Benson Chimera Amplifier Head & 2x12 Cabinet

[@Fuuq2]

Awesome player, completely blown away! This is the player I'd use for a recording project when available. Benson amp also sounds fantastic.

[@mikewolfe9458]

Great demo as always, Jay! Loved hearing some city and colour in there. Sounded killer through the benson.

[@trahnettilhcs]

This is an inspirational demo. Your variety of style and obvious love for what you are doing and hearing is a joy to watch. Thanks for what you do.

[@rdejianne]

Can you comment a little on the tonal differences of the Monarch vs the Chimera both clean and dirty? I'm trying to decide between the two.

[@void21021]

Oh my god, you’re such a *phenomenal* player, and awesome gear reviewer! It makes my day every time I receive a notification from your channel saying you’ve put up a new vid. I could watch your videos all day. Great inspiration too! I’m guilty of stealing some of your licks. 😉 Keep it up!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Thanks so much for taking the time to keep watching! Hope you enjoyed this one and feel free to keep stealing :)

[@joshuabenton3785]

This amp and speaker combo is magic.

[@aeugmk2]

A simple amp full of beautiful tones! That is very cool!

[@thesoozeTJ]

Sounds fantastic!!

[@HTEK207]

The Amp sounds great and I absolutely love that slow funk riff you do on the Tele at about 2:30

[@JayLeonardJ]

thanks!

[@fuzzblender]

Gotta say...this demo is so awesome that I placed my Chimara order today. Party.

[@JayLeonardJ]

You will not be disappointed. It is amazing!

[@fuzzblender]

JayLeonardJ update: its incredible. I also picked up a set of Virgil Arlo ‘52’s for my Tele and...well, you know. Incredible.

[@kosmicwizard]

G12H30 70th anniversary is my favourite reasonably priced speaker, it pairs very well with Alnico blue and gold speakers and even with V30s. Cheers.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Yeah, those speakers seem to sound good with almost everything!

[@whatyoumakeofit6635]

Beautiful. The sound of the amp. And the sound of your playing. Impressed.

[@katiecaledon7559]

that fender custom is fuckin beautiful.

[@koreanfriedchildren]

That sounds awesome and man you are an incredible player

[@pahakrai5442]

your playing is infectious... review on top

[@sebastianavendano7872]

Loved that hives!

[@ben_popp]

Hi Jay, quick question: Do you attenuate these amps? If not, how do you get away with cranking larger amps like this?

[@monkeydelightmm]

dude this amp!!!! man would definitely go for the chimera haha

[@livingabovethe12th]

Thx for introducing me to these amps J...wasn't aware of them till your vids....been a hardcore marshall major/65 amps/carr/victory guy and you have really opened my eyes to these...what an amazing pedal amp too. Saving my pennies now....

[@JayLeonardJ]

Yeah. This amp is definitely my go to amp right now!! Your list is definitely a great one though: I used a Carr Rambler for a few years and the 65 'Lil Elvis is one of my favorite "No Pedals" amp :)

[@HTEK207]

I bought a Monarch reverb because of Jay's video just a great amplifier really love it

[@hustinjahn]

love that you played the hives! great video

[@JayLeonardJ]

great ears!

[@jadedevitt24]

great demo

[@ojaisherpa]

JLeonardJ getting it done!

[@gearoidwalsh8606]

some sick playing there.

[@mikec6733]

I'm thinking about getting the Benson preamp pedal that imitates this amp and pairing it with the Orange Pedal Baby 100 power amp. Into a 1x12 cab with a 16 ohm Jensen Jet Tornado. Is this a good idea? I don't know much about these things.

[@kosmicwizard]

Yes

[@brandonkeller478]

Best demonstration of this amp by far! Too bad it doesn’t have a preamp gain stage ... cranking things is so ancient ... oh well guess I gotta get the Vincent!

[@aussie_philosopher8079]

Be good if it had power scaling

[@robertscottpurse1]

Awesome demo. I have to go back and watch the Monarch demo again to compare both.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Long time no see!

[@robertscottpurse1]

Hey Buddy. Ya, it's been a while. You'll have to drop by sometime soon. New guitar coming 😬

[@onixtheone]

do you have to use an attenuator with the amp if you want to get natural amp overdrive? so that it's not way too loud for a tiny venue?

[@reggieandrade4098]

Fabulous Playing!!!! I'm in the position of getting either the Monarch or Chimera? Besides the wattage difference do both amps share the same overdrive tone. I really like how quick on the dial the Monarch starts to get dirty. Chimera the same? thank you

[@billydelacruz1500]

Wow! Was thinking of getting pre amp pedal for my 79 DR but found local store has a used Chimera for $2199. Maybe time to sell 70’s JMP🤔🤔 Great demo and I dig your positive vibe!!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Keep the JMP and buy the Chimera. Run both at the same time and you'll never need to buy a preamp pedal ever again (but you may need some earplugs) 🤘

[@kosmicwizard]

Benson preamp is the mosfet version of this amp. Way better price point for having an extra tonal option at your feet.

[@mr.t1791]

Jay- you ever listen to Cory Wong with Vulfpeck?? Your right hand is right down that alley. Love to hear you both play. Wanting to develop my right hand technique more myself. Any tips on where to start/direction?

