The Benson Amps Preamp is a Benson Amps preamp pedal, currently around $249. Close alternatives include the MXR Custom Shop Joe Bonamassa CSP265 FET Driver and the Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal. It pairs well with the Strymon Zelzah -Dimensional Phaser and the MXR Micro Amp.
Benson Amps Preamp
Benson Amps · pedal
The Benson Amps Preamp pedal replicates the input channel of the Benson Chimera 30W amplifier using FET transistors instead of tubes, producing the same warm, amp-like gain progression from clean boost through bluesy overdrive to the edge of fuzz. EQ controls have a pronounced impact on gain character -- cranking bass with treble rolled off produces a fuzz-like saturation, while reversing those positions yields clean tube-amp breakup. The gain range is enormous and always musical. Used in indie, blues, and Americana contexts where authentic amplifier feel matters most. Handmade by Benson Amps in Portland, Oregon.
- gain
- treble
- bass
- eq
- fet
- fuzz
- clean
- breakup
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Benson Amps Preamp is commonly used in
- Indie Rock
- Rock
- Indie
- Alternative Rock
- Americana
- Blues
Pedals that stack with the Benson Amps Preamp
Strymon Zelzah -Dimensional Phaser
Strymon
24% matchPut Strymon Zelzah -Dimensional Phaser after Benson Amps Preamp in the signal chain, clear of Benson Amps Preamp's own gain stage
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
23% matchMXR Micro Amp stacks clean boost on top of the fuzzy already here
Caroline Guitar Company Icarus
Caroline Guitar Company
22% matchPut Caroline Guitar Company Icarus in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward clean boost
Strymon OB.1 Bass
Strymon
19% matchWhat Strymon OB.1 Bass brings here leans toward clean boost — that's worth building a pairing around
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
14% matchElectro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay's modulated voice goes after Benson Amps Preamp in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Benson Amps Preamp's own bright character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay
Dunlop
14% matchKeep Dunlop - MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe Analog Delay after Benson Amps Preamp in the signal chain, clear of Benson Amps Preamp's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
J. Rockett .45 Caliber Overdrive
J Rockett
tonal matchJ. Rockett .45 Caliber Overdrive's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Benson Amps Preamp delivers it
Suhr Eclipse
Suhr
tonal matchSuhr Eclipse's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Benson Amps Preamp delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
75% similarityShared character: boost, treble, response
Fender Smolder
Fender
74% similarityShared character: boost, treble, warm
EarthQuaker Devices Westwood Translucent Drive Manipulator
EarthQuaker Devices
72% similarityShared character: higher_gain, treble, warm
Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII
Benson Amps
72% similarityShared character: boost, treble, fuzz
Caroline Guitar Company The Expensive Amplifier
Caroline Guitar Company
71% similarityShared character: edge, players, warm
Fender Santa Ana Overdrive
Fender
71% similarityShared character: boost, treble, response
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
MXR Custom Shop Joe Bonamassa CSP265 FET Driver
pedal
74% similarityShared character: players, boost, treble
Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal
Benson Amps
73% similarityShared character: treble, fuzz, response
JHS Notaklön
JHS Pedals
73% similarityShared character: players, higher_gain, response
Benson Amps BA-Pre
Benson Amps
73% similarityShared character: treble, fuzz, response
Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost)
Benson Amps
71% similarityShared character: boost, treble, preamp
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
71% similarityShared character: boost, treble, fuzz
See all alternatives to the Benson Amps Preamp (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Benson Amps Preamp?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR Custom Shop Joe Bonamassa CSP265 FET Driver, the Benson Amps Chimera Preamp Pedal, the JHS Notaklön. Budget picks: Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, Fender Smolder, EarthQuaker Devices Westwood Translucent Drive Manipulator. Boutique upgrades: Klon Centaur, Analog Man King of Tone.
What pairs well with the Benson Amps Preamp?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Strymon Zelzah -Dimensional Phaser, MXR Micro Amp, Caroline Guitar Company Icarus — Put Strymon Zelzah -Dimensional Phaser after Benson Amps Preamp in the signal chain, clear of Benson Amps Preamp's own gain stage.
How much does the Benson Amps Preamp cost?+
Around $249 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).