Master Your Guitar Tone - Victory Amp Comparison | WaterBear - The College of Music

Bruce John Dickinson compares the compact range of Victory Amps, chooses a selection for the WaterBear college guitar department and gives you 5 tips to develop your own signature tone along the way.
Here are the links to all the guitar amps used in this video:
www.victoryamp...
www.victoryamp...
www.victoryamp...
www.victoryamp...
www.victoryamp...
We liked all these amps so much we bought one of each for the college and ~ Bruce bought an additional Sheriff 22 for personal use!
Bruce’s pedal board includes a Cry Baby Wah and BSM treble booster, vintage boss OD3 and an 80’s Boss Flanger. Bruce's Guitar is a 1978 Les Paul Custom.
The music used in the intro is by Damn Dice: www.damndice.com
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[@RobChappers]

Interesting points about tone, see you soon buddy :-)

[@WaterBear]

Thanks Rob, see you shortly!

[@flatmatt123]

RD1- 4:24 Sheriff 22- 7:19 RK50- 9:55 V30- 12:07 Kraken- 13:45 Hope these annotations help

[@XxYngwiexX]

Yes my friend

[@samuel.langhorne.clemens]

Thank you

[@kirkpono5951]

Happily Playing my V30 and loving it!

[@johanjotun1647]

I saw a pic of back panel of the Kracken I saw 3 seperate 1/4 inch output jacks with different ohm ratings, does this mean it cannot run a 2 cab stack or do you have to run 2 cabs with different ohm speakers?

[@xy7539]

I bought the BD1, without exactly knowing how it would sound like and never looked back. After having played a few month this amp, I got rid of all my overdrive and distortion pedals. Now I do everything with the volume pot from the guitar. It sounds way better

[@BowserSpaceLaser]

Feel very similarly with the RD1/BD1! I still use my OD pedals to give it some more tightness and bring out some brightness but man it sounds awesome by itself too. I don't even like playing "classic rock" style but this amp does so much more than that so it's all good.

[@TinkerToneworks]

how do you think that the BD-1 compares to something like an Orange Rocker 15 Terror?

[@iancandler5446]

My rig? Sheriff 22 into an Orange 2x12 open back cab. I use a boing reverb pedal in the effects loop as I find the boing is very much like an amps in built spring reverb. I play mainly ch 1, which I find gives me the sound of my old plexi back in the day, cleans up lovely with the guitars vol and ch 2 ups the gain and takes it more into JCM territory. I love the fact that I can use the dedicated 0.3watt output for bedroom use though through the orange cab it’s still pretty loud. I love this amp, it’s every Marshall I’ve ever loved in one box and made in the uk to boot, even though the foot switch is made in china. I’d love to see Martin come out with a set of low wattage heads/combo’s for bedroom and studio use, say 5-15 watts with the 0.3 watt out as well, we’ve already got the sheriff but voxy & fendery type heads would go down a treat as well as matching cabs say 1x10 & 2x10?

[@joshlgrant]

Great to see them all lined up against each other! Really thinking of getting a Sheriff 22 soon. It’s a slight shame that all the short playing demos sound a bit clipped or something, but great information nonetheless!

[@WaterBear]

Did you get one?

[@MichaelMcGlynns]

Really great video. It's nice to hear the amps played loud and recorded with the room/camera mic.

[@WaterBear]

Thanks Michael. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@WaterBear]

Hey! We've got a new updated Victory Amps comparison video - this time with properly recorded guitar! We thought you might want to check it out 😀 Let us know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Iemukqr6MkM0

[@DatMetalBoi75]

That's probably the second dopest les paul I've ever seen. The first was my guitar teachers green custom

[@eguilherme1]

Great video! I’m a big Bogner fan, but over the past year, I’ve bought three of Victory’s compact amps. The RK50, Sheriff 22 & just ordered the V30 mk2. Great sounding amps at a killer price point. Martin is a hell of an amp designer & looks like a good guy to have a few beers 🍺 with 😁

[@silviopimentel7247]

Oh wow you being a bogner fan witch I am also! Then I kinda of trust ur opinion on checking it out. 👍 except the Marshall one 👎

[@TheGhostfaceKLR]

Very interesting. I have a Bogner Shiva sitting behind me; I just fetched my rig from our rehearsal space, and I was once again reminded how big and heavy the Shiva is in comparison to other amps I've owned. I keep looking at the V30 MkII as an option to get something more portable. I just wonder how I'd miss the extra features of the Shiva - more EQ, global master volume, presence control, and twice the power.

