I sold my little Vinny head to get the Nathan Jr combo! Glad to see there is a Reverb option now, yummy. But hmmm, which 10" combo do you prefer? Power scaling, EL84 and 4' lighter vs treble/bass control? Or is there more to it than "just" those specs... Like you mentioned, maybe "just" a growlier NJ option?
@@DemosInTheDark So if you had to choose (and noted that they are different animals), Vinny Reverb or Nathan Jr? I have to order one without playing unfortunately due to the demand.... Also thanks for your videos, very informative and much appreciated (I am now a subscriber btw).
@@mikeyurkovich6122 heya! personally, i lean on the nathan jr more. just does something for me that the vinny doesn’t. i’m sure you could talk to 10 other people and get different answers, but that’s how i roll.
@@mikeyurkovich6122 I use single coils a ton so the VR was perfect To my year, the Nathan jr on single coils I’d a bit brash but takes to the VR perfectly The power scaling on the VR is amazing as well!
My only criticism of all of your videos is that you should only review pieces that your viewers can actually get, or get on a short time-scale waiting list. But roughly 80% of your vids are on available merch. Kudos
i hear that. to be fair, these are the products i am provided with to review. i will agree that a segment are in a somewhat narrow window restricted either by price or availability. in the case of the amps and guitars, i do like to introduce the builder to the public and many of the products i'm reviewing are custom to me. the intention is to help a consumer considering investing in a custom guitar or amp builder find the right vendor for their needs. the bulk of the pedals i demo are available through retailers or direct and there are a few that go quickly like spaceman and spruce. the guitars and amps are a different concept in my mind. i appreciate you being candid here. i totally understand. - ry
I love the philosophy of the Benson amps. Simple, organic. I'm curious as to why the Benson website makes such an emphatic point of noting that the power scaling operates on a tube and "not a silicon MOSFET!" Didn't the early version of the monarch have a solid state rectifier? I'm 100% cool with this philosophy but for me personally if the power scaling device merely controls voltage to the output tubes, it could be made out of cotton candy for all I care as long as it's reliable. Not a nick on Benson's philosophy in any way, just curious as to why that point was so emphatically made. A Monarch Reverb is pretty much my holy grail amp...
I love that he used a tube for that, it's just got me wondering if there's an inherent flaw with a MOSFET that would make one NOT want to use it. I guess that was more my curiosity
Really? Come on now! This is how you're gonna roll? You're going to make me buy ANOTHER Benson amp!?!? Hahaha! Another killer demo Ryan! You really manage to showcase the best of when they can do. Now I will hang my head low and go figure out how to save up another $1800.
I played a casino circuit for 5 years playing two nights a week with a Texas red hot rod deluxe making great money and sounded fantastic. I sold it to buy a Mesa V combo and guess what... they didn't pay me anymore because I had a more expensive amp. I now have a Hot Rod IV and sounds amazing in comparison with my matchless HC30 head and cab and Marshall Jubilee. Benson is really nice but didn't make that much difference over the HRD IV. @@campfiresedge9395
Wow! Just so impressed by everything Chris Benson makes ... all heard on Demos in the Dark.
guess ya could say i have a type. 😂
I keep coming back to this video. 1) for the sound of the amp 2) for the first 3-1/2 minutes of playing! It's so good!!!
oh man! super generous! made my weekend!
Thanks for another awesome Benson amp review. These are great!
they really are!
Really a lot of depth for an amp of that wattage many of which are plagued by a boxiness. Gotta say I'm impressed.
yeah, chris knows what he's doing, right?
As always, you are a true gentleman and a scholar.
aww. thanks friend!
This sounds great, definitely an argument to be made for me needing a bedroom benson
yup. at the end of a long night, i tuck in my wife, dogs, vinny reverb, and turn in for the evening. 😂
Just sounds great!! Like to know which Reverb was used and what are chords 😊
I sold my little Vinny head to get the Nathan Jr combo! Glad to see there is a Reverb option now, yummy. But hmmm, which 10" combo do you prefer? Power scaling, EL84 and 4' lighter vs treble/bass control? Or is there more to it than "just" those specs... Like you mentioned, maybe "just" a growlier NJ option?
i would say that the vinny reverb is just generally more "raw" while nathan jr is more "refined". they're definitely different animals.
