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Saw him on Frank Vignola's guitar night. Playing a small Benedetto with f-holes and a light finish. I'm interested in what model that is. I'd like a smaller jazz guitar.
I'm not familiar with Rodney Jones so much. He's really a terrific player and teaches at Juilliard.
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07-04-2024 02:35 AM
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In an interview I saw he's holding a blonde Benedetto Bambino Deluxe. Sharp end f-holes.
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Thanks!
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The Bambino Deluxe is a nice guitar. I own one. The Benedetto website has more details on the model, and on Jones and others who play that model. It's a fully hollow laminated archtop, ~15" lower bout width, FWIW.
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Back in 2007, a Finnish retailer returned from NAMM with a contract with Benedetto, plus a Bravo and a Bambino Deluxe for starters. That's how far they got, as 99.999% of my compatriots had never heard of Benedetto. I had been sleeping with Bob Benedetto's "Making an archtop guitar" under my pillow and was torn between the two. Settled for the Bravo which was more of an archtop and just about perfect for my needs. Arriving in dry Finnish winter climate, the Bambino had already developed a heel crack. On mine (#54 from Savannah), it appeared a few months later. Hail to superglue and cellulose dope, it disappeared right away and hasn't returned. Scanning the inside with an endoscope reveals a clinically clean build. The Bravo is all the guitar I'd ever need. Alas, an ES-175 1959 VOS reissue from 2014 has more personality, and so has my '99 Emperor Regent. Anyone in EU interested in a mint 2011 Tal Farlow? I rescued it from wrong hands a couple of years ago but have no use for it.
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Thanks much. Have you ever played a normal Bambino? Would you have any comments on the electrified sound of each? Feedback sensitivity?
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I've owned both. I sold the regular Bambino. I just didn't need two guitars so similar, and the buyer preferred the regular Bambino because of the cost difference. I didn't find a lot of difference in the amplified sound, but the Deluxe does seem to have a little more treble, probably because of the combination of having only one pickup and sound holes. A small adjustment of the tone controls, either on the amp or the guitar, cancels out any sound difference that I can hear. If a bridge pickup is important to you, then the regular Bambino is the obvious choice. I seldom use a bridge pickup, so the Deluxe is fine with me. I probably would have preferred to sell the Deluxe, because it would have been more money in my pocket, but it was certainly not a strong preference. A regular Bambino would presumably be a little more feedback resistant because of the bridge pickup and no sound holes, but I've never had any feedback issues with either. The relatively thin laminated body, and the smaller size compared to many other archtops, both tend to minimize feedback. I suppose I could drive the Deluxe into feedback if I really wanted to, but it's not something that's part of my repertoire.
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Thanks very much. That's very helpful. I would prefer not to have a treble pickup. I might ask you if they could make me a Bambino with just the neck pickup. I'm planning to buy one when I retire in a year. But in my practice room I really have feedback problems, and based on your reply it sounds like I would be happy with the tone of the Bambino as much as with the Deluxe.
Originally Posted by sgosnell
I've owned both. I sold the regular Bambino. I just didn't need two guitars so similar, and the buyer preferred the regular Bambino because of the cost difference. I didn't find a lot of difference in the amplified sound, but the Deluxe does seem to have a little more treble, probably because of the combination of having only one pickup and sound holes. A small adjustment of the tone controls, either on the amp or the guitar, cancels out any sound difference that I can hear. If a bridge pickup is important to you, then the regular Bambino is the obvious choice. I seldom use a bridge pickup, so the Deluxe is fine with me. I probably would have preferred to sell the Deluxe, because it would have been more money in my pocket, but it was certainly not a strong preference. A regular Bambino would presumably be a little more feedback resistant because of the bridge pickup and no sound holes, but I've never had any feedback issues with either. The relatively thin laminated body, and the smaller size compared to many other archtops, both tend to minimize feedback. I suppose I could drive the Deluxe into feedback if I really wanted to, but it's not something that's part of my repertoire.