[@jimmyowenmusic]

The Sheriff is a wonderful amp!! Love that old cranked Plexi tone =)

[@jimotten3780]

Just bought the kraken. Channel 1 is sooo Black Sabbath to me. Love it and it cuts through the mix real well. Together with my old jcm 800 I have everything I need. Thanks victory👍🏼

[@billtrantos19]

Bought a Victory VX Kraken a few days ago, still waiting for it to arrive where I live. I'm travelling quite a lot, so a quality amp in that size with so much volume was a dream come true for me. Thank you Martin Kidd for those amps and Bruce for the nice demo!

[@WaterBear]

Nice one - enjoy. Small amps that can pack a punch - brilliant little range!

[@WaterBear]

Hey! We've got a new updated Victory Amps comparison video - this time with proper guitar sound! The pedals are great for touring musicians, so we thought you might want to check it out 😀 Let us know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Iemukqr6MkM0

[@robbievalentine8239]

boy oh boy. im between the sheriff and the v30, and this video was outstanding. i appreciate it very much Bruce. and sick les paul! yall are making it hard to buy jsut one!

[@TheNubis99]

Just bought a new Marshall 1987x amp, these tips are sure as hell worth a shot. Cheers!

[@WaterBear]

Let me know how you get on with it and the tips. Thankyou for checking the video out.

[@brucedickinson7592]

yep they are ace. Id happily gig with one all day long.

[@Patrick-fv6yh]

I really need a guitar shop close by to start stocking these amps. In all the videos ive seen, it sounds like the Kraken is the amp for me, would love to hear it in person tho

[@TheDogPa]

Ditto

[@Squeeb24]

Pastafarian Hugo just played one and a Super Kraken at NAMM a week ago and it blew me away! So much punch and tight but aggressive percussion. Beastly amps!

[@WaterBear]

Hey Hugo! We've got a new updated Victory Amps comparison video - this time with proper guitar sound! We thought you might want to check it out 😀 Let us know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Iemukqr6MkM0

[@edwindantes539]

Try living in the states if you don't already, we have I think 6 dealers here and they are in other states, thousands of miles away from me and no way of demoing these beauties.

[@philc6736]

My rig: Super Kraken VX driving a Marshall 1960. Mayones Duvell Elite 6 with BK VHII and Holy Diver Pup’s.

[@MrLespaul2000]

Handy and interesting comments Bruce. I'm picking my Sherriff 22 up tomorrow.

[@dylanlbdb]

Which one sounds most like a JCM800?

[@lipeguitars]

The Sheriff on channel two

[@paniccleo]

Wonder if victory will ever do a more voxy kind of head like that.

[@claybennett5875]

Little did you know 9 months later...

[@georgekaraspyros3835]

they do the Copper

[@scampthelazycat9891]

the sheriff 22 absolutely needs a 2nd master volume and for some reason it takes drive pedals like an absolute pig, with a level boost out front it's great but once you add drive then it turns to mud.

[@DrJSkellington]

I run my pedalboard through a Sheriff 22, no mud here! Play a bit with the master and the volume, I generally put the master all the way up and the volume I or II to the minimum when I want to run pedals..!

[@kevinmusso2397]

Powerful points on reverb. WISE

[@pedrofigueiredo3660]

Russel Crowe's guitar looks sick

[@aaalp]

Which Victory cab did you used with the amps? the one with the M65 speaker or the V30?

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Vox and Marshall heavy sounds here. Classic rock. What are the cleans like?

[@bulzah]

Im using 22 for last year, amazing amp. But as you said it is very hard amp to play. It makes you play better 100 percent.

[@WaterBear]

Great to hear you're enjoying the 22!

[@ridin1110]

Which one to choose for Zeppelin- Clapton bluesbreakers era kind of tone?

