Victory VX The Kraken 50W Head - 6L6

Sorry, we have to do it.... RELEASE THE KRAKEN!!!!!!

Victory have made some great amps over the years and have built up a reputation for high quality, tone rich heads that deliver a truly stunning range of sounds. The new Kraken head is, like its namesake, a real monster.

In the original tone testing of the Kraken (that included Martin Kidd & Rabea Massaad) it was agreed that 6L6s gave the tone we were looking for, & so the “regular” Kraken comes with these valves fitted as standard. However, if you think you’d prefer the Kraken fitted with EL34s you can order that as standard if you want. It should be noted that in Rabeas stereo Kraken set up (which is without doubt the most crushing guitar tone we’ve ever heard!) he uses EL34s in the amp he sets to channel 1 & 6L6s in the amp he sets to channel 2.

Similar to it's more refined sibling the Countess the Kraken is a portable, 2 channel head but you wont find a subtle clean channel here. Instead the Kraken presents you with 2 gain channels, 1 based on British tones and the other on American sounds. If you like your metal heavy this amp is for you.

Two Gain Modes

While a lot of amplifiers will offer you a clean and crunch channels very few offer you just two high gain crunchy overdrive channels. If you play rock or metal the clean channel may be completely useless to you so why not replace that with another gain stage so you can free up your pedalboard of all of those pesky drive pedals.

Two Tube Types

This version of the Victory VX comes as standard with a set of 6L6 power amp tubes. You are not stuck with these for life though as you can easily change out the 6L6 tubes for EL34 at any time as long as you bias the amp after changing over. The differences between these tubes are subtle but noticeable in the feel to the player.

Variable Power

50w is a lot of power but it is often needed at medium to larger size venues to even be heard when mic'ed up. When you are at home however that can just be overkill. Victory know that you don't always need 50w so you can switch the Kraken down to 15w, 9w or even 2w of power for use at home, in the studio or on smaller stages.

Extended Range Friendly

So many artists that play prog metal, djent or similar genres are using extended range guitars. Whether that is 7, 8 or even 9 strings the Kraken has a trick up its sleeve to make sure you never get flabby low end again.

With a flip of the Bass Focus knob you go from a tight and focused low end that works great with extra low tunings to a looser lower end perfect for grungy American metal tones.

Reviews

Guitarist - 9/10

"For the VX to pack such a powerful punch from such a small package makes it one of, if not the best metal amp we have ever played through."

"To all extended range players: Consider yourself well and truly catered for. Unleash The Kraken, indeed!"

Here's what VX Kraken User Rabea Massaad has to say about the 6L6 and EL34 versions

"6L6 - The 6L6 Loaded Kraken has a little more warmth in the low end, and has a slightly smoother/sweeter top end which is great for singing leads. The mid range is barky and aggressive with a powerful punch. This configuration lends itself to anything between warm, pushed clean/crunch tones, through to powerful and chunky rhythm tones.

EL34 - The EL34 Loaded Kraken has a powerful and cutting mid and high range, with a controlled low end. Gain 1 gives you a classic British crunch to enjoyable high gain tones, whereas gain 2 gives you soaring lead tones, a biting mid range and a solid low end.

The difference is pretty subtle but does make all the difference in feel to the player."

Here's what Victory have to say about the Kraken

Victory Amplification from the UK proudly announces VX The Kraken, a 50-watt box of glorious gain tones for hard rock, metal, extended-range and progressive players.
Forget clean sounds: our latest all-valve compact head starts with crunching rhythm tones, and sears on to all the gain you’ll ever need. You can use it at home, on stage or in the studio: VX The Kraken will even travel as hand luggage when you fly.

TWO FOOTSWITCHABLE GAIN MODES

Gain I offers modded classic, master-volume British rock sounds. Gain II is our unique take on contemporary American high gain tones

POWERFUL EQ

Shared across both gain modes, but optimised for each

TWO FOOTSWITCHABLE MASTER VOLUMES

Footswitch between two master volume levels at any time

HIGH & LOW POWER

50 watts full power, 15 watts low power. (9 or 2 watts when used with single-ended mode)

BASS FOCUS SWITCH

Much more than a bass EQ, this changes the negative feedback in the power amp, offering tighter, more focussed low end, or more loose and resonant

SINGLE-ENDED MODE

Switch down to single-ended mode (from full power, push-pull) to use just one output valve for lower output, more compression and different playing dynamics

6L6 or EL34 VALVES

Bias switch enables use of either tube type. (For best results, the amp should be biased by a tech with any output valve change)

SERIES EFFECTS LOOP

For players who like to run effects in a loop rather than into the front of the amp. Footswitchable on/off

FLEXIBLE SWITCHING

Gain 1/II, Master 1/II and FX loop on/off. Footswitches included

Specifications

Format: All-valve head with two gain modes
Power: 50 to 2 watts RMS
Valves: 4 x 12AX7, 2 x 6L6 (can be switched for EL34)
Size (mm): 342(w) x 185(h) x 185(d)
Weight: 8.2kg

Extra features:

• Footswitchable modes ‘Gain 1’ & ‘Gain II’,
• footswitchable master volumes
• ‘bass focus’ switch,
• series effects loop
• high and low power modes
• single-ended mode
• power valves switchable to EL34
• Padded carry bag included