The Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal is a Benson Amps preamp pedal. Close alternatives include the Benson Amps BA-Pre and the 67Audio Harry Balz. It pairs well with the Fender Bubbler Chorus and the Catalinbread SFT.

Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal

Benson Amps · pedal

The Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal is a FET-based preamp pedal based on the Benson Chimera 30-watt guitar amplifier circuit, substituting FET transistors for the original vacuum tubes. Controls include Gain, Volume, Treble, and Bass. The Treble and Bass controls actively shape the type of gain generated rather than passively filtering the output. 9V DC or battery, 50mA. Priced at $249 from Benson Amps, Portland, Oregon. Described by multiple reviewers as the most amp-like gain pedal, hypersensitive to touch and pick attack through both tube amplifiers and amp modeling systems. Stacks well with other drives, fuzzes, and compressors.

  • preamp
  • treble
  • bass
  • gain
  • fet
  • drive
  • touch
  • compressor

Genres the Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal is commonly used in

  • Alternative
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Indie Rock
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Blues
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Country
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Rock
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Classic Rock
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Pedals that stack with the Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal

Fender Bubbler Chorus

Fender

21% match
$143.15via Reverb

Keep Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal's bright voice out front: Fender Bubbler Chorus goes after Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it

Catalinbread SFT

Catalinbread

19% match

Catalinbread SFT leans warm right where the bright tone needs it

Xotic BB Preamp

Xotic

19% match
$120.96via Reverb

Xotic BB Preamp leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it

Ashdown Velvet Compressor

Ashdown

17% match
$150.07via Reverb

What Ashdown Velvet Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around

Eventide Modulated Delay

Eventide

13% match

Put Eventide Modulated Delay after Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal in the signal chain, clear of Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Suhr Discovery

Suhr

13% match

Suhr Discovery's transparent voice goes after Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal's own bright character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Tone City King of Blues

Tone City

tonal match
$79.80via Reverb

Into Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal, Tone City King of Blues is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end

J. Rockett .45 Caliber Overdrive

J Rockett

tonal match
$183.99via Reverb

Into Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal, J. Rockett .45 Caliber Overdrive is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end

Alternativessee all similar tone character →

Benson Amps BA-Pre

Benson Amps

92% similarity
$249via Reverb

Shared character: extended_use, significant_investment, effect

67Audio Harry Balz

67audio

74% similarity
$108.04via Reverb

Shared character: volume, treble, response

Benson Amps Preamp

Benson Amps

73% similarity
$249via Reverb

Shared character: treble, fuzz, response

Xotic BB Preamp V1.5

Xotic

73% similarity
$180via Reverb

Shared character: treble, response, stage

Walrus Audio Ages Five-State Overdrive

Walrus Audio

73% similarity
$199via Reverb

Shared character: pick_attack, volume, treble

Strymon Riverside

Strymon

73% similarity

Shared character: pick_attack, touch, stage

Colorsound Power Boost

Colorsound

73% similarity

Shared character: volume, treble, touch

EarthQuaker Devices Zoar

EarthQuaker Devices

72% similarity
$129via Reverb

Shared character: pick_attack, treble, touch

MXR M264 FET Driver

MXR

72% similarity

Shared character: effect, touch, response

Fortin Amplification Kali Pre-Amp

Fortin Amplification

67% similarity
$371.06via Reverb

Shared character: pick_attack, stage, preamp

JHS Pedals JHS Pulp N Peel V4

JHS Pedals

62% similarity
$229via Reverb

Shared character: compressor, preamp

DOD 250 Overdrive Preamp 50th Anniversary

Digitech

62% similarity
$145.97via Reverb

Shared character: touch, preamp

See all alternatives to the Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal?+

The closest matches in character are the Benson Amps BA-Pre, the 67Audio Harry Balz, the Benson Amps Preamp.

What pairs well with the Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Bubbler Chorus, Catalinbread SFT, Xotic BB Preamp — Keep Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal's bright voice out front: Fender Bubbler Chorus goes after Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it.

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Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal — NodeTone