- Description
- Features
Introducing the Benson Germanium Fuzz
The Benson Germanium Fuzz is a meticulously designed fuzz pedal that brings the classic 60s circular fuzz topology into the modern age. It features controls for Volume, Gain, and Impedance, and is built around two carefully matched germanium 2N527 or 2N404 transistors. These transistors have been graded for gain and leakage, ensuring they perform at their best. Here's what you need to know about its features:
Features
- Automatic Thermal Bias Technology: The first fuzz pedal with this feature, ensuring consistent sound by gently warming the transistors to a preset operating point.
- Matched Germanium Transistors: Utilizes two carefully graded and matched germanium 2N527 or 2N404 transistors for optimal performance.
- Low Input Impedance: Incorporates a class A buffer and a Jack Orman style passive pickup simulator for compatibility with other pedals while maintaining the desired sound.
- Impedance Control: Simulates rolling down the guitar volume for a tight, sparkly clean tone without needing to adjust your guitar.
- Versatile Gain Range: Functions as a rich clean boost, overdrive, or aggressive fuzz with interactive impedance and gain controls.
- Durable Construction: Designed to operate between freezing and 100˚F, available in Studio Black (not meant for direct sunlight) and Snow White (fine with direct sunlight).
- 9V DC Power Supply: Requires a 9vdc Boss style center-negative power supply, drawing less than 100mA when the heater is engaged.
- Internal Trimmer: Precisely set at the factory
Features
- Automatic Thermal Bias Technology: This innovative feature gently warms the transistors to a preset operating point using analog components, ensuring consistent sound no matter the external temperature. When the LED is orange, the transistors are warming up to increase their gain and shift the bias point to the correct voltage. When the LED turns green, the warmer is off because the correct bias and gain have been set. Expect the LED to toggle back and forth occasionally while the pedal is on, indicating it's working as intended.
- Matched Germanium Transistors: Utilizes two carefully graded and matched germanium 2N527 or 2N404 transistors for optimal performance. These transistors are set up in the classic 60s circular fuzz topology, tuned for exceptional sound with additional features to address common issues with germanium devices.
- Low Input Impedance: Incorporates a class A buffer and a Jack Orman style passive pickup simulator, making it compatible with other pedals while maintaining the desired sound. This design retains the classic tight, sparkly clean tone when the guitar volume is rolled down without sounding harsh if there are buffers or pedals before it in the signal chain.
- Impedance Control: Simulates rolling down the guitar volume for a tight, sparkly clean tone without needing to adjust your guitar. This allows for a wide range of tonal options, from clean boost to overdrive and aggressive fuzz with octave overtones.
- Versatile Gain Range: Functions as a rich clean boost, an overdrive, or an aggressive fuzz with interactive impedance and gain controls. It offers many colors of tone, from subtle overdrive to full-on fuzz, making it suitable for 60s-70s classic rock and psychedelic rock. The pedal is designed to sound like an overdrive or distortion until the gain is turned all the way up, and the impedance is turned down.
- Durable Construction: Designed to operate between freezing and 100˚F, available in Studio Black (not meant for direct sunlight) and Snow White (fine with direct sunlight). The color choice helps manage temperature differences in direct sunlight, with a 20˚F difference between the black and white pedals.
- 9V DC Power Supply: Requires a 9vdc Boss style center-negative power supply, drawing less than 100mA when the heater is engaged. This pedal does not use batteries, and it's important to use the correct power supply to avoid damaging the pedal or power supply.
- Internal Trimmer: Precisely set at the factory; adjusting it voids the warranty. The correct trimmer position is marked in case you acquire a used pedal where it has been tampered with.