The Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube is a Bad Cat amplifier, currently around $2699.99. Close alternatives include the Bad Cat Cub V EL84 and the Bad Cat Cub V EL34. It pairs well with the Greer Royal Velvet and the Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost.
Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube
Bad Cat · amplifier
The Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-watt is a point-to-point hand-wired guitar amplifier using EL84 power tubes, providing Vox-lineage chimey character in a 15-watt configuration specifically built on vintage-style turret boards. Hand-wired construction raises component quality and long-term repairability compared to PCB equivalents, contributing to the tactile, expressive feel that players prize in the Cub line. A switchable EF86/12AX7 preamp tube, tube-driven spring reverb, and Fat boost switch complete the circuit. It suits studio, home, and small-venue use where natural power-tube saturation at achievable volumes is the priority.
- tube
- natural
- pcb
- preamp
- spring reverb
- driven
- chimey
- studio
Good for
- Practice
- Studio
- Worship
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube 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. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube
Greer Royal Velvet
Greer
25% matchRun Greer Royal Velvet into that transparent platform and it finally gets some fuzzy
Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost
Electro-Harmonix
23% matchInto a transparent tone, Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost brings the high gain it's missing
JHS Angry Charlie
JHS Pedals
23% matchJHS Angry Charlie is voiced for Vox-style amps — Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube gives it exactly that
Audiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone
Audiocade
18% matchAudiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone's own voicing points at Vox-style amps, and Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube delivers it
Universal Audio 1176 Compressor
Universal Audio
8% matchUniversal Audio 1176 Compressor leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
6% matchRun Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay in Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube's effects loop, clear of Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Strymon TimeLine
Strymon
6% matchKeep Strymon TimeLine in Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube's effects loop, clear of Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Fender Hammertone Overdrive
Fender
tonal matchBad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Fender Hammertone Overdrive wants
Cheaper alternatives
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Bad Cat Cub V EL84
Bad Cat
63% similarityShared character: reverb, attack, studio
Bad Cat Cub V EL34
Bad Cat
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube
Bad Cat
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Hiwatt T20/10
Hiwatt
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar DA100 Doug Aldrich Signature 100W Tube
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall DSL15H 2-Channel 15-Watt
Marshall
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube?+
The closest matches in character are the Bad Cat Cub V EL84, the Bad Cat Cub V EL34, the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube. Budget picks: Mesa Boogie Lone Star Head, Bad Cat Cougar 15, Cornell Romany 12 Reverb.
What pairs well with the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Greer Royal Velvet, Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost, JHS Angry Charlie — Run Greer Royal Velvet into that transparent platform and it finally gets some fuzzy.
How much does the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube cost?+
Around $2699.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).