As a side note, I was using both presence button settings in this video. It made a bit of difference but I wish it was affecting higher frequencies. Still sick!
I was going to ask if you saw the presence switch on the back. I use a victory v4 kraken with an eq in the loop and get some nice presence and depth out of it. It’s a sweet gigging rig.
Ola Ola, sou guitarrista moro no brasil, meu sonho é ter uma sollar, mas no brasil fica impossivel comprar porq causa dos velores, ficaria eternamente grato ce a sollar guitars me desse uma guitar sollar. Tanks Ola the best.
Thanks for checking it out man! Although I think you missed out a few bits that would’ve helped you out in your tone search. Firstly the presence shift would’ve given you the higher sizzle you were after. We offered two areas of presence depending on what guitars and tunings you’re playing. You needed to engage the presence shift to get that sizzle. Secondly, you had the bass focus pushed in which acts as a high pass filter, therefore in a standard tuning it’d sound less bassy. That’s why your bass control was on full and you felt it needed more. With it disengaged it has more than enough low end to compliment the high end. Either way. Glad you liked the tone. Note: seen you found the shift switch. It’s worth saying we don’t really want to recreate the same fizzy presence that a lot of other high gain amps feature. We wanna offer something different but still in the same ball park. Personally not a massive fan of the super fizzy presence in a lot of high gain amps. Either way. Tones in your video were great man.
@@OlaEnglundyeah man, 100% agree it’s all preference and I wasn’t knocking the high end fizz or sizzle btw just something I’ve always struggled to get right in the tones I go for. But I’m glad you dig it dude. Very proud of this little beast.
B is in the house! I am super picky about amps and their design/features, and where they are built. I literally can't find anything wrong with this new Kraken VX mk II! It has every feature I would want. It's not "made in China". You can use 6L6 or el34! You can bias it yourself from the back without taking it apart! It has a low-power mode! 50watts is plenty to drive a 4x12 cab. No top-end fizzyness! Bass-focus and presence-shift switches are nice to have! Effects loop is essential, gotta have it. It's compact, but the "lunchbox" version has lots of ventilation. ( The "head-shell" version looks cooler tho! ) The sound: excellent tones! All the channels/tones sounded killer. With an MXR 10-band EQ, and a few drive pedals... I could probably get any tone I would ever want out of this thing. From JCM800 to ENGL Savage! I had my eye on a BadCat LYNX, but I think this new Kraken VX mk II might have edged it out of the top spot in the 50-watt high-gain high-quality tube amp category! Sweetwater is now carrying Victory amps for the USA market! Sweetwater is where we Americans get our gear from. They are excellent. Good job on this one B! I am highly impressed with the new VX mk II amp! It definitely CHUGS! LoL!
Forget the amp, that guitar Ola's playing is something else. Look at that subtle wood grain pattern. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a hardtail.
I have the mkI and can confirm, it doesn't really need a boost. I was blown away when I first played it. Haven't tried it boosted but I bet it would be nuts!!
That’s a great sounding amp. Makes me wish i was a kid again just starting out. Back in my day you had two choices: get a Marshall (and know someone that knew how to hot rod it) or get a Boogie. That was it. Now there’s a gazillion amps out there. Good time to be out and killin it.
When Ola says the presence could be higher, it means to me it's at the right spot. Ola always dials greats sounds but always a tad too much sizzle, almost fizzy to me. So I started questioning if had didn't have some hearing loss in the treble that made him dial so much trebles it sometimes sounds metallic.
There’s a difference between room sound and the sound a mic pics up. Mics always add a lot of high frequencies you only hear if you sit straight in front of the speaker.
biggest improvement is the clean channel apparently, the original kraken pedals and amps are just insane high gain guitar heaven for me. my old rectifier is just used as a poweramp for the v4 kraken pedal since i have it and i prefere it over the mesa preamp. cheers 🎸🎸
It sounds awesome and incredibly ballsy, but I can't blame your critiques! They are personal preferences, I understand and a lot of players would find this a plug-and-play type of tone...but after owning 5150s, presence and resonance knobs in general are super helpful for that final tweaking.
