Aussie luthier gets a silver at ISB

[Matthew Tucker]

Might as well give Ben a plug here!

Local luthier's entry goes from farce to first

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[JoeyNaeger]

His bass was awesome and he was a pleasure to speak with. I'm glad he was able to navigate the customs situation and still enter the competition.

[MollyKay]

Great article of fortitude and persistence. I also love the slide show of pictures, very cool workshop. The last picture with his son is priceless.

That is the future, watching the present.

[LouisF]

I only met him to say hello to and he seemed like a very nice guy, despite what must have been real stress.

Louis

[GerardSamija]

I got to talk with Benedict a few times during our few days at the conference - my son and his are similar ages, almost look like brothers - and I really enjoyed meeting him. Of course he was under a lot of strain at first, his bass trapped in US Customs for a ridiculous reason, but Benedict put a brave face on it and expressed his determination to find the good in the convention, to really enjoy all his meetings with luthiers and bassists and the many basses and at least go home with those positive experiences. What a completely amazing turn of events when it was announced on the morning after the main awards that he'd won a silver! And his bass was obviously gorgeous, in workmanship and in tone. This is a luthier of major significance among bass makers.