Sky King issues and my findings. Anyone own a newer one post 2020, can give insight?

[Mattgix082]

I had an Imperial MK2 on loan for 3 months that worked great. Decided to go with Sky King and ordered in December 2022.

My first one blew a fuse day one! I bought new fuses and it left the Ultralinear with a loud hum like a boat. So I sent it back.

Next one came in and Ultralinear was fine. But there was heavy noise cascading through the reverb and Pentode mode. Also touching the top switch would buzz. The chassis was no grounded to the amp it seem.

Got a third amp sent from BAD directly and it was better. However the Pots are crackling a bit, still reverb noise floor is a bit loud. There is the same transformer type hum on Ultralinear, but less. And the top cabinet where the chasis is has a buzz going on. The PT or OT seems to be buzzing inside. I tried to tighten it and it got a little better..but I had to give up. TK told me I could try tighten it more, or get this…weather stripping.

I honestly think the PT or something in all these is faulty. I am now going back to an Imperial MK2, as I had a loaner I really liked! It sucks it didn’t work out, but the Sky King seem to suffer from some serious mechanical issues…very similar to some videos and a thread I saw. If it doesn’t blow a fuse, the noise casacades to other circuits. Put your ear on the top and it buzzes. This happen to all 3 I had in my studio to some degree…maybe supply chain parts? Whatever they are doing with the Imperial MK2, doesn’t seem to crossover. But the Sky King is affected big time for some reason. Not to mention a new YouTube video by Pisonic on one that blew up, with some startling build finds! I didn’t see the video until after the fact. It’s a bit concerning for an amp of this price point, or any amp!

I will have both amps new in my possession on Saturday. I don’t expect to have an issue with the Imperial MK2. But will have a crossover of both with the return. So will be very much comparing. I really hate it didn’t work out with the Sky King, and my assessment was an internal Power Source or PT/OT in the end.

 

[Jon Snell]

I would have given up after the second faulty one and gone for a different maker due to no trust in the designs.

 

[Mattgix082]

I would have given up after the second faulty one and gone for a different maker due to no trust in the designs.

Yeah I did that with Fender already… in my price range and what I need. The Imperial MK2 fits the best. I just have a problem with their Sky King. BAD bought shares of Tone King in 2018. So they are making the Imperial MK2 the same. But they re-released the Sky King and added their own stuff. That’s why I’m not too upset at the Imperial MK2, or the brand as a whole. BAD makes Wampler, Friedman and a lot of popular amps and pedals. So it’s a huge company, that owns or builds for all these companies, and they make them in the same house. So things can vary big time! As you see Friedman high quality amps being built right next to a Tone King in the same building.

Also different teams working on different amps and such. Imperial MK2 is TK/BAD flagship series amp for the TK brand. So seems they have a proper team and QC there. The Sky King seems not very much a popular amp they sell a lot of…so could be just something they don’t care about I dunno. But I had a great experience with all their products….just not the Sky King.

I’d take a Imperial MK2 over any Fender Reissue, but I’d take a used $300 HRD with an attenuator slapped on it before $3k on a Sky King. That’s kind of where I’m at.. next stop would be shopping used here really for real vintage. Locally it’s pretty dry right now. Just a 1966 BlackFace Bassman…and that’s a bit huge for me. A few Twin reissues, and a Super Reverb RI. But I had horrible experiences with the reissues Fender does more so than any amps.

Only other brand would possibly be Milkman amps…but that’s way above my price range for a 40w amp. Like $ 3500 on that! Might as well buy a Two Rock at those prices!

 

[Tim S]

FWIW, I own a 2019 BAD-constructed Sky King which I thoroughly enjoy and has remained problem-free. Perhaps the supply chain interruptions that occurred after that time period affected what goes into them? (I know it affected transformer selection for Mesa)

 

[Mattgix082]

FWIW, I own a 2019 BAD-constructed Sky King which I thoroughly enjoy and has remained problem-free. Perhaps the supply chain interruptions that occurred after that time period affected what goes into them? (I know it affected transformer selection for Mesa)

Possibly….I finally got my hand on a DI load box so I can get a better ear and measurements.

In normal mode Pentode it fairs very well to me…but also the load box has its own master volume. The sounds are to die for and I really really love it. But crank the volume on Ultralinear and there’s the hum. What really kills me is when I take the attenuator down…when I get to the middle it hits on something and the buzz goes off the charts!

Now if this was a used amp I got for 1.8k off reverb I bring to a tech. But new, at nearly $2.8k it’s unacceptable. I really love what does work..but after going through 3 of these, I’ve seen how it can start small and get gradually worse.

I stumbled upon a thread on the Sky King and one guy had to replace the PT from a 2021 build. Apparently it was a company known for bad PT, and it ended up being that. And would blow it fuses time to time as well as display similar issues.