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They are very similar guitars. Benedetto can customize almost any model, provided you have the money. They don't show an option for a single pickup Bambino, but you can ask. I've found them to be very responsive to questions. To me the biggest advantage of the Bambino over the Deluxe is the price, with the Bambino being much cheaper. The lead time is listed as 10 months or so, so be aware of that. Bambinos of both types often show up on Bob's Boutique, though, so if you can accept a standard model you may be able to get one immediately.
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Well I play 7 string, and it seems seven string guitars are going the way of the dinosaur so that's unlikely. Thanks for all of the info. Originally Posted by sgosnell
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Benedetto will build a 7-string for almost any model. I don't think they build many other than custom orders, but you can see. It will certainly be more reliable to order one. You never know what will turn up on Bob's Boutique. They post extra instruments built on spec, as well as some built to order but not delivered for whatever reason. If I were in the market, I would keep an eye on it, just in case.
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I'm just now getting around to watching that set, and I had forgotten the customization Jones has on his Deluxe. The inlays are not standard. I've seen a few Benedettos with block inlays, and they were all custom made for an artist. AFAIK they want the inlays for teaching, so students can see which frets are being used. I have guitars with all sorts of inlays, from block to none, and I don't find that they make any difference to me, but I can understand the benefit for someone teaching others. I don't know what the upcharge for block inlays is, but I would think it's probably substantial.
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I prefer dots, because there are two at the 12th and sometimes I can see the fingerboard dots. Mainly I rely on the dots along the top so it's not a big deal. Good eye. Originally Posted by sgosnell
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If you don't know, standard Benedettos have no inlays at all, except for the small abalone figure around the 12th fret. Bob thought that was visually more pleasing than full inlays. It doesn't bother me, but it does seem to bother some. You may already know this.
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Yep I knew that, thanks. I spend a lot of time looking at Benedettos :-). Originally Posted by sgosnell
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So I own a Bambino Standard for a number of years now,and love it! I did end up replacing the pickups with less powerful PAF Manluis boutique ones. And put a B3 Bigsby and Wayne Compton aluminum cast bridge. These were to make it more versatile for other genres of music.And I still have the original parts to convert it back if I want.
I thought the Deluxe upgrade for over a $1 k and is less versatile and is only cosmetic in nature.So what is the point? Buy a used one and save some money!
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Well that raises a good question. Where in the world would somebody find a used Benedetto? I mean as a private sale. I guess there's Reverb but I'm not used to that. Plus I'm not very trustful of a purchase through Reverb. Originally Posted by jads57
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I've made numerous purchases off Reverb without any problem.Just buy from a reputable dealer or a seller with a good selling history.There's a Bambino on there now for $4,500 with a seller that has a good history.If you pay with Paypal and Credit Card you are more than protected between Reverb,Paypal and credit company. Originally Posted by voyage
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I bought mine here. I also sold the Bambino here, IIRC. I've been sort of thinking about selling my Deluxe, but not that seriously. Of course, anything I have is for sale for the right price.
Benedetto posts guitars for sale on Reverb now and then, usually the ones in Bob's Boutique, so it's not necessarily a bad place to buy. It can be difficult to tell the wheat from the chaff, though.
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I just searched the for sale back to May, and there was only one seven string archtop for sale, an Ibanez. I got my blonde Eastman Elite 2 years ago and that was the last year Eastman made 7 strings. I think seven strings are disappearing. I did buy a Schecter Jazz 7 on Reverb, that went well.
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I just pm'd you about this, I shouldn't have because I need 7 string. Originally Posted by sgosnell
I bought mine here. I also sold the Bambino here, IIRC. I've been sort of thinking about selling my Deluxe, but not that seriously. Of course, anything I have is for sale for the right price. Benedetto posts guitars for sale on Reverb now and then, usually the ones in Bob's Boutique, so it's not necessarily a bad place to buy. It can be difficult to tell the wheat from the chaff, though.
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No worries. I have a 7-string that I would be more than happy to sell. Not exactly an archtop, though. It's an Indonesian-made DeArmond SG copy that I bought on a whim for under $200 some years back.
I'll keep it ready in case you or anyone else is desperate for one. 
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SGs were my first three electric guitars in the previous millennium.
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