I haven't played through a Victory amp personally but they sound badass. I like that they are smaller than a standard tube head but the tone can still hold up to the big amps.
Yeah, thought of you when I saw the presence knob added, remember it was your only gripe with the Kraken before. This amp looks promising, instant competitor to EVH 5150 50W line I guess.
Did not know Lee Anderton was part owner of Victory. I guess it makes sense given how often they use them on their channel, like Chapman guitars. He's got his hands in quite a few business ventures. Doing quite well for himself. Anyway, those amps are solid. I like the Sheriff the most. For Kraken territory, I prefer a couple other high gain amps, but it still sounds quite good.
Yeah, it kind of got exposed by KDH, haha. He kept it quiet because he didn't want people to associate it too much with andertons, and instead have it stand on its own as a company. Makes sense, people might see it as a guitar stores own brand, like harley benton with thomann, which kind of gives off a cheap vibe.
Victory Amps are awesome! I have the Earl V50 with a Victory 2x12 cabinet. Having independent reverb and gain controls for each channel is extremely useful. I’ve always wanted one of these little Krakens…it definitely chugs🤘
Really dig the fact they got it in this form factor. Just saw the pricing (1,419 GBP for the lunchbox & 1,579 GBP for the compact headshell) - guess it's a fair asking price given what they packed in this time around.
Would love to hear them layered together but overall the Lynx was richer to my ears and not as brash and dare I say not as boxy..I believe they both have their places
Ola the whole idea behind the MK2 you completely missed.....on the back has a power soak knob for when you switch to crunch it keeps the volume at a level where you don't have such a difference when switching between clean and crunch.
I like the fact that Ola is able to play one single chord for long-long minutes and tweaking the equipment. (Really hate to listening endless shredders in testing vids)
Wow! Sound fricking good man! I agree it has a lot of an MT 15 (I own one of those) it reminds me of it. And in that sense 50W is shed loads and you wonder if a lower wattage would make sense and be possibile, to also lower the price point and to use it at home...how many of you play at home? Those pedals you got out of the box...they were for you only, I should think they don't come with it neh!? To be picky about the look of it - because it is important to me what I see in my little studio - the gold colour sucks, its tacky in my view and the handle sucks also, looks outdated on that type of chassis, kind of an afterthought I think. Having said all that.... it sounds bloody good and I wouldn't mind one!...I just think 50w valves is too much for 'everyday' play. Have a great weekend everyone and chug, chug 👽🤘
It does have an option to attenuate down to 9 watts so I can't see them doing a specifically lower wattage version. I'd be very happy to be proven wrong tho!!
awesome video, but can you please do a video on the Diezel Hagen and VH4, and some of the Bogners, Ecstacy pandora mod, twin jet, and obviously the Ultra Uberschall?
As a side note, I was using both presence button settings in this video. It made a bit of difference but I wish it was affecting higher frequencies. Still sick!
I was going to ask if you saw the presence switch on the back.
I use a victory v4 kraken with an eq in the loop and get some nice presence and depth out of it.
It’s a sweet gigging rig.
Ola Ola, sou guitarrista moro no brasil, meu sonho é ter uma sollar, mas no brasil fica impossivel comprar porq causa dos velores, ficaria eternamente grato ce a sollar guitars me desse uma guitar sollar. Tanks Ola the best.
I prefer the presence to affect what most consider absurdly high frequencies. Around 10,000 Hz.
Just use a MXR 10-band EQ with it. Problem solved. Every guitar player should already have one of those EQ pedals anyway.
“Still sick”
Thanks for checking it out man! Although I think you missed out a few bits that would’ve helped you out in your tone search.
Firstly the presence shift would’ve given you the higher sizzle you were after. We offered two areas of presence depending on what guitars and tunings you’re playing. You needed to engage the presence shift to get that sizzle.
Secondly, you had the bass focus pushed in which acts as a high pass filter, therefore in a standard tuning it’d sound less bassy. That’s why your bass control was on full and you felt it needed more.
With it disengaged it has more than enough low end to compliment the high end.
Either way. Glad you liked the tone.
