logo

Victory Amps unleashes VX The Kraken

Victory Amps announces VX The Kraken, a new high-gain 50-watt valve amp head.

Victory Amps The Kraken

Victory Amps The Kraken

When you purchase through affiliate links on Guitar.com, you may contribute to our site through commissions. Learn more.

Clean sounds? You don’t need no stinkin’ clean sounds. British amplifier company Victory Amps, spearheaded by chief designer Martin Kidd, has unveiled its latest compact valve head: VX The Kraken.

The Kraken packs 50-watts of power (switchable down to 15 watts in low power mode or just nine or two watts in single-ended mode) and two footswitchable gain modes into a lunchbox head small enough to fit in an overhead luggage compartment on a commercial flight.

Shipping with 6L6 power valves – EL34s can also be used thanks to the onboard bias switch – the Kraken’s range of tones, “starts with crunching rhythm tones, and sears on to all the gain you’ll ever need.” Gain I offers classic British rock tones, while Gain II is where it’s at for Martin Kidd’s take on contemporary American high-gain sounds.

Those expecting Victory’s next big launch to be the Rob Chapman signature Red Dwarf amplifier will have to wait until September, although G&B understands that Chapman’s Dorje bandmate Rabea Massaad was involved in the R&D process behind The Kraken, thus ending the speculation about a Massaad signature amp.

Victory tells us that Rabea’s input to the VX was invaluable, having leant his ears and experience to the design process throughout the amp’s development. So while it is the amp Rabea will be using – he’s using two together in fact – it’s not a signature model.
VX The Kraken will be available in August 2015, with a recommended UK retail price of £829.

Victory VX The Kraken rear panel
Features

  • All-valve head with two gain modes
  • 50 to 2-watts RMS
  • 4 x 12AX7 preamp, 2 x 6L6 power valves (can be switched for EL34)
  • Footswitchable ‘Gain 1’ & ‘Gain II’ modes
  • Footswitchable master volumes
  • ‘Bass focus’ switch changes the negative feedback in the power amp, offering a tighter, more focused low end, or a more loose and resonant response
  • Series effects loop
  • High and low power modes
  • Single-ended mode uses just one output valve for lower output, more compression and different playing dynamics
  • Padded carry bag and footswitches included
  • Dimensions (mm): 342(w) x 185(h) x 185(d)
  • Weight: 8.2kg
  • SRP pricing: £829 (British pounds sterling inc VAT) $1,229 (US dollars ex-tax) / €929 (Euro ex-VAT)

Visit Victory Amps for more information
Victory Amps VX The Kraken

Related Brands

Related Tags

logo

The world’s leading authority and resource for all things guitar.

© 2024 Guitar.com is part of NME Networks.