480-299-3790
Benedetto Guitars
1988 Custom 16” Built for Martin Taylor
Priceless
Artistic Guitars is proud to have a Custom 16” Benedetto that was built for Martin Taylor in 1988. This was Martin Taylor’s personal guitar, used for performances and recording around the world. The case tells the story of a well-traveled professional. This instrument was featured on the cover of his CD “Portraits” and used on this album, as well as many of his recordings with the Stephane Grapelli Quartet with Jack Sewing (bass), Marc Fosset (nylon string guitar) and himself.
Based on specs similar to a Manhattan, Martin’s 16” Custom had a European Spruce top, and European maple sides and back. It was x-braced. Pickguard and the violin tailpiece are of ebony with the backside of the headstock of burled walnut. The binding is ivoroid with BWBWB purfling. The instrument also features a Mimesis pickup system pioneered by UK-based luthier Mike Vanden consisting of a Benedetto S6 floating magnetic pickup made by Kent Armstrong, a DPA microphone located under the pickguard , and an external blend control.
I asked Bob about this feature and he had this to say:
“I remember discussing with Martin the possibility of including a transducer pickup blended with the floating humbucker. I believe that I originally used a Gibson BJB pickup, then some time after Martin got the guitar, I started having Kent Armstrong make my S6. I sent one to Martin.”
Martin Taylor then had Mike Vanden replace the original BJB with the S6 and install the DPA microphone under the pickguard. Martin preferred the clearer sound of the Mimesis system.
The guitar is a joy to play. The neck profile is wide and narrow, along the lines of the Gibson “Johnny Smith” profile that Bob was using in his earlier years. For a 16” instrument the acoustic projection and bass response is very good, with a nice woody response.
Simply awesome…
