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Benson B700 Bass Amp
- Thread starter blakethehero
- Start date
Hi Blake,
I’m curious to know if you still have this Benson and your opinions now that you’ve had it for a bit? I also own the Bergantino Forte HP with the Barefaced SuperTwin and love the flexibility, but have been missing the simplicity and tone/feel of a tube amp (owned a MesaBoogie Prodigy rig that i toured with for awhile…amazing sound, but not designed for rugged tour life).
The Messthetics played in Boston a few weeks ago and Joe’s sound came through clearly and was loud enough to compete with everyone else in the band, especially Brendan’s drumming, obviously with help from the PA.
Thanks,
Djim
I’m curious to know if you still have this Benson and your opinions now that you’ve had it for a bit? I also own the Bergantino Forte HP with the Barefaced SuperTwin and love the flexibility, but have been missing the simplicity and tone/feel of a tube amp (owned a MesaBoogie Prodigy rig that i toured with for awhile…amazing sound, but not designed for rugged tour life).
The Messthetics played in Boston a few weeks ago and Joe’s sound came through clearly and was loud enough to compete with everyone else in the band, especially Brendan’s drumming, obviously with help from the PA.
Thanks,
Djim
Hey, yah I guess I should have done a postscript here about my experience. Pretty cool that you have the same rig as I do.
I ultimately ended up selling the B700 for a few reasons.
1. I think the Bergantino is a bit more flexible genre to genre, especially in conjunction with pedals. B700 sounds great but it isn’t a chameleon. The Forte HP is definitely louder. I loved the simple platform of the B700 but I have to say I did miss having a bit more control over the sound. I found myself missing the HPF mostly.
2. I was headed out on tour and bringing the B700 was impractical, mostly due to size, but it also just seemed too nice to be on the road in the way I was touring (pelican case, stacked in the back of a sprinter). I think it could definitely hold up if it was in a road case but I wasn’t willing to beat up an amp that was that nice and was on the fence about owning.
3. I don’t think I got the heft and feel I was hoping for, which is a feeling I’ve definitely had when playing big tube amps like the DB751, and various ampeg and traynor models. Obviously a lot of that depends on your cab, but in terms of feel, I think it has something to do with the gain staging, and I’ve been able to achieve a similar enough feel with the Bergatino and various dirt/compression pedals.
After coming back from playing the Bergantino for 10 nights in a row I feel zero regret about my choice, and got a tone of compliments on my sound. Part of me is still lusting for a tube amp and/or a tube pre though, as silly as that might sound.
Hope this was helpful!
Super helpful!
Since I’m currently not touring or playing out, I’m just considering something simpler and with a little less power (in the house, the volume never goes above 8:00 or else everything rattles off the shelves and the cat looks for a good hiding spot).
For basses, I’m running a Serek Midwestern (shorty) with a Novak BSDS in the neck (like an EB3) and a B90 in the mid position, and i just took ownership of a used full scale Serek Armitage with a single B90.
My pedalboard has been stripped of pretty much everything, except an EHX octave multiplexer, tuner and a Boonar delay pedal with my SineLabs Basstard on deck for those rare occasions when i need to clear the room.
But currently, I’m just trying to focus on my playing and writing and less on the gadgets, so i thought the Benson would be a quicker way to achieve that.
The Bergantino has been an incredible amp, especially paired with the Barefaced SuperTwin and Jim Bergantino is great to chat with…he has a lot of passion for what he does and some great vision and customer service, so I’m definitely happy recommending his gear to anyone.
A seller just accepted my offer on Reverb for a slightly discounted, but brand new B700, so I’ll give it a test drive and see how it works for me.
Thanks again!
Since I’m currently not touring or playing out, I’m just considering something simpler and with a little less power (in the house, the volume never goes above 8:00 or else everything rattles off the shelves and the cat looks for a good hiding spot).
For basses, I’m running a Serek Midwestern (shorty) with a Novak BSDS in the neck (like an EB3) and a B90 in the mid position, and i just took ownership of a used full scale Serek Armitage with a single B90.
My pedalboard has been stripped of pretty much everything, except an EHX octave multiplexer, tuner and a Boonar delay pedal with my SineLabs Basstard on deck for those rare occasions when i need to clear the room.
But currently, I’m just trying to focus on my playing and writing and less on the gadgets, so i thought the Benson would be a quicker way to achieve that.
The Bergantino has been an incredible amp, especially paired with the Barefaced SuperTwin and Jim Bergantino is great to chat with…he has a lot of passion for what he does and some great vision and customer service, so I’m definitely happy recommending his gear to anyone.
A seller just accepted my offer on Reverb for a slightly discounted, but brand new B700, so I’ll give it a test drive and see how it works for me.
Thanks again!
