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Benedetto Guitars
Supreme #1 - Bob’s First 18” Guitar
Call for Pricing
Artistic Guitars is excited to offer this truly exceptional archtop. This guitar is the 18th Guitar made by Bob in 1978, Serial #1878. It is Bob’s 1st 18” and also the 1st Supreme Model made - the Benedetto Supreme #1.
While there has been a trend toward smaller guitars, I love the 18s. They are the true art of Archtop Guitar, where the Masters strutted their stuff and introduced the best that they could make. Bob hasn’t made many 18” guitars, less than 20.
This guitar was made for Bob’s first dealer and ultimately picked up by a fine customer in Scotland, who lovingly cared for it for almost 30 years.
In Bob’s words - “I used European maple back and sides and European spruce. The inset in the back is walnut left over from one of my father's cabinet jobs. The neck is also laminated with walnut and American maple. The headstock veneer is walnut also from my father's workbench. As you can see, at the time I was experimenting with F hole shape and placement. It's quite a piece”.
This one has a Bartolini floating pickup, as well as an added Vanden microphone pickup with blend system. The neck is beefy with a “D” contour. The 1&¾ nut allows good fingerstyle access. Very comfortable to play and hold, with really smooth bass, and perfect string-to-string balance.
The condition is excellent to near mint.
Finished in Blonde Nitrocellulose Lacquer
