Benson Amps Germanium Preamp

Рет қаралды 18,105

3 ай бұрын

www.bensonamps.com/
Not long after Benson released their Germanium Boost, players quickly realized they could add a temperature controlled Ge transistor gain stage to any amp-in-a-box, including the original Benson Preamp. This sparked the idea of marring the two circuits somehow...
After two years of testing and prototyping, their best results came from replacing the first FET in the Preamp with this servo-controlled Ge stage. The flavor is much smoother, rounder and overall less gain which makes finding sweet spots much easier. With Germanium comes its own mellow coloration and subtle compression, so fans of playing into clean pedal platforms with immediately notice a less strident tone.
Of course, you still have all the flexibility of both low and high-pass filters plus lots of output to push any tube amp into overdrive.
The Ge Preamp is made in Portland, OR and can be spotted by its Mint Green finish. Check it out at BensonAmps.com
Find me on Instagram: / pdxandyguitar
Website: andydemos.com/
Gear in Video
Amp: Carr Bel-Ray Combo www.carramps.com/bel-ray
Guitars: Seuf OH-20, Redtail ‘59 Goldtop, Godin Montreal Premiere, Suhr Classic Antique (Radioshop HSS Evolution pickups)
Recording Gear: Universal Audio Apollo 8 QUAD, Royer R-121 Mic, Sovtek Mk-219
Drums: Stefan Pötzsch
Strings: StringJoy Signature 10-46 tinyurl.com/StringjoyAndy
Cables: Evidence SIS & Revelation Guitar Cables
#BensonAmps #andydemos #effectspedals

Пікірлер: 71

@mikedr1549 3 ай бұрын

I don't care if it's made with Kryptonite - that tone is to die for.

@danielferrera8773 3 ай бұрын

Right!! Studio worth

@bradleyshuppert3393 3 ай бұрын

I think it is powered by 1.21 gigawatts….. you better check with your local power company before you plug it in…. Might start a blackout….

@seanbatterberry 3 ай бұрын

Feel like I’ve been watching you demo pedals for 20 years 😂 Like a fine wine, Andy, you just get better with age 🤘🏻

@AndyDemos 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching all these years, I really appreciate it!

@Danielwilkinson 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for comparing the old and the new for context 🤍

@gobeco 2 ай бұрын

Absolutely!!!

@frankbennett3075 3 ай бұрын

Stop tricking me into thinking you’re playing with a pick! I fall for it every time! 🙃

@gavinj918 3 ай бұрын

Nice work again Andy. Thanks for the back to back between the two versions. (Still loving my original)

@rickard9294 3 ай бұрын

This pedal sounds really good in my opinion.

@AndyDemos 3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! I think this flavor will appeal to more players too, much more low/med gain offerings. I still love the unhinged tone of the OG when maxed! Thanks!

@g.marion5888 3 ай бұрын

Awesome demo, Andy, sounds sweet:)

@benedekgabor. 3 ай бұрын

Wow. I didn’t thought that I will like the tone so much.

@edadpops1709 3 ай бұрын

I like it .sweet tones

@TheRodge2112 Ай бұрын

I own this pedal and really like it. Very open with just enough mids to give nice clarity. Dirty and a tad "loose" but has a certain sag/compression that makes digging in very satisfying. Also stacks like a champ. I shot it out against the original benson preamp--and MANY other dirt pedals--and always come back to it.

@jorgk.914 3 ай бұрын

Super Andy 🤘

@albertoz5450 3 ай бұрын

Maybe i've said this in a past comment, but Andy is a Great riffs machine man

@albertoz5450 3 ай бұрын

Great riffs human machine, sounds better 😊

@bradleyshuppert3393 3 ай бұрын

Andy could sell Ketchup popsicles on a 100 degree day to ladies wearing white dresses……he is THAT good!!!!

@sassycat 3 ай бұрын

There's just something about Germanium's warm and wooly tone that just hits those spots for me. Going to end up with a Benson board before too much longer. 😺👍

@aminahmed2220 3 ай бұрын

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day Andy ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

@tonyz4292 3 ай бұрын

Need to dial the gas hotline after watching this one

@wolfsoto 2 ай бұрын

The Benson Germanium Preamp is amazing I can get any from a fuzz face to Big Muff to a super smooth overdrive. I had one before and loved it but the addition of a Germanium transistor was a game changer and added warmth, Richness and plenty of grit. It gives the guitar a huge sound. They did it right this time.

@AndyDemos 2 ай бұрын

I agree 100%

@TheRodge2112 2 ай бұрын

Agree. I shot this out against the original preamp and preferred the germanium. Just a touch more sag, low end, and rounded-ness. Just had better feel and sound. Both really good though.

@whiskybravo4648 3 ай бұрын

Heck yeah!

@druwk 3 ай бұрын

Can definitely hear the differences between the two. Interesting to hear the Germanium at the heads and tails of the post in a band context. The squishiness puts it in the background, which can be perfect if there’s a singer in there? I like the EQ pocket. Sidebar: One of reason I like playing through a 5e3, goosed up with guitar volume down is because you can play soft and be clear behind the mix, play a little harder and be broken up behind the mix, and then turn up a little to step out in front.

@jambajoby32 2 ай бұрын

💯

@dww0902 3 ай бұрын

If I were a guitar player, this is a pedal I would want. Germanium stuff sounds like it would feel good to play - like a lightly muffled vintage bass drum with no port hole. 🤙

@AndyDemos 3 ай бұрын

Yes, feel is a huge part of Ge vs Si. So glad you enjoyed it!

@jasondorsey7110 3 ай бұрын

@@AndyDemosThe folks who say solid state amps sound sterile must not have much experience with germanium...I have a '68 GE stereo that I converted into a guitar amp, as well as an old lafayette reverb unit with a germanium transistor in the circuit...they sound anything but cold or brittle

@dinorocker8647 Ай бұрын

I think I found the partner for my Laney LA Studio and BCC TI Boost.

