Kevin's Comments
It must have been about 22 years ago that my friend Bob Neff introduced me to the music of Pierre Bensusan. I remember even to this day how Pierre’s melodies just transported me to another place. It really was like being swept away into a grand and enchanted land. I think no one, ever, has written melodies for the guitar like Bensusan. There is an undeniable element of sheer genius and joy in his melodies and chord voicings that will be loved and appreciated as long as guitars are played in this world. Many of you will recognize the opening music on this site as Pierre’s The Alchemist. On first hearing it, the melody sounds so simple. But that belies its real genius and beauty. It sounds simple—until you try to play it! Or write a melody like it. This is one of the marks of a musical mind like Pierre’s. He seems not to write melodies so much as find them. Like a great author, when you have just read a fine passage from him, often you will think “Why, yes, of course!” But it is only obvious after you have read it. Just so, Pierre’s melodies seem so effortless and compelling. But only Pierre could have written them in just that way. My musical landscape is much the richer for Pierre’s music. He is one of the indispensables in the guitar world.

All this I truly thought before I met Pierre. Now imagine me having the opportunity to work with Pierre on the definitive Pierre Bensusan Signature Guitar! Well, it was a little like being inside of a really great story. Pierre is just a little bit bigger than life. And he certainly knows what he wants and expects. I will say that there were more than a few moments during the 2 years that we were collaborating that I thought I had finally bitten off more than I could chew. But one little (and sometimes big) obstacle after another was overcome; one design goal after another was achieved; one insurmountable roadblock after another was, one by one, navigated. In the end, it was all worth it of course. There was an urgent sense of being stretched (sometimes to near breaking) with the challenge to build an instrument that would give full creative expression to one of the finest talents of this age. When the dust had settled after the last prototype and then Pierre’s personal guitar was finally born on the bench, Pierre and I knew we had done it. We invite you to enjoy the fruits of this collaboration, labor of love and inspiration.