Would a Benson Preamp explode if you used a 1M bass pot?

[HamishR]

Maybe I should have kept the title more cryptic. It's left me with nothing to add here.

 

[Robert]

Yes. It's one of the first things you learn in flight school.

 

[ICTRock]

 

[Robert]

Goose!

 

[HamishR]

If I was to build a Benson Preamp with a 1M bass pot, what would it sound like before it blew up? Less bassy? More bassy? Strangely attractive to dogs?

 

[Robert]

The maximum range of the Bass control will be limited to Noon compared to the stock value, so more Bass.

I can't recall how usable the entire range of rotation was on the original.

 

[fig]

If I was to build a Benson Preamp with a 1M bass pot, what would it sound like before it blew up?

Edit: FREE bonus history lesson included!


Edit2: Is this a good time to introduce Fig Labs Pot Sockets™?

 

[Bricksnbeatles]

There’s an alternate version of the Benson Preamp circuit that I’ve yet to try, but it eliminates the hard to find pot values. It should supposedly give a wider bass control while using only a 250k pot (among other changes) Been meaning to make the alternate BOM for it, but I want to wait until I can verify it and compare it to the stock circuit before I “endorse” it. Hopefully son of Ben PCBs are in stock next time I order so I can give it a try.

 

[jimilee]

This is diy, there’s only one way to find out!

 

[Betty Wont]

This is diy, there’s only one way to find out!

Yeah, ask the internet then do the opposite!

 

[ICTRock]

Yeah, ask the internet then do the opposite!

The Internet was established solely to serve the askhole community

 

[jimilee]

An explosion can be just as satisfying as it working right….

 

[HamishR]

Look I only asked because I have children. Well, child. I can't just go crazy trying various pot values willy-nilly. And now I realise I have just sparked a new avenue of hilarity by saying "pot values"...

It's hard being a responsible adult.

 

[HamishR]

Well I have an idea which may help me use a B1M pot.... What about if I put a 470K resistor between the intersection of Drive 3, C3, C4 and Bass 3? In other words I'd lose the lowest 1/4 and the highest 1/4 of the the 2M pots range. Then if I needed more bass or less bass I could adjust the value of the 470K resistor. Would that work?

 

[Robert]

Yep, that'd work.

 

[HamishR]

Cool! Thanks!

 

[Feral Feline]

Name for the pedal: "Sploder"