PPCB Son of Ben

[Laundryroom David]

To me This is a really odd and ultimately unsatisfying pedal. I finished it up a few days ago and wanted to give it a fair shot. I’ve played it loud, quiet, high gain, low gain, tone knobs up, down, middle, you name it. I cannot dial in a tone I like.

All parts are correct as is the biasing. I think this lil fella and I just don’t get along. The build itself is typically well laid out, no issues there. I’m going to reuse the enclosure.

5 star board
1 star sound (for me)

 

[szukalski]

Are the pads above the B2M jumpered? Hard to see in that pic…

I feel kinda similar. It’s a nice enough pedal but very middle of the road.

 

[jwin615]

Did you actually find a B2M pot?

 

[Laundryroom David]

Are the pads above the B2M jumpered? Hard to see in that pic…

I feel kinda similar. It’s a nice enough pedal but very middle of the road.

Yup - sorry photo is bad, but pads are jumped

 

[Laundryroom David]

Did you actually find a B2M pot?

I did! Tayda

 

[spi]

I think this one sounds good with low gain. With gain up it gets too flabby or something.

 

[Laundryroom David]

I think this one sounds good with low gain. With gain up it gets too flabby or something.

Yeah it’s kinda fizzy and farty and all at the same time

 

[szukalski]

What is your bias at? IIRC they had different bias points. Definitely not fizzy.

 

[Laundryroom David]

What is your bias at? IIRC they had different bias points. Definitely not fizzy.

2 kohms at trimpot 1
4v at Q2 and Q3 drains

Fizzy may not be the best descriptor. Unflattering? Harsh? It doesn’t sound obviously wrong, just not good to my ears. How’s that for science?

 

[szukalski]

Yeah, I get you there. I found it to be generic JFET distortion with the appeal of playing through wet cardboard. Maybe we haven’t found the right amp!

 

[Laundryroom David]

Yeah, I get you there. I found it to be generic JFET distortion with the appeal of playing through wet cardboard. Maybe we haven’t found the right amp!

Onward!

 

[Harry Klippton]

Gasp! Surely it can't be all hype!!
~ clutches pearls~

 

[Laundryroom David]

Gasp! Surely it can't be all hype!!
~ clutches pearls~

Interestingly, I only started reading about the Benson Preamp after building this, which was probably the wrong order of operations. Lesson maybe learned.

After 10 minutes of the hype firehose, I am confused. The Benson Preamp is based on the preamp section of an actual amp? That they sell? (2) if the amp actually sounds like the pedal … whhhhyyyyy?

Ok ok. I’m being a bit of a dick about this one. I don’t wish it ill.

As a cleanish boost, the pedal is meh. Usable but no more so (and significantly less so) than like a dozen other pedals. Including the Centaur.

 

[giovanni]

I really like the one I built. I used smds and biased all at about 5V if I remember correctly. I can try to record a quick phone clip to demonstrate.

 

[giovanni]

I recorded this a while ago with the Benson, carbon copy bright into my TK Imperial mk2. I’m not sure what guitar I was playing here, either single coils or P90.

Benson preamp + carbon copy bright

Listen to Benson preamp + carbon copy bright by Giovanni X Botta #np on #SoundCloud

soundcloud.app.goo.gl

 

[Route14]

I like this one. It can be a little "dull" or "dark" sounding. But I use a bright set up. In a live band situation it's a nice rhythm sound. I get why it's a love it or hate it kinda pedal. A lot of hype but not right for everyone or every situation.

 

[Laundryroom David]

I recorded this a while ago with the Benson, carbon copy bright into my TK Imperial mk2. I’m not sure what guitar I was playing here, either single coils or P90.

Benson preamp + carbon copy bright

Listen to Benson preamp + carbon copy bright by Giovanni X Botta #np on #SoundCloud

soundcloud.app.goo.gl

Sounds lovely. Thank you for putting that up.

 

[Laundryroom David]

I like this one. It can be a little "dull" or "dark" sounding. But I use a bright set up. In a live band situation it's a nice rhythm sound. I get why it's a love it or hate it kinda pedal. A lot of hype but not right for everyone or every situation.

I don’t hate it per se . I’m glad it works for you!

 

[Route14]

I don’t hate it per se . I’m glad it works for you!

I hear ya. I tend to believe there are no bad pedals. It just depends on how you use that sound and if it works for what you are trying to do. This pedal gets a lot of hype but at the end of the day it's just another FET based drive.

 

[giovanni]

Sounds lovely. Thank you for putting that up.

Thank you, much appreciated!