Bently Guitar Info

[Bugs]

Hello, This is my first post on this forum, now that my search is done on another guitar of mine I figure it's time to find out what I can about this Bently I have,
I bought this guitar around 25 years ago, the guy at the music store where I bought it told me it was made by Epiphone, I think he told me this just because it was in a Epiphone case(still is) anyway I liked the looks and sound of it so I bought it,I gave him $200.00 for it and the case(maybe I got took?) It is an acustic flat top, I will send pictures as soon as my daughter drops by with her camera, but in the mean time if anyone can tell me something about it, Like was it made by another company or is Bently a comany name I sure would appreciate it,

I have done searches on the net for it and it seems there is a guitar that is spelled Bentely also,I think this spelling is thowing me off in finding out anything about mine spelled Bently, Thanks, Don

[VintAxe]

Hi Don,

Bently is a brandname for entry level and medium grade guitars imported by St. Louis Music Company (SLM). The instruments were built in Asia but I'm not really sure where; although probably not Japan. Epiphone acoustics were produced in Korea begining in 1983 so given you purchsed the guitar about 25 years ago it is possible your salesman was telling the truth i.e. both Bently and Epiphones were built in the same factory.

SLM used the Bently brandname between about 1985-1998. In 1998 they dropped the brandname when they launched their new Austin line of guitars.

I'd guess that today, your Bently is probably worth about $50 less than what you paid for it. Much less depreciation than that car you bought 25 years ago My hunch is that you've gotten more than $200 worth of enjoyment out of it anyway. sb

[Bugs]

Thanks sb, as you can see I finally made it over to your forum from the other one where I was doing research on my Crest guitar, I spent hours on this forum yesterday and found a lot of interesting reading and great pictures, just a great forum, thanks

I didn't figure my Bently was worth anymore than I paid for it, and less is cool too, like you say I have sure got my money's worth out of it, it still sounds and looks great, it seems to be a very well made guitar and the finish on it still looks brand new, I took it outside today in the sun so I could see a little better and it looks like the model number on the sticker inside of it says 5118 ,it is faded but between this sticker and the one on the headpeice I was able to put it together, I am 80% sure that is what it says,I have been thinking a lot on when I did buy it ,I bought it shortly after I was married and I have been married for 30 years,I have lived in Florida for 25 years and I had it when I moved here so it is somewhere betwwen 25 and 30 years old to the best of my figureing again thanks for the info on it, have a great day,Don

[VintAxe]

Interesting. I just happen to have the tub containing some of my undated Bently literature setting next to me and there is a model 5118 pictured in one of the catalogs. However, it is a 12 string. I guess I assumed we were talking about a 6 string guitar.

Here is a picture:


If this isn't your guitar, you might want to get a magnifying glass after that model number.

I would love to document your Crest guitar on this forum. If you are willing to post what you know about your Crest in either "Vintage Acoustic Guitars" or "Show and Tale" I will add the pictures to your post. It is an interesting instrument, I think VintAxe visitors would enjoy seeing it.

Let me know if we have a match on the 5118.

[Bugs]

Yes mine is a 6 string,the body on mine looks the same as the one above but it ends there,I guess I had better get out the magnifying glass or get someone with a better pair of eyes to look at it
I would be happy to add my Crest to the forum,it will be comeing shortly, and thanks for having it

[Bugs]

Hi SB, I posted the story about my guitar on "Vintage Acoustic Guitars",sorry for it being so long of a story but I told it all Hopfully I will have more to add to it one day,so if you will move the pictures for me it would be greatly appreciated,thanks for having me and my guitar on your site,Don