Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Price

[Stringswinger]

A big consideration for me would be scale length. Benedetto uses a 25 inch scale length with is quite comfortable and warm sounding. The Guild Benedetto guitars (Artist Award, Johnny Smith Award and X-700 models) had Guild's 25 5/8 scale. I owned two Guild Benedetto Artist Awards and sold both. One was too quiet acoustically and both were just not as comfortable as my Gibson and D'Angelico archtops, so away they went.

[jads57]

Actually the one I once tried out was a very good Archtop.
It did have a different feel from the Gibson J.S.
And it had some of the Benedetto DNA, for lack of a better description.

[andrew]

The point may be moot as the guitar in question is showing as “sold”

Benedetto/Guild Manhattan Archtop Guitar #16 - Used

[Cunamara]

A zombie thread start another one.

I seem to be in the minority about this. I prefer reanimating zombie threads because then the entire set of information is contained within it, rather than having to search and read through eight threads with largely duplicative information. It does occasionally lead to asking questions of members who are no longer involved in the forum for one reason or another, but that is easily addressed by the active members.

[WarmTubeTone]

The point may be moot as the guitar in question is showing as “sold”

Benedetto/Guild Manhattan Archtop Guitar #16 - Used

Ahhhh, you velly, velly smart grasshoppa.
Yes, for better or worse, I have already purchased it.
I didn't want that bit of information to color the responses (although something tells me I don't need to worry about that).
Yes, I saw the guitar and knew it wasn't something you see often. Plus, I have always wanted a Benedetto. No, Bob probably didn't touch this guitar (maybe he did...?); regardless, his name is on headstock!
I am impressed with the quality of the build. It's a 17" beast. And the Manhattan, along with the Henrickson, are giving me that warm tone I like.
For now, it's still the honeymoon.
Thanks for all the opinions. The amount of knowledge by the members is incredible.
I learn something new from every thread.

[58flame]

Ahhhh, you velly, velly smart grasshoppa.
Yes, for better or worse, I have already purchased it.
I didn't want that bit of information to color the responses (although something tells me I don't need to worry about that).
Yes, I saw the guitar and knew it wasn't something you see often. Plus, I have always wanted a Benedetto. No, Bob probably didn't touch this guitar (maybe he did...?); regardless, his name is on headstock!
I am impressed with the quality of the build. It's a 17" beast. And the Manhattan, along with the Henrickson, are giving me that warm tone I like.
For now, it's still the honeymoon.
Thanks for all the opinions. The amount of knowledge by the members is incredible.
I learn something new from every thread.

What’s the neck shape like on the Manhattan?

[WarmTubeTone]

What’s the neck shape like on the Manhattan?

i'm not the best at spitting out exact details/specs and i never think about neck size, but you got me wondering. so, i went to each of my guitars (taylor, joe pass, comins gcs 16-1, tele) and the neck on the manhattan is easily the most D shaped but is very rounded off... it's also the most comfortable. i haven't found anything i don't like. but it's early.
the SoundPure website said it had gotoh tuners but i just noticed (didn't know the various logos), after much googling, that they are schaller tuners made in germany... read the entire history... and it made sense they are schallers because fender switched to schallers early on and this benetto manhattan was built in corona,ca in the fender custom shop.

[58flame]

i'm not the best at spitting out exact details/specs and i never think about neck size, but you got me wondering. so, i went to each of my guitars (taylor, joe pass, comins gcs 16-1, tele) and the neck on the manhattan is easily the most D shaped but is very rounded off... it's also the most comfortable. i haven't found anything i don't like. but it's early.
the SoundPure website said it had gotoh tuners but i just noticed (didn't know the various logos), after much googling, that they are schaller tuners made in germany... read the entire history... and it made sense they are schallers because fender switched to schallers early on and this benetto manhattan was built in corona,ca in the fender custom shop.

Thank you. Learning the neck is D shaped makes me want one even more.

[floatingpickup]

First of all, welcome to the forum! It's easy to start a new thread, just look on the left side of the screen and check the box that says start new thread.
You will find lots of experienced, fine players here and some helpful advice. Hopefully you read through this older previous posting and got some assistance.

I will shed some light here from personal memories of the Guild/Benedetto era, being the owner/caretaker of a magnificent 1990 Benedetto Cremona built by Bob. It is my working guitar and I gig out with it.

I was at NAMM when the Fender/Guild/Benedetto line was introduced. They had a very large display, and Steve Stern had a workstation set up and was demonstrating hand carving of a top plate. Bob and Cindy were both there and offering details. IIRC, the models that were carried over from Bob's line like the Manhattan were simply called Benedetto Manhattans. The Guilds that he "redesigned" were called Guild Benedetto models, including the JS and X700. Honestly, I played a few and was underwhelmed. They were absolutely beautiful but just didn't have the magic, secret sauce of the guitars Bob built on his own. I do recall that they were poor sellers and for a short time dealers were selling them at least half off MSRP. Nothing at all wrong with guitars, just not stellar like MOST of the Bob builds.

If you are serious about one of these instruments, forum member That Rhythm Man has a Manhattan from that era on his website. Since Sound Pure is in NC and he is in SC, I would take the time to play both and decide which was the winner before dropping 11K.