I am surprised that I missed this thread. I happen to own both a Gnostic and B-700 and could speak to their differences. I bought the Gnostic first after playing a couple of local benefit gigs where Chris Benson was providing backline. One set playing through the Gnostic and I was hell bent on hunting one down. The one I found was setup at 260W making it comparable to an SVT but weighing less than 40 lbs. It has a classic all-tube tone that isn't exactly Ampeg or Fender, but it sounds like it has been dialed in just right. The Gnostic has a 3-band EQ, and a pair of bright and low switches which makes it slightly more versatile than the B-700. When run hot it compresses and grits out but does not completely break up. At the time, my main tube head was an Ampeg V4-B that I tended to ride in the dirt tone wise. A friend that saw me play the Gnostic at a gig described it as "that perfect 70s bass tone that you hear in your head." I am primarily a passive guy, so this was with a p-bass and Serek Midwestern FWIW.
The B-700 is the perfect amp for most of what I do. I have a studio slips cover on it and have used it as backline on larger bills, and have uised it for everything from small club gigs, to recording studios as a tube pre, to large summer festival gig stages, and it shines in each setting. It just sounds good. As light as the Gnostic is for an all-tube bass amp (40 lbs, remember), the B-700 gets a laugh every time someone helps with load out that hasn't lifted it before. It's 12 lbs and feels like an empty case when you pick it up all bagged up. The B-700 sounds killer and again, I first learned about it when Benson provided backline on another benefit gig and I had to have the latest and greatest.
One slight issue with the Gnostic is the lack of a DI out, and the torodial transformer it uses can be noisy. We were using the Gnostic as backline on a gig, and one of the bass player's basses was really noisy through it. I figured something had gone wrong, so living in Portland, I took it over to Benson. They went through the amp and when I picked it up, they said nothing was really wrong but that the torodial transformer they used tended to be noisy. It was great for weight reduction, but the tech I spoke with explained that was part of why they discontinued the Gnostic and designed the B-700.
I am happy with both, and every time I play the Gnostic, I smile. It just sounds unlike any Ampeg SVT, V4, Aguilar DB750, or myriad of other tube/tube hybrid amps I have played. That said, it's lack of a DI and inherent noise with SOME single coil basses (it doesn't mind my single coil BiSonic Midwestern), means that if I am providing backline, I bring the B-700. The last recording session I did was the Gnostic through an Ampeg 810. So, between the two I have the best of both worlds.
Isn’t it something in the ballpark of 350ish watts at 4 Ohms? What you describe sounds very promising though. Did you have to do anything special for the larger gigs? Obviously DI I’m sure…
I have to say, the simplified layout is appealing. Do you have any sound samples or recordings with the Treble and Bass set in various ways? Thanks for sharing your thoughts, BTW.
Hey Kayvan,
You are correct, the B700 is 350W at 4 Ohms. If you buy it along with the 15N cab, which is 8 ohms, it’s 175W and if you have a couple 4 ohm cabs, you could push it to its potential of 700W.
I ended up buying a discounted B700 from a dealer via Reverb and after testing it out for a few hours, back and forth against my Bergantino Forté HP, i decided to sell the Bergantino. They are two very different amps. As Blakethehero mentioned, the Bergantino has a deeper low end and allows for more precise control of the EQ, but for me and my needs currently, the B700 had a sound that suits what i am trying to do and has a visual appeal that i respect. Sure, it’s nearly 1000W lower than the Bergantino, but in my house, i find it still rattling the windows and doors on 2. With the treble and bass adjusted how i like them, i can get a full and punchy sound. I’m currently running it through my Barefaced SuperTwin (2x12) and loving it.
If i were still touring or playing out as much as i had been, i might have never considered the change up, but i’m really glad that i did. I’ll try to record some samples, if i get a moment, both through the DI and through the speaker cab.
Also, with the exception of a few dealers via Reverb, it looks like Benson discontinued the 15N cab and Sweetwater is no longer carrying them either, but still selling the heads. Not sure if that means they have something new coming along or if they just weren’t selling many of them as a pair, but i wouldn’t doubt that some of those dealers would let the pair go at a discount.
You are correct, the B700 is 350W at 4 Ohms. If you buy it along with the 15N cab, which is 8 ohms, it’s 175W and if you have a couple 4 ohm cabs, you could push it to its potential of 700W.
I ended up buying a discounted B700 from a dealer via Reverb and after testing it out for a few hours, back and forth against my Bergantino Forté HP, i decided to sell the Bergantino. They are two very different amps. As Blakethehero mentioned, the Bergantino has a deeper low end and allows for more precise control of the EQ, but for me and my needs currently, the B700 had a sound that suits what i am trying to do and has a visual appeal that i respect. Sure, it’s nearly 1000W lower than the Bergantino, but in my house, i find it still rattling the windows and doors on 2. With the treble and bass adjusted how i like them, i can get a full and punchy sound. I’m currently running it through my Barefaced SuperTwin (2x12) and loving it.
