New Guitar Day - ‘90 Benedetto Cremona

[AKA]

There is a story behind my purchase of this instrument that I noted in a related “PSA - For Sale” post. It’s one of those “full circle” tales that I won’t repeat here. But, I wanted to post these photos I snapped this morning.

I will say that though I’ve purchased a number of instruments over the years, I never considered myself a collector, or a hoarder. I’ve always pursued playability, tone and craftsmanship. I’ve let go of some really nice instruments over the years as a result of that pursuit.

So, hopefully this is “the one”.

AKA

[skiboyny]

Beautiful! Among the very best enjoy!

[Jabberwocky]

Congratulations. It is like someone lay the bottle aside and did the slow fine maturation for you. After 33 years, it is ripe for the drinking.

I had a chance in 1989 to order a Cremona from Bob but dawdled. I still have his price list in my box of memorabilia. I will look for it and post it someday.

[jazzshrink]

Simply beautiful, with a special beauty in its simplicity. Congrats and enjoy!

[QAman]

Albert,
A stunning example from Bob’s golden period. A big congrats!


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[Stringswinger]

I am gonna need a cigarette after viewing those pictures and I have not smoked in 30 years!

May she inspire your playing for many years to come.

[Sleeko]

That binding!

[AKA]

I am gonna need a cigarette after viewing those pictures and I have not smoked in 30 years!

May she inspire your playing for many years to come.

Stringswinger,

You know, I never smoked but I think I will join you!!

Albert

[SierraTango]

I'll take a fine cigar and a glass of Barolo please.
I'm so pleased to have another member of the 90 Cremona club-that makes two of us, which is the limit as Bob only built two Cremonas
that year. If I assisted in some small way with my PSA post I'm over the Moon happy for you.
Enjoy each note to the fullest!

[AKA]

I'll take a fine cigar and a glass of Barolo please.
I'm so pleased to have another member of the 90 Cremona club-that makes two of us, which is the limit as Bob only built two Cremonas
that year. If I assisted in some small way with my PSA post I'm over the Moon happy for you.
Enjoy each note to the fullest!

SierraTango - I’ll definitely join you with the cigar and Barolo!! And yes, this is all your fault

Albert

[wintermoon]

I'm not sure I've ever seen that many plies of f hole binding in my life. I think it's 9 but I got too dizzy counting.
Enjoy that one Albert!

[mikeSF]

Gorgeous. Use these powers for good.

[2bornot2bop]

Congratulations AKA, and nice pad too!!!

[Zigracer]

Absolutely beautiful! I bet it sounds better than it looks.

[AKA]

Simply beautiful, with a special beauty in its simplicity. Congrats and enjoy!

Well, it just became even simpler. Bob Benedetto noted that this guitar appeared in Plate 23 in the Thomas Van Hoose “Super 400” book. When I took a look I noted that, typical of the Cremona model, there were no fingerboard inlays. He further noted that they differed from his style of inlays and speculated they had to have been added post delivery to the original owner. After a little sleuthing I found they were ultra thin applied overlays that I was able to successfully remove without any indication they had ever been there. So much for my ability to tell real MOP from a picture.?

[wintermoon]

very interesting, I never even noticed them before.
mucho better sans.....

[QAman]

I hope that mop "inlays" were not part of your attraction to the guitar.

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[SierraTango]

According to Bob's book, they could be ordered with or without the split block inlays. I wondered about that when I first saw the photos on Eric's site. To me, it looks great either way!

My 90 has the pictured inlays.

[AKA]

I hope that mop "inlays" were not part of your attraction to the guitar.

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No. My original interest was in commissioning his La Venezia model - no bindings, inlays, etc. That was his pure acoustic sound machine with the beauty flowing from the unadorned natural woods.

When I saw this instrument I thought the inlays looked a little “different” from his standard design, but decided I could live with it. Bob was greatly relieved when I told him I found they were overlays, joking about his memory maybe not being as sharp as it once was.

Albert

[AKA]

According to Bob's book, they could be ordered with or without the split block inlays. I wondered about that when I first saw the photos on Eric's site. To me, it looks great either way!

I agree. Had I not seen the photo in the Super 400 book I would’ve never known.

AKA

[wintermoon]

I don't mind the ones on ST's guitar but the ones on yours were odd, and not even applied symmetrically.

[AKA]

I don't mind the ones on ST's guitar but the ones on yours were odd, and not even applied symmetrically.

Correct. I spoke to the gentleman who added them and he noted that he just couldn’t adjust to not having the position references when playing it.

I have to laugh at myself because I examined them and marveled that whoever had “cut them in” had done such a neat job

AKA

[SierraTango]

I also wondered if the pickup was added later. Around that time Bob was installing Bartolini floaters. I don't think the pickups with the Benedetto embossed logo produced by Seymor Duncan came in until later.
No matter the SD's are excellent as are the Bartolini.

[wintermoon]

Correct. I spoke to the gentleman who added them and he noted that he just couldn’t adjust to not having the position references when playing it.

I have to laugh at myself because I examined them and marveled that whoever had “cut them in” had done such a neat job

AKA

does it have side dots?

[AKA]

does it have side dots?

Yes. He noted that because of the manner he holds the instrument when playing he cannot see the side dots.