Victory V4 The Sheriff Preamp Pedal

In its short history, Victory has become one of the UK's leading amplifier brands. Known for its portable lunchbox-style amp heads, the forward-thinking company has made its first step into the pedal world with its V4 series of preamp pedals.

The V4 Design

Taking the sounds of its most popular amp head designs, these fully-analogue, valve-driven V4 stompboxes from Victory can convincingly emulate their full-fledged counterparts. Powered by three CV4014 valves and a single EC900, that genuine tube amp feel and sound is captured.  

Boasting two channels and multiple controls for flexible tone-shaping, a Victory V4 preamp pedal can become the centrepiece of your guitar rig. Enclosed within compact steel chassis', you can easily mount these potent-sounding powerhouses to your pedalboard so that your core sounds are literally at your feet!

Delivering Justice To Your Tone - Wild West Style!

Victory's 'The Sheriff' preamp pedal is just one of the several V4 models available, but this unit is unique for providing classic modded "Plexi"-style tones. Delivering the punchy low-to-medium gain textures of its bigger brothers, you can transform your existing amplifier into a British-sounding brute!

With low-gain settings you can attain a smooth and articulate crunch, perfect for blues or classic rock genres. However, crank it up and you'll get into hard rock territory; dishing out a saturated overdrive that'll cut through effortlessly in a mix.

Flexible Controls

Much like the full-sized amp versions of 'The Sheriff', the V4 preamp pedal features a similar control-set for excellent versatility. With a typical 3-band EQ section, the V4 Sheriff also boasts a bright switch that allows you to tailor the top-end frequencies. This means that if you're using the pedal in conjunction with a dark-sounding amplifier, you can compensate via this thoughtful appointment.

With the ability to switch between two channels via a dedicated footswitch, you can set the amount of gain for each of these modes with the Vol 1 and 2 knobs. Giving you two separate voices, this means that you can essentially create a 3-channel setup when running the V4 into a clean amplifier - with clean, rhythm and lead sounds. You can also control the volumes of these modes via the Master 1 and 2 controls, meaning that you can set one of them louder than the other for a solo boost.

Multiple Routing Possibilities

The most noteworthy aspect of the V4's design is its ability to be used in two particular ways. The most simple method is to plug 'The Sheriff' directly into the front-end of your amp, much like a conventional overdrive unit. Victory refer to this as 'Standalone Mode'.

While you can achieve great results that way, you can take full advantage of the pedal by routing it through your existing amplifiers's effects loop. Bypassing your amp's preamp stage, you can connect the unit straight to the power section via the effects loop return. Routed this way, when the pedal is disengaged you’re basically using your amp as normal, but when you turn the pedal on you bypass its preamp. This will give your amplifier an almost entirely new voice, character and feel - transforming the sound of your rig as a whole. This is referred to as ‘Amp Through Mode’. Here's a more concise explanation of how this works:

• Amp Through Mode utilises the effects loop of a guitar amp.
• When the pedal is ON, you’re bypassing your amp’s front-end.
• When the pedal is OFF, you’re plugged into your amp as normal.

Remote Switch

Another feature that is worthy of note is the Remote Switch input at the side of the chassis. This allows you to flick between the V4's channels with a device like a pedal switcher, via a TRS cable. You can also turn the unit on/off thanks to the Remote Switch functionality, meaning that you can almost fully control the Victory V4 Sheriff preamp with an external device.

Key Features

• Two Gain Modes - Vol 1 and Vol 2 are lower and higher gain modes. They can be switched from the top panel or via the ‘remote’ TRS jack on the side of the pedal. Bypass (on/off) is switchable remotely too.
• Bright Switch - Three positions, designed as a global setting to best match the V4 Pedal Preamp to your amp, because effects loops and amp front ends differ dramatically. Choose the one that sounds best.
• Two Master Volumes - Set the output levels of each mode independently, to taste. Set to zero before turning on!
• 3-Band EQ - Powerful bass, middle and treble controls. These also have a significant effect on the gain character and drive levels – just like in any valve guitar amp.  
• Protective Rail - Protection for the knobs when you’re stomping.
• Connection Jacks - Clearly labelled so there is no confusion.
• Power Inlet Jack - 12V DC, 800mA minimum. There are four valves, so they need plenty of current! Adapter supplied.

Specifications

• Valves: 1 x EC900, 3 x CV4014
• Features: Steel chassis, 2 switchable gain modes, remote TRS switching option
• Power: 12V DC / 800mA minimum, DC adapter  supplied
• V4 pedals run on a switch mode power supply and ship with the relevant adaptors for each territory
• Size: 225(w) x 140(h) x 79mm(d) inc. feet & knobs
• Weight: 1.65kg  (3.6lbs)