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2006 Benedetto Frank Vignola Model

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Serial#: 173, Bob Benedetto signed Corona, CA label

Body size at lower bout: 15 3/4" Body Depth: 3 5/8" Scale length: 25" Nut: 1 3/4"

Finish: Violin sunburst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.

Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved fine grain Sitka spruce top; handcarved mahogany back and sides; one-piece mahogany neck; solid ebony fingerboard; gold headstock logo; ebony truss rod cover; 5-ply tortoise body binding; tortoise bound f-holes; solid graphite nut.

Hardware: Hardware includes solid ebony artist logo tailpiece, ebony finger rest with Stealth thumbwheel controls; black Schaller tuners with ebony knobs; compensated adjustable ebony bridge, Benedetto S-6 humbucking pickup, endpin jack.

Notes: He wrote the book on archtop guitar building. Literally. The most influential jazz guitar builder of the late 20th century, Bob Benedetto almost single-handedly jump-started the contemporary revival of fine handbuilt archtop guitars, and his client roster is an A-list of the topmost echelon of jazz guitar talent. Many of Benedetto's design concepts have been adopted as benchmarks, and an entire generation of today's top-tier builders count themselves as students or disciples.

Concord recording artist Frank Vignola has played with a unusually diverse roster of performers from Wynton Marsalis to David Grisman and Mark O'Connor. A key player in the revival of acoustic jazz guitar, Vignola's repertoire runs from bebop to gypsy jazz and beyond. Fusing traditional archtop construction with Macafferri style design, the Benedetto Frank Vignola model is every bit as versatile as its namesake. The tap tuned bookmatched Sitka spruce top and straight grained carved mahogany back and sides are conventionally arched, over a body contour reminiscent of the powerful Favino guitars favored by Django and his contemporaries. Distinctive touches abound, including the hybrid cateye soundholes, rich tortoise binding, and streamlined ebony bridge with Selmer touches.

The voice combines the punch and projection of the gypsy guitar with the warmth and depth of the classic American archtop. Feather light and responsive, the FV weighs in just a hair over 5lb. altogether. With impeccable medium jumbo fretwork, the gentle C profile neck neck sits effortlessly in the hand, with action is soft as melted butter. Built in a handful of numbers in a very short run, the Vignola Model is unfortunately no longer obtainable, making it an instant classic. Indeed, this immaculate example is the only vintage FV we've seen on the market, and is in virtually unplayed condition, with all original tags and paperwork. And at less than half the cost of the original list price, this guitar is an exceptional value as well. One only: please call for an in-hand preview.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel roundwound strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at .070 "-.080" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original plush hardshell case.