NAMM 2020: Chase Bliss Audio’s motorized slider-equipped Preamp MKII is surely the most innovative pedal to launch this year

Chase Bliss Audio Preamp MKII
(Image credit: Chase Bliss Audio)

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.

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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.

Chase Bliss Audio Preamp MKII

(Image credit: Chase Bliss Audio)

You can head over to Chase Bliss Audio’s website and watch its informative documentary for more info.

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Michael Astley-Brown
Editor-in-Chief, GuitarWorld.com

Mike has been Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com since 2019, and an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict for far longer. He has been writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist for over 15 years, and recording and performing in original and function bands for two decades-plus. During his career, he has interviewed everyone from John Frusciante to Chris Cornell, Matt Bellamy and Billy Corgan. His writing also appears in The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock as Maebe.