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2009 Benedetto Americana Custom

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Serial #: S-1764, signed by the maker

Body size at lower bout: 17" Body Depth: 3 1/8" Scale length: 25" Nut: 1 3/4" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .82/.91

Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved fine grain spruce top; solid quilted maple back and sides; two piece tiger flame maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; pearl headstock logo; ebony truss rod cover; 5-ply body binding; bound neck, headstock, and f-holes; solid bone nut.

Hardware: Solid inlaid ebony tailpiece, finger rest and knobs; gold Schaller tuners with ebony keys; compensated adjustable ebony bridge, Bendetto S-6 floating humbucking pickup with thumbwheel volume control, 1/4" jack, adjustable truss rod. Additional plain ebony Benedetto tailpiece is included.

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 full-depth 17" instrument, this striking guitar was custom built for Benedetto artist Tim May, the Grammy nominated, Nashville based instrumentalist whose studio, touring, and teaching work have been highly regarded for over two decades. While Bob's Americana model is typically fitted with a built-in pickup, this rare version has a floating Benedetto S-6 humbucker for maximum acoustic fidelity.

At just 5lb 13oz, the guitar is notably comfy on the lap or the strap, and with body and neck bookmatched in handsome curly maple, the soundboard is hand graduated of solid fine grained quartersawn spruce, tap tuned and X-braced for maximum warmth and sustain. The headstock is in the style of the Venezia model, with ornate abalone and pearl inlay.

The guitar has been maintained in immaculate condition, without pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, or checking in the lustrous tobacco sunburst finish. The solid ebony fingerboard has a generous 1 3/4" nut, and the gentle D profile neck sits effortlessly in the hand, with smooth and low action over a fresh high-precision setup. The acoustic voice is warm and woody, with a rich acoustic response that's transmitted faithfully to the amp through the pickguard mounted floating pickup, with thumbwheel volume control.

A special plus, an additional plain ebony Benedetto tailpiece is included in the case. 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 bronze round wound strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" 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 lined hardshell case.