Invincible
It's never too long after we've finished talking about Portland, Oregon's Benson Amps that we're starting up all over again. Honestly, it's no secret that Benson always has something great cooking up. With an artistic vision, handmade expertise, and leagues of ravenous amp fans at the ready around the world, it's no wonder why Benson Amps has become such an institution.
These tenets at hand make Benson among the most popular amp brands around today. It's with this reputation that the brand produces some of the most innovative and exploratory amplified circuits out there. However, Benson is not without their classics. With Benson's lineup of custom pieces, we're often treated to handmade amps that impress like our point of conversation today, the Benson Vinny Reverb Combo, and what a conversation we've got.
This is the Benson Amps Vinny Reverb Combo.
Badge of Honor
Introducing the Benson Amps Vinny Reverb
Whenever we have the pleasure of getting a Benson creation in our shops, we know we're in for a good time. Between Benson's knack for unique amplified designs and the impressive musical experiences they consistently inspire, there's never any real anxiety when approaching any of their amps or pedals. Just looking at their pedals, like their Stonk Box, Germanium, and Deep Sea Diver fuzzes, or even their preamps, the Germanium or their standard preamp, there's a consistency and a throughline with the Benson line that cannot be scripted.
Though while there is this consistency with Benson, it's also not hard to see that they are a group of creatives that absolutely follows their bliss. Because of this, Benson's creations do come with a spontaneity sure to inspire. It's a spontaneity that certainly permeates the Vinny Reverb, like all pieces that bear the Benson badge. Let's talk about it.
Vindicated
Benson Amps Vinny Reverb Combo Design and Tones
At the heart of the Vinny Reverb is a conversation between its foundational tube design and the additional functions Benson went ahead and built into it to shape that foundational design. The core of the Vinny establishes itself with a familiar Benson tonal profile. Benson, normally characterized by vintage-inspired tube-based palettes, brings up a classic Benson sound with the Vinny. Those fancying the classic tube-driven amp voices that lean into naturally broken-up and overdriven persuasions are sure to have a ball with any Benson Amps amp, but we don't really need to reiterate that to anyone familiar with Benson. If you're in on Benson – spoilers – you'll have plenty to get into with the Vinny Reverb combo.
This all starts with the Vinny's tube configuration. You have your classic EL84 and 12AX7 tube combo propelling this whole shindig forward, but this tube engine is shaped and altered by a JJ 6V6 that acts as a voltage regulator. Power scaling proves to be one of the real attractions of the Vinny as a dedicated variable power-scaling control dial definitively alters the sound of the amp. Where this leads us is a tonal profile that can span from pushed and broken-up to more open and bright. Rolling from the Power control's minimum to its maximum, you get a versatile tonal profile that, perhaps most strikingly, breaks up and cleans up on a variable scale. Hitting on power scales with the specificity allowed by a variable control dial enables precise and deep tonal mixing.
Building upon the variable power scaling function of the Vinny is a tone control dial that sharpens and dulls the overall output of the amp. The way you'd expect out of any guitar's tone control, the Vinny's Tone dial acts similarly. Rolling through the Vinny's Tone dial can work to better fit with your particular guitar's pickups, should a good 'ol fashioned guitar-into-amp setup be your cup of tea. Like all other Benson creations, the Vinny is highly compatible with a wide array of guitars and can stand on its own.
In addition to all these knockout tube tones, Vinny also treats us to a little bit of the 'ol razzle-dazzle with an onboard spring reverb. The Vinny spans a spectrum of reverberated tones from a slight splash to a deep cavern to make the amp that flourishes at every level of operation. This versatile spring reverb, when combined with the power-scaling capabilities of the Vinny, results in a deeply interactive and customizable piece that you might not expect at first glance. Truly, Benson's Vinny Reverb delivers on nearly every eschelon for players of diverse amplified taste. A Benson amplifier impressing at every turn? Who'd've thought, right?
Benson Amps Vinny Reverb Final Thoughts
Like so many other Benson creations, there's a wide world of amplified tonality to get into with the Vinny. The Vinny captures so much of what makes the Benson Amps family compelling for so many players. Inspirational at every level of operation, the Vinny plays with a marvelous sonic palette whether quieter, louder, or somewhere in between. One of Benson's standby circuits, the Vinny is a classic in their catalog for a reason and it's certainly one to check out for yourself.
Have you met Vinny?
