More than two decades after introducing the original Cub, Bad Cat has distilled its signature voice into a compact amp head built for modern players. The Mod Shop Cub 15 head delivers the touch-sensitive feel, harmonically rich response and flexible routing today's guitarists expect. Powered by a pair of EL84 power tubes and three 12AX7 preamp tubes, this 15W single-channel head combines the original Cub-inspired midrange with a tighter low end for a focused modern voice. It provides ample clean headroom for demanding pedalboards while offering a footswitchable gain stage for natural tube overdrive, dual master volumes, studio-quality reverb and a buffered effects loop. Built in Costa Mesa, CA, with custom hand-wound Bad Cat transformers, the Cub 15 head delivers classic-inspired tube response with the flexibility and control modern players expect.
Dynamic Cub Tone With Focused Midrange and Tight Lows
The Mod Shop Cub 15 is voiced to capture the musical midrange of the original Cub while delivering a firmer low-frequency response for contemporary rigs. Its EL84 power section tracks picking dynamics closely, moving from articulate clean tones to harmonically rich breakup as the player increases attack. Bass, middle and treble controls provide familiar EQ shaping, while the global presence control adjusts upper-frequency attack and openness. The circuit also responds clearly to different pickup types, allowing the unique voice of each guitar and pickup configuration to come through distinctly.
Footswitchable Overdrive and Dual Master Volumes
A clean/overdrive gain selector lets the Cub 15 move from open clean response to natural tube saturation without requiring a separate drive pedal. Two footswitchable master volumes provide independent rhythm and lead levels, and the included two-button footswitch controls both gain selection and master-volume switching from the floor. Studio-quality reverb adds adjustable depth, while the buffered effects loop accommodates delays, reverbs and modulation effects after the preamp stage. This straightforward control layout delivers a broad performance range without sacrificing the simplicity and immediacy of a single-channel amplifier.
Flexible Cabinet Pairing in a Compact California-Built Head
Dedicated speaker outputs support 4-, 8- and 16-ohm cabinets, along with 2 x 4-ohm and 2 x 8-ohm configurations for flexible external cabinet pairing. A line output further expands recording and signal-routing options. The Baltic birch enclosure measures 20.75" wide, while its 33 lb. weight keeps the head manageable for rehearsals, sessions and live performance. For guitarists seeking boutique British-inspired tube tone with the freedom to choose their own cabinet, the Bad Cat Mod Shop Cub 15 tube amp head delivers classic Cub character with practical modern control.