The Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII is a preamp pedal built around the sound of a classic cassette 4-track recorder. Benson says it takes its inspiration from the raw and grimy distortion texture and broad EQ control of that hardware, and Delicious Audio's review describes it as distilling the famously imperfect sound of a 424 cassette 4-track recorder into a pedalboard-friendly format12. It sits somewhere between a distortion pedal and a preamp: Delicious Audio called it "More than a simple distortion, it functions as a full preamp and tonal management system"2.
What it does to your sound
Benson describes the pedal's range broadly: with the buffer engaged it can do clean boosting with subtle EQ, a treble boost, warm and dark textures, and all-out chaotic grind1. Delicious Audio's reviewer, Paolo De Gregorio, heard it as "offering a uniquely musical and textured gain source for crafting everything from bedroom-pop intimacy to stadium-sized, degraded roar"2.
A large part of that character comes from the input stage. Delicious Audio notes that the pedal "meticulously replicates the original unit's low-impedance input stage, delivering the darkened, compressed sonic signature that defines the 'direct-to-tape' sound"2. The review also finds the dedicated Treble and Bass controls offer far more precise EQ sculpting than the original hardware's Treble control2.
The bypassable buffer
The MKII's defining feature is a switchable input buffer. Benson says the buffer "drastically changes the gain and character of the pedal"1. The two positions do different jobs:
- Buffer bypassed: a faithful recreation of plugging an electric guitar directly into the original 4-track, with the classic, darkened lo-fi character that suits the front of a signal chain12
- Buffer engaged: opens up the frequency response for more transparent saturation, and helps the pedal play well with high-impedance guitar signal, so it can be placed anywhere in a signal path12
Delicious Audio's review describes the 424 MkII as a limited-run pedal2.
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Questions
What is the Benson Portable Distortion 424 MKII based on?
Benson Amps says the 424 MKII Preamp takes its inspiration from the raw and grimy distortion texture and broad EQ control of a classic cassette 4-track recorder. Delicious Audio's review describes the pedal as distilling the famously imperfect sound of a 424 cassette 4-track recorder into a portable, pedalboard-friendly format.
What does the buffer switch do on the 424 MKII?
The buffer switch engages or bypasses an input buffer. Bypassed, the pedal gives a classic, darkened lo-fi character suited to the front of a signal chain. Engaged, it opens up the frequency response for more transparent saturation, so the pedal can be placed anywhere in a signal path. Benson says the buffer drastically changes the gain and character of the pedal.
How much does the Benson 424 MKII cost?
Benson Amps lists the Portable Distortion 424 MKII at $199.00 USD on its product page as of October 2026.
Is the Benson 424 MKII a preamp or a distortion pedal?
It is both. Benson markets it as a preamp pedal, while Delicious Audio's review calls it a distortion pedal that functions as a full preamp and tonal management system. The pedal is built around the distortion texture and broad EQ of a cassette 4-track recorder preamp.
Does the 424 MKII work with high-impedance guitar signals?
Yes. Benson says the buffer helps the pedal play well with high-impedance guitar signal, and that with it the pedal is capable of all kinds of sounds, from clean boosting with subtle EQ and treble boost to warm and dark textures and all-out chaotic grind.
Sources (2)
- Portable Distortion 424 MKII, Benson Amps
- Benson Portable Distortion 424 MkII, Delicious Audio, 2026-06-04
