Beneteau MJ Fanfret (Italian/ABW) *Video Added*
 

Wonderful day it is to hear my second commission with Marc Beneteau is officially underway! I've been a big fan of Marc's guitars literally since I was 17! Thats about a decade now...sheesh.

Little backstory leading up to this order:
My first commission with Marc from July 18' was a 25.75" scale Italian/Black Walnut SJ which is 16.75" across the lower bout, and is overall the most inspiring box of wood I've had in my stable over the years and will be a lifetimer, I am certain. The tone is clear and sweet, yet powerful when needed. The goal with that one was to have a dry, clear midrange to balance the midrange-scoop typical of jumbo guitars, but still have a dash of overtones in the top from the Italian spruce. He hit it right on the money. I'm still baffled at the resonance, especially when capo'd! With the arm and rib bevels is is extremely comfortable for longer sessions, either standing or seated. Definitely was worth the extra $ since its a larger guitar. Can also add that the soundport helps acoustically, when playing unplugged for house concerts it gives the impression it is louder and more open - also inspiring from the driver's side!

Before that commission I had owned two secondhand Beneteau's - a Carpathian/Ebony Model M and a Euro/African Blackwood Concert Standard. The playability and neck profile of the Model M, with it's 1 25/32" nut and 4.25" deep body was the best I've encountered for my personal ergonomics (I'm about 6 ft, semi-big hands), but the tone of Euro/Blackwood CS was where the inspiration for a second commission was, it just didn't have the wide spec's I needed. I recorded almost my entire solo-guitar album "Woodscapes" with the ABW CS so I knew exactly what kind of tone and response I was getting from the woods, paired with Marc's voicing. And so, I set out to have my second commission with Marc be almost a hybrid of the two...it will be a "Mini jumbo" guitar, 16" across like the Model M, also having the wider specs of the Model M, but will have the tonewoods of the CS, Euro and African Blackwood. An added feature we decided to go with was a 25.4" to 26.25" fanfret. After playing Paul Heumiller's McConnell which had these dimensions, I felt it would serve my pieces well!

Here are the detailed spec's I've requested. I can hardly wait!!

Body: Mini Jumbo
Top: Italian spruce
Back/Sides: African Blackwood
Body binding: Snakewood
Body top purfling: Red wood close to color of Snakewood, thin maple lines
Neck: 5-piece, slim/standard C, polished satin finish
Fingerboard binding: Ebony
Fingerboard purfling : Maple
Headstock veneer: Maple-bound Snakewood, Standard “B” inlay
Cutaway: Florentine
Bridge: Pinless
Tuners: Cosmo black Gotoh 510 with ebonoid buttons
Frets: Evo Gold jumbo wire
Soundport: Yes, no cover
Bevel: Laskin
Heelcap: Snakewood
Behind headstock: Snakewood (if possible)
Backstrip: Snakewood

Measurements:
Nut width: 1 25/32"
Bridge spacing: 2 5/16"
Scale: Fan Fret: 25.4”-26.25”
Body depth at tail: 4 3/8”

Special requests:
-MOP Sidemarkers up to 21st fret
-Two holes drilled at bottom
-Cedar kerflings
-clear pickguard
-black strap pin
-wood tile rosette

Outline of the MJ with requested Florentine cutaway:
https://i.imgur.com/M9vjI97.jpg

Marc using the same method he's used since the 70's for gluing together the top, a slight variation of "sticks and wedges", he calls it.
https://i.imgur.com/vFd2DDe.jpg

Congrats on your 2nd Beneteau getting underway.

Looking forward to following along!

Nice, congrats, will be following every post!

Beneteau
 

Congrats Dustin. I will be following along for the ride. I am still loving my Beneteau CS.

Thanks for sharing.

Oh, man, that's great news, Dustin! I recall......VIVIDLY when my Doerr was set to go..........Tom literally started the build on Christmas Day!
Looking forward to following along....thanks for this update!!
Fred

Congrats Dustin! Sounds like it will be a boomer. I look forward to watching this one! :)

Thanks! I can't wait to see the general assembly...these photos were just a tease :)

Can't wait to see how it comes together, man.

I can only imagine how good it sounds, being Engelmann and Brazilian.. I've developed a new appreciation for Engelmann since a recent Webber Baritone I played and my friend's Engelmann/Maple Mayson. They are LOUD. Did you ever send me a sound clip back when we were discussing that guitar? Would love to hear it.

It's a sheer joy...I'd forgotten how much so until I got those basic top-assembly photos :) Made my day.

I can't WAIT! I know you know the magic of Euro spruce paired with ABW...it's going to be a powerful guitar but sweet when needed.

This is going to be fun to follow!

The long wait begins!! Not sure how folks wait several years for their guitars.. I'd go crazy. I ordered this back in January, so it'll be an even 1- year wait. :)

Some nice African Blackwood supplied by Josh House for the back and sides, cannot wait to see the snakewood pop against this!

https://i.imgur.com/BtsS36J.jpg

Joining:

https://i.imgur.com/0aDE2m1.jpg

The snakewood is going to be great on that. I have two dark BRW guitars that I chose snakewood for the bindings and it is great. One continued with a snakewood bridge and fretboard which also came out awesome.

Beautiful wood, Dustin!!

Woohoo
 

Congratulations on a super axe coming!

I really liked the 00012c Beneteau I had. If it had the right neck for my smaller hands I would likely still have it!

This will be fun to watch. Bring it!!!

Enjoy

Paul

Isnt is such a wonderful looking wood? I recently found some Snakewood Gotoh 510 replacement buttons on reverb that John Buscarino was selling for only $37 and got them in today and they are beautifully figured and smooth to the touch. If you ever wanted that extra zing to bring the guitars together I recommend them!

Can’t wait to see it pop!

Yep, the slotted headstock models tend to have wider necks I think...I love the wide necks, myself. Nothing past 1 7/8 though.

love it Dustin! Can't wait to hear you play it and would love to try next time you are up this way. I absolutely love my African Blackwood/Bosnian Cathedral which is similar wood to this guitar. I'm just surprised you didn't go Jumbo!