All the elusive, vintage clean-driven and drive sounds you love for everything from blues to roots and rock'n'roll This single-channel, all-tube amp delivers maximum sound with minimal confusion, housed in the same lightweight chassis and portable than our award-winning V30 The Countess. Voice 1 delivers warm American mid-60s type clean tones. Voice II is subtly louder and has more 50s character. By pushing the gain and activating the Mid-Kick function, the V40 takes on a more British voice. from the 60s for timeless blues-rock sounds. All the time, the V40 responds to your guitar, responds to you: it's one for "sensory" players. Guitarist Magazine 2015 Gear of the Year Guitar & Bass 2015 Gear of the Year Guitarist's Choice Awards March 2013 "A highly portable head with stunning low-gain tone that's in a class of its own." Vic_V40head_detail_01_edited.jpg Single Channel and Voice Switch You can go from clean '60s California sounds with single coils to mid-'60s British overdrive, all in a single channel. Voice II subtly boosts the mids at the input for added punch and cut. Vic_V40head_detail_03_edited.jpg V40 Reverb The Duchess uses a digital reverb section that sits somewhere between a plate and a hall-type sound. Its sound is “softer” and more “modern” than a traditional spring reverb. It's also hard to get around if you want it out of the loop entirely. Low Power Options The front panel switch provides a low power mode for approximately 7 watts. Additionally, you can use the asymmetric mode which selects only one or the other power valve in Class A operation (use them evenly to keep wear approximately equal). Low power and single-ended mode will together reduce the output below 1 watt RMS. Mid Kick This works in conjunction with the Middle potentiometer to boost midrage frequencies in the EQ section. The more you push the Midde pot, the more it pushes overdriven sounds, especially with humbuckers. Vic_V40head_detail_08_edited.jpg Hard-bypassable effects loop The hard-bypassable effects loop lets you use delays, reverbs, and more. after the preamp section of the amp to keep the sound clear. If they're not as clear as you'd like, try turning down the mix/output of the pedal, especially when turning up the master amp. 6L6 or EL34 power valves The V40 gives you the option to operate the EL34 or 6L6 power valves. They offer subtly different tonal characteristics in terms of power stage overdrive and overall frequency response. Notice we said subtle! There is a bias range switch to get you in the right direction, but fine tuning the bias is also advised whenever you change the power valves. V40 The Duchess Key Features and Specifications Format: Single Channel Head Power: 42 Watts, Low Power: 7 Watts, High Power Single Pole: 1.5 Watts, Single Pole Low Power: 0.5 Watts Valves: 3 x 12AX7, 2 x EL34 as standard Size (mm): 342 (w) x 185 (h) x 185 (d) including handle, feet and controls Weight: 8.2 kg / 18.1 lb Additional features: Voice switch to two-position Mid Kick switch Footswitchable digital reverb with hard bypass option Serial effects loop with hard bypass Power valves switchable to 6L6 Asymmetrical mode Skeletonized metal housing with rubber grip Padded carrying bag included Single-button footswitch to activate / turn off reverb included