Note: seen you found the shift switch. It’s worth saying we don’t really want to recreate the same fizzy presence that a lot of other high gain amps feature. We wanna offer something different but still in the same ball park.
Personally not a massive fan of the super fizzy presence in a lot of high gain amps.
Either way. Tones in your video were great man.
It all comes down to preference of course. Like I said in the video it IS really nitpicking on my behalf, and the amp kicks ass! You guys did great.
Hey man I just bought the 1st VX Kraken amp. It rules dude! You did a great job.
@@OlaEnglundyeah man, 100% agree it’s all preference and I wasn’t knocking the high end fizz or sizzle btw just something I’ve always struggled to get right in the tones I go for. But I’m glad you dig it dude. Very proud of this little beast.
B is in the house! I am super picky about amps and their design/features, and where they are built. I literally can't find anything wrong with this new Kraken VX mk II! It has every feature I would want. It's not "made in China". You can use 6L6 or el34! You can bias it yourself from the back without taking it apart! It has a low-power mode! 50watts is plenty to drive a 4x12 cab. No top-end fizzyness! Bass-focus and presence-shift switches are nice to have! Effects loop is essential, gotta have it. It's compact, but the "lunchbox" version has lots of ventilation. ( The "head-shell" version looks cooler tho! ) The sound: excellent tones! All the channels/tones sounded killer. With an MXR 10-band EQ, and a few drive pedals... I could probably get any tone I would ever want out of this thing. From JCM800 to ENGL Savage! I had my eye on a BadCat LYNX, but I think this new Kraken VX mk II might have edged it out of the top spot in the 50-watt high-gain high-quality tube amp category! Sweetwater is now carrying Victory amps for the USA market! Sweetwater is where we Americans get our gear from. They are excellent. Good job on this one B! I am highly impressed with the new VX mk II amp! It definitely CHUGS! LoL!
@@RabeaMassaad hey bro my original comment was for you. The Kraken is awesome man.
Got that signature Lee Anderton heavy tone.
Forget the amp, that guitar Ola's playing is something else. Look at that subtle wood grain pattern. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a hardtail.
reading up on it, there's a presence switch at the back that you can engage to up the frequency of the presence knob.
i know that's a modern metal amplifier tight af but even knowing this doesnt need a boost pedal i would like to see this boosted, because yes
Fasheezy +1
More is more.
It can be a 5150, I’m always going to clean boost it with a drive pedal lmao
I have the mkI and can confirm, it doesn't really need a boost. I was blown away when I first played it. Haven't tried it boosted but I bet it would be nuts!!
“Because yes” lol I feel you bro
The kraken is probably my favorite amp victory makes. Rabea did a great job designing this amp with the team at victory
loved the subtle mention of the KDH outing Capt'n Lee as the co-owner! Great!!!! lol
Ola with the Bolt Thrower shirt...the man gets it.
You can't claim to be a legit metal fan without a Bolt Thrower CD in your collection somewhere. ( I don't make the rules. It is what it is. )
That’s a great sounding amp. Makes me wish i was a kid again just starting out. Back in my day you had two choices: get a Marshall (and know someone that knew how to hot rod it) or get a Boogie. That was it. Now there’s a gazillion amps out there. Good time to be out and killin it.
No doubt! Almost too many choices now lol
Loved the co-owned by Lee joke, on point.
When Ola says the presence could be higher, it means to me it's at the right spot. Ola always dials greats sounds but always a tad too much sizzle, almost fizzy to me. So I started questioning if had didn't have some hearing loss in the treble that made him dial so much trebles it sometimes sounds metallic.
He's sitting on the side of the cab. He's hearing much less highs since the speakers are 12inch and insanely directional at high frequencies.
Correct.
There’s a difference between room sound and the sound a mic pics up. Mics always add a lot of high frequencies you only hear if you sit straight in front of the speaker.
Metallic….. Metal…… hmm 🧐
I think with the shift button on the back you can add a little broader presence
biggest improvement is the clean channel apparently, the original kraken pedals and amps are just insane high gain guitar heaven for me. my old rectifier is just used as a poweramp for the v4 kraken pedal since i have it and i prefere it over the mesa preamp. cheers 🎸🎸
What's wrong with the clean on an og kraken amp?
