The Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head is a Bad Cat amplifier. Close alternatives include the Bad Cat Ocelot 20 Watt Tube and the Blackstar HT20R MkII. It pairs well with the Greer Royal Velvet and the Xotic EP Booster.
Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head
Bad Cat · amplifier
The Bad Cat Rubicon is a 25-watt two-channel EL84-powered lunchbox head featuring dual gain modes on each channel and a power switch between 25 watts and 1 watt for home and studio flexibility. Channel 1 delivers nuanced Bad Cat clean character with the ability to push into overdrive at higher gain settings, while Channel 2 is optimized for articulate high-gain tones with clarity maintained at extreme settings. A global master volume, presence control, and 3-band EQ provide comprehensive tonal shaping in compact head format. The 1-watt mode enables the EL84 output stage to drive into saturation at bedroom-friendly volumes, making the amp practical for home recording without attenuators.
- articulate
- recording
- high gain
- saturation
- clean
- tube
- practice
- specific tonal character
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
- Practice
Genres the Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head is commonly used in
- Metal
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. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard 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 Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head
Greer Royal Velvet
Greer
19% matchFeed a high gain signal into Greer Royal Velvet and it comes out closer to clean boost
Xotic EP Booster
Xotic
17% matchFeed a high gain signal into Xotic EP Booster and it comes out closer to clean boost
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
Boss
17% matchBoss BD-2 Blues Driver pushes a high gain tone toward clean boost
Audiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone
Audiocade
13% matchAudiocade 1974 Colorsound Tremolo Clone's own voicing points at Vox-style amps, and Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head delivers it
Warm Audio Pedal 76 Compressor
Warm Audio
10% matchWarm Audio Pedal 76 Compressor's tight voice suits Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head's own tight character
Walrus Audio Fathom
Walrus Audio
10% matchKeep Walrus Audio Fathom in Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head's effects loop, clear of Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Meris Mercury7 Reverb
Meris
10% matchPut Meris Mercury7 Reverb in Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head's effects loop, clear of Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Laney TI-Boost
Laney
tonal matchInto Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head, Laney TI-Boost is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Bad Cat Ocelot 20 Watt Tube
Bad Cat
64% similarityShared character: channel_2, room, practice
Blackstar HT20R MkII
Blackstar
61% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, two_channels, room
Bad Cat Ocelot
Bad Cat
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Morgan MVP23 Head
Morgan
94% similaritysimilar tone character
EVH 5150III LBX II
Evh
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall Mini Silver Jubilee 2525C 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp
Marshall
94% similaritysimilar tone character
BluGuitar Amp1
Bluguitar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT Club 40
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall JVM Series JVM205H
Marshall
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar Studio 10 KT88 Limited Edition
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT 5RH Head
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Sunn 100s
amplifier
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head?+
The closest matches in character are the Bad Cat Ocelot 20 Watt Tube, the Blackstar HT20R MkII, the Bad Cat Ocelot.
What pairs well with the Bad Cat Rubicon 2-Ch 25-Watt Lunchbox Head?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Greer Royal Velvet, Xotic EP Booster, Boss BD-2 Blues Driver — Feed a high gain signal into Greer Royal Velvet and it comes out closer to clean boost.