Victory Amps - What's All the Fuss About? Checking out the V30 Countess

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[@therangersinger]

After watching this video, It put into context what you had asked me the other day regarding the clean channel being quieter than the lead. I thought you were talking about the noise floor of the channels in which it is a rather quiet amp. I had the mark 2 version of this amp but that is irrelevant. That clean channel will knock your pants off with the amount of headroom it has. So I would definitely think there is something up with that particular clean channel on that amp. I would normally run the clean drive at around 2 o'clock and it just fattened up the tone a bit but wouldn't break up.

[@johnnathancordy]

Thanks for the intel - suspected there was something up as it seems like the clean on here is about 50% as loud as the dirt channel?

[@TheAdamBates]

The Anderton’s T-shirt…….man the joke that keeps on giving 😂

[@johnnathancordy]

I need to wash it before the Duchess video

[@bgrierofficial]

+1 Well played 😂😂😂

[@findingtheFOOT]

I am going to have to find the video, but I swear I remember Lee talking about being part owner! I believe it was during pandemic times, and he was talking about the backorder/unnavailability of stock of pedals, amps, etc. When this controversy popped up, that's the first thing I thought. I'll have to go back and find it. Killer playing, as always.

[@ksharpe10]

Thanks for the in the Room sound. UNREAL IS HE NOT one of the BEST guitar players you ever heard???

[@RenanSilva-ue5jp]

the jam had some god damn beautiful tones!

[@pstreetblues]

The Countess has been updated and is now called the V30 The Jack. It now has a clean/crunch channel and an overdrive channel. It's supposed to be rated at 42 watts. Mine has plenty of clean headroom so there may be an issue on your clean channel.

[@shawnlutz7008]

Dude...I literally laughed out loud when I saw that little blade you used to open up the box LOL Talk about overkill :)

[@DrProgNerd]

I bought one of these when they came out. The drive channel was outstanding. The clean was pretty lackluster. I didn't jibe with the shared EQ, so it got sold. Too bad. I LOVED the drive channel. Outstanding playing, John.

[@26ruben1]

I bought my V30 a few years back and it''s been a great amp. Granted, it's not the most versatile amplifier in the world but it's got a couple of killer sounds in it. And it can get pretty loud as well.

[@stratless]

I loved my Countess 50 MIB. With mine the clean channel has plenty of volume and thickness. Had one for a few years and miss it. And the gain channel was wonderful! Nice Guthrie backing progression. Your playing is stellar as usual.

[@jasong546]

I have only lusted after one brand for any length of time, for a good while now. Victory Amps is the only piece of gear that I don’t need but really wish for. Been a huge fan forever but I just haven’t been able to make it happen. I don’t know what you are going to say about them yet just listening to you play. With the full track that amp sounds incredible.

[@johnnathancordy]

Which one would you be looking at Jason?

[@phillamoore157]

Don’t know what the pups are in that guitar (especially the bridge) but you’re getting some KILLER “super-crunch” tones out of that amp. It sounds spectacular.

[@justarthur1788]

That massive knife was making me think of that seen from Crocodile Dundee..."that's not a knife, this is a knife"

[@Viper_75th_RR]

Victory amps are great. I really enjoy mine.

[@nedludd3641]

Just a minute. Are you, or have you ever been, owner of Victory Amps?

[@TK96]

I love my Victory V30 MKII because you can get Mark IV:ish lead & rhythm tone when you turn the overdrive master to between 2’o and 3’o clock that sounds like the LTE 1 record of course it’s gonna be loud.

[@FastRedPonyCar]

I'm late to the Victory party but I just got a MKII Kraken to try out and it's really impressive. Big headroom on the clean channel, really great edge of breakup to heavy rock gain sweep on the Gain I channel and a nice clean/percussive tight high gain on Gain II. 2 master volumes and a presence frequency shift switch and low end loose/tight switch also give good flexibility. It handled everything at our show this weekend effortlessly. Sad to see it go back but I'll have more to try out. I think the Jack will be the perfect sweet spot amp from them for what I play.

