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Benton & Storm's big sound is a result of Bobby and Marvin
simultaneously playing two instruments each, combined with a well planned
strategic choice of instruments and sound reinforcement. Whilst Marvin is
in charge of guitars Bobby looks after sound reinforcement.
National Style 0
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Yep this is the guitar on the original Benton & Storm poster, a National
Style 0 named "Rosalita". Marvin bought this in Las Vegas when he went
to get married at the Chapel of Love with Elvis (in fact stopped the
limo on the way to put the deposit down). It has a Highlander pickup
system that authentically replicates the steel guitar sound. It is a 14
fret model and is used for slide playing as well as standard. This
sounds like a mandolin or banjo when a capo is used. |
Taylor 415
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This Taylor 415 Marvin found in a Honululu guitar shop whilst visiting
his uncle Brian. He pointed it out to him and went for a haircut, when
he got back it was in case in his uncle's car! Marv's uncle died the
following week so needless to say this is a very special instrument. It
has a spruce top, exotic Koa back and sides, and dates from 1980 with an
ebony fretboard. The action is fantastic and the responsiveness of the
guitar is awesome. It has an on board Taylor preamp and EQ system. Often
used for alternate tunings for variety. Named Brian, this model is no
longer manufactured. |
Marvincaster
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You may occasionally see this Telecaster (Jeff) on stage, Marvin put
this together being a fan of Teles and is a guitar geek, experimenting
with pickups and frequently building solid electric guitars. It is
modelled on ane early 50's Broadcaster (particularly Jeff Beck's which
this is the spitting image of), has a baseball bat neck and Harmonic
Design vintage pickups (custom ordered). It's a howler. |
Martin J12-15 12 String
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Marv found this Martin J12-15 12 string
languishing in a shop. It is all solid mahogany, no longer made so very
rare. Marv installed a Sunrise pickup system which has a very full sound with
not too much top end unlike most 12 strings. It was neglected, unplayable and
filthy when he got it but now is the bee's knees. It sounds like thunder and
lightning! |
K.Yairi DY57
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Bobby purchased this guitar new in 1982 from
Farrell's music shop in Brookvale. It was handcrafted by master
luthier Kazuo Yairi. For 75 years the Yairi family has pursued the
art of guitar making the good old fashioned by hand way from a
small factory hidden in the hills of central Japan. The DY57 has
just been fitted with a Fishman Ellipse Aura preamp and Fishman
acoustic matrix undersaddle pickup. An old fashioned instrument
with the latest technology……way to go Bobby! |
Hohner Harmonicas
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Marvin uses six different
harmonicas, one a Hohner chromatic in C. The rest
are Hohner Blues harps all in different keys which allow the reed
bending
technique heard in many old blues recordings. These are the best
harps as
they afford cross key playing. He has a few spares in different keys
just in
case a horn player joins us one day! The harps fill out the sound
and add a
dimension in backing to contrast with the guitars. |
Shure Super 55 Deluxe Classic
Birdcage Microphones
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This new model mic from Shure is the ‘65 Ford
Mustang’ of the microphone world. It has great clarity and looks
extremely cool. These or Marvin's National are the first things
punter's entering a Benton & Storm gig comment on as well as providing
somewhere for Bobby and Marvin to hang their hats during a break! |
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Wazinator Acoustic Stompbox
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Drummer 'Waz', with the assistance of Bobby's right
foot, provides Benton & Storm's natural bass, rich and big ballsy
bottom end. |
QSC K-Series Speaker System
With the introduction of the K Series QSC have
virtually rewritten the standard for small powered speakers. They
describe them as being, "the most
powerful, technically advanced, sonically superior portable powered
speakers ever!" and Bobby and Marvin reckon they are right! With their
extensive use of DSP and bass algorithms the K-Series deliver a
perceived result belying their size and weight......and they fit in
the Bentonmobile.....
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