@@jamesmoses4066 it just has none dude, thats the reason why they have improved it. the og kraken is based on a jcm 900, so the "cleans" are .
@@Turbo-D oh i was thinking of the super kraken, since it has a dedicated clean channel
Oh shit, this is the most middy crunchy sweet and biting amp ever, and btw the presence is really amasing, MORE MIDS!!!)
Just read on the Victory site that there's a Presence Shift switch control to change the focus of the presence control to give more "sizzle"...
I did try it but didn't really help that much to be honest
@@OlaEnglund Noted. Thanks, Ola - good to know!
It sounds awesome and incredibly ballsy, but I can't blame your critiques! They are personal preferences, I understand and a lot of players would find this a plug-and-play type of tone...but after owning 5150s, presence and resonance knobs in general are super helpful for that final tweaking.
I haven't played through a Victory amp personally but they sound badass. I like that they are smaller than a standard tube head but the tone can still hold up to the big amps.
Dude this amp sounds amazing!
I liked the frequency of the presence knob, felt it was in the spirit of the British sound.
Bro this amp sounds so clean and so heavy same time, omg!
05:40 ‘that sounds pretty good’ - it sounds frickin amazing! 😆
Edit: Ola’s exact words a minute later, haha!
we want to see more comparison videos with a mesa and some new amps your showing ola. Thanks again for the awsome video.
Yeah, thought of you when I saw the presence knob added, remember it was your only gripe with the Kraken before. This amp looks promising, instant competitor to EVH 5150 50W line I guess.
You're joking right? The 5150 blows this thing out of the water!
Sounds awesome. Adding a T75 might make the highs a bit more piercing.
There is a presence shift button, and a bass focus switch too
Love the Rabea-esque riffage on a Kraken for the opening. Very nice.
Enjoyed the KDH giggle :)
Kraken is my favourite amp sound. Wish I could afford it! Also wish they made smaller, more affordable combo versions.
Love the vx100 super kraken. Can only imagine that this little brother is also excellent! Sounds good!
I like this little monster! It sounds great! 🤘
Did not know Lee Anderton was part owner of Victory. I guess it makes sense given how often they use them on their channel, like Chapman guitars. He's got his hands in quite a few business ventures. Doing quite well for himself. Anyway, those amps are solid. I like the Sheriff the most. For Kraken territory, I prefer a couple other high gain amps, but it still sounds quite good.
Yeah, it kind of got exposed by KDH, haha. He kept it quiet because he didn't want people to associate it too much with andertons, and instead have it stand on its own as a company. Makes sense, people might see it as a guitar stores own brand, like harley benton with thomann, which kind of gives off a cheap vibe.
A damn good chug for sure. Sounds pissed as hell.
excellent review - victory amps have that dry type vibe to them but with some soul - nice amp - love the Chug
Uncle chugola is at it again
i would love to see this amp head to head with KSR Orion 45, Badcat Lynx 50 and the new Soldano Astro 20 its gonna be interesting lol
Victory Amps are awesome! I have the Earl V50 with a Victory 2x12 cabinet. Having independent reverb and gain controls for each channel is extremely useful. I’ve always wanted one of these little Krakens…it definitely chugs🤘
Did u check the presence button on the back?
I did but it didn't added enough ,
Really dig the fact they got it in this form factor. Just saw the pricing (1,419 GBP for the lunchbox & 1,579 GBP for the compact headshell) - guess it's a fair asking price given what they packed in this time around.
Great now need this vs Lynx comparison
Would love to hear them layered together but overall the Lynx was richer to my ears and not as brash and dare I say not as boxy..I believe they both have their places
8:39 yeah i have been trying to learn Tornado of souls' solo too.
Waiting for people to profile this for my tonex 😎 love the super kraken sound, perfect modern metal amp
The Countess 2 later known as the Jack also makes for a really good metal amp
I increased the 8k frequency in my setup and it does sound a bit better.