[@rasmusvadavlund7270]

Sheriff, channel 1

[@kornelious1]

Okay i've been guitar and amp shopping for over a month now... I think i'm going to be buying a victory... Those sound amazing... Love his les paul too... gorgeous guitar...

[@reminisce0208]

kornelious1 did buy one and are you happy with your purchase?

[@ronlucero847]

Well Martin doesn’t make a bad amp - I think victory’s trademark is clarity no matter how much gain but if I had to pick I would be split between sheriff and kraken - so I guess I would go with a el34 loaded kraken - keep kickin ass

[@WaterBear]

You've hit the nail on the head there - Thanks Ron!

[@jayteesgear]

You had me at “Kossoff” 🤠! SubSCRIBED! And WOW the Kotzen and the Plexi ish ones. Whoa!

[@MalCox56]

Good video, 2 fellas who know what they are talking about and can articulate it well.

[@kahlrhoam6769]

New Sub, all that. Yallo Waterbear Bruce, I be ‘The Honey Badger’. Your Spirit, Status, Style & HANDS, just *unholy* honking tone, instead of you being so good to make me QUIT, as usual, this was a damned inspiring presentation! You running out that Sherriff has me awfully distracted from the Kraken....definite truth about that low mids/ transformer stage that nearly all modern mfg’r’s miss. 👏😮⚡️🥃

[@paulcowart3174]

My main amp is a 100 watt Fender Tonemaster w 6l6s followed by my JCM 800 50 watt but have to say I really like what Victory is doing Going to look into one of these soon hopefully Good stuff

[@WaterBear]

Thanks Paul, that's a great rig you've got too. Which one was your favourite amp, out of these ones? It's great to see no compromise on sound and tone with these small form factors amps, isn't it? 🙂

[@paulcowart3174]

@@WaterBear lm pretty old school so really like the lil red one and the 2nd one but all these are hitting the mark it seems

[@WaterBear]

@@paulcowart3174 They all have really solid strong points indeed, which is pretty astonishing!

[@mhoff7722]

Nice woody tone and sustain on that Sheriff. Would definitely sound huge in stereo!

[@l8tapex]

Owner of " The Count". It may not be the #1 but it does exactly what it was designed to do... mobile with the big Victory sound.Like the 1st iPhone. Mobile tech...

[@abheceshabemuskk3531]

I would like your opinion about all channels of the amps.. like kraken ch1 vs the others amps

[@8rk]

What a great insight into Victory Amps!!! Thank you for this. If I may ask, which one would be the closest to Cornford MK50h. I'm a HUUUUUUUGE fan of that amp. Availability is as we all know not great anymore. I'd love to get a Victory that sounds close to that design.

[@brucedickinson7592]

Its a fast response on the Mk 50's and the mid range is very distinctive. I think you would want to avoid anything with any kind of vintage 'sag'. The head you should try is the Kraken I suspect. The MK50 has the weight and harmonic richness of a big head. you don't quite get that with a lunch box head, but loud they get pretty close.

[@8rk]

@@brucedickinson7592 Would have never guessed Kraken but that's why I asked! Appreciate the input Bruce. Will check one out when I can!

[@MrStephenlederle]

I fucking love seeing a bearded, tattooed bastard (with all due respect) in a dress shirt and matching slacks/vest combo. I want this to be me when I grow up.

[@marekdeml3375]

Great tips, thanks for that! Just a bit of a shame about the audio quality, but I'm sure that'll only get better!

[@WaterBear]

Thanks for checking this out. Will work on the audio for future videos.

[@WaterBear]

Hey Marek! We've got a new updated Victory Amps comparison video - this time with proper guitar sound! We thought you might want to check it out 😀 Let us know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Iemukqr6MkM0

[@JJBMusic0]

The Sheriff sounds amazing

[@simonpilgrims]

Great video. The problem as a potential buyer is knowing how these amps sound. So great job thanks.

[@WaterBear]

Thanks Simon, glad you found this useful.

