3 Beneteau Guitars Tonewood Comparison

Dustinfurlow · #1 11-07-2018, 04:24 PM

Choosing which guitars to use for specific songs on an upcoming album is a daunting task, so I figured I'd put them in front of some trusty Neumann KM-184's and see how they sounded out front to get an idea of the different characteristics each tonewood and body shape bring to the table. They all have European tops, with some subtleties, being what region they're from. The back and sides are all vastly different in character, though. All are strung with fresh D'Addario Phosphor Bronze strings.

Marc Beneteau's guitars are the very best that I've come across for my music, not to mention the most comfortable. It's hard to pick an overall favorite between these three, so what's yours?

Guitar 1: Concert Standard (Euro/African Blackwood)
Guitar 2: Model M (Carpathian/Mun Ebony)
Guitar 3: Super Jumbo (Alpine/Black Walnut)

(All guitars strung with D'Addario Phosphor Bronze strings)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV1q...ature=youtu.be

Glennwillow · #2 11-07-2018, 06:41 PM

Well, all three of them sounded good to me, Dustin! I don't see how you can make a bad choice there!

- Glenn

islandguitar · #3 11-07-2018, 06:43 PM

Hi Justin! Wow, what a line-up!!!

I've listened through twice......super enjoyable, you really have those segments under your fingers.....tremendous playing.

I think.......(can't be sure, they're all superb),:
I like the first two for stuff in standard tuning, and
I like guitar #3 for alternate tunings. In guitar #3 I'm hearing this as more "musical" in some way. That it tells a "story" just slightly better with an instrumental. It's hard for me to put words to tone, but I just came up with that it seems in some way to be more "musical".....if that makes sense??

Wonderful clips......congrats on the new guitar......lovely in all ways.
Fred

Finger Stylish · #4 11-08-2018, 05:00 AM

Wonderful sounding guitars! However; The Jumbo to me is so full and complete sounding. Like a Grand concert piano.
Wonder playing / musicianship!
Of the three the Jumbo is my favorite.

TacomaDR20 · #5 11-08-2018, 08:36 AM

Echoing the previous posters, while I found all three delightful, the jumbo stood out among the three.

Dustinfurlow · #6 11-08-2018, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Well, all three of them sounded good to me, Dustin! I don't see how you can make a bad choice there!

- Glenn

I agree, I just like to know which works best for certain tempos, tunings and dynamics!

Quote:

Originally Posted by islandguitar

Hi Justin! Wow, what a line-up!!!

I've listened through twice......super enjoyable, you really have those segments under your fingers.....tremendous playing.

I think.......(can't be sure, they're all superb),:
I like the first two for stuff in standard tuning, and
I like guitar #3 for alternate tunings. In guitar #3 I'm hearing this as more "musical" in some way. That it tells a "story" just slightly better with an instrumental. It's hard for me to put words to tone, but I just came up with that it seems in some way to be more "musical".....if that makes sense??

Wonderful clips......congrats on the new guitar......lovely in all ways.
Fred

Thanks man! I agree with you strongly, the SJ is awesome when there’s open strings to work it, just sounds like a cathedral. In standard it gets “tight” but not to say it sounds bad...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finger Stylish

Wonderful sounding guitars! However; The Jumbo to me is so full and complete sounding. Like a Grand concert piano.
Wonder playing / musicianship!
Of the three the Jumbo is my favorite.

Thank you so much, of the three that is the one I commissioned myself, makes me happy to hear that!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TacomaDR20

Echoing the previous posters, while I found all three delightful, the jumbo stood out among the three.

Thanks so much for the input!!

Odie1974 · #7 11-08-2018, 03:48 PM

For standard tuning and DADGAD I liked the Super Jumbo the most.
For capo'ed tunes Model M.

Great playing, you make those guitars sing

steveh · #8 11-09-2018, 03:34 AM

Listened as best I could on YT: For me, the ABW model is the pick - sounded just a touch richer and thicker than the others.

Of course, with the guitar in my hands, I’d likely come to the opposite conclusion! It’s clear that all three are superb instruments.

Cheers,
Steve

RodB · #9 11-09-2018, 07:46 AM

Enjoyed listening and interesting to hear the differences in the same maker's guitars. I can understand your dilemma - that's what comes from having so much choice of somewhat similar guitars. Have you thought of trying different strings as well - say NBs?

