“The guitar was well packed and is set up to my liking! I would definitely do business with this company again!”
Benson Amps Chimera 30w Guitar Amplifier - Head and 18x34" Cabinet in Bourbon Burst - Used
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$3,699.99
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Changed your mind? Return it undamaged within 14 days.
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Ships from Rapid City, SD. Free on orders over $100.
11,000+ five-star reviews on Reverb
Trusted by players nationwide since 1963.
Ships same or next day
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-YOU ARE VIEWING PHOTOS OF THE ACTUAL AMPLIFIER BEING SOLD!
This used Benson Amp will ship insured and inspected from Rapid City, SD. This unit is in excellent condition with some light wear on the top cabinet binding and a couple of light nicks on top of the head.
Buy risk free with our 14 day - full refund, less shipping, return policy. Check out our shop policies for more details.
Some players want the immediacy and harmonic richness of a small boutique tube amp but need enough output and speaker area to carry that character onto a much larger stage; the Benson Chimera was created for exactly that role. The Chimera grew from Christopher Benson's Monarch lineage, taking the tactile, vintage-voiced approach behind that foundational design and expanding it into a 30-watt platform with four 6V6 power tubes. Rather than piling on channels and switches, Benson keeps the signal path and controls deliberately straightforward, putting the emphasis on touch response, dynamics, and the transition from rich cleans into harmonically complex breakup.
Part of the appeal is the boutique construction behind that simple control panel. Benson builds its amplifiers by hand in Portland, Oregon, and the company's current amplifiers continue to use point-to-point construction on terminal strips rather than conventional circuit, eyelet, or turret boards. The Chimera's Volume, Treble, and Bass controls provide a wide range of usable voicings without turning the amplifier into a complicated multi-channel platform. Its Bass control effectively makes variable the contrasting voicings that inspired the Monarch's earlier voice-switch concept, allowing the player to reshape the amp while retaining its fundamental personality. That combination makes the Chimera especially well suited to roots rock, Americana, blues, indie and alternative rock, country, classic rock, and studio work where playing dynamics need to remain part of the sound.
The included 2x12 cabinet is loaded with two 30-watt, 8-ohm Benson Custom Ceramic speakers built in the USA by Weber. Benson describes its Custom Ceramic as British voiced and similar in character to a favored G12H30, but with additional compression when pushed to give overdrive and distortion a smoother quality. That makes the cabinet a natural partner for the Chimera: expect articulate cleans with plenty of harmonic dimension at lower gain, followed by thicker compression, edge-of-breakup texture, and muscular overdrive as the amplifier is driven harder. Benson's current 2x12 specification confirms a 16-ohm cabinet using a pair of these Custom Ceramic speakers.
With four JJ 6V6 power tubes, two JJ 12AX7 preamp tubes, and a 5AR4 tube rectifier, this Chimera offers a distinctly traditional tube architecture in a format intended to deliver more stage authority than the lower-powered Monarch concept. Two speaker outputs accommodate 8- or 16-ohm loads, while the included power and speaker connecting cables make this head-and-cabinet pairing ready to become the centerpiece of a professional guitar rig. This used Chimera head and matching 2x12 cabinet are finished in striking Bourbon Burst; available now at Haggerty's Music.
Features / Specs
Highlights
- Amplifier Type: Boutique All-Tube Guitar Amplifier Head + Cabinet
- Model: Chimera
- Output Power: 30 Watts
- Configuration: Amplifier Head with 2x12 Speaker Cabinet
- Finish: Bourbon Burst
- Construction: Hand-Wired Point-to-Point on Terminal Strips
- Manufacture: Handmade in Portland, Oregon
- Condition: Used - Excellent
Amplifier
- Output Power: 30 Watts
- Power Tubes: 4 x JJ 6V6
- Preamp Tubes: 2 x JJ 12AX7
- Rectifier: 1 x 5AR4
- Input: Front-Mounted 1/4"
- Speaker Outputs: Two 1/4" Outputs
- Output Impedance: 8 Ohms / 16 Ohms
- Circuit Construction: Hand-Wired Point-to-Point on Terminal Strips
- Channels: Single Channel
Speakers
- Speaker Configuration: 2x12
- Speaker Model: Benson Custom Ceramic
- Speaker Manufacturer: Weber Speakers, USA
- Speaker Type: Ceramic
- Individual Speaker Rating: 30 Watts, 8 Ohms
- Cabinet Impedance: 16 Ohms
- Speaker Voicing: British-Voiced with Smooth Compression When Driven
Controls & EQ
- Volume: Controls Overall Amplifier Level and Drive
- Treble: Adjusts High-Frequency Response
- Bass: Adjusts Low-Frequency Response and Overall Voicing
- Power Switch: 3-Way On / Half-On / Off
- Indicator: Red LED
Connectivity
- Instrument Input: Front-Facing 1/4"
- Head Outputs: 1/4" 8-Ohm and 16-Ohm Outputs
- Cabinet Input: Back-Mounted 1/4"
Cabinet + Hardware
- Cabinet Type: 2x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet
- Cabinet Dimensions: 18” x 34”
- Cabinet Impedance: 16 Ohms
- Speakers: 2 x Benson Custom Ceramic Speakers
- Construction Location: Portland, Oregon
- Finish: Bourbon Burst
Miscellaneous
- Accessories: Power Cable, Speaker Connecting Cable
- Head Serial Number: 051722L
- Cabinet Serial Number: 111821C
- Condition: Excellent
con051722L
Benson Amps Chimera 30w Guitar Amplifier - Head and 18x34" Cabinet in Bourbon Burst - Used
$3,699.99
Customer reviews
11,000+ Five-Star Reviews On Reverb
What players say after the guitar arrives
“This is a beautiful guitar…appreciate the free setup and quick ship! Would purchase from this seller again…THANKS!”
