I bought a ValveKing Royal 8 some time ago, and have never been happy with the sound. I finally decided to sell it and buy a different small combo for taking with me to guitar lessons. Two people tried it out, and didn't like it for the same reason I didn't, the kazoo-like overdrive. The last person to try it out suggested that it wasn't inherently the amph itself, but something wrong with the electronics, or tube(s). He said that the clips he'd heard of stock Royal 8s didn't sound the way mine does. I wish I'd realized that when I first bought it, so I could've sent it back for replacement. I just thought that it was the way the amph sounded. Now I'm going to try replacing the pre-amp tube, and if that doesn't do anything, I'll replace the power tube.

Sorry you got a lemon, Duff. I hope that whatever you end up with is more to your liking. Even though I don't own one, I'd also vote for the Jet City. I may pick up one of their Pico Valve heads when they're available. They look very promising.