@dancrowe7860 3 ай бұрын

Neil Young tone in a box!

@telecasterbear 2 ай бұрын

Carr amp. Nice.

@ITheFight 2 ай бұрын

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@dtb2229 3 ай бұрын

Don't think I didn't catch you playing the beginning of Silence Kid during the comparisons

@OzziePete1 3 ай бұрын

Great demo as usual Andy. But you didn't say "Now here's my clean tone..." I feel cheated.... 🙂 I know you have other gigs, Andy, but how can you *only* have 51.3K Followers? BTW, at the start, going through the Carr with the Tele, I felt the Benson was clashing with the amp's natural tone. Not so friendly with Vox type amps? That said, this Preamp does work it's way into a good tone and I'm guessing it's an 'always on' type of pedal.

@riffsvanwinkle 3 ай бұрын

At 9:51 was that an accidental or intentional bit from "Silence Kit" by Pavement?

@dtb2229 3 ай бұрын

I heard the same exact thing

@fogfonk9915 9 күн бұрын

hey..Joe Walsh..Son? Damn Good Mojo Guitar Player...Big Resepect

@igordemoraeslenzi 3 ай бұрын

The new germanium sound much more a lower gain drive than the original. It may be my impression, but although the germanium is sometimes more clear, the original is much more versatile.

@philjensen1807 3 ай бұрын

Not my favourite tone but when played by Andy that's cool.

@jambajoby32 2 ай бұрын

Shit Andy can make a ketchup bottle sound killer 🤘

@Da_Publick 3 ай бұрын

What would this do for a Solid State amp?

@ianjarrold6423 3 ай бұрын

Was a that a cheeky bit of Pavement there at 9:52? 😊

@AndyDemos 3 ай бұрын

Haha yep!

@motionPush 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, any clue if that germanium is the same from the Chase Bliss preamp mk2?

@AndyDemos 3 ай бұрын

No, the MK2 is referring to Germanium clipping diodes not Germanium transistors like this one (which has no clipping diodes). I believe that Mk2 Preamp was also using a Silicon Fuzz circuit. So, completely different offerings. Hope that clears it up!

@motionPush 3 ай бұрын

@@AndyDemosThank you Andy, much appreciated. Big fan of yours btw, be well and please keep going.

@RobinFl3t 3 ай бұрын

Great playing as always, nice one Andy. How well does the GE temp control work on these?

@AndyDemos 3 ай бұрын

It's as solid as the Ge Boost -- servo biased. Not as picky as the Ge Fuzz which needs a few minutes to warm up. Thanks!

@RobinFl3t 3 ай бұрын

Good comparison, TY Andy. But with Ge it's the overheating on a 90F+ stage I worry about.....not necessarily talking a few seconds to warm up. Is that all good?@@AndyDemos

@AndyDemos 3 ай бұрын

@@RobinFl3t The only thing to worry about is going over 120 deg.

@75YBA 3 ай бұрын

Didn’t they already release this?

@AndyDemos 3 ай бұрын

Today is the day! They've had the Germ Fuzz, Germ Boost and Stonk Box (Ge).

@ManicMaximus 3 ай бұрын

I just bought a Hudson Broadcast… Did I make a mistake?

@miekgenklefin9616 3 ай бұрын

“There’s no such thing” -Agent Orange

@martinsteiger5039 3 ай бұрын

What’s the name of the intro song?

@AndyDemos 3 ай бұрын

It’s an original I wrote for the demo!

@jakyl_j 3 ай бұрын

@@AndyDemos ugh I wanted to add on Apple Music! Let us know when the release drops?!

@7mechanix 3 ай бұрын

@AndyDemos I like it a lot. It gives me some Black Keys 'Let's Rock' kind of vibes which was an album I really enjoyed. Thanks for sharing some original stuff!

@bernielalonde1898 3 ай бұрын

It does sound great! But, I have to wonder about availability. From a video I saw recently he(Benson) has a small operation that he says he doesn't want to expand and he's so swamped you can't even order an amp. Which makes me wonder how can he supply these new pedals that are being demo'd by multiple influencers.

@darwinsaye 3 ай бұрын

Omg please don’t refer to KZfaq gear reviewers as “influencers”. These guys provide a service for consumers. Influencers just pose and posture for the camera and pretend they’re celebrities like movie stars.

@bernielalonde1898 3 ай бұрын

They are paid for reviews and do "influence" people.@@darwinsaye

@LewWelchThePoet 3 ай бұрын

👍🏿🤘

@mfe3038 3 ай бұрын

First

@johndrowe5281 3 ай бұрын

Sounds as though you may have been listening to a wee Country on the way to the pedal 😊🤷🏼‍♂️… or did the pedal inspire the bent?😊 The tone is indeed beautiful; however, I would have enjoyed a wee more Pagey, Hendrix … 70s rock like at the end of the vid. Whatever. In my book, you do NO wrong … 🫶✌️♾️ 🎸👨🏼‍⚕️

@DrDooDah 3 ай бұрын

Sounds remarkably like my JHS modded Soul Food. :)

@starshineraiser6729 3 ай бұрын

There’s nothing more overrated than germanium. Also, is something handmade if it has those little SMT chips all over the circuit board?

@harrassee 3 ай бұрын

Andy, any chance you can put out a demo of the Bel Ray? I'm particularly interested in how the different sounds balance.

@harrassee 3 ай бұрын

Imo the Germanium version sounds more articulate with better string separation, but not sure if that is simply because it is a bit brighter. Actually, reminds me of my Automoatone (which is basedo n the Benson Preamp but, many people have stated, more articulate).