If I want this amp I would have to bring back to a tech to sort out and replace parts . Not something that should be acceptable on a new amp. With the Imperial I had none of this occurred. I should have a new imperial one Monday to A/B.

But hooking it up to my apogee Rosetta and looking at the noise floor as well. It doesn’t look good. With the DI box master volume it kind of helps control this. Still it’s a dud, and I can’t play emotional acrobats to justify keeping a $2900 amp that’s not working fully. Man, I really wanted it to work out! But you’re probably right! Probably a supply shortage causing issues on this all with whatever parts they can get maybe. I really wanted this amp too as my for life amp.

But I’m good witg the imperial MK2. Just have to mic it live. As the Sky King was a bit beefier. I could also through a Fat Jimmy speaker in the Imperial to get a bit more bottom and spread.

 

[Mattgix082]

Hey about to send that Sky King back with my swap out on Imperial MK2. And gave it one more go on the Sky King in a home studio session.

After 2hrs on, it started glitching and cutting in and out volume like a 8 bit Nintendo bit crusher sound. The TF hum got crazy insane loud out of nowhere…and started just sounding like fuzz. Notes started literally cutting in and out. Happen on the first one as well. It was so hot, I just turned it off, let it cool and boxed it up to send off for my exchange.

Not that there’s anything to do now, as I wait on the Imperial MK2. But just wanted to report, as that’s really crazy behavior. I was trying really hard to possibly justify the issues, as it sounds so good when it works…but that’s really bonkers, and something way beyond an isolated situation.

 

[Peegoo]

You are way more patient than I would ever be. Like Jon Snell, I would've bailed on 'em after the second failure.

Find an older Tone King from back in the days when they were made by Mark Bartel in Baltimore. Bulletproof amps that were built extremely well and sounded great.

 

[Mattgix082]

You are way more patient than I would ever be. Like Jon Snell, I would've bailed on 'em after the second failure.

Find an older Tone King from back in the days when they were made by Mark Bartel in Baltimore. Bulletproof amps that were built extremely well and sounded great.

Well, the first Tone King amp was great! It was an Imperial MK2 and not a Sky King. It was Sweetwaters screw up for sending me a open box one Vs new. So I waited for stock and never came…I used the amp as a loaner for 4 months with no issues.

Sky King only came into the picture as another choice. It was not my original and more or so looked at as an upgrade. If I never went with the Sky King this never would of happened.

I did only get 2 Sky Kings and was done. But the company BAD that makes them wanted to look at the second. I thought they meant really look at it. But they just sent a new one…so wasn’t very helpful. So yeah I’m done with and my patience is shot with it.

I went back to the Imperial MK2, because they did come in stock and was my original plan. It’s actually here, but UPS skipped my delivery this weekend….it’s all a mess right now dealing with UPS, and I have to send the Sky King back to Sweetwater. I live in New Orleans and Mardi Gras is going on. So I am super stressed with work, the crowds, parking and trying to track down this package with UPS and get the return back.

All I can say is Sweetwater better give me an extra week on the return. I’m pretty much screwed with my work week, and how much Mardi Gras takes over my city…pretty much everything gets put on hold. So yeah this is it… I’ll be playing the Imperial MK2 a lot, and one issue it goes back. But as I said, only had issues with Sky King amp.

If I went with say a Friedman amp…well it’s the same company that build them. BAD builds a good chunk of US amps and pedals for companies. So there’s that too as it’s one of those collective warehouse things. So QC is different from each team it seems. I really liked the Imperial MK2, and Sweetwater has extended up to 3-4 month return windows for me.

But yeah this is it…if it doesn’t work out, then I’m just gonna go with a used real 60s Fender…and be patient to find one.

 

[Mattgix082]

I would have given up after the second faulty one and gone for a different maker due to no trust in the designs.

Hey I take it back I should of…I had a 6L6 tube blow up in my house out of nowhere. I got dragged and ranted on the phone by TK and ragged on about Fed Ex, Sweetwater and treated really ****ty. I did get the Imperial MK2. But I’m not even sure anymore after all that. I was already on edge. They think I want to put this much work and trust into them? Shipping and taking off work all the time to get it right?

Tonight really made me think on this after I talked to a head guy over there. It was a very uncomfortable conversation. And I feel I may need to distance myself regardless. I got to sit on this and think the next few days. My city is having a big festival so nothing really in or out till next week. But I’m a bit taken back, on what I experienced with that phone call tonight.

 

[Mattgix082]

You are way more patient than I would ever be. Like Jon Snell, I would've bailed on 'em after the second failure.

Find an older Tone King from back in the days when they were made by Mark Bartel in Baltimore. Bulletproof amps that were built extremely well and sounded great.

