The Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube is a Bad Cat amplifier, currently around $2845.24. Close alternatives include the Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired Head and the Bad Cat Cub V EL34. It pairs well with the JHS Angry Charlie and the Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost.
Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube
Bad Cat · amplifier
The Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-watt is a point-to-point hand-wired guitar amplifier in the Cub V series, using EL84 or EL34 power tubes at 40 watts with hand-wired construction on vintage-style turret boards. It delivers the chimey, touch-sensitive Vox-lineage character of the Cub with improved harmonic coherence and tactile responsiveness compared to PCB versions, at a wattage capable of handling medium and larger stages. A switchable EF86/12AX7 preamp tube and tube-driven spring reverb round out the feature set. It is the full-specification gigging version of the Cub V line for players who require stage volume alongside boutique Cub character.
- pcb
- chimey
- tube
- expressive
- spring reverb
- preamp
- driven
- touch
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube is commonly used in
- Indie Rock
- Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Country
- Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Americana
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube
JHS Angry Charlie
JHS Pedals
25% matchJHS Angry Charlie is voiced for Vox-style amps — Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube gives it exactly that
Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost
Electro-Harmonix
22% matchInto a high headroom tone, Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost brings the high gain it's missing
Sola Sound Tone Bender MK1
pedal
22% matchSola Sound Tone Bender MK1's fuzzy fills in what this high headroom tone doesn't make on its own
Audiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone
Audiocade
14% matchAudiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone's own voicing points at Vox-style amps, and Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube delivers it
Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro
Pigtronix
8% matchPigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro leans toward sustaining, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Strymon El Capistan
Strymon
5% matchPut Strymon El Capistan in Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube's effects loop, clear of Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Binson Echorec Delay
Binson
5% matchPut Binson Echorec Delay in Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube's effects loop, clear of Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchTone City Dry Martini's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
Blackstar Artisan 15H Handwired 15W Tube
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Bad Cat Cougar 15
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Traynor YGL1
Traynor
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Twin Reverb Head
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94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired Head
Bad Cat
61% similarityShared character: hands, hand_wired_construction, headroom
Bad Cat Cub V EL34
Bad Cat
61% similarityShared character: hand_wired_construction, reverb, headroom
Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube
Bad Cat
96% similaritysimilar tone character
2002 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe II Combo
amplifier
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Matchless At 40 watts, the Laurel Canyon Reverb
Matchless
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Bad Cat Cub V EL84
Bad Cat
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube?+
The closest matches in character are the Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired Head, the Bad Cat Cub V EL34, the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube. Budget picks: Blackstar Artisan 15H Handwired 15W Tube, Bad Cat Cougar 15, Traynor YGL1.
What pairs well with the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: JHS Angry Charlie, Electro-Harmonix Micro Metal Muff TOP Boost, Sola Sound Tone Bender MK1 — JHS Angry Charlie is voiced for Vox-style amps — Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube gives it exactly that.
How much does the Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 40-Watt Tube cost?+
Around $2845.24 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Bad Cat Cub V Handwired 15-Watt Tube
- vs Blackstar Artisan 15H Handwired 15W Tube
- vs Bad Cat Cougar 15