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Author
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Topic: Latest Benoit Masterpiece
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 27 July 2003 03:58 PM
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Well, once again, Carroll Benoit has gone beyond the bounds of every day luthiery in creating another unique, one of a kind resophonic instrument.I call this one "The Selmernator."
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 27 July 2003 04:09 PM
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This is a large body in the style of the famous Selmer/Macaferri jazz guitar made popular by Django Reinhardt and his contemporaries.
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R. L. Jones
Member From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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posted 27 July 2003 06:54 PM
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Howard that is a beautiful speciman ,, I`m not familiar with the other brands you mention,, But I1m sure you are proud of the new one,, I will see Carroll on Sat. night , take care R. L. |
Kenny Davis
Member From: Great State of Oklahoma
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posted 27 July 2003 09:30 PM
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Howard - Please post all the details...How did he do the sides? Divulge all the different wood he used! Looks like you have another winner! |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 28 July 2003 03:14 PM
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The top is European Maple with a burgundy stain, and a nicely figured Walnut inlay. The Walnut inlay has subtle multi earth tones. The sound grilles are maple. The neck is a combination Hard Curly Maple & Walnut. The fretboard is Madagascar. quote:
Howard that is a beautiful speciman
R.L., that's what my doctor told me... 
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 28 July 2003 03:29 PM
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The back is Flamed Walnut. The sides are Birdseye Maple and Walnut.
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Jeff Strouse
Member From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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posted 28 July 2003 06:59 PM
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Breathtaking! |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 29 July 2003 04:13 PM
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Aside from its beauty, this is the best sounding 8 string that I have ever put my hands on. As good and great as some 8 strings sound, compared to a 6, they are somewhat thinner in tone.This one is a cannon and I believe that is due to the size of the body. The string spacing is a hair wider than 1/4" at the nut & 3/8" at the saddle which allows me to dig and grab pretty well. |
Gregg McKenna
Member From: South Windsor, Connecticut, USA
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posted 29 July 2003 08:02 PM
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Why the cutaway body on a squareneck? |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 29 July 2003 08:21 PM
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A cutaway on a squareneck serves no practical purpose of course. It's there for asthetics (it's pleasing to me), uniqueness, and because it is of the Selmer Jazz guitar design. |
Russ Young
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 29 July 2003 08:32 PM
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Absolutely stunning, Howard.I've only been on the Forum for a year or so -- but I remember the debut of "The Phoenix." Do you have previous Benoits that I should search for? |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 29 July 2003 08:57 PM
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No Russ, nothing prior to The Phoenix. These two are one of a kinds. I have one more project in mind working with Carroll and it is really going to take some doing as it will be the biggest challenge yet. Too soon to get into it right now though. Anyhow, back to the "Selmernator." There's more to this guitar than meets the eye. What's truly unique about this one is.....well, keep watching.. |
Larry Tresnicky
Member From: Colleyville, Texas, USA
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posted 30 July 2003 07:44 AM
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Howard, I'm envious of your creative ability - Talked to Kenny yesterday & he told me about this post. Even more beautiful than he described it. Great about the sound - one never knows when you do something exotic! Phyllis passes on the congrats. Carroll Benoit has sure got to be proud of his new baby. Keep it up Benoit. |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 30 July 2003 08:48 AM
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Thanks Larry & Phyllis.Larry, I hope you're keeping that cooler stocked with some cold ones....the Dallas Show is coming up in only 8 months....I'll send you some ice if you run out.. |
CrowBear Schmitt
Member From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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posted 30 July 2003 10:49 AM
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that's a Beauty Howard !
et Vive le Jazz Hot !------------------
Steel what?
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 30 July 2003 04:31 PM
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Kenny Davis
Member From: Great State of Oklahoma
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posted 30 July 2003 08:42 PM
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Looks like Howard has come out of the closet! |
Graham Griffith
Member From: Glebe, N.S.W., Australia
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posted 30 July 2003 10:36 PM
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Howard, pardon my ignorance ... what is the attachment on the headstock?Graham |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 31 July 2003 04:00 AM
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Jesse Pearson
Member From: San Diego , CA
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posted 31 July 2003 07:39 AM
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Howard, that is one of the coolest instruments I've ever seen. I was curious about the tuning your currently using and how far the pitch on your 2nd string gets altered by the pitch bender thingy? Right on![This message was edited by Jesse Pearson on 31 July 2003 at 07:41 AM.] |
Jack Anderson
Member From: Scarborough, ME
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posted 31 July 2003 07:41 AM
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Okay, time for the WebPolizei to move this to the Pedal Page! |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 31 July 2003 08:46 AM
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No, no, not that!!!!Brad, you'll never take me alive! More info & photos later as I'm hard pressed at work right now. These tone wood guitars don't grow on trees you know! |
Larry Tresnicky
Member From: Colleyville, Texas, USA
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posted 31 July 2003 08:51 AM
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Wow!!!! A motorized skateboard in the shape of a Resonator. Where are the Brakes?Howard - I can read Higgins on your thingamajig. How does it work, what does it do? Hey, did you see that Jim Heffernan is doing Resonator Workshops? One in Dallas in Sept & another up there in yankee land. |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 31 July 2003 07:00 PM
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Yes, the thigamajig on the tuner is a peg bender connected by a cable to a foot pedal.
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The peg bender is a lower only unit. My tuning is, from low to high:
A C C# E G A C# E.....stepping on the pedal will lower string #2 a half tone to C. |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 31 July 2003 07:22 PM
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Larry, I did see the Jim Heffernan workshops mentioned on the resoguitarist website. Jim is monster player, a terrific instructor, (which is most important) and a very personable guy. Jim made a couple of personalized instruction cds for me and they are worth my weight in gold. I think he deserves a lot more recognition. |
Andy Volk
Member From: Boston, MA
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posted 01 August 2003 03:50 AM
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Wow! Kind of like Dobro-ism meets Cubisim, Howard. |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 01 August 2003 06:34 AM
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Where's Henri Matisse when you need him?
