The Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII is a Chase Bliss Audio preamp pedal, currently around $680. Close alternatives include the Keeley Oxblood Overdrive and the Silktone Overdrive Plus. It pairs well with the Z.Vex Super Hard On and the MXR Micro Amp.
Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII
Chase Bliss Audio · pedal
Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII is a fully analog preamp and overdrive pedal built in collaboration with Chris Benson of Benson Amps, combining the touch-sensitive character of the Benson Chimera preamp with variable diode clipping, switchable open or gated fuzz, and three mid-resonance voicings that can be routed before or after the preamp stage. As the first Automatone-series pedal, it pairs that analog tone generation with motorized faders that physically move to recall any of thirty stored presets across three banks. The result ranges from transparent boosts and edge-of-breakup tones to aggressive distortion and gated fuzz, with the rich harmonics and musical EQ Benson amplifiers are known for. It suits players wanting deep, amp-like preamp voicing with studio-grade recall.
What stands out
“Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII is a fully analog preamp and overdrive pedal built in collaboration with Chris Benson of Benson Amps, combining the touch-sensitive character of the Benson Chimera preamp with variable diode clipping, swit…”
— from the listing
“Reviewers highlight the extremely wide tonal range on offer, from transparent boost through edge-of-breakup grit to aggressive gated fuzz, all built on the acclaimed Benson Amps preamp circuit”
— from the reviews
“The result ranges from transparent boosts and edge-of-breakup tones to aggressive distortion and gated fuzz, with the rich harmonics and musical EQ Benson amplifiers are known for”
— from the listing
“and three mid-resonance voicings that can be routed before or after the preamp stage”
— from the listing
“amp-like preamp voicing with studio-grade recall”
— from the listing
- fuzz
- analog
- boost
- stage
- aggressive
- overdrive
- transparent
Good for
- Live
- Silent Recording
- Studio
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII is commonly used in
- Rock
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
28% matchFeed a edge of breakup signal into Z.Vex Super Hard On and it comes out closer to clean boost
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
27% matchFeed a edge of breakup signal into MXR Micro Amp and it comes out closer to clean boost
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo
Caroline Guitar Company
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo after Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII in the signal chain, clear of Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Acoustic Strymon Compadre Dual Voice Compressor
Acoustic
20% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Acoustic Strymon Compadre Dual Voice Compressor leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Meris Polymoon
Meris
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Meris Polymoon's modulated voice goes after Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII's own fuzzy character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dawner Prince Boonar
Dawner Prince
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII's fuzzy voice out front: Dawner Prince Boonar goes after Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
NuX Drive Core Deluxe
Nux
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Stack NuX Drive Core Deluxe on top and a edge of breakup tone tightens toward clean boost
Matthews Effects Architect
Matthews Effects
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Matthews Effects Architect takes that edge of breakup character and pushes it toward clean boost
Cheaper alternatives
Electronic Audio Experiments Surveyor Instrument Voicing Preamp
Electronic Audio Experiments
61% similarityShared character: grit, distortion, studio
Wampler TCD Compulsion Drive
Wampler
61% similarityShared character: combination, distortion, stage
NuX Horseman Gold 2 in 1 Overdrive
Nux
59% similarityShared character: touch, middle, transparent
Pigtronix Disnortion Micro
Pigtronix
58% similarityShared character: grit, boost, fuzz
Maxon OD808
Maxon
57% similarityShared character: touch, middle, boost
Spaceman Atlas III
Spaceman
57% similarityShared character: boost, distortion
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Keeley Oxblood Overdrive
Keeley
58% similarityShared character: combination, rich, touch
Silktone Overdrive Plus
Silktone
56% similarityShared character: rich, touch, fuzz
Klon Centaur
Klon
55% similarityShared character: rich, touch, boost
Electro-Harmonix EHX Tortion
Electro-Harmonix
55% similarityShared character: stage, overdrive
JHS Overdrive/Preamp
JHS Pedals
55% similarityShared character: boost, middle, distortion
EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal
EarthQuaker Devices
55% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, distortion
See all alternatives to the Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII?+
The closest matches in character are the Keeley Oxblood Overdrive, the Silktone Overdrive Plus, the Klon Centaur. Budget picks: Electronic Audio Experiments Surveyor Instrument Voicing Preamp, Wampler TCD Compulsion Drive, NuX Horseman Gold 2 in 1 Overdrive.
What pairs well with the Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Z.Vex Super Hard On, MXR Micro Amp, Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo — Feed a edge of breakup signal into Z.Vex Super Hard On and it comes out closer to clean boost.
How much does the Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII cost?+
Around $680 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).