Le Petite Benoit

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 16 Jun 2010 6:18 pm

Here is a recent build by Carroll Benoit.....a small parlor (I now need to get a parlor) guitar with a big sound.....

Inspired by the Beard Road-O-Phonic travel guitar. I used to throw this guitar over my shoulder and head out to the beach where I'd sit in with an acoustic player at his bar gig.....I'd just plug into the PA and away we'd go.....

Built as a travel guitar, unplugged it's decent but not a full fledged guitar sound....and it wasn't meant to be....plugged in, well.....it's Mike Brenner's (Slo Mo) main ax and duly so.....

So I wondered if a small resophonic could be built keeping the sound & tone of a regular size guitar....

We picked out the tone woods....zebra top & sides....walnut back.....and because of the size, I asked Carrol to make it 1/4 inch deeper than the standard....the 9" cone (mandolin size), spider, & coverplate came Resophonic Outfitters(Paul Beard.....

23" scale.....7/16 parallel string spacing at the nut & saddle......

Le Petite Benoit and The Beard Road-O-Phonic

Regular size compared to Le Petite Benoit

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 17 Jun 2010 6:38 am

What a beauty! Does the sound match that of the regular sized guitar, as you hoped? Let's hear it!

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 17 Jun 2010 10:19 am

She's a beauty!

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 17 Jun 2010 11:52 am

Time for a trip to 38th street.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 17 Jun 2010 2:30 pm

I would say that Le Petite Benoit has 90% of the sound of a full fledged guitar....nothing flimsy or tinny about this guitar....it has full tone.....the 6th string is even and full all the way down the neck and the high strings ring and hold up nicely at the higher frets.....

Bill....say when......

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 17 Jun 2010 2:38 pm

That's beautiful, Howard! Carroll has produced another fine work of art. I bet it sounds spectacular. I like the litte bit smaller size...it makes it easier to carry around, and more cozy on the lap. Nice!

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 17 Jun 2010 3:33 pm

Howard, you must really get some sound clips
up of these magnificent instruments.

I am sure ALL resonator fans would dearly
like to hear them.

Think about it

Roy

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 17 Jun 2010 4:37 pm

A very nice looking instrument, well crafted. It looks about the size of a Cuatro. Like others, I wouldn't love to hear how it sounds.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 17 Jun 2010 5:03 pm

Howard, you must really get some sound clips
up of these magnificent instruments.

What should happen is that someone should organize all the best dobro players to come and play Howard's instruments, and we video tape it for a NPR special.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 17 Jun 2010 5:32 pm

that full sized benoit with the two-tone top is beautiful. how was that top achieved?

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 17 Jun 2010 6:33 pm

I have a Benoit being built as we speak - a "Cajunborne". I played one of these rather extensively in Texas and it just killed. Carroll makes wonderful instruments and I'm pretty excited about getting one.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Jun 2010 6:40 pm

Howard, congratulations on another birth! With Carroll Benoit as your obstetrician, you can't go wrong. Where's my cigar?

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 17 Jun 2010 8:09 pm

Niiice! I love the Knutsen influence in the shape and the woods and build quality are (as always) outrageous!

Darrell Urbien · Post by **Darrell Urbien** » 18 Jun 2010 12:05 am

Really nice! I like the short scale ones!

I see more of a Lyon and Healy look than Knutsen, but YMMV.

How do you have it tuned/strung?

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 18 Jun 2010 5:10 am

more of a Lyon and Healy look

You know I think you're right Darrell.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 18 Jun 2010 6:17 am

Magnifique premod !

Darrell Urbien · Post by **Darrell Urbien** » 25 Jun 2010 11:09 pm

Mike D wrote:more of a Lyon and Healy look

You know I think you're right Darrell.

Actually, now that I look my Tone Poems III booklet again, I was wrong; it's a reso version of the Regal Hawyofone used on Track 3. In any case, very sweet!

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 26 Jun 2010 5:27 am

OK, we're both wrong!

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 26 Jun 2010 5:47 am

How did I miss this post!? She is freaking amazing Howard.

I love the sharp lines at the upper bouts. The binding on the sides where it meets the neck is mindblowing. With that thin perfling line to boot! That's so difficult to do so cleanly. Man, so beautiful...

Ryan Barwin · Post by **Ryan Barwin** » 26 Jun 2010 5:54 am

That is gorgeous! I'd love to hear a recording of it.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 26 Jun 2010 7:15 am

It's a gorgeous guitar Howard but as much as I admire Carroll's work, the points on the upper bouts for me, make the instrument masculine. I prefer my guitars to be feminine with - ahem - rounded upper bouts.

I bet it sounds incredible.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 27 Jun 2010 6:32 am

Jason......the binding is ebony and yes....it was very difficult for Carroll to do.....I was prepared to go with plastic if it couldn't be done....but Carroll thrives on challange and he almost always finds a method, devises a jig or device.....or just plain perseveres to catch all of the curve balls I throw at him.....

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 27 Jun 2010 6:36 am

Alan Brookes wrote:Like others, I wouldn't love to hear how it sounds.

oh, then you've heard me play before.....

Billy Gilbert · Post by **Billy Gilbert** » 27 Jun 2010 10:54 pm

To quote ole Justin Wilson, "It's the most beautimous thing I never saw before again".

Chris Drew · Post by **Chris Drew** » 28 Jun 2010 2:28 am

That is indeed beautiful!!!

Co-incidentally, I have had some designs on the drawing-board for the past year or so, inspired by that same Regal shape, for a new Bristolian.

What's your gauges & tuning for this guitar? (it shares the same 23" scale as the Malago)
Does that cone respond well to different tunings?