The Preamp circuit is based on the Benson Chimera 30-watt guitar amplifier, but it substitutes FET transistors for the vacuum tubes. The result is an extremely amp-like and versatile clean boost/overdrive/fuzz pedal that imparts rich harmonics and a very musical EQ to your signal chain…truly a Chimera in a box!
The new Germanium Preamp pedal takes this amp-in-a-box design further with one important tweak: the replacement of the first FET transistor with a germanium gain stage (stolen from Benson's servo-biased Germanium Boost pedal). The result is an alternate universe take on their flagship pedal that marries the incomparable feel of germanium with the careful equalization and tone controls of the preamp pedal. The result is a slightly lower gain, but richer sounding and feeling overdrive/boost/fuzz/whatever.
Beware: Germanium stops passing music at 120 Degrees Farenheit (like a very hot stage)
Power requirements: 9VDC Boss style adapter or battery 50ma
Controls: Gain (distortion), Treble (low pass filter), Bass (high pass filter), Volume