Actually, we don't need him, we have Andy.The design and position of the sound grilles were not arbitary. I wanted a composition and color that would be in contast. Instead of round or oval sound grilles, I decided on one side being flat. The flat side of the left grille faces up to contrast the left upper bout which is round, however, looking to the right, this staight part is directly in line with the straight part of the cutaway. The staight part of the right grille is parallel to the neck & fretboard, and the round part blends into the round part of the cutaway, while contrasting in color. Like it's owner, this is a "square peg in a round hole" type of thing... [This message was edited by HowardR on 01 August 2003 at 07:06 AM.] |
Andy Volk
Member From: Boston, MA
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posted 01 August 2003 07:06 AM
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It's clear that you and Carroll put some serious thought into creative design for this guitar. The results are really interesting. I think it might have been interesting to carry the cubist, geometric shape elements into the fretboard inlays as well.Do you have this book?
http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm?qwork=2288456&matches=13&qsort=r Danny Ferrington has done some truly inspiring and original design work along the lines of some of the innovations you've created. Can't wait to see your next one, Howard! |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 01 August 2003 07:30 AM
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I chose the diamond snowflake inlay because Carroll was out of hula girls.. Since there is a lot going on visually, (burgundy stain, walnut inlay, two tone sides & neck, sound grilles, different kinds of walnut & maple, even the peg bender, cable,& pedal) I decided to let the fretboard blend and remain subtle. I wanted to avoid the "cymbals between the knees" connotation. Not quite sure if I did that. Perhaps the next one will be "Impressionistic.[This message was edited by HowardR on 01 August 2003 at 05:36 PM.] |
Mike D
Member From: Phx, Az
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posted 01 August 2003 07:40 AM
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Can't wait to see your next one, Howard!Me too.  Someone should break that Benoit guy's fingers ya know. (compliment) Just unreal. |
Denny Turner
Member From: Northshore Oahu, Hawaii USA
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posted 01 August 2003 05:09 PM
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A real Masterpiece across a broad spectrum of Art and perspectives, Howard. Even rarer, and speaks highly, that a collaboration could cover that spectrum so well all the way from concept.Do you make folks clip their fingernails and suit-up in hospital scrubs before you take it out of it's case? Aloha,
DT~[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 01 August 2003 at 05:11 PM.] |
Jon Light
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
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posted 01 August 2003 05:35 PM
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Howard wouldn't even allow me to see these pictures until I promised not to print them out and perform unnatural acts while looking at them. |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 01 August 2003 05:41 PM
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quote:
Do you make folks clip their fingernails and suit-up in hospital scrubs before you take it out of it's case?
After Jon's post, I certainly will..... |
Denny Turner
Member From: Northshore Oahu, Hawaii USA
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posted 01 August 2003 06:17 PM
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Well my gown sure looks like I'm trying to shoplift a tee-pee ! |
Larry Tresnicky
Member From: Colleyville, Texas, USA
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posted 01 August 2003 07:45 PM
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Howard, You're right on about Jim Heffernan. I watched him in the Benoit booth at the Steel Guitar Convention in St Louis where he & Mike Auldridge just stopped by & sampled & played almost everyone of Benoit's reso's he had on display.
They jammed for about an hour & gathered the biggest crowd you could imagine. They even came back to the booth on two other occasions. Ol' Carroll was in "HOG HEAVEN" If you could be as kind to burn me those CD's, w/Jim's permission, I'd sure appreciate it. If I'm not out of town, Phyllis & I are going to be at Jim's Dallas shindig.
I think I'm in love with you new guitar. |
db
Member From: New Jersey
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posted 07 November 2004 04:01 PM
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I have been chatting with Jim Heffernan for a number of months about the DOBRO
'G' Bigsby Palm Pedal assembly functions. He has been a great help. I hope to
actually meet him this month to show him the production model of the assembly.
It features three pedals:
3rd string down a half step to F#
2nd string up a half step to C
1st string up a whole step to E
for a standard GBDgbd tuning.
It comes with a Graph Tech "String-Saver" saddle blank and a mounting bracket.
It is attached just like the STD tailpiece, making it a "reversable" installation.
So, the instrument can easily be returned to "Stock".
Click on the "R & D Department" link @
Bigsby Palm Pedals
To find pedal function & copedant charts.[This message was edited by db on 26 December 2004 at 10:48 AM.] |
db
Member From: New Jersey
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posted 07 November 2004 04:03 PM
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Who made the foot-pedal assembly?
Was is it a "Stock" Higgins assembly?
Or an "add-on" made by someone else?
Thanks------------------
Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E&A
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Don Walters
Member From: Regina, SK, Canada
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posted 07 November 2004 04:45 PM
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Howard, don't forget about my previous offer re: storage space ...  Hope to see you in D ... not sure yet |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 07 November 2004 05:53 PM
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Dan, that's a "stock" pedal made by Brad Higgins. I put the quotes around stock because I don't know if he's still making them.It's a very well made pedal assembly. It lowers one string only. Between slanting and string choking, that's plenty for me. This thread is 15 months old as most of you know. Carroll and I are on to another "one of a kind project", that so far is looking good. Hopefully, it will be another milestone. Don, I hope so too, and I hope all is well with you. [This message was edited by HowardR on 07 November 2004 at 06:06 PM.]
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HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 08 November 2004 07:40 AM
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quote:
2nd string up a 1/2 step to B
In G tuning, L>H...GBDGBD, the 2nd string is B. What am I missing?
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