NERD ALERT! When designing the temperature controlled fuzz, Benson tried some unusual approaches. One false start utilized a voltage controlled error correction circuit to bias a single germanium transistor. It ultimately didn’t work for the fuzz, but it turns out it's the missing link in creating a consistent germanium clean boost that is solid as a rock and won't change with temperature.
The Benson Germanium Boost is a germanium transistor clean boost that is impervious to component drift, leakage, and temperature.... moreso in fact. Benson also fixed a couple other issues preventing the germanium transistor from being used as a convincing linear boost. Even a normal guitar signal will drive a germanium transistor into unwanted input distortion without some tweaks, so there's increased input headroom. A BJT transistor would normally thin out bass frequencies and interact negatively with whatever flows into it, but increased input impedance prevents that.
The result is a germanium clean boost that can utilize a germanium transistor WITHOUT the weird artifacts that were previously accepted as part of the deal (temperature sensitivity, drift, and suboptimal input impedance and headroom).
After the boost is first powered up, it takes about ten seconds before the error correction circuit correctly biases the germanium transistor. After this, things get interesting.... With the boost engaged, guitar signals sound more musical, even when set at the same volume as the bypassed tone. Notes are given a simultaneously smoother and more detailed character, like a compressor but different. Some players have noted that it appears to de-emphasize the unwanted parts of a signal and enhance the good. It’s killer on bass. It helps acoustic guitar pickups sound more natural, and if desired, it’ll push your amp into a frenzy.
POWER SUPPLY: This pedal is for use only with a 9vdc Boss-syle center negative power supply. There is space for a battery which is activated when a cable is plugged into the input, and there is no power supply plugged into the DC jack.
Please do not subject this pedal to more than 9vdc or the pedal or power supply could be destroyed.
WARRANTY INFORMATION: 2 years excluding modification or damage.