[@DarthV506]

Love the tones in the intro!

[@20weststudio]

Great tone! I used to own a little Cornford combo. It was the best sounding amp I've ever owned. Wish I never got rid of it.

[@zoomzoom3950]

Well you should give the Victory Danish Pete Signature model a try; plus it's purple, perhaps the Rabea signature is more your style? Or wait and see if Victory will release the Captain model? You can always go back in time to discontinued signature models, such as the Rob Chapman (it's red).

[@zoomzoom3950]

while I'm on about it, I'm just wondering aloud, how many music stores do you know that have so many signature guitar amps from so many of their frequent visitors or perhaps "consultants"? 😮‍💨

[@tactics7271]

Nobody mentions the Kreisberg book in the unboxing - that's the gold in the video LOL😂

[@PeterVail]

Have the v30 now for a few months with matching can and have found it just too hard and harsh on clean channel . Crunch channel is virtually in usable As you can’t control its volume separately . Lead channel is great if your playing loud gigs . Mine is the 6l6 version . Just too harsh a tone with a Strat for work as a pit guitarist in musicals and shows . Back using a katana at less than a quarter of the price . Enjoy your channel and you fab playing .

[@Takianagi]

Very Cool vibe and a tasty jam hope you have a great day John cheers! 🤜🤛🎸🎸🎸🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@nedludd3641]

So, you jump on the Easy Jet Red-Eye with your trusty V30 and whack it in the overhead locker. You then play the gig of your life at a sold-out Shea Stadium. When you finish your 3-hour set, is it safe to move the white hot valves? Will the turbulence and vibration of the Trans Atlantic flight mess up the valves? >--------< Whilst your selling out stadia across America, please take time to meet up with Worship Streamers on YT. I wanna see what you make of their Ambiance/Worship software for the Headrush, Pod Go, Helix etc. I love it, but maybe you are less impressed?

[@thomasbruggemann5269]

I have the same amp, but this sounds like the power tubes are overdue for a replacement. As soon as you go beyond 50% of master volume I hear power tube distortion (very noticeable with an attenuator). That is probably what's robbing you the headroom on the clean channel with its master cranked.

[@andyjm7122]

Who knew a t-shirt and a large knife (sword) could make a guitar video so hilarious.

[@Necca_UK]

Liked your pirate sword!⚔️

[@J_B_official]

Hey John. Great playing and great tone. I saw several videos from you also playing a Boss Katana. May I ask, when you have to chose one, would it be the Victory or the Katana? (I need something to decide myself) 😊

[@timguntz3119]

I have a Mk1 with a hotter tube set. It makes the clean channel a lot more chimey and useable imo. The lead channel gets a bit rowdier, brighter, and gains up super fast. I prefer the hotter tubes for the clean channel and stock tubes for dirt.

[@brianschiller4053]

I have the old version of the v30. The clean can stay clean quite loud so I don’t know what is going on with the one you have. The gain channel is a bit dark, sounds great for leads. Mine doesn’t do tight high gain rhythm very well, but I might be able to fix that with a boost.

[@gregwatts680]

I have the PREAMP version called the "JACK" it is truly a versatile pal in my rig and comes with some obscure NOS MULLARDS which sound every bit as good as the rare long plate 12AX7s and I'm sure it would do well with something like one of those IR loader pedals if that's how you wanted to use it.

[@IamMusicNerd]

I really like Victory amps, but they just do not seem to inspire me as much as my other amps do for some reason. Amps like Magnatone, Matchless, ToneKing, and even many of the Synergy modules, just seem to have more character to my ears that pull me in more.

[@dividedbytimestudios]

I like the idea of the V4 series pedals, I’d like to try one of the preamp pedals, but I’ve never seen one in person to give it a go.

[@kididaho92]

I had the VC-4 Copper. It's pretty cool that you can use any amp's effects loop. I also ran mine through my Fryette Power Station, using the amp in the unit. Ultimately I sold it and just got the Copper head, which I'm happy with. If you don't feel like forking over for a new amp, the pedals are pretty cool. Lots of cables all over the place, but definitely gives you a different flavor.

