Master Luthier Robert Benedetto has been handcrafting fine archtop guitars since 1968. Born in New York in 1946, both his father and grandfather were master cabinetmakers, and Benedetto´s uncles were artisans and musicians. While growing up in New Jersey, Benedetto began playing the guitar professionally at age thirteen. Being near the New York/New Jersey jazz music scene, Benedetto had numerous opportunities to perform repair and restoration work on other classic archtops. Benedetto built his first archtop in 1968, and his pre-eminence in the field is evidenced by his having made archtop guitars longer than any living makers and a growing list of endorsers. Current endorsers range from Jimmy Bruno and Kenny Burrell to Earl Klugh and Andy Summers.
Benedetto moved to Homosassa, Florida in 1976. Three years later, he relocated to Clearwater, Florida. A veteran innovator, Benedetto began concentrating on the acoustic properties of the guitar designs, and started a movement to strip away unnecessary adornment (inlays, bindings) in 1982. While continuing his regular work on archtop building, Benedetto also built violins between 1983-1987. Violinist extraordinaire Stephane Grappelli purchased one of his violins in 1993. Benedetto even built a small number of electric solidbody guitars and basses (which debuted at the 1987 NAMM show) in addition to his regular archtop production schedule. After 10 years in East Stroudsburg, PA (1990-2000), Benedetto relocated back to Florida in 2000. His endorsers span three generations of jazz guitarists. Not since John D'Angelico has anyone made as many archtop guitars nor had as many well-known players endorsing and recording with his guitars. Closer scrutiny reveals nuances found only from a maker of his stature. His minimalist delicate inlay motif has become a trademark as have his novel use of black, rather than gold, tuning machines, black bridge height adjustment wheels, and an ebony nut (versus bone), all of which harmonize with the ebony fittings throughout the guitar. He is the originator of the solid ebony tailpiece, uniquely fastened to the guitar with cello tail adjustor. Likewise, he was the first to use exotic and natural wood veneers on the headstock and pioneered the use of violin pigments to shade his guitars. His Honey Blonde finish is now widely used within the guitar industry. Benedetto is also well-known for refining the seven-string archtop and is that unique model´s most prolific maker. Benedetto is the Archtop Guitar Construction Editor and "Guitar Maintenance" columnist for Just Jazz Guitar magazine, and is the author of Making an Archtop Guitar (Center Stream Publishing, 1994). He released his 9 1/2 hour instructional video, Archtop Guitar Design & Construction, in November 1996. He also markets the Benedetto "floating" pickup, a standard size humbucking pickup, and solid ebony tailpiece for his (and other) archtop acoustic guitars.
Benedetto has built over 800 musical instruments. While the majority (500) are archtop guitars, he has produced 157 electric solidbody guitars, fifty-two electric basses, forty-eight violins, five violas, two mandolins and one cello.
Benedetto pickups were licensed in 2000 to be sold exclusively by Seymour Duncan. In 2006, FMIC (Fender) and Benedetto parted ways, amicably. Benedetto and longtime friend and professional guitarist Howard Paul formed BENEDETTO GUITARS, INC. in Savannah, GA.
During his archtop making career, Benedetto made eight semi-hollowbody electric guitars (six of which were made between 1982 and 1983 and have been dubbed Semi-dettos by author Adrian Ingram). These versatile guitars feature a carved top, double cutaway body design with two separate tone chambers and a solid center block. Each model was crafted to the original owner's needs and specifications, resulting in slight differences between the models. The other two semi-hollowbody electric guitars were prototypes built by Benedetto in 1997 (Biographical information courtesy Cindy Benedetto). For more information, contact Benedetto directly or visit his website.
Instruments currently manufactured in Savannah, GA since 2006. Instruments were previously produced from 1999-2006, under a licensing agreement with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC). Instruments were first made in Nashville, TN by the Guild Custom Shop in the early 2000s, and later in Corona, CA, by the Fender Custom Shop till mid 2006. Benedetto also built custom instruments during this period at his shop in Riverview, FL.

BENEDETTO GUITARS Electric Guitars Models

BENEDETTO GUITARS 3000S Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS 3000S

- offset double cutaway poplar body, bolt-on rock maple neck, 25.5 in. scale, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, graphite/teflon nut, six-on-a-side Grover mini tuners, black headstock, black chrome hardware, Gotoh GE-1055T fulcrum tremolo, three...

BENEDETTO GUITARS 16-B Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS 16-B

- single smooth cutaway hollow body, carved American or European spruce top, carved curly or flamed maple back and sides, two bound f-holes, multi-ply body binding, flamed maple neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with 12th fret design in...

BENEDETTO GUITARS BRAVO (NO. 360-9400) Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS BRAVO (NO. 360-9400)

- single smooth cutaway hollow body, laminated spruce top, laminated flamed maple back and sides, two f-holes, body and neck binding, three-piece flamed maple neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with 12th fret ebony inlay, three-per-side Schall...

