Dave Bryce Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 One of the companies I work with lent me a Benson Monarch amp last week to check out. Curious if any of y'all have had experience with these...? dB Quote ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 I've heard of them, seen a couple played on stage. I have no idea what else to say, I've never fired one up and gone for a spin. Let us know what you think! Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted May 26, 2021 Author Share Posted May 26, 2021 Lotta power. Makes me wish I had an attenuator. [video:youtube] dB Quote ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larryz Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 Dave, +1 on Kuru's let us know what you think? Some of the other YT demos sound clean with a reverb and/or delay in front of the amp. Weight is about 25lbs on the cab and 16lbs on the amp head. So I like the piggy back concept if I have to pack 40lbs around. I would prefer to have an on-board reverb on any amp I look at. The YT demos take you inside the shop and it looks like the builder knows his stuff (all hand wired). I have never tried one and look forward to your in person review... Quote Take care, Larryz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertbluesman Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 Not my cup~o~tea but it looks cool Quote dbm If it sounds good, it is good !! http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=143231&content=music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 OK, this is a NEW Benson amp. I thought you meant one of these: https://reverb.com/item/3500158-very-rare-late-1960-s-early-1970-s-benson-300-h-guitar-amp-howard-roberts-al-casey-elvis New to me, there are a buttload of small amp makers out there now. My 2 tube amps I haven't sold yet were both one-off hand wired clone-mods by guys who just mess about in their workshops and sell their creations. Both were originally something else, my "Fender 5d3 Deluxe" clone-mod was a Hammond organ amp and my "Vox AC15 Top Cut Channel" clone-mod was a hi-fi amp. This new Benson looks like a ground up build, specifically designed to fit a cabinet. Looks like good kit but most tube amps are just way too loud for me to ever want to use them. 1 watt or less is good. Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted May 26, 2021 Author Share Posted May 26, 2021 Yep, a newer one...but the one I have isn't on their site. It's a combo, but no reverb. My first impression hearing in against the Princeton and (Alnico Blue) AC15 is that when I lean into either if the others there's a point at which they break up (in a very good way, I mean). With the Benson set at similar volume levels, that doesn't seem to happen...although the video says the Monarch"s behavior changes in that respect once you get the volume past 5, which is tough to do in my living room without killing everyone in the house. ð³ð¤£ Definitely has a ton of dynamic range - might even me too much for me, especialy given my amateur status. REALLY sweet tone, though. dB Quote ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larryz Posted May 27, 2021 Share Posted May 27, 2021 Dave, I found this YT demo on a Benson "combo" amp which gives a little better idea of the amps clean sound at @ 4:30 and talks about specs and the speaker selection option @ 2:00...Clean Tele single coils @ 7:00... Quote Take care, Larryz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted May 28, 2021 Author Share Posted May 28, 2021 Yep, that's the one that's here. Thank you, Larry! dB Quote ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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