ORCHESTRA MODEL

A classically proportioned guitar based around the design which defined the beginnings of the modern acoustic guitar. The Orchestra Model is naturally well balanced and suits many traditional and modern styles.

Primarily a fingerstylist's instrument with a strong full treble and surprisingly full lower end, the medium body size is very comfortable, and the strong concentrated tone records wonderfully.

Here are some of the most common combinations of materials used for this model and their suggested uses. 'Standard', 'Deluxe', 'Abalone' or any custom form of decoration scheme can be combined with any of the versions. See 'Prices' and 'Decoration Schemes' for details.

Spruce and Indian Rosewood
A classic tone combining depth, clarity, projection and bright overtones to suit many fingerstylists, playing a broad range of styles from celtic to folk to bluegrass and beyond.

Spruce and Mahogany
The rich and bright but woody tone of this guitar stands out well for vocal accompaniment, 'Travis' picking (thumb pick), blues and modern fingerstyle, making it a very versatile guitar with good separation across it's entire range.

Cedar and Indian Rosewood
A modern take on a classic design with the Cedar giving a warm, fruity quality for smooth, sustaining fingerstyle playing with the focus of a smaller instrument.

Cedar and Mahogany
Mahogany gives the Cedar a rich and present sound without too much lower midrange making this guitar ideal for altered tuning fingerstyle work as well as earthy blues when fitted with lower tension strings.

Alpine or Adirondack Spruce and Brazilian Rosewood, Amazon Rosewood or Cocobolo
Vintage heaven; focus, balance, projection, depth and ringing overtones!

Right: Eric Roche with Martin Taylor during the recording of 'With These Hands'.

Left: Cedar and Rosewood Orchestra Model with custom Bloodwood bindings and Padauk rosette made for Eric Roche in 2002. Eric wanted a smaller guitar to give extra focus and separation compared to the main guitar he had been using. A week after collecting his new guitar, Eric e-mailed me to say, "The guitar is highly inspiring and I get lost in it sometimes. The neck is very accommodating and the separation of the notes is messing with my mind."....."Thank you so much for the guitar - it is already loosening up some very creative juices."...... I was pleased with it too!

This guitar was later used to write and record most of Eric's last album 'With These Hands'.

Clive Carroll also now owns a Benjamin Orchestra Model! Built from Honduras rosewood and Sitka spruce, Clive used it on his new album 'Life in Colour' for several tracks, including; 'All This Time', 'The Gentle Man', 'The Boatman' and for the octaves part on 'Oregon'.

Sorry about the blurry picture!

Dimensions