BENEDETTO GUITARS 1000B Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS 1000B

- offset double cutaway poplar body, bolt-on rock maple neck, 34 in. scale, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, graphite/teflon nut, 4-on-a-side Grover mini tuners, chrome hardware, Gotoh GEB-204C bridge, P/J-style Select by EMG pickups, volume/t...

BENEDETTO GUITARS 1000S Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS 1000S

- offset double cutaway poplar body, bolt-on rock maple neck, 25.5 in. scale, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, graphite/teflon nut, 6-on-a-side Grover mini tuners, chrome hardware, Gotoh GE-1055T fulcrum tremolo, 3 Select by EMG single coil pi...

BENEDETTO GUITARS BENNY (NO. 360-9000) Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS BENNY (NO. 360-9000)

single cutaway mahogany body with routed tone chambers, carved spruce top, set-in mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard with a single abalone inlay at the 12th fret, three-per-side tuners, gold plated hardware, Leo Quan Badass bridge, two custom...

BENEDETTO GUITARS BAMBINO Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS BAMBINO

- single sharp hollowbody archtop, laminated maple top, back, and sides, W/B/W top and back body binding, American maple neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with 12th fret abalone floral inlay, bound headstock with black overlay and logo,...

BENEDETTO GUITARS 1000T Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS 1000T

- similar to the 1000S, except features a single cutaway poplar body, Gotoh GTC-301C bridge, single coil/humbucker Select by EMG pickups, 3-way selector switch.

BENEDETTO GUITARS 3000T Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS 3000T

- similar to the 3000S, except features a single cutaway poplar body, Gotoh GTC-301B bridge, single coil/humbucker Select by EMG pickups, 3-way selector switch.

BENEDETTO GUITARS 3000B Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS 3000B

- similar to the 1000B, except features black headstock, black chrome hardware, available in Black, Red, Taxi Yellow, or White Durocoat finish, mfg. 1986-87.

BENEDETTO GUITARS AMERICANA Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS AMERICANA

- single smooth cutaway hollow body, carved American or European spruce top, carved curly or flamed maple back and sides, two bound f-holes, multi-ply body binding, flamed maple neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with 12th fret abalone d...

BENEDETTO GUITARS Bambino Deluxe Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS Bambino Deluxe

- similar to the Bambino, except has a laminated flame maple top, two swooping sound openings, multi-ply W/B/W body, fingerboard, and headstock binding, and gold hardware, available in Natural or Honey Blonde finish, current mfg.

BENEDETTO GUITARS Benny Deluxe Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS Benny Deluxe

- similar to the Benny, except has multi-ply W/B/W body, fingerboard, and headstock binding, an ebony bridge, an ebony tailpiece, an ebony pickguard, and a single B-6 black covered pickup, available in Honey Blonde or Natural with Espresso...

BENEDETTO GUITARS BAMBINO ELITE Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS BAMBINO ELITE

- single sharp hollowbody archtop, carved select spruce top, carved select curly or quilted maple back, solid select curly or quilted maple sides, flamed maple neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with 12th fret abalone floral inlay, black heads...

BENEDETTO GUITARS ANDY MODEL Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS ANDY MODEL

- single sharp cutaway 3/4-sized hollow body, carved hand-graduated select spruce top, carved hand-graduated maple back and sides, two unbound f-holes, maple neck, 20-fret ebony fingerboard, three-per-side Grover Mini-Rotomatic tuners, ebon...

BENEDETTO GUITARS BRAVO ELITE Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS BRAVO ELITE

- single smooth cutaway hollowbody archtop, carved select spruce top, carved select curly or quilted maple back, solid select curly or quilted maple sides, flamed maple neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with 12th fret abalone floral inlay, bl...

BENEDETTO GUITARS FRATELLO (NO. 395-9500) Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS FRATELLO (NO. 395-9500)

- single smooth cutaway hollow body, carved hand-graduated spruce top, carved hand-graduated flamed maple back and sides, two bound f-holes, body and neck binding, three-piece flamed maple neck, 21-fret ebony fingerboard with...

BENEDETTO GUITARS LA VENEZIA (NO. 395-9800) Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS LA VENEZIA (NO. 395-9800)

- single smooth cutaway hollow body, carved hand-graduated spruce top, carved hand-graduated flamed maple back and sides, two f-holes, three-piece flamed maple neck, 21-fret ebony fingerboard, three-per-side Schaller mini tun...

BENEDETTO GUITARS MANHATTAN (NO. 395-9600) Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS MANHATTAN (NO. 395-9600)

- single smooth cutaway hollow body, carved hand-graduated spruce top, carved hand-graduated flamed maple back and sides, two f-holes, body and neck binding, three-piece flamed maple neck, 21-fret ebony fingerboard with 12th...

BENEDETTO GUITARS PAT MARTINO SIGNATURE MODEL Image

BENEDETTO GUITARS PAT MARTINO SIGNATURE MODEL

- single sharp cutaway chambered mahogany solidbody, carved maple (Black finish) or flame maple (Autumnburst finish) top, five-ply W/B/W/B/W body binding, mahogany neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with 12th fret abalone floral inlay, t...