The Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo is a Bad Cat amplifier, currently around $3319.64. Close alternatives include the Divided by 13 JRT 9/15 and the Magnatone Starlite 1x8 Combo. It pairs well with the JHS Angry Charlie and the Carl Martin Crunch Drive.
Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo
Bad Cat · amplifier
The Bad Cat Cub V is a hand-wired, point-to-point 15-watt EL84 combo built in Costa Mesa, California, featuring switchable 12AX7 and EF86 preamp tubes that let a player access two genuinely different gain and character options from the same chassis, alongside a tube-driven spring reverb, dual master volume controls, and a UK-made Celestion 12-inch speaker custom-voiced for Bad Cat. The company also offers it in a 40-watt EL34 configuration and as either a head or combo, but the 15-watt EL84 combo version reviewed here targets players wanting genuine boutique hand-wired tone at more studio and small-venue-friendly volume levels, backed by a five-year warranty reflecting the brand's confidence in its build quality.
- tube
- preamp
- boutique
- breakup
- spring reverb
- driven
- studio
- stage
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo is commonly used in
- Rock
- Blues
- Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo
JHS Angry Charlie
JHS Pedals
23% matchJHS Angry Charlie is voiced for Vox-style amps — Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo gives it exactly that
Carl Martin Crunch Drive
Carl Martin
22% matchInto a high headroom tone, Carl Martin Crunch Drive brings the crunchy it's missing
Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost
Electro-Harmonix
21% matchInto a high headroom tone, Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost brings the high gain it's missing
Audiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone
Audiocade
14% matchInto Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo, Audiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone is right at home: it's built around Vox-style amps
Lab Ratz 3D Boum Warming Unit
Lab Ratz 3d
7% matchLab Ratz 3D Boum Warming Unit's low gain voice suits Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo's own edge of breakup character
Binson Echorec Delay
Binson
6% matchPut Binson Echorec Delay in Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo's effects loop, clear of Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Boss RV-6 Reverb
Boss
5% matchBoss RV-6 Reverb's shimmer voice goes in Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo's effects loop — it's not there to compete with Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo's own edge of breakup character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchBad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes wants
Cheaper alternatives
Friedman Little Sister Combo
Friedman
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube
Bad Cat
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Bassbreaker 18/30
Fender
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Bad Cat Cub V EL34
Bad Cat
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Divided by 13 JRT 9/15
Divided By 13
62% similarityShared character: small_venues, reverb, headroom
Magnatone Starlite 1x8 Combo
Magnatone
95% similaritysimilar tone character
2002 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe II Combo
amplifier
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Laney LA30BL 30W Tube Amplifier
Laney
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar Studio 10 KT88 Limited Edition
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT20R MkII
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo?+
The closest matches in character are the Divided by 13 JRT 9/15, the Magnatone Starlite 1x8 Combo, the 2002 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe II Combo. Budget picks: Friedman Little Sister Combo, Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube, Fender Bassbreaker 18/30. Boutique upgrades: Marshall JCM800 2203ZW.
What pairs well with the Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: JHS Angry Charlie, Carl Martin Crunch Drive, Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost — JHS Angry Charlie is voiced for Vox-style amps — Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo gives it exactly that.
How much does the Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo cost?+
Around $3319.64 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).