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I have a 1989 Benedetto Fratello, built by Bob in Clearwater FL. I replaced the original pickup with one of the Benedetto-labeled Kent Armstrong mini humbuckers that Bob was using in the nineties. I am thinking about putting the original pickup back on the guitar again. I would really like to know more about it though. It looks like a Johnny Smith pickup with a black cover and a home-made looking flange which was glued to a piece of ebony on the back of the pickguard. I have seen all kinds of different pickups on early Benedetto’s, before he began using the smooth-top Kent Armstrong. I seem to remember Bob saying that he modified Gibson Johnny Smith pickups for a while back then. Does anyone know how to confirm this, or otherwise identify it? I attached a couple of photos.
Thanks,
Keith
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06-30-2021 02:36 PM
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Your easiest bet is to email Cindy Benedetto. She's incredible kind and knowledgeable and should be able to help you no problem.
https://benedettoguitarsarchives.com/contact/
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Man, that is one homemade looking pickup under the cover. The base plate, the galvanized sheet metal strap, the mounting flange, crude soldering, hacksawed off pole piece screws... Holy cow! And for all that it might sound great!
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Originally Posted by Cunamara
KeithLast edited by floatingpickup; 07-01-2021 at 07:18 AM.
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Originally Posted by JSanta
Keith
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My 1990 Benedetto Cremona has a Bartolini pickup. I think Bob installed those on many of his builds around that time. I have no reason to think it's not original to the guitar.
I'm happy with it and have no plans to change it out. I've spoken to Bob and he confirmed installing those pickups.
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Homemade ? Or adapted from a top mounting pickup to a floater, I think
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Originally Posted by SierraTango
Keith
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Originally Posted by fws6
Keith
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My first thought was Bartolini but most I've seen didn't have visible polepieces and had their name embossed. Maybe Bob ordered them that way.
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Originally Posted by wintermoon
Keith
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Originally Posted by floatingpickup
Good luck!
Mike
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Originally Posted by mikeSF
Thanks for the response to this old thread. I actually got in touch with Bob and he couldn’t recall, but thought it could have been a modified Gibson pickup. As you indicated, Bob said that he had to be creative in finding pickups in those days. Sometime in the mid-1990’s I replaced that “creative” one with the engraved Benedetto/Kent Armstrong floating pickup that Bob was using at that time. I left the KA on the guitar for the next 25 years or so. It sounded great but I do prefer adjustable pole pieces, which is why I started asking about the original pickup again in this thread. I ended up putting it back on the guitar and I am really pleased with it. It sounds excellent and I rather like the looks of it. I attached a picture of the guitar with the original pickup back on.
Thanks for the info!
Keith
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Originally Posted by floatingpickup
How would you describe the difference in tone switching back from the S6 to that mini Gibby?
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Originally Posted by mikeSF
Thanks. It really is a wonderful guitar. To be honest, I can’t say the tone seemed much different between the two pickups. My guitar has a tone control, so I was able to dial in a nice warm tone that sounded just right to me with both pickups. I recall that the KA was very nice, but it lacked adjustable pole pieces.
Keith
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My 1990 Cremona with the Bartolini pickup. It has a volume control but no tone control. I'm very happy the setup. I use my Evans JE 200 for tone control on gigs. Beautiful Fratello!
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Of all the floating pickups, I've always liked that Bartolini 5J the best. It sounded great on carved top Benedetto's and Eastmans I've put it on.
For mounted pickups, it's the Kent Armstrong adjustable pole PAF all the way for me - the best jazz tone i've gotten.
I don't know how to go about learning jazz anymore
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