@@DemosInTheDark So if you had to choose (and noted that they are different animals), Vinny Reverb or Nathan Jr? I have to order one without playing unfortunately due to the demand.... Also thanks for your videos, very informative and much appreciated (I am now a subscriber btw).
@@mikeyurkovich6122 heya! personally, i lean on the nathan jr more. just does something for me that the vinny doesn’t. i’m sure you could talk to 10 other people and get different answers, but that’s how i roll.
@@mikeyurkovich6122 I use single coils a ton so the VR was perfect
To my year, the Nathan jr on single coils I’d a bit brash but takes to the VR perfectly
The power scaling on the VR is amazing as well!
What mic are you using for the cab and what preamps? Makes a huge difference.
Great demo, got me GASing for one! May I ask what mic/direct solution did you use to record the amp?
414XLS & Cascade Fathead into a Manley Force into Apollo x16 into Logic.
Hi. Awesome playing. How does the tone compare with the monarch, more like the American side?
My only criticism of all of your videos is that you should only review pieces that your viewers can actually get, or get on a short time-scale waiting list. But roughly 80% of your vids are on available merch. Kudos
i hear that. to be fair, these are the products i am provided with to review. i will agree that a segment are in a somewhat narrow window restricted either by price or availability. in the case of the amps and guitars, i do like to introduce the builder to the public and many of the products i'm reviewing are custom to me. the intention is to help a consumer considering investing in a custom guitar or amp builder find the right vendor for their needs. the bulk of the pedals i demo are available through retailers or direct and there are a few that go quickly like spaceman and spruce. the guitars and amps are a different concept in my mind.
i appreciate you being candid here. i totally understand. - ry
I love the philosophy of the Benson amps. Simple, organic. I'm curious as to why the Benson website makes such an emphatic point of noting that the power scaling operates on a tube and "not a silicon MOSFET!" Didn't the early version of the monarch have a solid state rectifier? I'm 100% cool with this philosophy but for me personally if the power scaling device merely controls voltage to the output tubes, it could be made out of cotton candy for all I care as long as it's reliable. Not a nick on Benson's philosophy in any way, just curious as to why that point was so emphatically made. A Monarch Reverb is pretty much my holy grail amp...
i think it was cotton candy at the beginning and switched to tube. 😂
Excellent demo as always by the way
@@maxpeck4154 thanks man! in all seriousness, i have no idea why he decided to stick that particular feature so prominently.
I love that he used a tube for that, it's just got me wondering if there's an inherent flaw with a MOSFET that would make one NOT want to use it. I guess that was more my curiosity
@@maxpeck4154 i called chris. he said tube is way more reliable. 🤘
Really? Come on now! This is how you're gonna roll? You're going to make me buy ANOTHER Benson amp!?!? Hahaha! Another killer demo Ryan! You really manage to showcase the best of when they can do. Now I will hang my head low and go figure out how to save up another $1800.
i think the case i'm making is that ya need em all! haha!
@@DemosInTheDark Duly noted! My wallet is trying to live up to your expectations. Haha!
The song in the start??
can you be more specific?
The intro song - It is also on your other videos. Just two chords
@@soulmine6363 what would you like to know about it? it’s from a demo i did awhile ago for the spruce effects black friday fuzz.
Can this amp hold it's ground with a drummer?
no
i mean not miced?? no way....but put a mic in front sure...but it is 5 watts
it's plenty loud. i think you'd be safe unless your drummer is stuart copeland (that dude HITS!)
@@DemosInTheDark is it really that loud? as loud as a pint 10 watt from Milkman???
@@soofitnsexy these are Benson watts so they’re like 3x the power of regular watts lol
This can def hold its own especially if you’re beside it.
Your jams are too good to be just video intros!
hey thanks! i tried to sell records for lots of years and no one was interested. this is more fun!
👍🏿🤘
Just buy a Hot Rod Deluxe and save $1,000 +.
I used to gig a hot rod deluxe. It was way too directional, never filled the room and the tubes rattled. Was never happy with it.
I played a casino circuit for 5 years playing two nights a week with a Texas red hot rod deluxe making great money and sounded fantastic. I sold it to buy a Mesa V combo and guess what... they didn't pay me anymore because I had a more expensive amp. I now have a Hot Rod IV and sounds amazing in comparison with my matchless HC30 head and cab and Marshall Jubilee. Benson is really nice but didn't make that much difference over the HRD IV. @@campfiresedge9395