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2005 Benedetto Bravo
Status: For pricing and hold status for this instrument, please check our Instruments page here. If this instrument does not appear on the Instruments page it has been sold, and is no longer available. Photos and descriptions of Previously Sold instruments may by found here. To be notified of examples of this or any other model in the future, please contact [email protected].
SN#: 142
Body size at lower bout: 16" Body Depth: 2 1/2" Scale length: 25" Nut: 1 3/4"
Finish: Antique burst, nitrocellulose type
Materials: Arched spruce top with solid spruce braces; arched highly flamed maple body; solid maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; gold headstock logo; bound body; solid bone nut.
Hardware: Solid ebony hardware includes contoured tailpiece, knobs and truss rod cover; gold mini-Schaller tuners. Seymour Duncan Seth Lover pickup installed (original Benedetto pickup included in case.)
Notes: The iconic name in the contemporary archtop guitar, Bob Bendetto has set the standard for the craft in over three decades of innovative custom luthiery. The Bravo is the ultimate extension of a process begun some 60 years ago, with the introduction of the Gibson ES-175. Long prized by working players for its versatility and reliability, the 16" cutaway body with the built-in pickup was further refined by Jimmy D'Aquisto in the '70's. With its slimmer body depth and custom laminated soundboards, D'Aquisto's electric guitar was both more playable and sonically rewarding.
Today, with 16" guitars enjoying yet a third wave of popularity, The Bravo has pushed the evolution to an unprecedented stage of refinement. With its custom-laminated soundboard of fine grained spruce, (rather than the maple ply found on it's imported competitors) and braced with carefully graduated parallel solid spruce tone bars, the Bravo weighs in at a mere 5lb 11oz. making it one of the lightest, most responsive guitars in its class we've found. This lightweight construction offers both increased resonance and a more comfortable playing experience, especially on gigs of extended duration. The net result is an instrument more durable, feedback resistant and affordable than traditional acoustic archtops, yet actually lighter in weight than many of today's pricey custom guitars.
This example shows highly flamed figure in the maple back, sides and neck, and is finished in a lustrous vintage style sunburst. A fresh high-precision setup offers smooth low action over an elegant, gentle D profile neck, with a solid ebony fingerboard. The instrument has been carefully maintained, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear: apart from some lines of checking in the vintage style nitro finish, she looks much as she did when she left the factory. (A special bonus is an additional Seymour Duncan Seth Lover pickup installed, with the original Benedetto pickup included in case.)
A handsome and hard-to-find instrument, at a true player's price. One only, call now.
