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2006 Benedetto Fratello
Status: Pricing and hold status for all instruments currently available is shown on 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 be found here. To be notified of examples of this model or similar instruments in the future, please contact [email protected],. Please be specific on which instrument(s) you're looking for, and we'll be happy to contact you as soon as they become available.
Serial#: 212, signed by the maker
Body size at lower bout: 17" Body Depth: 3" Scale length: 25" Nut: 1 11/16"
Finish: Claret finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.
Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved fine grain spruce top; handcarved fiddleback flame handcarved maple back and sides with Venetian cutaway; one piece tiger flame maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; pearl headstock logo; ebony truss rod cover; 7-ply body binding; 5-ply neck and headstock binding; triple bound f-holes; solid bone nut.
Hardware: Solid ebony tailpiece, finger rest and knobs; gold Schaller tuners with ebony keys; compensated adjustable ebony bridge, Bendetto S-6 floating humbucking pickup with volume and tone controls, endpin jack.
Notes: He wrote the book on archtop guitar building. Literally. The most influential jazz guitar builder of the late 20th century, Bob Benedetto almost single-handedly jump-started the contemporary revival of fine handbuilt archtop guitars, and his client roster is an A-list of the topmost echelon of jazz guitar talent. Many of Benedetto's design concepts have been adopted as benchmarks, and an entire generation of today's top-tier builders count themselves as students or disciples.
A local guitar, this handsome instrument was played by a longtime professional on the Northwest music scene. A full-depth X-braced instrument, she shows superbly bookmatched tight fiddleback flame in the back and sides, with the neck carved from a single piece of dramatic tiger maple, after the style of John D'Angelico. The guitar has been maintained in great condition, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, and the handsome original claret finish shows only a few incidental lacquer nicks. The medium jumbo fretwork is impeccable, the neck sits effortlessly in the hand, and the action is soft as melted butter. The voice is warm, rich and focused, and the box retains a rich acoustic response that's transmitted faithfully to the amp through the floating S-6 humbucking pickup.
Bob's Flagship Series guitars are made to order, one at a time, and the wait list can be lengthy indeed. A rare opportunity to jump the queue, and bag a bargain in the process. One only, call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwound 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 Benedetto plush hardshell case.
