Benedetto Bambino

**fabiansey** · 03-19-2016, 12:58 PM

wonderful guitar. I own a Bravo model with espresso back and sides- love the way the colour changes due to different light conditions.

Enjoy it

**Stringswinger** · 03-19-2016, 01:08 PM

Congrats. While I think Benedettos sell for too much money new (as do Gibsons), used they are a good value and I think they are exceptionally good jazz guitars. May it inspire your playing for many years to come!

**Max405** · 03-19-2016, 02:33 PM

Congratulations!
its a big deal when you get a Benedetto. Very cool JSanta.
Sorry about the carpal tunnel. Six strings and a Benedetto are real nice to fall back on.
thanks for Sharing.
Joe D

**JSanta** · 03-19-2016, 04:20 PM

I paid almost half the new price. Honestly even after a couple of days I understand why people love these guitars. I've never played something with a nicer neck or better attention to detail.

**JSanta** · 03-20-2016, 12:54 PM

My wife informed me last night that I am playing terribly because of not practicing jazz for nearly a year

Love that I can practice for a good long while without my hand being distressed. The issue had been playing chord melodies. Transitioning to a C6 in the 7th position was really difficult for me in the wider neck, and the narrow spacing and D shaped neck on the Benedetto have helped immensely. Still quite rusty on my part, but it felt good to hear a few of my favorite tunes coming out of a guitar again.

**citizenk74** · 03-20-2016, 01:14 PM

Your experience shows the importance of getting the ergonomics right. Finding the perfect fit for one's individual hands, holding the instrument at the optimum angle, correct positioning, etc. can really improve the whole guitaring experience. So glad you found "the one".

**JSanta** · 03-22-2016, 08:03 AM

It's incredible how a little bit of a different neck and smaller body size have helped. Love this guitar though. I have gone down to my office a few times and just opened the case just to make sure it wasn't all a dream!

**feet** · 03-22-2016, 01:05 PM

i was unaware espresso had that kind of variation to it. i was always a wine red guy (claret, i think he calls it) but that is pretty neat, i gotta say. i always figured it was a very dark brown, which i still think is pretty cool, in a kind of 70s, walnut sort of way.

**JSanta** · 03-23-2016, 07:38 AM

It really depends on the light from what I can tell, which I really like. I need to get a few pictures outside with it soon (maybe tonight) and see how it photographs in natural lighting.

**Jay K** · 03-19-2018, 10:45 PM

I have noticed Benedetto has his own shop but for a few years oversaw production of his archtops at the Fender Custom Shop in Corona, CA (the headstocks had, however, his name, not Fender's, on them). Any thoughts on how his guitars built at the Fender Custom Shop compare to the ones he is now building (or those built since the Custom Shop days)?

**iim7V7IM7** · 03-20-2018, 12:08 PM

After >30 years of making guitars, Bob closed his private luthier shop doors in 1999 when he signed the deal with Fender. From 2000-2005 he supervised the production of some Fender Custom shop and Guild models. In 2006 he started the current small shop company with Howard Paul (and later some other investors) in Savannah, GA. By small shop, I mean a team of specialists who are trained to do specific tasks supervised by Bob. They started out with a hybrid direct and dealer network distribution model for their instruments. I believe in 2012 (could be off a year or so), they moved to a direct to consumer sales model. Bob around the same time became less involved with the day to day operation of the business. Damon Mailand who was trained by Bob as an employee is now the shop supervisor overseeing day to day operations. He lives near Ocala, FL about 4-hours south of Savannah, GA. Bob pretty much signs labels at this point. Benedetto Guitars is a fine small shop guitar manufacturer of archtop guitars. I believe they make about 100 guitars a year at this point. Bob has progressed from luthier to being a consultant to supervisor to to today being the inspiration and figurehead namesake of a company that bears his name.

**Stringswinger** · 03-20-2018, 12:14 PM

This is a very accurate explanation. I have played Benedetto Guitars made by Bob, and also those made by Fender/Guild and the Savannah team. All have been quality guitars, but the ones actually made by Bob have been the best.

**SierraTango** · 03-20-2018, 01:34 PM

Agreed. I have rhapsodized (do I hear a rhapsody?) on these pages many times regarding my 1990 Benedetto Cremona. IMHO Bob really hit his stride as a builder (on his own) from the late 80's up to the Fender deal. One issue many prospective buyers forget-during that period most if not all of his guitars were built to order. That being the case, the individual player may have requested something he sought out of the instrument that he wanted-and that might be a turn off to someone down the line.

Again IMHO: Bob's forte is/was carved archtop guitars. As such, he is/was at the top of the hierarchy of archtop builders. And as mentioned, many of the downstream builders were trained by him. In my experience the laminated products: Bravo, Bambino, etc I have played were wonderful, however there are lots of other products in that sector that are excellent as well.

My girl gets gigged out, makes me able to express my music to the fullest potential, and seems to be enjoyed by those that are listening. Even non-players ask what type of guitar I'm playing. Of course, many are complementing the beauty of the instrument itself. And that's just fine by me.

**neatomic** · 06-13-2020, 07:16 PM

very interesting comparison, between two similar benedetto models...benny vs pat martino sig...major differences being slight scale difference, tops-maple vs spruce...but the main thing is strings...heavy flats vs lighter rounds

i prefer the heavy flats... they are not half as dark sounding as when pat plays