NAMM 2020: Chase Bliss Audio’s motorized slider-equipped Preamp MKII is surely the most innovative pedal to launch this year
Debut Automatone collaboration with Benson Amps will clock in at $749
NAMM 2020: One of the pedal highlights of of last year’s show was Chase Bliss Audio’s first showing of the Preamp MKII, a gorgeous, super-versatile overdrive that had actual motorized sliders. For 2020, the company’s collaboration with Benson Amps has finally reached fruition, with a full production run expected to launch in May.
The Preamp MKII boasts a fully fledged preamp, combined with fuzz, parametric mids control and fully integrated presets (which move the sliders - honestly, it’s like magic).
There’s variable diode clipping control, open/gated fuzz, a trio of mid resonance settings that can be positioned before or after the preamp, and 30 presets.
Naturally, this level of innovation comes at a price: $749, to be precise. But it’s also uncharted territory for the pedal market, and for that, we salute Joel Korte and Chris Benson.
You can head over to Chase Bliss Audio’s website and watch its informative documentary for more info.
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Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.
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