[@JayLeonardJ]

Hilarious, I was just watching some Vulfpeck stuff the other day... Lots of fun stuff! Watch my video on Push Button guitar playing, that may help!

[@BadCat1990]

I'm just wondering how you're able to sit in front of it cranked up and no ear plugs. That's gotta be loud! haha

[@jcows12]

I like delay and reverb very much but I wouldnt mask the amp tone using fx on an amp review.... I would show overdrive interaction because its fairly common using amps at lower volume with drive.

[@woyzeckproductionstudio]

Hi! Do you know whats the difference in tone between the USA and the Europe Chimera? Cause in their website there are two different prices for each one.

[@trahnettilhcs]

different accents

[@Gore171459]

2:15 what exactly do you mean by that?

[@JayLeonardJ]

Ooh, sorry for being unclear. The treble knob is kinda like an overall tone knob. The way I dial it in is by turning it up and down until I hear a nice overall balance between the low mids and my highs of a particular guitar. Good luck :)

[@Gore171459]

JayLeonardJ Aaaaahhhhh okay cool. Makes sense. Thanks.

[@gibbyowner87]

How were u in the same room with up past 5? I have one and at 3 my ears are bleeding!

[@JayLeonardJ]

You have no idea.... the ringing...totally worth it :)

[@timcat88]

same here with my monarch.... i will use an attenuator.... probably jay too

[@patrickrosington1174]

What mic are you using on the cab?. Also what interface are you using?

[@JayLeonardJ]

It's a mic blend of U87 and SM57. The interface is a RME UFX through Audient Preamps. Thanks for writing!

[@kosmicwizard]

I prefer 15W amps cranked (and 50W clean) but this one is special...

[@garrettcz]

Which speakers are in your cabinet?

[@JayLeonardJ]

Celestion G12H and a WGS Reaper.

[@williamcoleman4277]

I loved the cleaner tones but when you dimed the volume I thought The “good ol’ fashion” R&R tone sounded dull and rubbery 🤷‍♂️

[@bennettamplification]

Great review! and wonderful playing :D, can I ask what Mic are you using there? Rode NT-1?

[@tricko2286]

Sounds good but I don’t see the diff between this and the many amps that have been out for years - especially considering the price. Is it really that good or just “trendy”? That being said- I haven’t tried one in person.

[@JayLeonardJ]

The cool thing about this one is that it isn't a modernized clone of an already established amp. From its phase inverted arrangement to it's tone stack, it is really it's own thing. I use mine all the time and really dig it. If you are done with the standard Fender/Marshall/Vox style amps, this might be something worth looking into. Enjoy.

[@nicholasbock4362]

What's that reverb in the beginning of the video?

[@JayLeonardJ]

Ooh, hard to remember, it may have been the Neunaber Immerse pedal or the Softube Tsar plugin.

[@Guitarsuphu]

which of the two mike are you using for recording this amp? thanks.

[@JayLeonardJ]

I ended up just using the SM57 :)

[@aarontudon0269]

I really love this video it's pretty cool amp how much

[@CesarRomeroTheOriginal]

City and Colour :)

[@57ebartley]

I really don’t like the overdriven tones you get out of that. Sounds so scratchy. I always thought you sounded way better thru the DLX reverb. There is something really choked opposed to being open about that amp.

[@westinvines9763]

I have the exact amp about to go into layaway. Video doesn’t do justice. I do see what you’re saying, but I promise the gain is extremely smooth and crisp. Best amp I’ve ever played through.

[@romfordmobbsy]

Great playing man, good internal metronome and touch, thanks. Question: did you audition Benson amps against other high end products. I’m thinking Milkman, Morgan etc. I was blown away by the only Benson (Monarch 1x12 combo) I’ve tried but you know how it is - ears, room, situation all changes day to day. Thanks in advance bro.

[@JayLeonardJ]

I've definitely been through the rounds of amps and love the Morgan and Milkman stuff (I actually have 2 morgan videos I recently posted on the page). This particular amp is great because it is a very unique sound that is, at the same time, very familiar. Like a supro with better bass response and an Ampeg-like clarity.

[@romfordmobbsy]

Thanks buddy, fast reply!

[@asparagusbear3323]

Back in Black fill, use the open low E instead of 7th fret E. Then you got it!

[@JayLeonardJ]

I know, but it more fun to play it on the 7th ;)

[@asparagusbear3323]

@@JayLeonardJ It's all good bro :)

[@LewWelchThePoet]

🤘👍🏿

[@TheClayyo]

I think you are the greatest guitar player on earth. You do lessons? 😜

[@JayLeonardJ]

Many moons ago, but I do have a few uploaded guitar tutorials on my page if you look hard enough ;)

[@nahuelfarias7884]

Cómo toca el infeliz

[@mikespadafora9077]

Cleans are nice. Not of fan of the dirty sounds at all.

[@jambajoby32]

Its that damn bridge pick up lol throw them all away!!! 🗑

[@seanschweska856]

But truth is baby it’s a lie

[@alexmcmurtrieSits]

30 fo sho!