[@gregwatts680]

As mentioned above I have the PREAMP version called the "JACK" it is truly a versatile pal in my rig and comes with some obscure NOS MULLARDS which sound every bit as good as the rare long plate 12AX7s and I'm sure it would do well with something like one of those IR loader pedals if that's how you wanted to use it.

[@Viper_75th_RR]

I have a Super Jack and it has a very good clean sound. It’s not in Two Rock territory, but it’s nice. Works very well with pedals

[@markmm1066]

Now THAT'S a knife!

[@matthewlyons3426]

I have a V40 and if the V30 is anywhere near as loud normally then that amp needs a service. It should be deafening.

[@TheActressAndBishop]

4:18 in .. don't agree with this .. I gigged one of these for several years and I really didn't find the clean channel boke up too much .. quite the opposite in fact .. I had to crank the gain to get any break up at all which was a bloody nuisance cos that made the channel deafeningly loud .. and completely screwed the EQ between the two channels too ..

[@TheActressAndBishop]

And the problem with this amp is that it has no presence control .. so getting a nice "fizz" out of the gain channel is bloody hard to do without it getting shrill .. shame cos it's fundamentally a great amp but it really needs a EQ in the FX loop and that needs to be hooked up to the amp channel .. works really well with a GT1000 or MS-3 or HX Stomp, etc...

[@jasong546]

I thought the duchess was the cleanest one? They have quite a few choices for sure.

[@johnnathancordy]

Yes I think the Duchess is the clean one (I should be borrowing one this week hopefully!)

[@progpogs]

Any pedals on this one John? Sounds great, I've considered a Jack many times over the years. In the US though, Friedman's little amps are too good for the same price, some of them handwired.

[@GraniteSoundtrack]

Nice tones. I still think the Suhr Bella was the best for you recently.

[@johnnathancordy]

Agreed - a combo came up for sale but I'm looking for a head really...

[@Johnherold121]

Top shirt

[@madguruJ]

Smokin mate

[@EricJohnson-fh8zj]

He'll of a jam this time. Love to see you really getting into the way you were. Tho my name happens to be Eric Johnson...I've always found that while impressive from a technical skills standpoint, the Eric Jonnson/Satrianni type guitar sound/solo has always felt kind of sterile to me for some reason. I guess I'm just more of a classic rock type of guy. It's me, not you lol

[@pronumeral1446]

I think the fuss was that Lee Anderton was a part owner of Victory, but he failed to disclose that in his earlier videos about them. Naughty naughty! He has come out and owned up to it now, though.

[@literalghost929]

Only when caught and exposed. He lied by omitting the fact he was an owner, for 10 years.......!

[@greysuit17]

Eh it’s a non issue

[@literalghost929]

@@greysuit17 what do you mean? Lying, deceiving your audience, being dishonest, etc., is a "non-issue"?

[@greysuit17]

@@literalghost929 in this instance no, it doesn’t bother me one bit. I don’t base my purchases off of one person’s involvement or non involvement or opinion about a product. To act morally superior and upset over a non issue is ridiculous. It never and will never personally affect you except for the time you’re taking to rage comment all over the internet acting upset.

[@literalghost929]

@@greysuit17 So you have no issue with lies, deception, dishonesty, etc. I guess that speaks a lot about your own moral character, or lack of thereof. And yeah, morality matters to me, apparently it does not to you.

[@corymoore5093]

Can we talk about that massive machete? You going on walkabout in the Australian Outback?

[@Trisisda]

Is this Bowie knife actually something fancy? Or just the thing that was laying around?

[@jasong546]

Guthrie has the Jack model doesn’t he? The Sheriff is your Marshall tones.

[@johnnathancordy]

I think this was the first one that Guthrie used (in the early demos with Chappers they're talking about feedback from Guthrie meaning that they made this one 40w) I think the Cornford thing has generally been on the hot rodded Marshall side of things - the Sheriff for sure the more classic Marshall tones?

