Victoria Amplifier Co. Double Deluxe

4 inputs (Normal/Bright channels, Hi/Low on each channel), 2 volume controls (1 for each channel), 1 tone control, 2 Jensen P12Ns, 4 6v6s, tube rectifier, cathode bias. 30-40 Watts. The channels are gangable. Laquered tweed covered pine cabinet. Relatively lightweight.

This amp doesn't offer the apparent versatility of other amps with built-in effects, channel switching, effect loops and more complex tone shaping controls but there is more real versatiliy with this amp in that the amp responds well to your guitar and your technique. You might find that you don't need anything beyond the one real feature this amp has... its sound.

I play strats and teles. I use a Fulltone Clyde, a Fulltone 70's Pedal, a TC Electrtonics chorus and a Boss DD-5 echo. This setup works for country, rock, funk, blues and jazz.

My setup isn't noise free... single coils and pedal chain contribute a lot to the noise, but the amp isn't dead quiet.

This amp gives you power tube distortion when played above 4 with your guitar volume all the way up. When you bring the guitar volume down, the amp cleans up. The clean sound is more mid-rangey than that of blackface Fender. The amp sounds warm and articulate. It will sustain for days. It is rich in harmonics. It sounds wonderful.

I haven't had a problem. I do use it without a backup. If this thing ever fails I'm sure I can get it fixed. This is basicly 1950's technology.

I have had no dealings with the manufacturer.

I currently own or have owned several black/silver faced Fenders, various Mesa Boogies, the Maz-38, a JMI Vox AC30 and other amps. This is now the only amp through which I play.

This is the same amp that was reviewed by the previous reviewer. I traded him a Maz-38 for this amp. I try not to do bad things, but I feel like I stole this amp from him.

The features on this amp are the only ones you need. Normal channel, bright channel, and Tone. Oh yea,.. and Hi and Low jacks for each input channel. My amp was made in 2001 and has Phillips Tubes in it. Also 2 Jensen C12N RI speakers. If you know of Victoria, you are aware of the production of these,.. hand wired,.. no circuit board,... built like a tank. This is an amp for someone who is tired of going through amps like a flea market. I thought about how much I had spent on ok amps that didn't quite cut the mustard but got the job done and finally decided to get the best amp I could find.

I play anything from country to Allman Bros. to ZZ Top to blues, etc. I have a basic sound that I like and kind of tweak it to fit what I'm playing. I use a Std Tele and go through a few pedals. Tele/Wah/Fulldrive II/Tube Screamer 808 mod/Boss Delay/Victoria. I borrowed my friend's Fender Tweed Deluxe one day and I fell in love with the sound, but I really wished that it was louder. Then, a few weeks later,.. the same friend had a Victoria Low Power Twin that I heard but that was way too loud to get any tube saturation. So, I read about the Double Deluxe and was in the market for a Vibrolux Reverb but perferred the Tweed sound to blackface. I decided to try the DD and I am so glad I did. The amp can get really nasty with lots of natural distortion, or it can clean up and have the sweetest sound with just a hint of growl. The amp is quiet and has just a slight noise to it but you'd never hear it from 5 feet away. I played it this past weekend at an outdoor gig and had the guitar in the bright channel, and the volume maxed out. I could not ask for a better sound. The lows are deep but never "Fart" out when pushed. The highs are sharp but not to the point of bleeding your ear drums. The only other amp I'll need is to get a Twin Reverb for real clean stuff. The DD can fake it but doesn't have the personality. Let's face it, there is no such amp that covers everything, but the DD does everything except crystal clean.

Had it for 3 months now, love it.

E-mailed Mark Baier once and got a great response within 24 hours. Try that with Fender or Mesa.

I'll make this short,....

I love this amp. It does everything I need it to. I get surprised by it every time I use it. I don't think I'd buy another one if it got stolen,...... I'd commit suicide!!!! I'd love to hear Victoria's Reverberator with it but I don't have the $$ for a $400 reverb/trem unit. I recommend this amp to anyone who likes a basic distorted sound that can go and get nasty or clean up a little. Best amp I've ever heard and looks great too!!! Thank you Mr. Baier!!!

