Day 3 - Studio Day V40 "normal" head & Kraken head.

The Kraken continues to blow me away. It has a magnificent reputation as a metal amp but for me this continues to be the perfect Classic Rock amp. Gain 1 for all that is British and Gain 2 for getting me close to that Steve Stevens' tone.



10 tracks recorded today, 7 on the Kraken and 3 on the Duchess.

I love the predictability of the Kraken: it does exactly what I want every single time. More gain, less gain, more volume, slightly quieter; everything is just so usable.

Once again the Duchess and a Telecaster was a thing of wonder. We recorded a song today that was 88 years old and the way it sounds we could have recorded it anytime from about 1971. Stunning, authentic, rich tone.

The Kraken was played without any effects at all and was the most massive thing in the room. The Duchess was layered with a ThorpyFX Peacekeeper with the occasional stab with a Gunshot and a Chain Home.

Thanks to all at Victory, with support from ThorpyFX, for making studio time such a pleasure.

I've come back to this post to just add that I'm now having a proper think about some of the gear I'm NOT using. I feel that this period is going to end up with something of a gear switch around!

I am happy with the gear I used because it made the noises I wanted and expected. I am a little disappointed I didn't have more room in the car or more time to experiment with the Deluxe it would have been great to have included it.

For completeness, gear used today:

  • Victory VX Kraken head 
  • Victory V40 Duchess head
  • Victory VV 212 grey closed back cab
  • Charvel San Dumas Type 2
  • Fender Standard Telecaster
  • Fender Wilko Johnson Telecaster 
  • MXR Talkbox 
  • ThorpyFX Peacekeeper 
  • ThorpyFX Gunshot
  • ThorpyFX Chain Home

Next gig is next Saturday. I will change the pedal board about a bit anyway as my fixed Boss Tuner is back on Tuesday. The stage for Saturday is tiny, so I will be a lot more selective about which guitars to use.


Simon is a guitarist in Salisbury Classic Rock covers band Break Cover.
Break Cover website
Break Cover Facebook


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