Great versatile amp

Didn’t see any reviews here, and have had some experience with the line of amps.

So the picture here is the 2013 model.. you can tell the difference as the older build by Mark Bartel has the 4 flush metal bolts on the front cab. The newer reissue (released December 2018 by BAD) has a plain front panel with no bolts.

Difference wise the 2013 is a mix of hand wired and some soldered components. If you get to see inside one, it is a weird triangular type design. The newer ones are high grade component PCB board.

What matters is sound and both do it great. Both also have likely hood of needing a tech visit old or newer. The newer is easier to work on given the normal layout.

I had a few issues and returns…took me a 3rd amp to get a good one. I still brought to a tech for some cabinet rumble and overall health check. Very good amps, but between shipping and QC on new ones even, live playing is fine! But if using for recording I at least spotted things I wanted taken care of. Like low level hums at idle, cathode bias being off on new tubes. Just a few things a tech could make better, that I agree should be done at the factory per cost. Also note, I found the same things in the Imperial MK2, so it’s not this amp alone.

So def figure in a tech trip in case for some minor work to get recording ready. Outside that for $2609-$2800 it’s a really nice build. Very versatile for 50s-to grunge and modern Alt rock. This is def not a metal amp! But it does everything you want a vintage Fender amp to do. It’s pretty much an amp you’d want in a cover band, have a big pedal board or for recording.

It is not sterile or completely clean. It has character, and that come into the clean channel around 3-4 very quickly on Pentode mode. Roll back guitar volume for clean up, or experiment with the V1 tube for headroom. The Ultralinear mode lets you get very loud with tons of headroom. So you have options of a nice big clean high headroom amp, or a classic Fender BF breakup around 3-4.

It’s a loud amp! So if micing you're probably going to be at 2-3, and that’s pretty clean with a little character. The attenuators are great for home playing and dialing up! I do find going below middle attenuation, you do lose some frequencies like any attenuator. But it’s a great recording home amp with attenuation, or even using a Captor/ OX for IR silent recording. Both older and newer amps have a 8ohm selection. New does 8ohm-16ohm, and older build is 4ohm-8ohm. Inside those options are still on the amp! So if you get a tech to get inside, you could get the amp to be 4-8 ohm it seems.

Comparing the Imperial MK2 outside weight, I’m not sure why these aren’t more popular. Given price tag it’s about a $300 difference to the Imperial MK2. I would call this an upgrade outside of weight. The MK2 is brighter, less low end and way more fussy about treble and gain. The treble on the Imperial MK2 is the most brought up question if you search or read a review. Well the Sky King solves this, and no treble issues, or cabinet placement issues. It just rocks, and is not crazy bright of boxxy at all and I’d say it’s like a 40w Vibrolux/ Vibroverb Fender.it has a huge tonal range!

If you compare price points, attenuation and features….The Sky King is actually pretty good if you’re looking for a clean to Jack White style ripping high volume amp. I was not very satisfied with Fender Reissues, needed attenuation, variety and didn’t want to pay big vintage shipping prices or search local for years.

I just say play it in person, and if getting one shipped have it double boxed. My one star detracting really comes from the shipping, as I received 2 in a raggedy box with issues before I had one double boxed that worked good. That’s more a delivery thing, and I’m sure your experience will vary.