Volume and tone control and 4 inputs. Very limited features but it does have killer tone through a large range of settings. It has plenty of power to play at what a drummer would consider reasonable stage volume. I play clubs and fairs and corporate functions and weddings.

I'm playing jazz, R&B, blues, and funk. It's no wonder this amp gets killer reviews. The tone is unbelievably rich. I play a 6120, Strat, Tele, 335, and GB Ibanez. All have killer tone through this amp. Effects sound cool through the amp but I have gigged with no effect at all and it's just incredible sound. Also, the amp is not so heavy that it's hard to move.

I've used it on about 15 gigs but I do baby the amp a bit because I like it so well. It seems very dependable.

I have not dealt with the company. My amp has worked perfectly for 4 months now.

I've been playing 27 years and this is an amp I will keep. I can not imagine nor have I ever heard better sound. I will probably buy a smaller Victoria someday to play in smaller rooms. If a PRS is worth $2000 then this amp is worth $4000. The amp has much more effect on my tone than the guitar I plug into it. It makes all my guitars sound great. I think it's a great value.

I purchased this amp in mid 2000 after owning a 68' marshall 2 12'combo for many years.(very loud!) I love to play rock, blues, funk and this double deluxe amp works nicely for all of these styles. This amp is all about tone. If you are not bothered by having tone don't worry it will catch you one day. That is the day you'll want to check out Mark Baier's Victoria amps. I have heard the half twin (nice and crunchy) and the full twin. (more volume than I can stand!) I have owned amps that have tons of control but without the one sound that matters most.
It has four inputs so you can daisy chain the inputs or send the 30/40 watt amp a lower input signal. You can change the rectifier tube to increase the output. Haven't tried that yet.
It seems to want you to plug into the bright channel and turn it up! I have two 12' Jensen's in it and love the way they interact with the cabinet. It looks vintage fender but it has it's own sound...big, full, ballsy, rich, sweet and singing.

I like to play strat type guitars and they sound glassy on the single coils and the humbuckers are fat and woody. The Bright channel is where I have been using it and when you back down on the guitar volume it cleans up for rhythm stuff nicely. I tend to use it with the volume between 2 and 3 and a stomp box for over the top distortion. I can't wait to get in a bigger room to push it to 4 or 5. It gets nice and round at that point and sustains very well.

I have only had a pre amp tube go microphonic on me and I just replaced it with no other problems. There is one thing though, the cabinet moves so much that the handle was driving me crazy with some sympathy buzzing from the metal upon metal handle. There where some rubber inserts but they didn't do what they where intended to do. I used some electricians tape and think I have it under control now. I have used it on 30 gigs by now and it sounds like it could do many more.

I understand they have a lifetime warranty so i am covered as long as they are around. I have called to ask questions and they have been very courtious and prompt with answers.

I have played guitar for 30+ years and bought and sold more stuff than I care to remember. From junk to boutique. I haven't heard everything out there but for me this is the sound i have been hearing for many years in my head. I would definately get another one if I lost this one. It puts a smile on my face everytime I turn it on!

Its simple for a reason, and it pays off.

There's really no other amp like this. Its two tweed deluxes in the same box, with one set of controls. Its organic. I have owned a lot of amps - this one is for grown ups. Everything you do with your hands comes out. You can make it whine, sing, bark, snarl - with your hands, one note at a time. Its warm. 6v6 being the main reason. Its big - huge - without being loud. The pine baffle and cab resonate perfectly with the amp. No farts. Smooooth as glass.

I've now played this out say 30 gigs and it never fails to do something cool. Every tweak does something musical. I gang the channels together for even more fun. You can use the volume control interaction to control tone. Two mojo's. They sound a lot like 60's oxfords. It comes with NOS RCA 6v6's! This is an amp for guys who love amps. Cleanest manufacturing I've seen (except for maybe my tophat) which is also perfect. Its got classic cathode follower "meow", each note can be an adventure. Loud enough for any club gig, sings on 3. Its gets hot and sags nicely after about 4 minutes of playing.

