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c.2005 Benedetto Guild X-700 Stuart
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Serial #: CBB1000028, Bob Benedetto signed label
Body size at lower bout: 17" Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut width: 1 11/16" Body depth: 3"
Materials: Solid carved bookmatched European bearclaw spruce top, solid carved tiger flame maple back, sides and neck; solid ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl/abalone V-block inlay; pearl peghead inlay; 12 ply body binding, 7 ply fingerboard and headstock binding, 5 ply bound f-holes.
Hardware: 100% original hardware, including hand-engraved gold tailpiece; compensated ebony bridge; gold Grover Rotomatic tuners; beveled art deco stairstep pickguard; gold A-6 Benedetto humbucking pickups; tone and volume controls for each pickup, master volume and 3 way pickup selector switch on cutaway horn.
Notes: Through his writing, designs and peerless craftsmanship, legendary luthier Bob Benedetto is unquestionably the most influential archtop builder in the world. And the Gibson L-5CES is the most iconic electric jazz guitar ever made. But among Benedetto's superlative lineup of top-flight guitars you can search in vain for an equivalent instrument. So here's a bit of inside baseball: once upon a time Bob did make an all carved, 17" twin pickup guitar. But only a very few, and only for a very brief period of time. It's called the Stuart, and we're delighted to have one here, that is, until the first savvy player grabs it.
The Benedetto Guild X-700 Stuart draws inspiration from the most iconic designs of archtop history. Like its Gibson counterpart, the Stuart is carved of all solid tonewoods, with a 17" full depth Venetian cutaway body, long scale solid ebony fingerboard, twin built-in humbucking pickups, deluxe multiply binding and gold hardware throughout. From Epiphone's Emperor, the Stuart adapted the abalone/pearl V-block fingerboard inlay. And another New Yorker, name of D'Angelico, supplied inspiration for the formal bound art-deco pickguard.
This gleaming example is one of the very few built during this model's fleeting existence. Built with rare 'bearclaw' crossgrain figure in the solid carved Euro spruce soundboard, this gleaming example has the effortless Bendetto gentle D neck profile, and with twin built-in humbuckers is substantially more feedback resistant than models with traditional floating pickups. This guitar has 100% original finish and hardware, and shows highly figured solid carved maple in the back, sides and neck, and a full length 25 1/2" scale. (Though similar in appointments, the Stuart should not be confused with the Westerly Guild X-700 model, which was built with laminate back and sides, and a short scale neck.)
Apart from a few wisps of finish checking near the tailpiece, the guitar appears virtually unplayed, and comes complete with its original faux-alligator case and owner's manual. At this writing, Bob's all-carved guitars start at $10,000 and can run to over $40,000. And unfortunately, he no longer produces a twin pickup 17" carved guitar. With Benedetto quality, L-5 features, and very high scarcity factor, the Stuart is an exceptional find for the serious player looking for hand built quality in a true carved top jazz box. One only: call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
Case: Original deluxe arched black alligator plush hardshell case.
