Benedetto – Wiki

Robert Benedetto
Born	(1946-10-22) October 22, 1946 (age 66) The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Luthier

Robert Benedetto (born October 22, 1946 in The Bronx, New York) is an American luthier.

Robert Benedetto is widely acknowledged as today’s foremost maker of archtop guitars. Over a prolific career spanning nearly 5 decades (founded 1968), he has personally handcrafted nearly 800 instruments, including 500 archtops, and overseen production of another 2000 instruments under license to Fender Musical Instruments and in his manufacturing company Benedetto Guitars Incorporated.

Robert Benedetto was born October 22, 1946 in the Bronx, New York, into a family of artists, cabinet makers and musicians. His grandfather was the woodworker (leg carver) for Steinway & Sons Piano in New York. He made his first archtop guitar in 1968, using his family furniture to fashion the back and sides. By the 1970′s his reputation grew as he crafted guitars for noted players Bucky Pizzarelli, Chuck Wayne, Joe Diorio and Cal Collins, and later, Johnny Smith, Jack Wilkins, Ron Eschete, Martin Taylor, Howard Alden, John Pizzarelli, Andy Summers, Jimmy Bruno and Kenny Burrell (collectively known as “The Benedetto Players”). His guitars appear on countless recordings, TV & film soundtracks, in videos, books, magazines, museums (including the Smithsonian Institution) and concerts worldwide.

In 1975, Benedetto married Cindy. For over 30 years, Cindy has photographed and extensively documented Bob’s guitars and their players. In 1994, they published the landmark book, Making an Archtop Guitar, following it in 1996 with its companion video, Archtop Guitar Design & Construction. That same year, Cindy organized the Benedetto Players in Concert series. In 2004, Mel Bay Publications produced the acclaimed “Benedetto: Body and Soul” DVD, a biography by William Doyle.

From 1999 to 2006, Benedetto had a licensing agreement with Fender Musical Instruments to produce his models in a small, controlled manufacturing environment.

In 2006, Robert Benedetto ended his 7 year licensing agreement, so the model names and designs reverted to him, and he joined forces with Howard Paul to bring Benedetto Guitars to the next level, manufacturing a broad line of more affordable professional instruments without compromising the unparalleled Benedetto worldwide reputation for singular quality. The company, located in Savannah, Georgia, plays a part in both the business and cultural communities.

Benedetto Guitar Inc. is a Georgia registered manufacturer with approximately ten luthiers building all instrument at their Savannah, GA workshop. Production is about 100 – 150 instruments per year, with sales made direct to customers either as commissioned orders or through the company’s Bob’s Boutique virtual store.

References [edit]

Hunter, Dave (November 2005), Benedetto Bravo, Guitar Player Magazine, retrieved 2007-07-25
The Benedetto Story, retrieved 2007-07-25

External links [edit]

Benedetto Guitars, Inc. website
Robert Benedetto at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Benedetto, Robert
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 22, 1946
Place of birth	The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of death
Place of death