Mine blew up due to a generator at a festival gig giving us 150 volts all night. Sad - but not the amp's fault. I will use it without hesitation and without backup i nthe future. It was a fluke but a good reminder that these tube amp designs can be vulnerable to high voltage. Also, the people at victoria were excellent and helpful (so far) getting it fixed. Lifetime warranty and they stand by it. My Amp Tech would have fixed it almost free, but Mark at Victoria wanted to understand what happened in a very paternal way. That sort of dedication is rare and I have no reason to think he wouldn't do it for anybody. You are buying people when you buy the amp, and they are the best.

See above

30 years playing, most of it at clubs. I keep 2 custom shop 335's, a flame Gibson Chet, a 62 reissue tele with alnicoII pro's, a Gretsch 6120 reissue, and several others. I keep two 65 super reverbs, a top hat club royale, and a 62 reverb rocket. I would buy a double deluxe again if it were stolen, even if it were more money.

This is not a glassey amp and its voiced more to smooth out a single coil than to bring definition to a humbucking - but I use it with either and am quite happy. It is what it is - but it will do things for your playing that very few amps will do. It has all the pedigree of a '59 bassman, and will bark like one - but with two 12's - and 6v6 warmth. I set it up next to Bogner etc. at Makin Music in Chicago and the Double Deluxe was obviously sweeter, more tone, harmonic complexity etc. Not a tough call at all.

I believe this amp was made in 1997. It is certainly not loaded with features--it's a one channel amp with bright and normal inputs, two volume controls and one tone control. That's it. No reverb, tremelo or presence. The volume controls are interactive, just like an old tweed deluxe. The idea behind this amp is to get the great tweed deluxe tone at a much louder and bigger volume. The amp is powered by 4 6V6 tubes and has two 12 inch speakers (mine has the mojo's, Jensen also available. It has a laquered tweed cabinet. This is not a feature laden amp, but that is not the purpose. It's purpose is great tweed deluxe tone.

This amp sounds absolutely wonderful. I do not like a completely clean sound, and the Double Deluxe always has that great edge of breakup/fat body sound, even at lower volumes. When I am playing at home or gigging, I like the sound to break up a little if I hit the guitar hard. That is what distinguishes this amp from many others, including other Victoria models. Above 2, the amp will start to break up. At 4, it really crunches nicely. It really does not get much louder than half way up, it just gets more gain. Keep in mind, this is power tube gain; fat, woody and singing. The volume controls are great for dialing in your sound and gain, and the single tone control is all you need. I plug into the bright channel, and the amp does not have a single coil/humbucker preference. It has more harmonic character than any other amp I've played or owned, and that is saying something. This amp is really superb for rock, blues or heavy jazz/fusion. It does have a lot of gain, but is definately not a metal amp--it's got way too round a sound for that. It also cleans up great when you turn down your guitar--very dynamic. Running the amp at 30 watts, the tone is sweet and singing. With the other rectifier tube, it runs at 40 watts for a bolder, louder sound with better frequency response. Either at 30 or 40 watts, this is a pretty loud amp.

Never had a problem. I've had it for 2 years, and it has never given me anything but consistent, great tone. I would gig without a backup.

I have had to deal with Mark At Victoria. In fact, my wife went to school with him so I had a chance to call him, and he invited me down to the factory when we were in town. I had a chance to play through all his amps (including a prototype) and came away thoroughly impressed. In fact, he let me buy the Double Deluxe I tried in his shop. He answers his phone and has always been responsive. I later bought a Reverbarato that is also great and unique.

I have been playing for over 25 years. I am into gear that is useful for the playing musician that cares about tone. This amp fits the bill. I would definately replace it if it were stolen. It has a sound like a great old deluxe, only much louder and bolder. I do not know of anyone besides Victoria that is able to actually sound better than some of the legendary amps of the past. This amp may not be as popular as some of his other models, but I don't know why-- the word needs to get out about it. Great tweed deluxe sound--as loud as you want it!