Introducing Benito Guitars from Chile

Press release
Source: Benito Guitars

Benito Guitars is a Chilean company established in 2001 Chile and is devoted to manufacturing limited edition guitars. In 2000, when Lito Benito was living in the US he was the head luthier for Taylor Guitars. Anxious to design his own guitars and to attain a distinct tone, luthier Lito Benito returned to Chile to experiment with native, exotic woods from Southern Chile.

He employed different woods and among them, Larch Tree timber (Alerce), used for manufacturing the guitar tops. He was also forced to develop machinery, tools and techniques gathered during his experience gained while staying in the U.S. and Mexico.

Alerce timber comes from 3,000 – 4,000 year-old trees, which is the result of a slow growth enhanced by the environmental pressures of the area including impacts of a geological nature, volcanic activity, constant rainfall, and strong maritime winds.

Benito Guitars is the only CITES certified company associated with the Alerce tree. For this reason we are able to responsibly use this timber for the making of our products. Likewise, each guitar bears an immeasurable value considering this very limited resource.

Currently, the company offers a wide array of models in Alerce tree combined with the Indian Rosewood, Mahogany, and Cedar. This combination of exotic woods allows us to obtain the distinct, unique tone that characterizes Benito Guitars.

The guitars are 100% handmade by qualified craftsmen with a vast experience as luthiers. Each piece is carefully quarter sawn and only the cuts complying with the quality standard of Benito Guitars are selected.

Due to the tolerance characteristic of the Alerce tree timber, it is used to manufacture the tops, while the Indian Rosewood and the Mahogany is used for the guitar’s sides and backs. The necks are made of Bolivian Cedar.

All Benito Guitars are integrally built with solid wood.

Models

Classic
Warm and percussive with harp-like quality delivering even projection across the entire frequency range. Benito Guitars has mastered an unmatched sound that is converting players back to traditional style.

Grand Auditorium
A fingerstyle guitarist’s dream. Immediate dynamic response combined with a 3,000-year-old Alerce top retains evenness of tone while creating volume and projection that is simply unparalleled. Offering such concentrated balance, even heavy pickers will feel right at home. See photo below.

Dreadnought
The ideal gigging instrument. Big and bold with concentrated projection. The 3,000-year-old Alerce top evens the frequency response, reducing any runaway frequencies without sacrificing any of the volume and projection.

Parlor
Great sound for a small guitar. Perfect frequency balanced enhanced by the powerful body obtained by the vibrating properties of the Alerce wood and its harmonious complexity and sound projection

Bass
Balanced sound in high and low frequencies with the body characteristic of the Alerce wood harmonics and the firmness of the long 35” scale. A totally handmade Orange Cedar neck highlights the harmonious element of the body with a 5 9/16” depth. The handmade nut and bone saddle aid the production of deep, clear sound with outstanding sustainability in the B32C. They also offer easy, comfortable access for all positions on the fretboard.

Note: These models are available with the Alerce wood top, side and back of Indian Rosewood and Mahogany

All guitars are equipped with a B-Band A1 UST preamp system.

Artists

The 3,000-year-old Alerce wood tops from the Chilean mountains combined with Mahogany or Indian Rosewood produce a warm, rich sound that is truly unique and appeals to a wide range of artists. Blues recording star Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Atlanta Opera acoustic guitar player Bill Hatcher, and religious vocalist Gia Lucid are all currently playing Benito Guitars on stage and in recording studios.

For more information about Benito Guitars, please visit www.benitoguitars.com.

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