[@WaterBear]

Hi Simon! We thought you might want to check out our new Victory Amps comparison video! 😀 Let us know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Iemukqr6MkM0

[@seanyiscubsfan1]

I got the RK50 2 months ago and it’s a phenomenal amp.

[@steveymoon]

Very sceptical about anyone who says they dislike effects-loops because it detracts from the thump of the amplifier. I'd lay money on it that if we could A/B an amplifier with its effects-loop engaged alongside an identical amplifier with its effects-loop out of the circuit, then nobody would hear a difference. Happy to be proven wrong, of course, but I'm very sceptical. Aside from that, this is a great run through and I love that Les Paul. There are a few new Victory amps now, like the V40 and the VC35, etc. Time for an update? 😊

[@brucedickinson7592]

It's probably about the type and design of the loop. It can affect the 'sag'- but you're right it's a feel thing as much as how it sounds. I doubt I would tell if someone else was playing.

[@JessieThorne886]

Very interesting video! Have you done any more in-depth videos of that Kraken? And it sounds like Kraken is also great for more classic rock, not just modern metal?

[@rangerdoc1029]

A two channel amp with a Sheriff channel 1, two saturated gain stages, with a bit of squish, but still punchy. . Kraken Channel 2, 4 cascaded gain stages, clean full power section with major clarity. . So far the Wizard Modern Classic has it, but I could buy 2 Sheriffs & a Kraken for what one Wizard costs.

[@vannmagruder9038]

All those had amazing midrange

[@JakeOfTheR]

Great video man, really interesting to see you do something a little different

[@WaterBear]

Thanks Jake. This was a really fun day with a great range of compact amps. Really pleased that you enjoyed watching!

[@mickhaslam2985]

Nice S.T.W. reprise on the white Kotzen 🖒

[@30gara]

Great vid...cheers guys!

[@WaterBear]

Thankyou for watching, glad you enjoyed it!

[@WaterBear]

Hey! We've got a new updated Victory Amps comparison video - this time with proper guitar sound! We thought you might want to check it out 😀 Let us know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Iemukqr6MkM0

[@paulwhitelaw7131]

wooooah it's dude from little angels . Jesus Christ I not heard your name since they Introduced the band on 'young gods live' when I was about 15. respect man great guitarist and informative video, thanks. :)

[@lipeguitars]

The RK 50 is the one for me

[@roba1899]

As an American, I have always coveted British tones for that fat, forward midrange you guys are known for. MUCH nicer than the Petrucci California 6L6 thing .. How's the clean channel on the V30? I'm sure it's better than a Fender amp :0) The Victory amps are so precise and not sloppy, mushy, fizzy .. Guthrie Govan is my King so if he's happy with it ..... Thanks Guys!

[@WaterBear]

Thanks for your feedback Rob! They are indeed very clean and precise. Like you said, if Guthrie Govan, Richie Kotzen or Rob Chapman are happy with these amps, Victory Amps must be doing something right! 😃

[@guitarsruinlives4497]

I love WB...I love Victory. And, I feel the need to say that the consistent implicit endorsement of Victory amps by Water Bear undermines the credibility of WB. I wouldn’t underestimate the corrosive effect on the trust of your viewership. If they think you’re bought by a company on any particular front, their trust in the whole institution is imperiled.

[@brucedickinson7592]

ahh we buy all our victory amps Josh- buy we do get a good deal. Personally I love them, but I use Cornells myself as they are less gainy and shiney. bit more earthy. I did this post just because I care about guitar sound and the victory heads sound great to my ears. But its a fair point you make -they are mates too. I should be a bit more objective you're right.

[@guitarsruinlives4497]

Bruce Dickinson I’m sure! I don’t doubt the integrity but thought the perspective was worth sharing, thanks for understanding the intent.

[@TVoltG]

💯 on the reverb tip. Less is more..

[@WaterBear]

Oh yes 🙌🏼

[@msaintpc]

That's the prettiest Les Paul Custom I've ever seen.

[@theprisonier]

Better sound next Time?

[@WaterBear]

Will be looking at improving the audio quality for future videos. Thanks for checking this video out and giving us some feedback.

