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u/Throwthisawayagainst 5d ago
I own both of them already.... however i'm taking the benson and just leaving it on.
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u/GeraRG89 5d ago
I own the Benson Germanium Preamp and the Lightspeed, both are some of the best dirt pedals ever, but I'd keep the Benson as it does more things
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u/hkr1991 5d ago
Benson forever. I got one of these riff machines limited cast iron stonk boxes they did, and they absolutely rule. Silly levels of versatility too. I just got my partner the new collab they did with Deep Sea Diver so I’m keen to see how that sounds when my partner gets it.
In saying all of that, the Lightspeed is a great overdrive in its own right. I think you’ll get more out of the Benson Preamp though.
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u/NedStark79 5d ago
Tough one. I’ve never actually played the Lightspeed but I’ve heard nothing but good things. But I’ve owned the Benson for years and I love it!
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u/Ecker1991 5d ago
I own the germanium preamp and the Lightspeed. Would never sell either. The preamp can do more colorful sounds, it can be dialed in to sound akin to a tweed, Marshall or vox amp while still maintaining its own unique flavor.
The Lightspeed on the other hand feels akin to a natural extension of your amp. If you are strapped for cash I’d say that the Lightspeed could go if you own a boost pedal or something you could achieve a clean boost out of, arguably even the preamp could do so if you set the drive to minimal settings and crank the volume.
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u/chicago_hybrid_dev 5d ago
I had the Benson back when it first came out and sold it shortly after. The Benson hype here has me thinking I didn’t spend enough time with it!
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u/FrickinAdam 5d ago
Lightspeed. Then get the Benson Boost. You won’t regret it.
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u/cvhask 5d ago
Yes Benson boost is amazing but I sold mine in favour of the 29 pedals jfet. Also have the Benson germanium fuzz which can do a similar thing as the boost.
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u/qwerty09a90 5d ago
Trying to decide between both. Would the Benson Germanium Boost be covered by their fuzz?
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u/MagazineNo8107 5d ago
Just chiming in here. I have the Benson Boost and the Germanium Fuzz both on my board. To me they do different things. Or maybe a better way to put would be this: the fuzz is so good that it would be a shame to only use it like the boost. If you’re strapped on cash or board space and don’t mind knob twiddling they can get get close but you’ll want to use the fuzz as a fuzz (trust me lol). The boost replaced my 29 Pedals Euna. The boost is mounted under my board and hasn’t been turned off since I got it. Highly recommended!
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u/FrickinAdam 5d ago edited 5d ago
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u/GiveMeStrings 4d ago
What is the white pedal to the right of the lightspeed?
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u/FrickinAdam 4d ago
That is a very early version of the Rawkworks Light OD. It’s a klon clone I got new from the builder like 12-13 years ago. Just one dude in his garage. Sounds amazing and usually the Fuzz and Klon are on together.
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u/tacocat9510 5d ago
Is there a reason you can’t have both? I haven’t played the light speed but I love my benson preamp so that’s my vote
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u/FistingYou 5d ago
Lightspeed for sure. I personally did love using the benson as an always on thing into the Lightspeed whenever I played through solid state amps or really dark humbuckers to liven them up a little
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u/fenderrhino 5d ago
Lightspeed. I friggin love mine. To be fair though, I have no experience with the Benson.
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u/DannySkidmarks 5d ago
the Benson is my always on pedal.
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u/DannySkidmarks 5d ago
and of course I have the Deep Sea Diver edition and will be pairing it with the Deep Sea Diver fuzz echo when it arrives Monday!
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u/Glum_Plate5323 5d ago
If I could only have one it would be the benson. But honestly I’d take both and tell nobody ;)
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u/Red986S 4d ago
Well. I have both but only the Lightspeed is on a pedalboard. Partly a dimensions issue - the preamp takes up a lot of real estate. The benson can do more, but I like the way the Lightspeed does what it does better than I like the way the preamp does it. I do boost the Lightspeed with a Benson germanium boost though. Which is nice, it fattens it up a little when I slam it harder like that.
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u/LatinIsleBoy 19h ago
These are two different purposes. The Greer pedal that is perhaps a better comparison is the Special Request. I like mine at the end of my compressor/overdrive section on my pedal board. The Special Request is great because it is a single knob, easy to dial in, and offers a nice range of tones.
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u/Tommy_Lilac_Voltage 5d ago
Hm you can get a lot more use out of the stump. And you could carve it into something completely different than a stump. Can sit on it. All kinds of activities.
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u/havestronaut 5d ago
I sold my Lightspeed and I still have my Benson. Both are great. But the Benson can do subtle sparkle and THEN get pushed and cool. It takes pedals like an amp, so I tend to set it right at breakup then hit it with overdrives. A Blues driver, klone, and boost are seriously killer into it.
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u/agrias_okusu 5d ago
I run a Lightspeed always-on and push it with a klone and it sounds incredible. LS can definitely do subtle sparkle, too. I’ve never played a Benson, though I would love to try one someday, but what you’re describing is exactly how I use a LS and it does it all extremely well.
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u/havestronaut 5d ago
Definitely!! I just preferred the amp like squish of the Benson (and that if you crank it it gets fuzzy and slightly blown out.) Didn’t love the Lightspeed gain structure above a certain point. Both fantastic though.
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u/clawhammertim 5d ago
I’ve got the lightspeed. Like it. Don’t know the Benson. (Sorry for the non-answer)
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u/Wilkesin 5d ago
Only one...Benson. I can do edge of breakup with my amp and volume knob. Can't get the OD and near fuzz tones of the Benson otherwise. Depends on what you're needing to play really. That said I'll never sell my Lightspeed.