Victory THE Sheriff, The Kraken, THE Countess User Manual

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User Guide

V4 Series Pedal Preamplifiers

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Congratulations!
…and thank you for buying a Victory V4 Series Pedal Preamp. We’ll have you sounding great in a jiffy.
But first, please be aware that it is NOT like a ‘normal’, everyday overdrive pedal. It is an all-valve
preamp capable of far richer, amp-like tones and is primarily designed to sit in place of – not in front of –
your guitar amp’s existing preamp.
You can use it in to the front of your amp if you want – it won’t damage anything and you might love it –

but it’s not how we designed it to work best. With that in mind, let’s get going…...............

SAFETY FIRST
We want you to enjoy your preamplifier to the best of its potential. So please…

Before you go any further, take a moment to read these SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

• Read these guidelines & keep them

• Follow all instructions, guidelines & warnings, especially those in RED

• Do not use this preamplifier near water or any other liquid

• Do not block any openings

• Do not attempt to clean the preamplifier with any fluids: use only a dry cloth

•

Do not attempt to modify or service this product yourself

•

Removing covers could mean you are exposed to dangerous voltages that may result in severe injury or
death

• Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel

• Damage Requiring Service: Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified

service personnel under the following conditions:
(a) When the power-supply unit, cord or plug is damaged;
(b) If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the product;
(c) If the product has been exposed to rain or water;
(d) If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. Adjust only those
controls that are covered by the operating instructions. Improper adjustment of other controls may
result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product
to its normal operation;
(e) If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way;
(f) When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance - this indicates a need for service.

•

Replacement Parts: When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician uses
replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part.
Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, or other hazards.

What’s included?
Your new Victory Preamplifier comes with the following:
A 12V 2A ‘Centre Negative’ Universal Power Supply with interchangeable plugs for all countries.

This User Guide, (please check the website periodically as these owner’s manuals are constantly being

updated to give you more information about your Victory product).

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There are 3 pedals in the V4 Series range and these are based on the popular ‘lunchbox’ amplifiers, the
V30 Countess, The Sheriff and The Kraken. Operation is identical for all 3 pedals and they all have the
same complement of Tone & Volume controls. The differences between them are to be found in the
overall gain available and the tonal variations that set the amplifiers that they are based on apart.

So, the following connection guide is identical for all models.

How To Connect To Your Amp
First, choose either ‘Amp Through Mode’ or ‘Standalone Mode’, details as follows

Using your V4 Series Pedal Preamp in AMP THROUGH MODE

This puts the V4 in your amp’s effects loop, but still gives you access to your amp’s own
preamp.

Pedal switched on: V4 is bypassing your amp front end, hitting your amp’s power section.
Pedal switched off (bypassed): Signal flows to your amp front end input as normal.

A note on pedalboard placement and other effects
Think of the V4 Series Pedal Preamp exactly as you would the front end of your amp. You
might want to run your regular drive pedals before the V4 input, for example. If you

usually run anything in your amp’s loop – reverb or delay for example – place those
pedals between the V4 ‘loop out’ and your amp’s FX return jack. This way they’re in your

loop as usual and will work with the V4 pedal on or off.

A note on the ‘bright’ switch and effects loops in amps
Effects loops vary dramatically in terms of tone and level! Even our own – e.g. the V30
and VX loops – can vary significantly depending on the design of the amp. We have put
enough scope in the bright switch and EQ pots to cope with the vast majority of amp FX
loops. Please tweak to taste and don’t be surprised if there are some less agreeable
sounds in there too.

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Using your V4 Series Pedal Preamp in STANDALONE MODE

This is the same as using a ‘normal’ pedal. We find it works best into higher-headroom
(cleaner) amps, but each to their own! You’d also use this if you were connecting to a
standalone power amp or straight to an interface for recording.

A note on pedalboard placement and other effects
Pedal placement is always a matter of personal taste regardless of what gear you’re
using. In our opinion, fuzz, boost, overdrive and distortion are ‘best’ placed between your
guitar and the V4 input. Reverbs and delays can go anywhere, but the ‘standard’
placement is post overdrive. Place them after the V4 Series Pedal Preamp. This is relevant
for both Standalone and Amp Through Mode. Modulations can be pre- or post-drive as
you prefer.

A note on the ‘bright’ switch and effects loops in amps
This is the same as in the Amp Through Mode.

Can I connect the Effect Out straight to my FX loop return?
You can, but your guitar will sound pretty thin and quiet with the pedal is turned off. It
doesn’t have the mumbo to drive the power section without your amp’s preamp in play.
See Amp Through Mode.

Are there other ways to connect the V4 Series Pedal Preamps?
Yes, absolutely. Just think of your V4 Pedal Preamp in exactly the same way as you would
your guitar amp’s front end. It’s doing exactly the same thing, but it’s in a box outside of
your amp. That means you have a bunch of other ways to connect it up. For example, as
part of a wet/dry rig; a stereo rig; feeding a recording device; some kind of more complex
four-cable method than AMP THROUGH MODE (see p3). It could be buried somewhere
deep in your pedalboard, and so on.
It’s all possible and we urge you to experiment. You won’t damage the front end of your
amp or indeed the power section as long as you follow all the usual guidance with levels:
start at zero and go up from there.