Benson Amps Benmaster LTD - 2024 - Tweed - NEW. Authorized Dealer)
($90 CONUS Shipping At Checkout. Get in touch for a shipping quote if you live elsewhere)
From Benson Amps:
"For our ten year anniversary, we are unveiling a very special project we are calling the Benmaster.
The 2nd amp I ever built was a clone of the 5E7 Fender Bandmaster, a semi-mythical model from the tweed era featuring 3 10” speakers. My clone was true point to point inside an old organ chassis. I came up with the layout and learned a TON about parasitics and grounding in that chassis…stuff I still use today. When I finally got it working it sounded incredible. I made a mini stack cabinet set for it, @billy4fun and I picked out a striped fabric that we covered in some stinky finish, and it was done. After hearing it, bands started borrowing the amp for shows around town.
Later, after building and analyzing hundreds of circuits, I finally understood the exotic why and how of the 5E7 circuit’s majesty: on its face it’s everything the 5F6A Bassman is not. The Bandmaster has the worst power supply, phase inverter, tone stack, transformers, etc. for a clean and direct sound...everything about it seems custom designed to create a compressed, greasy bark with a glorious halo around it. It had to be an accident, but what an accident!
I share an appreciation for this particular tweed era circuit with a long time customer and friend. He sent me an original Bandmaster to study. He then called and proposed that I go back to my roots, with the knowledge I have today, and make a limited run of my ideal version of this great amp for myself, for him, and for some of our friends. After thinking it over, I decided to go for it.
The process of creating this very special amp has been a joy and an adventure. The original example from the 50’s had a capacitor value that is dramatically different than the widely available 5E7 schematic. It looks original, and it also sounds better than the schematic value. 5E7s are so rare in the wild, I have no way of knowing what is what, but we went with the better sounding one. Finding the right speakers was its own journey. Finally it all came together and I am totally thrilled with the gutsy, pure rock and roll tone this machine creates."
Specs:
- 35 watts
- 2x5881 2x12AX7 1x5AR4
- 3 Weber 10A125A lightly doped
- Custom Soursound transformer set
- Dovetailed pine cabinet, birch ply baffle
- Volume, Treble, Bass, Presence controls
- Weight: 48lbs
South Shore Guitar Boutique
Items purchased must be paid within 24hr.
We offer free shipping on selected products within the continental U.S. Please contact us before purchasing if you have any questions. Our primary shipping vendor is Fedex ground with insurance. For small accessories, P.O. boxes, or non-continental US customers, we may use the United States Postal Service. Expedited Orders We will upgrade the shipping delivery method to 2-day, or overnight (if applicable) upon request (charges will apply). Consignment Items Consignment Items do not qualify for free shipping, Shipping will be calculated at checkout. Sales Tax 8.625% sales tax will be added to all orders within New York State.
Returns on New items are accepted (unless noted in the description), and must occur within 4 days from when you receive the item. (buyer must notify us that they will be returning the item within 4 days of receiving the item, or return will be void) Buyer pays for shipping cost , Buyer is responsible for returning the item undamaged, we can provide return label which cost will be deducted from the refund owned to the buyer. A 10% restocking fee will also be assessed upon return of the item. We reserve the right to refuse refund if item is not returned in the same condition it was originally shipped to the buyer. Returns on Used items are accepted (unless noted in the description), and must occur within 2 days after receiving the item. (buyer must notify us within 72 hours of receiving the item if they plan to return the item or return will be void. Buyer pays for return shipping , Buyer is responsible for returning the item undamaged. We can provide return label which cost will be deducted from the refund owned to the buyer. A 10% restocking fee will also be assessed upon return of the item. Used effects pedals and accessories are not returnable. All items must be complete including all original packaging, accessories and documentation. With the exception of defective and/or “damaged during shipping” items, all shipping charges will be charged to the customer, even if the order was shipped free. Items will be inspected before issuing a credit. S.S.G.B. reserves the right to refuse items that were not returned to us in the same condition as when they were delivered to the customer. Certain items are non-returnable (effect pedals, tubes, strings etc.). Consignment Items are not returnable.