“Thank you too for a wonderful experience and an amazing guitar. I appreciate the quick shipment and great customer service.”
“Very fast shipping, arrived in perfect condition, extremely well set up, no adjustments needed at all! Plays and looks great, exactly as advertised.”
“Fast shipping, and great communication from the seller. Pedal arrived quickly and was packaged really well. Would not hesitate to buy again.”
Very well packed! Would be happy to do business again! Thanks!
“Another masterpiece from Taylor. Great service and communication from Haggerty’s crew. Thanks!!!”
“Beautiful guitar, easy txn! Thank you so much! Looking forward to playing this guitar far into the future.”
“Fast shipping, great pedal. Buy with confidence these guys are great to work with!”
“Great shop! Awesome price, super fast shipping, and great packaging of an awesome new pedal! Thanks!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you set up every guitar before it ships?
Yes. Every guitar that leaves our store has been professionally inspected, set up, and signed off by the technician who worked on it. You will find a signed checklist inside the box when your order arrives.
How accurate are your condition descriptions?
We treat condition grading as a contractual promise, not an approximation. When we list something as excellent, that reflects a specific, consistent standard we apply across every instrument. We encourage you to call us before purchasing if you want a detailed in-hand description of any specific guitar.
Can I call and speak to someone about a guitar before I buy?
Yes, and we encourage it. Our team are working musicians, not order-takers. Call us at 605-348-6737 and ask about any instrument in our inventory. We will physically pull it off the wall and describe it to you in detail.
What is your return policy?
We offer a 14-day return policy if you change your mind and the item is returned undamaged. You are responsible for return shipping costs.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Financing options are available at checkout. Monthly payment options are designed to make high-ticket purchases more accessible without requiring full payment upfront.
How do you ship instruments?
Every instrument ships fully insured from our store in Rapid City, South Dakota. We offer free shipping on all website orders over $100. Guitars are packaged to survive transit, properly cased, braced, and protected.
Are you an authorized dealer?
Yes. We are an authorized dealer for Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Fender, and many other brands. We are currently the number one independent Taylor Guitars dealer in the world, an award we have received two years running for 2024 and 2025. We are also a Top 10 premium dealer for Martin, Gibson, and Fender.
Do you sell on Reverb and Amazon as well as your own site?
Yes. We are one of the top 15 resellers globally on Reverb, where we have accumulated over 11,000 five-star reviews. We are also one of the only independent premium dealers in the world authorized to sell Taylor and Martin on Amazon.
How long have you been in business?
Haggerty's Music has been open since 1963. Our store is located at 515 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, South Dakota.
Do you offer instrument repair?
Yes. Our certified technicians handle everything from routine setups to full restorations across fretted, orchestral, and band instruments. Our team holds certifications from Taylor Guitars, Yamaha, and other leading brands. Learn more HERE.
What brands do you carry?
Our core guitar brands include Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Fender, PRS, Epiphone, Suhr, Eastman, Gretsch, Luxxtone, Novo, Jackson, Charvel, Legator, and Yamaha among others. These are also the most searched brands on our site, so each has a dedicated collection page.
Do you offer music lessons?
Yes. We offer music lessons. You can find out more HERE.
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We'll get back to you as soon as possible, within 24 hours on weekdays.
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