Also I found out…and could of been the issue, but TK/BAD got angry as I wrote…so didn’t get to try it. But the loud hum, cutting in and out that night. It was all the signs of a bad power tube when it blew up in my face 2 days later. It’s obvious a power tube was bad from day one. That could actually be the issue on this. But unfortunately I do not have an extra pair of 6L6 lying around. And even the cheapest online I could find, doesn’t really warrant a test run on something that’s going to return. I had a last ditch effort to see if I could find the issue…found what I thought could be the issue. Told BAD/TK and they lost it on me instead. I thought maybe they be nice, and say…ah very much so that could have been the case. And send me some test tubes under warranty.

The issue is they pack all the amps in a box right side up. Just some simple holding material bottom and top. Other companies ship amps upside down, to help get the tubes through shipping, as well as double side it with inserts like you see on TVs. The packaging is really bad for such a pricey amp. I think better packaging would go a long way! I don’t think they are lying to me, when they said the amp worked great from the factory.

But when you ship a 3k amp in a box like that…either double box and pad it down. Or at the least overnight air it to the customer to have the least issues. The Imperial are Falcon are super light, so prob not as many issues. But I suspect def easily bad tubes on these amps happen fairly often with packaging.

I haven’t decided if I’m keeping the Imperial MK2 sent to me. It does have a 60hz hum I need to see if it goes away at other houses, and compared to the Sky King with $300 less the price…feels like a big downgrade to what I truly wanted. I live in New Orleans with Mardi Gras going on when this happened. So I’m stuck with both amps till at least Wednesday or next week. As roads are blocked, can’t move my car till next week and it’s a big holiday here.

So I’m gonna think about it, and try the Imperial MK2 at another house. If the 60hz hum stays…100% going back! If it goes away then I have to make a decision if this is really what I want after all this. I didn’t want to get too emotional about it just yet…so taking some time to cool down and think over the weekend. As if the small 60hz hum is just my home, and I’m fine elsewhere. I’m not sure I want to deal with the company further, after my last interaction. It’s a lot of money, and you’d think it would be treated a bit more careful. Sweetwater is telling me they can be the face of my warranty and support, due to what happened…but I dunnno about that.

 

[Peegoo]

WOW.

I remember when amp companies wrapped the tubes individually and packed them snugly together inside the cab to protect them in shipping.

I guess they just leave 'em in the sockets, give it a pat on the arse, and send it out the door.

 

[Mattgix082]

WOW.

I remember when amp companies wrapped the tubes individually and packed them snugly together inside the cab to protect them in shipping.

I guess they just leave 'em in the sockets, give it a pat on the arse, and send it out the door.

No I mean…even Fender can be cheap on parts with Reissues. But they do package a lot better. I get corners are cut here and there for sure. But lack of packaging good on a high priced item is very weird to me.

Especially in the days where we have cheap TVs packaged so tightly and decent. Putting a plastic bag around the amp, right side up with some corner holders up top and bottom…is simply not enough.

Not even a fragile sticker. Any Tone King amp ended up to me in a very roughed up box. It was very bare minimal packaging. I’m sure selling within the cornering states of California may make it. But unless air express, huge chance those things may have failure, or bad tubes that may go undiagnosed as returns. I don’t understand how they aren’t using better boxes than the cheaper amps.

 

[Tim S]

Unless amps are getting damaged in shipment, there shouldn’t be any need for additional packaging. Excessive packaging is an unnecessary waste of resources.

If amps *are* getting damaged in shipping, then that affects the manufacture’s bottom line. THAT would demonstrate a need for better packaging.

I was surprised by the plain, minimal packing of my Sky King, but it was unharmed and I forgot about the matter completely as soon as I plugged into it… until this thread mentioned it. For me, it’s a “So what?”

 

[Mattgix082]

Unless amps are getting damaged in shipment, there shouldn’t be any need for additional packaging. Excessive packaging is an unnecessary waste of resources.

If amps *are* getting damaged in shipping, then that affects the manufacture’s bottom line. THAT would demonstrate a need for better packaging.

I was surprised by the plain, minimal packing of my Sky King, but it was unharmed and I forgot about the matter completely as soon as I plugged into it… until this thread mentioned it. For me, it’s a “So what?”

Understandable! I’ve had many things shipped and was like whoa that’s not good. But if it works, didn’t get damage I forget! But man UPS/FED EX, shortage of workers and supply chain these days is something else. Also doesn’t help I live in the pothole capital of the US!

But yeah I still have both amps here. One is going back next weekend. I’m gonna track down a amp tech and throw him $40 just to test 2 6L6 test tubes in it. Do a simple overview and give me their take. But nothing will be around till mid next week. I really want to roll with the Sky King. The $300 difference is huge, and the Sky King imo is def a good amp. Just so much more amp Vs the Imperial MK2. It’s like a princeton vs a robust tank sonically and physically!

