Rick Graham: Victory MK Overdrive | Full Demo & Interview with Martin Kidd

🎥 We recently welcomed Rick Graham to the Victory Artist Studio to get his thoughts on the MK Overdrive. Not only was it a fantastic opportunity to hear Rick's breath-taking playing through the MK’s full range of tones — from rich cleans to searing high gain — it also gave him the chance to sit down with our Chief Designer, Martin Kidd, to talk through the story behind the amp. From its Cornford roots to its design philosophy and tonal versatility, Rick and Martin dive deep into what makes the MK Overdrive special — and why it’s become a favourite for players chasing both expression and power. Grab a brew, sit back, and enjoy the tone (and the heat).


Time Stamps:
0:00 – Intro Jam
1:33 – First impressions & intro chat
2:00 – Overview of the MK Overdrive features
2:35 – Clean channel demo & EQ walkthrough
4:14 – Chords, presence/resonance response
6:00 – Pickup tones & neck pickup discussion
7:14 – Origins of the MK Overdrive: The Cornford connection
8:40 – Design evolution: Voicing, resonance & control
10:00 – Reflecting on 20+ years of amp building
11:00 – Tone in the hands & their 3-hour conversation
12:00 – Aesthetic matters: Looks, tolex, and speaker cabinet construction
13:56 – Inside the cab: Celestion Golds explained
15:08 – Playing inspires creativity
15:48 – Overdrive channel 1 demo
17:02 – Voice switching and gain boost
18:46 – Overdrive channel 2 (high gain) walkthrough
20:38 – Resonance response & volume sensitivity
22:00 – Dynamic gain at low volume
23:44 – Volume cleanup & subtle harmonic response
26:46 – Tone detail differences: clean vs. dirty
28:19 – Single note clarity and "poppiness"
29:10 – Pedal test: Origin Effects Hian
30:55 – Pushing the amp further with the pedal
33:36 – Final thoughts before switching guitars
34:57 – Second guitar plugged in – tonal comparison
36:15 – Alternate voicing explored
38:45 – Wrap-up jam

• Victory MK Overdrive | Rick Graham Full Demo Interview with Martin Kidd