Electronic Audio Experiments
Halberd + Germanium Boost
Halberd + Germanium Boost
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Pedal Features
Pedal Features
- Bypass: Relay switching with true bypass
- Input impedance @ 1 Khz: 500kΩ with the Boost active, 1MΩ otherwise
- Output impedance @ 1 Khz: <1kΩ
- Power: 9V DC, 2.1 mm center negative barrel. The current draw is 85 mA.
- Dimensions: 5.7” x 4.77” x 1.55” (145mm x 121mm x 39mm)
We recommend a regulated, isolated power supply rated for 100 mA minimum. Our pedals do not accept batteries. Use of an incorrect power supply may cause permanent damage.
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We have been longtime mutual admirers of the fine folks at Benson Amps. To commemorate both Benson Fest 2024 and our camaraderie, we cooked up this 2-in-1 combo pedal featuring the Halberd + Germanium Boost.
The Halberd is a staple of our lineup, delivering transistor-flavored overdrive with a distinctive weight and clarity that make it hard to turn off. The Germanium Boost is a master class in elegant electronic design, containing an automatic biasing circuit that elevates even the lowliest old stock transistor into a colorful gain stage. As soon as we got our hands on a Germanium Boost for the first time, we knew these circuits were made for each other.
Both sides are individually switchable. By default, the Boost is fed into the Halberd—it’s the perfect way to kick the drive sound into high gear. To add further versatility, we broke out separate inputs and outputs for each pedal. The output of the Boost is normally to the input of the Halberd by default, but you are free to route them any way you like. Put other pedals between them, swap the order, even run them in parallel in a dual mono configuration.
The artwork, by our good friend Bryan Aiken, features a medieval spin on the iconic Benson amps floral tolex pattern, serving as a visual expression of our mutual mind meld. We had fun bringing this pairing to life, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Boost (unlabeled, but you can’t miss it): Sets the output level of the Germanium Boost. More is better.
Pre: This sets the overall signal gain of the Halberd. Lower settings impart light compression, then increasing amounts of clipping up to a fuzzy overdrive, depending on the Voice and Depth settings.
Depth: This is an adjustable low frequency shelving filter at the Halberd’s input, and is very interactive with the setting of the Pre control. It can be thought of as a second gain control affecting low frequencies only.
Tone: This is an adjustable high shelf cut at the Halberd’s output, helpful for taming harsher frequencies especially at high gain settings.
Post: This sets the Halberd’s overall output level, and is buffered for full transparency at all signal levels.
Voice: 3 position switch to set the Halberd’s overall drive character
Clang (up): increases gain in the upper midrange, for an aggressive sound and a sharp attack
Standard (middle): moderate gain with a gentle mid push; identical to Halberd V1
Deep (down): a full range gain boost with woolly saturation and a fuzzy note attack
I was initially interested because it was a transistor-based overdrive (and not a fuzz). I know EAE and Benson both create great things, but this was my first foray with EAE drives (I've had a Benson fuzz).
First, the Benson Germanium Boost. This thing is subtle at most settings and, I did discover, sounds better at either the very beginning of your drive chain or the very end. By itself at most settings, it just adds a little sweetener to your tone, but if you push it, it really gives you some extra 'oomph.'
Second, the Halberd. After about an hour, my only real thought was 'How did it take me this long to get one of these.' John at EAE really is a wizard. This thing is versatile enough by itself to cover most drive settings you could need. I was able to finagle a lot of great sounds out of it. It goes from low-mid gain all the way to searing gain. But, when you push it with the Germanium Boost it just sounds *savage.* The best way I could describe the halberd, which I hear is based on a console preamp, is that it goes from a somewhat tame pushed drive all the way to blown out tweed sounding drive. The controls are real interactive so it takes you a minute to really dial it in, but when you do, it sounds really, really good.
Last, what does it sound like combined? I hate using words like this, but it's a good, 'greasy' classic rock sound. It feels real good under your fingers and sounds great too.
My big question is always this: If something happened to my board tomorrow, would this be a pedal I'd replace? My answer is absolutely. I could gorilla glue this thing to my gig board without second thought.