Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)

Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)
Used

Benson Amps Cardinal Head & 1x12 Cabinet, Black Tweed (USED, 2016)

Regular price $4,500.00
/

Power

30 Watts
Tube Type
6V6
Speaker
12" Scumback J75

  • On Consignment
  • Not Eligible For Return
  • Shipping Calculated At Checkout

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Here's a rare one! This Benson Cardinal head and 1x12 cabinet just came into the shop on consignment! A rather important amplifier in Benson history, it marks the first true step from the groundbreaking Monarch model into a higher powered offering back when Chris Benson was running a much smaller shop.

This is 1 of an estimated 4 pre-production examples of the then newly designed 30 watt design of a higher powered Monarch that ultimately became the Chimera. The tube configuration consists of a pair of 12AX7s in the preamp section, a quartet of 6V6s in the power section, and a single 5AR4/GZ34 rectifier tube.

The voicing of this Cardinal reminds us a bit of a cross between a great Vox AC30 and a Fender Bassman - equal parts chime and clarity with some nice punch and warmth at the same time, all tied together with some added harmonic content that makes it so much fun to play both at low volumes and dimed. It's the same reason it excels at a pedal platform as well - overdrives blend effortlessly into this amp, and there's plenty of headroom to keep things clean when you need it.

The head was original sold in the original blue and white striped cloth and has a brushed stainless steel faceplate - all hallmarks of the early Benson amps. It went back to Benson a couple of years after it was built and was outfitted with a Black Tweed headshell. Shortly thereafter, a matching 1x12 cabinet was added, featuring a custom Acoustone grill cloth that looks absolutely stunning!

The amp was recently retubed at Benson, where it was also gone through for routine maintenance. It's currently wired for separate 4 and 8 ohm speaker setups, but there's an additional 16 ohm tap available should you prefer to run the amp with that setup. It's working and sounding as good as ever, especially with the Scumback J75 ceramic speaker.

Included with the amp is the original Benson-branded Cully Craft canvas and leather slipcover as well as a black padded clamshell bag for the cabinet. The original blue and white striped headshell will also be included with the sale.

This is a unique opportunity to land a rare prototype of the best modern-built guitar amplifiers out there!

Pre-Owned Instruments | Have Questions?
We take great care in accepting only the highest quality pre-owned instruments for resale in our shop, then carefully photograph and describe each instrument to ensure what you see on our site is exactly what you'll receive. Many of these instruments carry subtle signs of handling that can escape even the most discerning eye, so if you have questions about the condition of this instrument, we invite you to call us for an in-hand description. We're always happy to help!

Specs

Power
30 Watts
Controls
Volume | Treble | Bass
Inputs
One

Components

Tubes
(2) 12AX7 / (4) 6V6 / (1) 5AR4
Speaker
Scumback J75

Size

Dimensions
Head / 18.5"W x 9"H x 8.5"D | Cabinet / 23.5"W x 18"H x 10"D
Weight
Head / Approx 30lbs | Cabinet Approx 35lbs

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