If i were still touring or playing out as much as i had been, i might have never considered the change up, but i’m really glad that i did. I’ll try to record some samples, if i get a moment, both through the DI and through the speaker cab.
Also, with the exception of a few dealers via Reverb, it looks like Benson discontinued the 15N cab and Sweetwater is no longer carrying them either, but still selling the heads. Not sure if that means they have something new coming along or if they just weren’t selling many of them as a pair, but i wouldn’t doubt that some of those dealers would let the pair go at a discount.
You are correct on the ~350 at 4 ohms. I always run DI out of the head unless I am playing a house show or something without PA support. That said, I have played the B-700 into the 15N alone on a wide range of gigs from tiny clubs to large festival stages, and it has proven to be an ample rig regardless of the wattage and rating.
As for clips, I have used it on a couple of sessions, but nothing that is released yet. Have you seen the Benson release video with Joe Lally?
If not, perhaps @BuhoNevado5 can beat me to it.
Sorry, have been really busy lately and haven’t have a chance to respond just yet. But what everyone has said so far definitely sounds promising; I’d definitely be interested in checking one out. I have seen the Joe Lally videos…actually dug into some of the live Messthetics performances where it shows his Benson behind him on stage as well; I’m sure that’s all DI as well, and I think there’s a couple of those out there.
I’ve just been curious what the full range of sound one can get is like…like messing with the Treble and Bass; I emailed Benson Amps about it before and asked but it’s another thing to hear it.
I sold my SVT recently and have a Mesa for all the versatility, but the minimalistic layout and set-it-and-forget-it vibe the Benson gives off is appealing. I’m glad there’s options like the B700 out there.
Finally had a chance to record some brief samples of the Benson B700 and my Serek Armitage. Kept the tone and volume on the bass the same throughout. Used a Universal Audio Volt 476 and just recorded using the DI on the B700. Since i don’t own the 15N, i figured I’d remove that variable from the equation. The Armitage has flatwounds on it and i’m playing finger style. I also kept the volume on the amp at 1, until the last piece, which will show the most extreme example of how it behaves when pushed a little more. Hope these help. I should also mention that i changed out both of the tubes to higher end JJ 802 and 803 from the Tube Depot. Not a big difference, but wanted to mention it all the same.
Benson B700 samples:
-Volume 1. Treble 5. Bass 5. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1TNBN
-Volume 1. Treble 0. Bass 0. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1T0B0
-Volume 1. Treble 10. Bass 0. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1T10B0
-Volume 1. Treble 0. Bass 10. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1T0B10
-Volume 1. Treble 10. Bass 10. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1T10B10
-Volume 1. Treble 7. Bass 9. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1T7B9
-Volume 10. Treble 0. Bass 0. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V10T0B0
Benson B700 samples:
-Volume 1. Treble 5. Bass 5. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1TNBN
-Volume 1. Treble 0. Bass 0. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1T0B0
-Volume 1. Treble 10. Bass 0. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1T10B0
-Volume 1. Treble 0. Bass 10. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1T0B10
-Volume 1. Treble 10. Bass 10. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1T10B10
-Volume 1. Treble 7. Bass 9. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V1T7B9
-Volume 10. Treble 0. Bass 0. Djim_SerekArmitage_B700_V10T0B0
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Which Mesa do you have? I had the Prodigy 4:88 for a few years, which i loved paired with a 4x10 and 1x15. Sounded tighter than an SVT, but could get that growl when i needed it to. I just didn’t have a good experience with it on tour for over a year. The power tubes kept going microphonic on me and I’d have to replace all 4 KT88’s…after the 3rd time, i decided to sell it. It was probably all the bouncing around in the tour trailer or van, but i was bummed when i tried to contact Mesa and the tech told me it was impossible for the power tubes to go microphonic, yet engineers at studios and clubs would comment on it and each time I’d replace them (just the KT88’s, not the preamp tubes), it would be fine for another 20 or so gigs.
My feeling is that the Benson would be able to stand up to the road rigors much better, though I haven’t yet played it outside of the house.
Made some new recordings today, using a slightly different approach. Got a new Radial X-amp Reamper and wanted to test it out. Again, the Serek Armitage bass with volume and tone at full throughout. Recorded the initial track into the Volt directly and then fed that out to the X-amp and into the Benson B700 and out the DI. I recorded a few extra volume and tone options, so you can hear the breakup at the extreme and some variations.