Overall I thought the ebony Model M didn't match up for the style of music you play, for instance I thought is suited Abigail's lullaby well except for some crucial bass notes - but it came close, even an interesting alternative on the last 2 especially Skykomish River.

I liked the ABW Concert for most of your tunes, but the walnut jumbo handled Abagail's Lullaby best for me, and perhaps Only Autumn...

Good luck with the album - it promises to be a good one!

Wrighty · #10 11-09-2018, 11:02 AM

They all sound wonderful, but for me the one I like best on almost all pieces is the Concert standard - beautifully balanced and controlled.

Dustinfurlow · #11 11-10-2018, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Odie1974

For standard tuning and DADGAD I liked the Super Jumbo the most.
For capo'ed tunes Model M.

Great playing, you make those guitars sing

Thank you so much!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveh

Listened as best I could on YT: For me, the ABW model is the pick - sounded just a touch richer and thicker than the others.

Of course, with the guitar in my hands, I’d likely come to the opposite conclusion! It’s clear that all three are superb instruments.

Cheers,
Steve

They all have very different characters for sure..I appreciate the input!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodB

Enjoyed listening and interesting to hear the differences in the same maker's guitars. I can understand your dilemma - that's what comes from having so much choice of somewhat similar guitars. Have you thought of trying different strings as well - say NBs?

Overall I thought the ebony Model M didn't match up for the style of music you play, for instance I thought is suited Abigail's lullaby well except for some crucial bass notes - but it came close, even an interesting alternative on the last 2 especially Skykomish River.

I liked the ABW Concert for most of your tunes, but the walnut jumbo handled Abagail's Lullaby best for me, and perhaps Only Autumn...

Good luck with the album - it promises to be a good one!

Thank you, I whole heartedly agree with everything you said. The Model M to me is more of a flatpicker and standard tuning guitar. Maybe because it’s scale length is 25.4 vs the other two which are 25.75.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrighty

They all sound wonderful, but for me the one I like best on almost all pieces is the Concert standard - beautifully balanced and controlled.

I am starting to gravitate more towards it as well, there’s no frequency that dominates the other.

Hasbro · #12 11-12-2018, 08:03 PM

All three were different but nothing stood out as better than the other (in my opinion). Sounded great by the way , unbelievable! can’t wait to hear the recordings of your new work. The first guitar had the most direct sound, the second one had the sweetest sound, and the jumbo harmonics were jumping off the board

Dustinfurlow · #13 11-13-2018, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hasbro

All three were different but nothing stood out as better than the other (in my opinion). Sounded great by the way , unbelievable! can’t wait to hear the recordings of your new work. The first guitar had the most direct sound, the second one had the sweetest sound, and the jumbo harmonics were jumping off the board

Thanks for the kind words Hasbro, I agree with all three of those statements. I have since found that I actually prefer nickel bronze strings for the CS model. While I still prefer PB on the Model M and the SJ. I think the NB's add a degree of crispness that works well with the warmth and richness of the Blackwood. Thanks again for your thoughts.

Trevor B. · #14 11-13-2018, 07:15 PM

Choosing which of the three Beneteau guitars to play for the tunes on your upcoming album strikes me as a real "first world" kind of problem (lol). They all sound really fine. That said, the Model M has the most focused tone across the spectrum but the Super Jumbo has the biggest sound. I'd be inclined to go with the Model M for the more complex fingerstyle pieces and the Super Jumbo for strumming and slower/sparser atmospheric offerings. It goes without saying these observations are just my humble opinion and frankly there's no bad decision among the three options you've A/B'd.

Dustinfurlow · #15 11-15-2018, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trevor B.

Choosing which of the three Beneteau guitars to play for the tunes on your upcoming album strikes me as a real "first world" kind of problem (lol). They all sound really fine. That said, the Model M has the most focused tone across the spectrum but the Super Jumbo has the biggest sound. I'd be inclined to go with the Model M for the more complex fingerstyle pieces and the Super Jumbo for strumming and slower/sparser atmospheric offerings. It goes without saying these observations are just my humble opinion and frankly there's no bad decision among the three options you've A/B'd.

Thanks Trevor!