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2010 Benedetto Bambino, 'Baby Blue'
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SN#: S-1015 Body size at lower bout: 14 12" Body Depth: 2 1/4" Scale length: 25" Nut: 1 11/16" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .88/.95
Materials: Arched multi-laminate maple body; solid maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; silver headstock logo; bound body; solid bone nut.
Hardware: Twin A-6 humbucking pickups; solid ebony tailpiece, pickguard, bridge, knobs, and truss rod cover; master volume control; tone control with push-pull coil switch; 3-way pickup selector switch; Benedetto Schaller Mini M-6 16:1 tuners.
Notes: In 1994, prolific collector Scott Chinery asked the late Jimmy D'Aquisto to build an 18" archtop in a brilliant blue lacquer. By Chinery's passing in 2000, he had commissioned some 21 other top luthiers to build similar blue guitars, including Bob Benedetto. Bob's master creation 'La Cremona Azzura' is a highlight of the collection, and would certainly fetch a king's ransom if it was ever offered for sale. But here's a blue Bendetto at a true player's price, in one of the rarest colors ever to emerge from that most celebrated shop.
Benedetto 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, with a client roster which is an A-list of topmost guitar talent.
The Bambino is Bob's gift to the working performer, whether journeying cross country, or just across town. Featuring a slim depth 14 1/2" body, the Bambino delivers big guitar performance in a compact package that's as delightful under the arm as it is in a gig bag. Parallel braced for maximum snap, the Bambino's lightweight soundhole-free construction offers the ultimate in feedback resistance from a hollow bodied instrument.
At just a hair over 6lb even, the guitar is notably light in weight and well balanced on the lap or the strap. With master volume, tone and toggle switch, the controls are simple and to the point, and the paired A-6 humbucking pickups offer a tonal range from croon to crunch. A push-pull tone pot switches coil-tapped pickups from humbucking to single coil operation for maximum versatility, a feature that's unfortunately no longer offered in current examples.
The slim, gentle D profile neck sits smoothly in the palm, with a comfy 12 radius solid ebony fingerboard on a classic 25" Johnny Smith scale. Hand signed by the maker, the Bambino is unquestionably the best buy in a true US made, pro quality jazz guitar: a working axe as easy on your shoulder as it is on your wallet. This striking example is finished in one of Bob's rarest custom colors. In 100% original showroom condition, the instrument is without playwear or checking, and has fresh high precision setup for effortless action.
It was born to be blue, and you will be too, if you miss out on this rare beauty. One only: call now.
Case: Original deluxe Benedetto black arched plush lined hardshell case.
