic, transparent. The Bad Cat Cub V EL34 leans mid-forward and bright. Current prices: $2699 vs $2350.

Similarity
citedBlended from circuit-archetype lineage, dynamic feel, tone-signal overlap and tone-vector distance — the tone vector itself is derived from editorial description text, not a measured acoustic signal, so this reflects how similarly the catalog copy describes the two, not a lab measurement. Shown only within a gear class, and only where there's enough evidence to be meaningful.

49% — somewhat different

Shared tone character
citedDerived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.
  • glassy
  • dynamic
  • transparent
  • harmonically rich
  • high headroom
  • crunchy
Citation fame
citedCitation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.
0%
17%
Price

$2699via Reverb

$2350via Reverb

Description

The 3rd Power Aurora is a handcrafted boutique tube guitar amplifier built in Minneapolis, designed to move through the full tonal spectrum from open American clarity through British chime and into harmonically rich overdrive in a single platform. The Aurora 35 delivers 35 watts with extended clean headroom and a smooth transition into naturally compressed overdrive, maintaining strong note definition across the gain range. Designed around player responsiveness, the amp opens up dynamically under increased pick pressure and settles as the player eases back, preserving tonal connection at any volume. Available in multiple configurations including 310 and Highline speaker cabinet options.

The Bad Cat Cub V EL34 is a 40-watt point-to-point hand-wired guitar amplifier using two EL34 power tubes, delivering the chimey Vox-lineage character of the Cub V with more punch and midrange authority than the EL84 version. The EL34 power section provides a slightly more British-influenced breakup character and greater stage headroom, while the switchable EF86/12AX7 preamp tube and tube-driven spring reverb expand the tonal range from pristine clean to harmonically rich overdrive. It suits players who want the Cub's expressive touch response and chimey personality at volumes where the 15-watt EL84 version runs short.

Genres
citedGenres this gear is documented as being used in.
  • Alternative Rock
  • Indie Rock
  • Blues
  • Country
Tonal lean
—
  • mid-forward
  • bright
  • edge of breakup
Good for
citedOccasions this gear suits — judged per model, or derived from its wattage, connectivity and category.
  • Live
  • Studio
  • Worship
  • Live
  • Studio
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