Ultimaguitar dedicated to acoustic string instruments is proud to feature the work of this fine luthier.

        Nick Benjamin maker of Acoustic Guitars

This model really does sound like a Jumbo crossed with an OM. The tonal balance is similar to the smaller traditional Orchestra size with strong carrying trebles and a well focused bass, whilst the expanded dimensions help to give a certain airiness to the tone and greater sustain to the lower end; producing an extremely versatile instrument. So if you love big, open but well focused sounds; this is the guitar for you, meaning that this guitar has rapidly become my most popular model since it's introduction. It is also my standard model to fit a cutaway. Prices will increase about 20% in the coming new year.     Click here to visit Benjaminguitars

           JUMBO ORCHESTRA MODEL

                                               JUMBO MODEL and 'CELTIC' JUMBO

This tight waisted Jumbo Model was my first standard design, with the prototypes still being used by Richard Durrant and Nick Pynn as their main guitars. If you like larger guitars but want more versatility than a standard Dreadnought design this is a good choice with it's bright sustaining trebles and deep firm bass.

Unlike most of the models in my range I do two tonally distinct versions of this instrument; the first is full depth with a Spruce top and (most commonly) scalloped soundboard strutting to suit varied styles of vocal accompaniment and general playing, and the second is usually built shallower and has a Cedar top and 'parabolic' strutting (See 'Construction'.). This second form, usually made from Mahogany, is designed to give my version of the classic 'Celtic' sound used by many contemporary fingerstyle players and is described separately below.

This is my most common model to be built as a 12-string.

Left: Celtic Jumbo model with custom tapered headstock.

Spruce and Walnut
Warm, punchy Walnut helps produce an immediatly 'aged' quality, with a woody edge and warm basses suiting both flatpicking and fingerstyle.

Spruce and Mahogany
This guitar is ideal for vocal accompaniment with a rich, bright, carrying sound that sits nicely with other instruments and voice. A versatile guitar which works well for strumming and fingerstyle.

Spruce and Indian Rosewood
This instrument has a deeper bass and a fuller mid range than the Mahogany model with a sparkly top end to suit solo playing and flatpicking a little more.

'Celtic' Fingerstyle Model
A Cedar soundboard is used, combined with 'parabolic' main struts, fan struts instead of finger braces and an extra third tone bar to give an explosive attack to the sound with rich brassy overtones in the mid-range. This creates an instrument ideally suited to complex modern fingerstyle techniques; where extra separation is required to hear all the music's parts properly, and which excells in altered tunings, such as DADGAD. I often use a shallower body to increase focus and projection and to alleviate the slight boominess often associated with guitars built in this style. For back and sides Mahogany is used as standard but Indian Rosewood can be specified for a deeper darker tone with a fuller, smoother midrange and a Sitka Spruce top is a further option suiting some harder players. This type of construction is also well suited to the JOM size.

I am currently building a modified version of the 'Celtic' model to replace Eric Roche's very worn main guitar. It has special internal reinforcements for Eric's body percussion techniques and a harder wearing spruce scratch-plate for his wood scratching sound. An RMC synth pickup system plus a Fishman Rarearth Blend pickup will be fitted to get Eric's unique live sound.

Many other wood combinations available, please see 'Prices' page and options. Please contact me to discuss any special requirements.

Dimensions