The Bad Cat Cub V EL84 is a Bad Cat amplifier. Close alternatives include the Bad Cat Cub V EL34 and the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube. It pairs well with the Greer Royal Velvet and the Carl Martin Crunch Drive.
Bad Cat Cub V EL84
Bad Cat · amplifier
The Bad Cat Cub V EL84 is a 15-watt hand-wired guitar amplifier using two EL84 power tubes, delivering the traditional Vox-lineage chimey character that the Cub platform is built on. EL84 tubes contribute bright, chimey harmonic complexity and responsive touch sensitivity with natural power-tube saturation achievable at studio and small-venue volumes. A switchable EF86/12AX7 preamp tube and tube-driven spring reverb expand its tonal range from pristine chime to harmonically rich overdrive. It suits studio players, home guitarists, and smaller-venue performers who want the full Cub character with natural tube saturation at manageable volumes.
- tube
- natural
- studio
- bright
- chimey
- preamp
- driven
- reverb
Good for
- Practice
- Studio
- Worship
Genres the Bad Cat Cub V EL84 is commonly used in
- Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Acoustic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Bad Cat Cub V EL84
Greer Royal Velvet
Greer
25% matchRun Greer Royal Velvet after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Carl Martin Crunch Drive
Carl Martin
22% matchWhere this leans bright, Carl Martin Crunch Drive answers back warm
Carl Martin PlexiTone
Carl Martin
22% matchInto a transparent tone, Carl Martin PlexiTone brings the high gain it's missing
Audiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone
Audiocade
21% matchAudiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone's own voicing points at Vox-style amps, and Bad Cat Cub V EL84 delivers it
SahBro? Audio Ross Kempressor
Sahbro Audio
10% matchSahBro? Audio Ross Kempressor's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
FoxGear EchoSex
Foxgear
9% matchFoxGear EchoSex's ambient voice goes in Bad Cat Cub V EL84's effects loop — it's not there to compete with Bad Cat Cub V EL84's own transparent character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
JAM Pedals Delay-Llama
Jam Pedals
8% matchKeep Bad Cat Cub V EL84's transparent voice out front: JAM Pedals Delay-Llama goes in Bad Cat Cub V EL84's effects loop so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Beetronics OV-LE-Uva
Beetronics
tonal matchInto Bad Cat Cub V EL84, Beetronics OV-LE-Uva is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Bad Cat Cub V EL34
Bad Cat
70% similarity“At 15 watts the amp reaches natural power-tube saturation and bloom at studio and small-venue volumes — its primary advantage over the EL34 variant.”
Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube
Bad Cat
63% similarityShared character: reverb, attack, studio
Blackstar CV10 Carmen Vandenberg Signature 10-Watt 1x12"
Blackstar
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Matchless At 40 watts, the Laurel Canyon Reverb
Matchless
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Dr. Z Maz 38
Dr Z
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Swart Antares Master
Swart
95% similaritysimilar tone character
2002 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe II Combo
amplifier
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Milkman Sound Half Pint 5W 1x12 Combo
Milkman Sound
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Vox Ac30 1960s
Vox
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Matchless Laurel Canyon 20-Watt 1x12"
Matchless
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Mesa Boogie Lone Star Head
amplifier
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Matchless Coldwater Canyon 112
Matchless
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Bad Cat Cub V EL84 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Bad Cat Cub V EL84?+
The closest matches in character are the Bad Cat Cub V EL34, the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube, the Blackstar CV10 Carmen Vandenberg Signature 10-Watt 1x12".
What pairs well with the Bad Cat Cub V EL84?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Greer Royal Velvet, Carl Martin Crunch Drive, Carl Martin PlexiTone — Run Greer Royal Velvet after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth.
Compare
- vs Blackstar CV10 Carmen Vandenberg Signature 10-Watt 1x12"
- vs Matchless At 40 watts, the Laurel Canyon Reverb
- vs Dr. Z Maz 38