The Victory Amps V4 The Kraken Preamp is an all-valve, two-channel preamp in a pedal enclosure: the front end of Victory's Kraken amplifier, condensed into a steel box you can put on a pedalboard. It runs four valves, an EC900 and three CV4014s, at high plate voltage, and it was developed in collaboration with UK guitarist Rabea Massaad with heavy, progressive and extended-range overdrive tones in mind12.
Although it is shaped like a pedal, the Kraken V4 was designed primarily to be integrated into an amp's effects loop, and it can also serve as a standalone unit feeding a power amp or a speaker simulation1. It is one of three V4 series pedal preamps Victory launched in 2018, alongside the Countess and the Sheriff, each based on its namesake amplifier34.
What it is and where it came from
The V4 series put Victory's amp preamps into pedal form, and the Kraken version carries the character of the Kraken head. In Brian Johnston's guest review for Pedal of the Day, the sound is described as "pure British, although unique to Victory Amps and its chief engineer, Martin Kidd"1. The four valves, he wrote, "produces a rich tone and quality that I have not heard through other preamps or di"1.
The build is aimed at the road: a folded steel chassis with a kick bar protecting the knobs, held together with high-torque 8-blade Posidrive screws and machine bolts12. Johnston found "the quality of construction is outstanding and other pedals sound awesome through both channels of the Kraken V4"1.
The controls: two channels, shared EQ and a Bright switch
The Kraken V4 has two footswitches: one to bypass the unit, and one to move between the two channels1. Each channel has its own Master Volume and Gain control, but both channels share a single EQ1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain 1 | Slightly looser, more "vintage" British-inspired gain sound2 |
| Gain 2 | Tighter in the bass, more cutting midrange, more drive2 |
| Master Volume (per channel) | Sets the output level of each channel1 |
| Bass, Middle, Treble | Full three-band EQ, shared by both channels; the controls also affect gain character and drive levels125 |
| Bright switch | Global tone control that optimizes the pedal for what you are plugging into; neutral at "0", removes treble at -1 or -212 |
In Johnston's review, Channel 1 "has more of a vintage British drive sound with a super crisp and cutting distortion when cranked full," while Channel 2 offers "more gain, but with tighter bass and a more biting mid-range (fantastic for chugging and lead playing)"1.
Power and connections
The Kraken runs on 12 volts and comes with its own 2-amp 12-volt adapter, including plug ends to accommodate any country's electrical outlets1. The supplied adapter is the practical way to power it.
For remote control, there is a TRS jack for switching the pedal remotely: you can control on/off and channel 1/2 with either a two-button latching footswitch or a programmable switching unit2. Johnston noted the remote switching input "is required if you have the Kraken V4 mounted atop your am"1.
How to run it: power amp, effects loop or Amp Through Mode
The V4 series preamps can be plugged into the front of an amplifier for overdrive sounds, or run into a tube power amp, a solid state power amp, or an amplifier's effects loop return3. In Pete Thorn's demo video of the V4 Kraken and Countess, he walks through those options, showing the pedals running into a tube power amp and a solid state power amp from the rear outputs3.
Victory recommends "Amp Through Mode" for full functionality, where you can choose to use your amp's own front end, or the V4 preamp via the amp's effects loop2. As MusicRadar described the series at launch, Amp Through Mode "allows your signal to hit the amp as normal; when the pedal is turned on," the amp's preamp is bypassed and the pedal provides an entirely different all-valve front end4. Guitar World's launch coverage described the same behavior: the signal hits the amp as normal with the pedal off, and with it on, the pedal takes over as the front end5.
Johnston's own use case was as a standalone unit: "I use the unit as a standalone, going into an Axe-Fx II for my speaker simulation"1.
Valve life and maintenance
The pedal carries a 5-year warranty, and the valves carry a 2-year warranty, good for approximately 6000 playing hours1. When the valves do need replacing, they can be replaced for approximately $15 USD each1.
Who uses it
Zach Comtois is listed among Victory's artists as a Kraken V4 user:
"The V4 Kraken is my favorite grab and go rig. It's like having two huge, high gain amp stacks in a compact package."
Victory's artist pages also list the V4 Kraken preamp pedal among the gear associated with guitarist Danny Gill7. On Sweetwater's demo of Victory's amp lines, Nick Bowcott noted that Victory offers five lines of tube amps in both head and preamp form, with the Kraken among them8.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
Sweetwater
Ola Englund
Questions
Can the Kraken run straight into a power amp or effects loop return?
Yes. The V4 series can be plugged into the front of an amplifier for overdrive sounds, or run into a tube power amp, a solid state power amp, or an amplifier's effects loop return. The Kraken was designed primarily to be integrated into an amp's effects loop, but it also works as a standalone unit on a pedalboard.
What is Amp Through Mode on the Victory V4 Kraken?
Amp Through Mode lets your signal hit the amp as normal when the pedal is off. When you turn the pedal on, the amp's own preamp is bypassed and the Kraken becomes the all-valve front end instead. Victory recommends Amp Through Mode for full functionality, letting you choose between your amp's front end and the V4 preamp.
How long do the valves in the Kraken last?
The valves carry a 2-year warranty, good for approximately 6000 playing hours, while the pedal itself carries a 5-year warranty. When the valves do wear out, they can be replaced for approximately $15 USD each.
Can I use a 9V supply with the Victory Kraken?
No. The Kraken runs on 12 volts and comes with its own 2-amp 12-volt adapter, which includes plug ends to accommodate any country's electrical outlets. A standard 9V pedal supply does not provide the voltage or current the four-valve circuit needs.
Does the Kraken work with MIDI or remote channel switching?
It has a TRS jack for remote switching of the on/off and channel 1/2 functions, using either a two-button latching footswitch or a programmable switching unit. That makes it workable with a programmable rig rather than a fixed MIDI port.
How heavy is the Victory V4 Kraken?
It weighs 1.7 kg, or 3.75 lbs, and measures 225 mm wide by 140 mm deep by 80 mm high including the feet (8.85 x 5.5 x 3.1 inches). It is a substantial pedal, built into a folded steel chassis with a kick bar protecting the knobs.
Sources (8)
- Guest Review: Victory Amps V4 The Kraken Preamp, Pedal of the Day, 2019-03-30
- Victory The Kraken V4 Preamp Pedal, Delicious Audio, 2021-10-18
- VICTORY V4 TUBE PREAMP PEDALS, youtube.com, 2019-04-06
- Victory unveils all-valve V4 Series Pedal Preamps, MusicRadar, 2018-09-03
- Victory Announces Three New All-Valve Pedal Preamps, Guitar World, 2018-09-10
- Zach Comtois, Victory Amps (www.victoryamps.com), 2021-11-05
- Danny Gill, Victory Amps
- Victory Amplification V1 Kraken Pedal Demo, Sweetwater (YouTube), 2022-12-10
Rabea Massaad