[@DavidSmith1307]

"Call that a knife...."

[@geomusicmove]

If you don't like a piece of gear or a guitar do you hack it to bits with that machete?

[@Mr.D34]

Great playing as usual. Victory amps sound good but i don't hear anything special in any of their amps honestly, therefore i find them to be overpriced.

[@johnnathancordy]

They used to be about £750 but now are about double that...And for that price I'd be inclined to agree with you?

[@Foghornish]

Totally agreed. They're very good amps but seem to be way overpriced. I'd prefer a Marshall dsl/origin, vox ac15 or small fender combo for a fraction of the price, and have change for some great pedals.

[@gearsofsounds]

Had the mkII for a while, digged the tones, but the mkII specifically had an unbearable hum that was actually worse on the clean channel than on the others. Faulty design as other v30 mkII were the same. Had to return it, never got back to this brand.

[@Chris_Nouvelli]

If I could have two Super Krakens in stereo, I would. But I have a wife. And children. And that brings certain drawbacks.

[@fortheloveofguitar8589]

I’ve owned the entire Cornford range and the MK50 mk1 is still my favourite amp I’ve owned. Just outstanding amps. Such a contrast as I’ve found the Victory range to bland in comparison, just really flat sounding.

[@joeotoole6352]

I own two of these. The clean channel sounds like it is starved for power. Any chance the power selector on the rear was in single ended class A operation mode? When this is engaged the amp loses a lot of clean headroom and breaks up early on the clean channel because it is switching to one power tube in Class A versus both power tubes in Class A/B.

[@johnnathancordy]

Agreed the clean channel sounds like something is up - but not in single end mode here - the Drive channel is twice as loud as the clean so think something up circuit wise!

[@valendis]

Idk I guess I'm not the target, too wooly for me

[@jazzylei143]

Please do an update video for zoom ms 50g and line 6 pocket pod. 😊

[@dividedbytimestudios]

Are they really made in the UK? I mean how many times has Chapman guitars tried to be made in the UK only to fail

[@johnnathancordy]

I believe one of the 9 owners owns an Amp building 'factory' in the UK - I think they also build for Marshall or something like that?

[@tonystartup3817]

​@@johnnathancordy I think originally the bigger full sized heads were hand built in the UK whilst the lunchbox types were just assembled here from parts sourced abroad (PCB based etc). I think that's probably still the case

[@johnnathancordy]

@@tonystartup3817 ah - I guess "handmade in England" still covers that eventuality...

[@tonystartup3817]

@@johnnathancordy pretty broad term! But I think there is criteria to meet certain definitions

[@johnnathancordy]

@@tonystartup3817 at least some of the screws have to be put in in this country?!

[@JemMusic.]

So the amps faulty or the design is faulty?

[@johnnathancordy]

We think there's a fault on the clean channel of this particular Amp, as other Countess users have said that the clean channel is LOUD - this one isn't. I checked the Preamp valves - it wasn't those, so think it must be something else. Drive channel seems to be working as it is loud and chunky!

[@JemMusic.]

@@johnnathancordy Ok. Thanks. But that's still a significant issue. A QC problem if it's always been like that. Or maybe not an issue at all if Beebee threw it down the stairs a few times.

[@johnnathancordy]

@@JemMusic. I think it has sat unused for many years, but not had a hard life..But definitely needs some tech attention

[@Docksidestudio1]

Where can you buy Victory amps from then……. Andertons?

[@Docksidestudio1]

@@335-s2z right ….. so not Andertons then?

[@mikeblue385]

sounds kinda woofy in the bottom.

[@johnnathancordy]

If it is a hot rodded marshall type circuit (apparently the Cornford stuff preceding it was) - it would be fairly normal fare to chuck a Tubescreamer up front or something to tame the low end right?

[@tonedowne]

@@johnnathancordyI’ve had great results with this amp by just rolling the bass back as I wind up the gain. Especially with the matching cab which has low end for days.

[@sebbo1496]

lol what is that knife? do you live in london?

