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2003 Benedetto Manhattan
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Serial#: C10001, Benedetto signed label
Body size at lower bout: 17" Body Depth: 3" Scale length: 25" Nut: 1 3/4"
Finish: Antique burst finish, nitrocellulose lacquer type.
Materials: Solid bookmatched handcarved fine grain European spruce top; handcarved European fiddleback maple back and sides; three piece tiger flame maple neck; solid ebony fingerboard; pearl headstock logo; ebony truss rod cover; 13-ply body binding; 9-ply neck and headstock binding; 5 ply bound f-holes; solid bone nut.
Hardware: Hardware includes solid ebony tailpiece, finger rest and volume knob; gold Schaller tuners with ebony keys; compensated adjustable ebony bridge, Kent Armstrong Handwound PAF 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.
A full-depth X-braced instrument, the Manhattan shows superbly figured European fiddleback flame maple, deftly bookmatched in a symmetrical chevron figure. The neck is carved from dramatic tiger maple as well and the tap-tuned top is hand-graduated of fine grained European spruce. The extravagant multiply binding (13 plies on the body, 9 on the fingerboard, 5 on the soundholes!) is virtually unheard of on modern guitars, and is comparable in our experience to only a few vintage Strombergs and Epiphones.
The voice is warm and focused, and the box retains a rich acoustic response that's transmitted faithfully to the amp. With impeccable medium jumbo fretwork, the gentle D profile neck neck sits effortlessly in the hand, with action is soft as melted butter. This example is in superb condition, with all original finish free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from a few incidental lacquer nicks and a small finish check near the tailpiece, invisible from all but a certain angle, the instrument shows few signs of play altogether.
With a new price of $20K, and a substantial wait, small wonder few Manhattans owners are willing to part with these beauties. A spectacular creation from the most celebrated contemporary maker of the jazz guitar, this instrument is a rare find indeed on the vintage market. 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 deluxe black alligator arched plush hardshell case.
