Bad Cat Cub V EL34 vs Blackstar Artisan 15H Handwired 15W Tube
The Bad Cat Cub V EL34 and the Blackstar Artisan 15H Handwired 15W Tube are both amplifiers sharing dynamic, high headroom, harmonically rich. The Bad Cat Cub V EL34 leans glassy and mid-forward. The Blackstar Artisan 15H Handwired 15W Tube leans warm and full. Current prices: $2350 vs $1513.56.
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Blended 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.48% — somewhat different
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Genres both listings are associated with.- Blues
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Derived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.- dynamic
- high headroom
- harmonically rich
Bad Cat Cub V EL34
Bad Cat · amplifier
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Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.$2350via Reverb
$1513.56via Reverb
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.
The Blackstar Artisan 15H is a 15-watt handwired all-tube guitar amplifier head featuring two independent channels: one based on an EF86 pentode tube for bold, dynamic voicing and another using an ECC83 triode for smoother, traditional British character. The EL84 power section is switchable between 15-watt push-pull pentode mode for stage punch and 5-watt single-ended triode mode for saturated studio tones at lower output levels. Built with point-to-point tag board construction on a seam-welded steel chassis with finger-jointed birch-ply cabinet, every component is chosen for tonal contribution. The amp delivers rich, harmonically complex tones with exceptional touch sensitivity, suited for blues, jazz, and classic rock players who demand studio-grade tonal quality.
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Genres this gear is documented as being used in.- Indie Rock
- Country
- Classic Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Jazz
- glassy
- mid-forward
- transparent
- bright
- edge of breakup
- warm
- full
- smooth
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Occasions this gear suits — judged per model, or derived from its wattage, connectivity and category.- Live
- Studio
- Practice
- Studio
- Worship