You should try Gain 1 with overdrive pedal 😊
This tone is Rabea in a box
Unrelated but the Bolt Thrower shirt is a major flex
Nice to see thar lee watches ola
Definitely could have used some more bite in the upper highs.
Love your grey shoes!
Ola the whole idea behind the MK2 you completely missed.....on the back has a power soak knob for when you switch to crunch it keeps the volume at a level where you don't have such a difference when switching between clean and crunch.
I like the fact that Ola is able to play one single chord for long-long minutes and tweaking the equipment. (Really hate to listening endless shredders in testing vids)
This version feels like they based it off of his plugin; which was a modified version of the original XD
Love that amp.
“More is more” - Malmsteen
I’ve always wanted the Victory red dwarf.
Boltthrower tischa...hell yes!
I'm deaf and i like it 🤘🤘🤘
Yes!
Please make the Chug Mute available to purchase. I want one for all my guitars. Please @OlaEnglund!!!
That’s what we call fast unpoxing 😊
And back in the box again 😮
I remember bea use to say he don't like the fizz or "sizzle" you called it
Thanks Ola!!!🎉🎉🎉
That voice at 3:47 😂😂😂
Sounds like a 6505 to me but maybe a slightest bit compressed and kept on a leash.
Would like to see it against the new 5150's.
Well I just bought one now thanks ola haha!
Kraken.show..bolt thrower..style. ETC 🔥🔥🔥🔥⚔️
Good mix.
You made that AssKraken sound great.
Please do a review of the Diezel VHX.
Just woke up and already headbanging
that opening riff is so damn tasty
Wow! Sound fricking good man! I agree it has a lot of an MT 15 (I own one of those) it reminds me of it. And in that sense 50W is shed loads and you wonder if a lower wattage would make sense and be possibile, to also lower the price point and to use it at home...how many of you play at home?
Those pedals you got out of the box...they were for you only, I should think they don't come with it neh!?
To be picky about the look of it - because it is important to me what I see in my little studio - the gold colour sucks, its tacky in my view and the handle sucks also, looks outdated on that type of chassis, kind of an afterthought I think.
Having said all that.... it sounds bloody good and I wouldn't mind one!...I just think 50w valves is too much for 'everyday' play.
Have a great weekend everyone and chug, chug
👽🤘
It does have an option to attenuate down to 9 watts so I can't see them doing a specifically lower wattage version. I'd be very happy to be proven wrong tho!!
Little pricey but sounds amazing. You get what you pay for! And that's not always a bad thing.
Sounds great Even without any pedals in front.
Would you try the IRIN Extreme Metal pedal? It was close to what I heard from Bolt Thrower.
Why does it sound so much better in the mix?
That tone man!
Good sir, please. Im looking since ages for it. What kind of "Chair" is that?
In case you missed it,Ola compared it to a PRS MT15 which retails at 1/3 of the price, in my village at least. Great job "those guys at Victory "😂😂😂
15 watt versus 50 watt ? not a good comparison...
If you want Peavey 6505/5150 tone boosted with Maxon then... Go for Kraken Gain II. Done!
VICTORY AMPS AND MESA BOOGIE ON TOP
awesome video, but can you please do a video on the Diezel Hagen and VH4, and some of the Bogners, Ecstacy pandora mod, twin jet, and obviously the Ultra Uberschall?
You don't want much do ya? 😆
Ola your sig Kraken Head Bass knob should go to 11 or even 20! lol
Sounds great!
Very good amp !
Hey @ola : you got your presence control 😊
nice review
hey ola when are you going to start selling solar guitars in the USA
What could you add infront of the amp for that last bit of sizzle?
I prefer the engl a lot over this, sounds more defined and customizable. This is an awesome tone though, just less my taste.
Fuck me, that Amp is like the Cloverfield Monster🤘🏽
No link's for that mic ???
Has a COC type tone.
I agree about the presence comment
Presence shift button exists I think
How does it compare to the evh 5150 stealth?
Well, release the kraken!
Everyone needs a quick chug.
I think these come with the 6L6 and they need to be swapped out for the el34s because that amp is too harsh
kemper profile at all?
Perfect META amp!!!