Issue is it took 3 Sky Kings and all had some issues probably from factory to packaging and delivery…that’s if I’m to believe TK/BAD has good QC and is building these up to spec. It’s one of the other! But so far this Sky King is the only one I received where I can kind of trace the issues and see what it may be.

On a load box I got last Friday it revealed the noise from the defective tube making that noise, leaked out into other things acoustically not physically. Taking away the speaker pretty much fixed a LOT of issues but one. Then the buzz got louder and pop goes the tube…that was the last piece of the puzzle. So hoping that it!

But I understand…I felt the same way trying the Imperial MK2 when the box came in. But if it works I don’t care.

But yeah these amps have felt like buying a new guitar…bringing it to a tech to do an overall check, setup and correct little things like unbalanced frets ect. Back in the day I just go grab a used amp or bought at GC. I’ve never had amp issues till I started looking for a new post Covid.

I’m just out of my own territory, and tool set to fix or diagnose the issues I was having…but I damn sure tried! I just don’t wanna spend $100 as a gamble on a set of power tubes and be wrong. I’m not sure if something inside the amp could be damage that caused it. But on a basic level here…I just see hum, hum get louder, tube goes pop. Replace tube amp will be fixed.

 

[Mattgix082]

Well just an update here…it appears Tone King updated the boards now. So probably good to claim that limited lifetime warranty. See below!

This effects most Sky King amps purchased from 2020-early 2023.

 

[Michael Smith]

I watched that Psionic Audio video earlier. Lyle said it was a fair amount of work to swap out the board (but he didn't say exactly how long it took).

 

[Mattgix082]

I watched that Psionic Audio video earlier. Lyle said it was a fair amount of work to swap out the board (but he didn't say exactly how long it took).

Yes he says it took him 2hrs after I watched it again. I’m not able to do this, and honestly don’t have a lot of confidence in a local tech. He’s good, and this board requires a lot of patience to put in.

Sweetwater worked hard with me ti get things right. They told me if something changes and warranty stuff they take care of early this year. I had a strong feeling this new revision was coming in time now. Sure enough it did happen, and they have the registered serial numbers of the Rev D boards with emails…but I doubt they would do a mass recall. Probably will be on a case to case basis…so hopefully won’t have to fight this on a 6 month old amp.

I didn’t have the best experience with BAD/TK from Febuary-April of this year. So they promised me they be the front end for service and contact TK for me to get stuff done. They have 2-3 gear satisfaction warranty on top of the manufacturers.

So first step next week will be to reach out to Sweetwater. Based on previous warranty claims when I first got it. It would go to Bad/TK to do the work and ship back. Or Sweetwater will ask me to send it in for a new revised one, and send my old one back to TK/BAD so they can repurpose it and fix it.

Time is no doubt valuable, and I have no use with my skills to put it in. Nor do I believe any local tech will want to do this. I also would be iffy about a tech local doing it correct and proper. I’d much rather have Tone King or Sweetwater handle this.

I’ve done more than enough on my part, with the amount of shipping earlier this year. But the board is a huge change! My biggest issue is that ground plain by the power tube section. It causes noise in UL mode, Arching and overheating. Then eventually most will have a fuse blow out sooner or later. I suspected it was something in that area, with issues I had on returns.

I just hope I don’t have to keep playing if till it gives out. Much rather just get it fixed and be done.

I’ll def keep this post updated, and hopefully have a happy ending here. If they replace the board at minimum I’d be very happy! If they take care of the board, and the dried out Celestion speaker I had to put felt on as well…I’d be super happy and feel they stepped up. No one should deal with this on a 6 month old $3k amp.

 

[Mattgix082]

Update!

TK/BAD are going to fix my Sky King and issues I had under warranty, as it’s a 5 month old amp. They are going to swap the old faulty Rev D board out with the new Rev E, that should be shipping with all new Sky King models going forward. So just know if you get one new, issues have been fixed now!

The new Rev E board was given a B grade by Psionic channel(see video I posted), and he really liked it and said it was a huge leap over the Rev D board which had issues I experienced. This puts my mind at ease, and I will now have an amp that’s exactly what I expected it to be.

So very happy that within 5 business days, TK/BAD got back and are going to do the right thing! Speaks volumes the company is standing behind their amps, and have fixed the issues with the Sky King Rev E version. Very happy customer here! And big shout out to Sweetwater as well for doing a lot of work on my end to work with BAD and me through this.

Just waiting to hear back about shipping label, but have my RA number and all that. I get things happen, but wanted to show them in fare light here. So going forward, should be no issue on future buyers of this amp either with the new board..and they stood behind this customer I’m happy to say. So def have to say seems like it was just an issues at time I bought, and they are correcting properly.

Hope to post a great playthrough video when I get it back in!