This is a sweet, smooth, and well-oiled machine. We’re in love. Marc Beneteau has been one of our favorite builders from our neighboring Canada for a number of years, and he is well loved in the modern fingerstyle world (if Don Ross is on board, you know he’s doing something right). Here we’ve landed a Concert Standard Cutaway from 2003 that’s opened up handsomely for a lively, expansive voice that balances lush overtones with a crisp and strong fundamental. Fingerstylists, take heed! Brazilian Rosewood back and sides pair up with German Spruce on top, and additionally Marc has added an arm bevel for creature comfort—plus a K&K Trinity pickup system. We just refretted this one so it’s ready for more action!

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A powerhouse for the stage, the studio, and everywhere in between. Our latest Beneteau is a beautiful Concert Standard from 2005 dressed up in Pommele Sapele and Adirondack Spruce with all the trimmings to sweeten the pot. Venetian cutaway to keep the top frets dust free, soundport to keep you high in your personal mix, Laskin-style arm bevel for creature comfort, and a B-Band dual source, UST + AG-MIC microphone pickup system. What’s else is there to ask for? The setup is a breeze, and we love the crunch and clarity that the Sapele provides to the tone; combined with the stiffness and projection of Adirondack this Beneteau has power and clarity in equal measure.

Other keywords: marc beneteau, lutherie, guitarmaking, fingerstyle, pommelle, sapelle, gotoh, don ross

Marc’s guitars are well-known for their crystalline clarity: this 2010 Concert Standard Cutaway confirms that and then some. Here’s a voice wich is clear and focused–no register overpowers the others, and the trebles are punchy and present. If what you need is a guitar with excellent string-to-string balance for your fingerstyle arrangements, then this 2010 Concert Standard will more than fit the bill. Honduran Rosewood and Sitka Spruce combine for clarity and depth, especially in DADGAD. The round C profile neck is feels like a sip of cold tea (or your preferred beverage) on a hot summer’s day: smooth, smooth, smooth. The Venetian Cutaway and Laskin-style arm bevel make playing even easier, and the setup is just as slinky as the neck profile.

How does Marc Beneteau manage to create a guitar with such pinpoint clarity and startling depth? It’s like peering into a deep pool of water in the middle of winter, listening to this 2016 M model: you can see clear to the bottom, and it’s a long way down. Each string is powerful, and powerfully balanced with the others, rendering the voice complex, but bracingly articulate. If fingerstyle is your game, this Beneteau M in Granadillo and Alaskan Sitka Spruce is a dream come true. The setup works wonders for flatpicking too: in DADGAD, Standard, or elsewhere, the play feel remains silky and effortless.

With a Venetian Cutaway and Ryan-style arm bevel your player comfort is further enhanced, and with the addition of a small soundport in the upper bout you get a sweet extra dose of bass right to your ear. It’s not hard to understand why so many of of Canada’s top guitar virtuosos play Marc’s guitars–there’s a precision, clarity, and depth of tone to his guitars which many luthiers aim for, but only a few achieve. Marc’s the latter for sure.

Our Dream Series with Marc Beneteau has been extremely popular and here’s a rare chance at a preowned example. This is #1 of the limited edition of 5 we commissioned from Marc. Based on the Gibson Nick Lucas models of the 1930s, this is a small body, 13 fret guitar with strong energy and vintage tone. The Brazilian set on this one is very well quartered with lovely ink lines and rich, contrasting hues. This one is topped with Adirondack for power and that classic vintage style voicing. The deep mahogany brown sunburst, 30s style inlays, and double abalone rosette make this one of the best lookers you’re likely to ever encounter.

Here is a short scale powerhouse 000 from Canada’s Marc Beneteau. Figured Mahogany and Cedar pair up here for a quick responding small body guitar that is loud and has that wonderful Mahogany growl. Don’t stereotype the Cedar top here, modern builders have learned to leave it thicker and get bit power out of it. You can hit this one hard. Marc counts as clients Don Ross, Tony McManus and Craig D’Andrea so you know his instruments are worldclass.

Marc Beneteau’s Nick Lucas design is very popular. It harkens back to the 1920s and 30s Gibson model who’s namesake was a famous player of the day. One key part of the design is the 13 Fret neck joint that keeps the bridge in the wider portion of the lower bout but allows that one more fret to play in. This sunburst beauty is Adirondack over Mahogany with a short 24.9″ scale, lovely Maple bindings and a Spalted Maple rosette. The one modern touch, its side soundport, is a welcome upgrade that sounds great in the driver’s seat. The beauty you see is equalled by what you hear. This is a very strong and proud small body guitar with volume and energy to spare. Blues, Rag and Old Time player will flip over this one.