Remembering Steve Bennefeld

javabird · #1 02-05-2007, 06:24 PM

Steve Bennefeld passed away in September, 2006.

He was a wizard with string instrument repair, especially basses. Many, many basses in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and surrounding states were adjusted, repaired, restored, or otherwise tended to by Steve. Brad Opland of the Chicago Symphony brought his bass to Minneapolis for Steve's care. When Yo-Yo Ma needed emergency cello repair the day of a Twin Cities recital, Steve did it.

For many years Steve worked out of the basement of his home. Most recently he worked for bassist Vladimir Zabezhinsky at the All Strings Attached location in Golden Valley, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis).

He is greatly missed.

Kam · #2 02-05-2007, 09:02 PM

Wow, I never had a chance to have my bass worked on by Steve, but I know he was considered the only person to take your bass to for a setup or repair by many professionals in the Twin Cities.

Martin Sheridan · #3 02-06-2007, 04:52 PM

I am sorry to hear of Steve's passing. I never had the chance to meet him, but many of the bassists I knew in the Minneapolis area were very fond of Steve and his work.
Requiest cant in pace.

Largemouth Bass · #4 02-08-2007, 10:36 AM

Wow, this is really sad. I had no idea, does anyone know what happened? When I lived in MN I was lucky enough to have met Steve and have him work on my bass a few times. I know he had a rough ride for a bit but seemed to be really going strong at All About Strings. I did a few set-ups there on student violins when I was learning how to do repair work at the Red Wing School. Steve was great about it and showed me more in a few days than I learned in 9 months of Red Wing. He will be missed big time.

roguewaves · #5 02-08-2007, 12:56 PM

I have met Steve several times. Really nice guy, I heard of his passing last fall after talking with my old instructor Terry Burns. I had the sweetest sounding cheap Engelhardt thanks to him. That bass was kindling when I got it and it took a couple visits to Steves house to get her right. I remember his words to me...."Cant polish a turd" But he did.

Just had my Eastman setup at All Strings Attached, took them awhile but they did it justice. Now if they could fix it and make it play in tune....wait thats me.....

brian