2003 Benedetto Manhattan #17 - Opulent Brown | thatrhythmman

I was also at NAMM when Bob and Cindy were there with Guild, debuting the new Guild/Benedetto models. Like Sierra Tango, I also own an original Benedetto built by Bob in the late 1980’s. I actually thought the Guild versions were quite nice. They looked fabulous and I remember they played and sounded good to me. I wasn’t able to A/B them with my original Benedetto, but I didn’t get the feeling that they were inferior. Perhaps a little different, but still very nice guitars. I did notice that they didn’t sell as well as expected and there were some pretty good deals on them over the next few years. Congratulations on the purchase. I think you will get a lot of enjoyment out of the guitar.
Keith

[2bornot2bop]

Zombie thread, yes. But it’s kinda nice seeing one of your early threads bumped to remind you of the days when you were kinda new around here.

[WarmTubeTone]

I was also at NAMM when Bob and Cindy were there with Guild, debuting the new Guild/Benedetto models. Like Sierra Tango, I also own an original Benedetto built by Bob in the late 1980’s. I actually thought the Guild versions were quite nice. They looked fabulous and I remember they played and sounded good to me. I wasn’t able to A/B them with my original Benedetto, but I didn’t get the feeling that they were inferior. Perhaps a little different, but still very nice guitars. I did notice that they didn’t sell as well as expected and there were some pretty good deals on them over the next few years. Congratulations on the purchase. I think you will get a lot of enjoyment out of the guitar.
Keith

Thank you for those memories. That's rarified air you were breathing. I would love to hang out at NAMM with Bob.

I also appreciate SierraTango's
comments. I live in a jazz desert (very west end of Galveston Island) so I really can't go play a vast array of archtops. Houston is an hour and a half away but still, not a lot of archtops lurking around.

Thanks again guys. I appreciate your honest feedback.

Also, thought it was interesting that thatrhythmman's Manhattan is #17, mine is #16.
And... is Sierra Tango a pilot?

Have any of you attended the jazz "camps" that Bruno and Vignola (not sure of all the brass) put forth?
I've thought about attending, maybe learn a new chord extension.

[58flame]

I want to know if anyone here got this. It was for sale for 2 days.


Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Award Archtop Guitar (2005)
– Elderly Instruments

[SierraTango]

I was also at NAMM when Bob and Cindy were there with Guild, debuting the new Guild/Benedetto models. Like Sierra Tango, I also own an original Benedetto built by Bob in the late 1980’s. I actually thought the Guild versions were quite nice. They looked fabulous and I remember they played and sounded good to me. I wasn’t able to A/B them with my original Benedetto, but I didn’t get the feeling that they were inferior. Perhaps a little different, but still very nice guitars. I did notice that they didn’t sell as well as expected and there were some pretty good deals on them over the next few years. Congratulations on the purchase. I think you will get a lot of enjoyment out of the guitar.
Keith

I didn't think the new Benedetto/Guild line was inferior-it was that all the Benedettos I had played up to that point (Including Jimmy Bruno's and Ron Eshete's) had been around for 10 or so years and were really played in. They felt like your favorite pair of Levi's and these at NAMM were all new guitars. Not a fair playground.
During that NAMM week Jimmy Bruno played solo at the Jazz Bakery. He performed brilliantly on a new X700 and sounded fantastic. Old saw about Indian vs. Arrow.

To the OP, I totally agree with Keith you will get miles of smiles from your new Manhattan. Congrats on your acquisition. If you follow the forum I think you will find two camps and opinions on Benedetto guitars. I'm firmly in the Benedetto camp and as mentioned I play out with it, it's never failed to bring the goods.

The only thing I pilot is Italian Sportbikes. The Sierra Tango handle comes from my location in the Sierra foothills of CA combined with "Sport Touring"

Please post pictures of your new baby!

[WarmTubeTone]

the new additions, complete with amp case.
that is a savage looking bike!

[ScotStirling]

I believe I may have purchased that guitar ?? it is magnificent.

Actually, I purchased that specific guitar from Grinning Elk, and corresponded with Patrick about it several times (I bought it after he described it & expressed regret at letting it go, and Grinning Elk still had it). It's an unbelievably fine guitar.

[jads57]

Wow those are some high priced guitars overall on That Rhythm Man website! Maybe I’m crazy,but Reverb and some people are dreaming asking inflated prices in todays economic realities?

Im glad to be corrected if I’m out of touch!

[213Cobra]

Wow those are some high priced guitars overall on That Rhythm Man website! Maybe I’m crazy,but Reverb and some people are dreaming asking inflated prices in todays economic realities?

Im glad to be corrected if I’m out of touch!

I think Chuck's listing prices are almost always in the realm of reason relative to the value of a given guitar, but his inventory includes some prized instruments. The buying audience for vintage and newer, out-of-production branded archtops is not representative of the general population. I can't say about Chuck, but on Reverb, I think most sellers expect to field offers 10%-15% below asking prices and negotiate. Some of the better-connected shops have their price and that's it. But even Reverb sellers I've dealt with who did not include a "Make Offer" button have been receptive to small-discount haggling via messaging. The experienced shops know their market and include the anticipated carrying cost of time-to-sale in their asking prices. What I don't understand is the somewhat-high-but-not-outlandish-priced listings that I find on Reverb having been listed for four, five, six, eight, nine years. That just isn't sensible for anyone. The market is saying "nope," so why bother offering the guitar for sale? Compared to the COVID and immediate-post-COVID years, the market for used archtops seems to have slowed, though I don't know how much. But some dealers seem to still be doing well, regardless.

Phil

[skykomishone]

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a guitar from TRM. I have. He has more knowledge about archtops than the sum of that in the Reverb universe, and is a solid buy. If he says something about the guitar, you can put it in the bank. Buying a guitar without being able to play it depends on trust. He's solid. And price is between buyer and seller. Knowledge is important in the transaction.