[@WaterBear]

Hey! We've got a new updated Victory Amps comparison video - this time with proper guitar sound! We thought you might want to check it out 😀 Let us know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Iemukqr6MkM0

[@ajaykhurana1462]

Getting a Peaky Blinders vibe from you

[@bobbillnolan7644]

The black and gold one 🇬🇧✌️👍👌😍

[@LilOlFunnyBoy]

That is a badass Les Paul!

[@WaterBear]

Thanks a lot! It's been customised by Bruce himself over the years. That's what gives it its unique tone and feel to it. What's your go-to rig at the moment?

[@LilOlFunnyBoy]

Nothing with a Victory badge, sadly but my first electric guitar was a Gibson SG. I worked all summer to buy it ('88). It's beaten to hell and needs a refret but it's the ballsiest axe I have. Tone for days! :)

[@WaterBear]

@@LilOlFunnyBoy Guitars with history are the ones that sound the best! Take good care of them 😉

[@NaXuSGaming]

Goood video ;) just mind the clipping and its perfection

[@WaterBear]

HI there, thanks a lot for the feedback! Other people have told us about this issue before, so we'll make sure to fix it in the future 😉

[@WaterBear]

Hey! We've got a new updated Victory Amps comparison video - this time with proper guitar sound! We thought you might want to check it out 😀 Let us know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Iemukqr6MkM0

[@darkrebel5274]

Clipping!

[@WaterBear]

Hey! We've got a new updated Victory Amps comparison video - this time with proper guitar sound! We thought you might want to check it out 😀 Let us know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Iemukqr6MkM0

[@workdays8280]

Need a kick ass guitar player to demo it

[@martinwinther9006]

But i want both classic rock and drop c :D

[@АртёмСалахетдинов-ь9в]

Please tur off your phones when recording. It ruins the watching experience. Also the audio seems to be clipping. Otherwise the video is great.

[@Boomheyyou]

The Kracken is my amp

[@atithesnail]

too bad for the horrible audio, it's peaking all the way through

[@DrumRoody]

Bruce seems like the kind of geezer who'd glass ya if ya called him a geezer

[@brucedickinson7592]

ha ha I definitely wouldn't

[@humro5960]

Kraken.....💪👌👍

[@WaterBear]

The Kraken is amazing for higher gain tones 🎸

[@humro5960]

Victory Mesa and Engl.....the best amps for 2019

[@WaterBear]

Great choice, these are solid! By the way, how you seen our latest Victory pedals comparison videos? We think you might like it 🙂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Iemukqr6MkM0

[@wabisabi6802]

Gold. 👌

[@gili41]

Rd1 sounds the best

[@pinelandsound]

Jesus Loves You

[@jackbenson8228]

posts video of audio quality comparisons, with hideous audio quality.... wtf guys????

[@WaterBear]

We're sorry to hear that you're disappointed with our video. We didn't really think of this video as an audio comparison ; we were more intending to show off Victory's amazing new range of "lunchbox" amps. In the process, Bruce also got the chance to test the amps out, and get a real feel for their sounds and vibes, which what he explains in this video. Let us know if you'd like us to film a new video, where we mic up the amps and compare their audio properties properly. We'd be happy to suggest your ideas to the team 😊

[@jackbenson8228]

why not do a video of new paintings and leave the lens cap half on?? c'mon team, don't bullshit a bullshitter ;) a video on guitar amps (audio technology) and the videos audio is clipping to hell and back.... @@WaterBear

[@WaterBear]

Hi Jack! We've got a new updated Victory Amps comparison video - this time with proper guitar sound! We thought you might want to check it out 😀 Let us know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX_Iemukqr6MkM0

[@hueysharapova7175]

Mans not wrong

[@jamesha175]

OMG i am going to sell my marshall amp so i can buy one of these V amps so that i can achieve that classic marshall amp sound! who's with me? idiots.

[@brucedickinson7592]

Hmm Ive got several Marshall amps. but all these amps do different jobs at different volumes. Last time I toured I used Marshalls and Cornells. but we had a truck...You can fly with a Victory head and stick it hand luggage for example ... and they are super portable for little gigs. its all good.

[@jamesha175]

@@brucedickinson7592 oh i wouldn't argue with any of that