Benson Amps Germanium Preamp

When Germanium Meets Amp-in-a-Box Magic

This limited-edition preamp merges our flagship FET circuit with the servo-biased germanium gain stage from our beloved Germanium Boost. The result? A warmer, richer version of our classic drive—lower in gain but higher in harmonic mojo.

Why This Hybrid Stands Out

✔ Germanium First Stage – Adds vintage sag and touch-sensitive response
✔ FET Powerhouse – Retains the tight EQ control of our flagship preamp
✔ Temperature-Stable Design – No tone shifts (until extreme heat)
✔ Versatile Gain Range – From clean boost to fuzz-tinged crunch

Tonal Sweet Spots

• Blues Boost: Low gain + treble cut = sweet, singing sustain

• Rock Crunch: Germanium grind meets FET articulation

• Lo-Fi Fuzz Edge: Crank the gain for gated breakup

Technical Notes

▸ 9V DC (50mA) – Works with batteries
▸ True Bypass
▸ Thermal Limit: Stops passing signal at 120°F (hot stage warning)

“It’s not a clone—it’s what happens when two iconic circuits collide.”