Benedetto Archtop Guitar, used by John "Bucky" Pizzarelli

Benedetto Archtop Guitar, used by John "Bucky" Pizzarelli

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Description

This guitar was made by Robert Benedetto in Homosassa Springs, Florida, in 1978.

It is a 7 course (7x1) archtop model, serial #1678.

Robert Benedetto was born in 1946 in The Bronx, New York into a family of artists, cabinet maker s and musicians. Benedetto made his first archtop guitar in 1968. His reputation grew as he crafted guitars for noted guitarists Bucky Pizzarelli, Chuck Wayne, Joe Diorio and Cal Collins. From 1999-2006, Benedetto had a licensing agreement with Fender Musical Instruments to produce his models in a small, controlled manufacturing environment. Following the agreement with Fender, Benedetto joined forces with jazz guitarist and corporate executive, Howard Paul, to manufacture a broad line of more affordable professional instruments without compromising the unparalleled Benedetto quality. In 1977 Benedetto met jazz guitarist, John “Bucky” Pizzarelli and made this 7-string archtop guitar, serial #1678, for him a year later. Pizzarelli played this guitar up until the time he donated it to the museum in 2005.

Object Name
guitar
Date made
1978
user
Pizzarelli, John "Bucky"
maker
Benedetto, Robert
place made
United States: Florida, Homosassa Springs
Physical Description
wood (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
metal (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 44 in x 16 7/8 in x 5 1/4 in; 111.76 cm x 42.8625 cm x 13.335 cm
ID Number
2006.0004.01
accession number
2006.0004
catalog number
2006.0004.01
Credit Line
Gift of John "Bucky" Pizzarelli
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
Music & Musical Instruments
Guitars
Exhibition
South Music Lobby
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

Bucky was one of my earliest and most influential mentors. Working closely with him on the subtleties of archtop guitar design helped me refine my instruments to a level I may have never achieved. Over the years I made four guitars for him. The first was serial number 1678 which you have in your collection and was the second 7-string guitar I ever made.

Robert Benedetto

Wed, 2019-07-10 09:13

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