[@TheActressAndBishop]

Having said all of these things, I still think these V30, V40, VX, etc lunchbox heads are great .. the Sherriff is the one for me .. but it's not powerful enough .. This is the irritating thing about them (for me) it's like they do every amp you can think of .. except the bloody one I want!!! 🤣

[@b_m3998]

They have a sheriff 44?

[@TheActressAndBishop]

@@b_m3998 Yeah .. and it's a great amp .. but in the bigger format .. sold on the lunchbox thing as it makes gigging much easier ..

[@r0bophonic]

0:51 Spicy! 🌶️👍

[@r0bophonic]

3:13 More spice! 🔥

[@gregparker1012]

Think I'd have a Katana over that.. No, 2 Katanas.

[@ToneDeth.]

Comment. Part owner.

[@ChristopherDowning]

Interesting title - a subject you hardly talk about before demoing the amp. The fuss was Andertons featuring Victory amps on the backline of their channel videos for years and using them at some point almost every week for demos of other gear. Then every so often demoing Victory amps and talking about them in the 3rd person as though he had nothing to do with them. He's invested money in the company; which he now tells us after someone outed him. Would have been better to position Victory as the 'house amp' of Andertons. That title was def clickbait. I get the feeling nowadays that everybody doing a channel has workarounds for getting paid on the side. LOaned kit that after a year gets sold. Demo kit that gets sold. "Expenses" And nice trips that fit in with videoed visits and work. "You make a video - oh, and BTW, you can also separately be a product developer which we pay you for" So is anyone innocent of promoting products - short of actually publishing their accounts and tax returns?

[@salvatorevitale9165]

I think this amp is overrated and way overpriced…MHO. Great playing as usual!

[@nigelsmith721]

That's not a knife...

[@frankenstrat78]

Why have a Victory when you can have a Vox ....Seems like a no brainer to me

[@Foghornish]

Quite so. Laney, Marshall or Fender too. I just don't see what all the fuss is about with these victory models.

[@89ji76]

Why would anyone buy an amplifier?

[@johnnathancordy]

To make loud sounds

[@JemMusic.]

They are under the Anderton mind spell.

[@89ji76]

@@johnnathancordy don’t be ridiculous

[@literalghost929]

Personally wouldn't touch Victory amps with a 10 foot pole. The only thing I feel when thinking about the brand now is disgust. Kinda like Gibson.

[@greysuit17]

Hahahaha this troll

[@literalghost929]

@@greysuit17 Not trolling at all. Lee Anderton lied to his audience for 10 years, he deceived them when he didn't disclose the fact he was an owner of V amps and was doing product reviews and comparisons of his own product. It's fraudulent, reprehensible, etc., even a crime as he admitted. But apparently, you have no issue with such blatant dishonesty and even criminality.

[@greysuit17]

@@literalghost929 hahah ok if you say so. You were never going to buy one and even if you did or anyone else did Lee disclosing or not doesnt affect the amp, your playing or anything. If you’re a dumb enough musician to base your gear purchases solely on one youtube channel personality’s opinion you’re an idiot. This is again proof how dumb the guitar community in particular is. Use your ears. You were never upset about this until some troll channel stirred the pot. It didn’t affect you personally then and it still doesn’t affect you. It is entertaining to see you raging all over the place about it though.

[@literalghost929]

@@greysuit17 "if you say so.". I asked you about it. Do you have an issue with deceiving your audience, committing crimes, lying, dishonesty, etc.? Yes or no? If you do have an issue with it, why are you OK with Lee Anderton doing it?

[@MickyWalnuts]

Yeah but Lee isn't Victory Amps is he? Victory amps are of no interest to me but if they were I wouldn't let the recent hullabaloo put me off buying one. Blaming Victory because Lee didnt declare ownershop of shares is a bit disingenuous. It would make some sort of sense if you said you wasn't going to buy anything off Andertons but anyone who thinks Lee posts constant KZbin videos with no vested interest in selling the products featured is not just being disingenuous, they are being unbelievably naive.

[@valendis]

Idk I guess I'm not the target, too wooly for me