Benson B700 samples:
Benson B700 bass amplifier examples
Serek Armitage played through Benson B700. Volume and tone on bass are at full. The notes at the end of each title refer to the Volume, Treble and Bass settings. Tracks were recorded using a Universal
Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to make these samples; I really appreciate it and I’m sure anyone looking at these amps will too. I have to say, I really like the sound. Quite warm and it definitely sounds like you can pull some bite out of it. I need to spend more time listening to all of these with some headphones, but so far it sounds killer.Made some new recordings today, using a slightly different approach. Got a new Radial X-amp Reamper and wanted to test it out. Again, the Serek Armitage bass with volume and tone at full throughout. Recorded the initial track into the Volt directly and then fed that out to the X-amp and into the Benson B700 and out the DI. I recorded a few extra volume and tone options, so you can hear the breakup at the extreme and some variations.
Benson B700 samples:
Benson B700 bass amplifier examples
Serek Armitage played through Benson B700. Volume and tone on bass are at full. The notes at the end of each title refer to the Volume, Treble and Bass settings. Tracks were recorded using a Universalon.soundcloud.com
I have one of the Subway models, a Mesa WD-800. No issues or problems with it thus far and it’s held up for shows. It has a pre-amp tube, so it’s pretty warm sounding…definitely tighter and more clarity than the SVT Classic I had although if you A/B them back and forth and adjust, you can get a decent approximation (but not “Ampeg”) of the sound with the Mesa. Plenty of power. It’s solid and I have no real complaints other than I prefer less knobs to twiddle.
I think the Benson B700 is just a different animal in both sound and presentation…but I may just have to save for one. Thanks again for taking the time to do that and share. Sincerely appreciate it!
Hey Kayvan,Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to make these samples; I really appreciate it and I’m sure anyone looking at these amps will too. I have to say, I really like the sound. Quite warm and it definitely sounds like you can pull some bite out of it. I need to spend more time listening to all of these with some headphones, but so far it sounds killer.
I have one of the Subway models, a Mesa WD-800. No issues or problems with it thus far and it’s held up for shows. It has a pre-amp tube, so it’s pretty warm sounding…definitely tighter and more clarity than the SVT Classic I had although if you A/B them back and forth and adjust, you can get a decent approximation (but not “Ampeg”) of the sound with the Mesa. Plenty of power. It’s solid and I have no real complaints other than I prefer less knobs to twiddle.
I think the Benson B700 is just a different animal in both sound and presentation…but I may just have to save for one. Thanks again for taking the time to do that and share. Sincerely appreciate it!
You’re very welcome! I’m a little surprised that Benson doesn’t have more sound clips on their site, though i guess for some people, just seeing Joe Lally will be enough to sell it…i mean, i took the bait…and then i got to play through it and knew right away, but still surprising that there isn’t a more diverse display of what it can do. For me, right now, it fits the bill.
I owned the TT800 and liked the ability to switch between the Tube and FET sounds, but that was after having owned the Prodigy 4:88 and i felt it was lacking something, though it probably would have been a better candidate for the road. They clearly make great gear; i think after my discussion with the technician there, i was turned off by them as a company. I can relate to wanting fewer things to fiddle with on the amp head, which was definitely part of the allure for me.
It’s interesting to hear people here and elsewhere commenting on the price…i get it, everything is expensive and is this something that anyone “really needs”? That being said, i see a lot of heads going for similar prices and those are from larger companies, which Benson clearly is not. This is a quality head, sturdily designed and built, that sounds really good, it’s simple, has enough power to compete in most situations (obviously depending on what you’re running it through), is super lightweight for what it is, is made in Portland, Oregon by some folks that probably enjoy working for a cool dude. No dis to any of the larger companies out there…I’ve owned quite a few different amps over the 15 years I’ve been playing, and they all offer something great.
Also, to the folks that struggle with the power ratings…i’m running this through a 4 ohm Barefaced cab and at 1, it still shakes stuff through my house…4 ohms is 350W, which is still more power than an SVT running through an 8x10 (and a helluva lot less weight)…if i really needed to get louder, I’d just get another 4 ohm cab and i have my full 700W. My Barefaced SuperTwin weighs under 50lbs, which means i can walk into a gig with my bass, cab and head in one trip. Coming from owning a 1200W Bergantino, which is a completely different sounding amp, i’m more than happy with my purchase.
Yes, I've seen this about other threads regarding other amps, where people find somethiong "expensive for the few features", as if the number of knobs was synonim of quality. It's crazy. I wonder why nobody complains about the small number of knobs on the Noble preamp, and nobody says a P-bass should be cheaper because it only has 2 knobs… Silly…
Yep, I emailed Benson about this specifically and got a response from Chris directly. You can use it DI without being connected to a speaker cab.
I recorded an ep using it as a DI and it sounded killer in that application.
