Benedetto

Benedetto 16-B Custom Violin Burst (2025)

$11,000.00

Pickup available at 165 Showroom

Usually ready in 1 hour

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Product information

A gorgeous instrument that will have fans of lightly built, responsive, and refined archtops reaching for their wallets.

Bob Benedetto made archtops throughout the 1990s for some of the most respected names in jazz guitar - Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Diorio, Ron Eschete, Howard Alden, Jimmy Bruno, Chris Standring, and John Pizzarelli among them - that provenance alone warrants attention, aside from the fact that this is simply a gorgeous guitar.

The 16-B model distinguishes itself from the popular Benedetto Bravo model body with softer, narrower shoulders and a slightly less pronounced cutaway. It's a really comfortable shape that balances well whether you're standing on a bandstand or sitting in your living room. The construction is what you'd expect from a high-end archtop: parallel braced carved spruce top, flamed maple back and sides, with the binding package, headstock shape, tuners, and EPS tailpiece borrowed from the Bravo Deluxe.

The built-in A-6 gold pickup, drawn from the Bravo model, handles amplified duties with the feedback resistance and responsiveness you want from a guitar designed with working players in mind. An Abalone Benedetto logo inlay adds an elegant touch to round out the specs.

The playability is incredible - effortless, responsive, and refined. There's a very airy and open quality to this guitar that brings to mind the tones you hear from Jim Hall's playing - ie, it's a lightly build instrument vs the heavier (literally) and punchier Gibson style archtop (L5, etc...).

For players seeking a carved archtop with genuine pedigree, real playability, and a price point that doesn't require a long conversation with your accountant, the 16-B is a compelling place to start.

Body

Body
Carved Archtop 16" lower bout / 2 1/2" body depth w/Venetian cutaway
Top
Carved Spruce
Back
Carved Curly Maple
Sides
Solid Curly Maple
Color
Violin Burst

Hardware

Pickup
1 Benedetto A–6 gold
Bridge
Ebony (adjustable with black wheels and posts)
Tailpiece
Model EPS (Ebony Professional Series)
Controls
Volume and Tone
Tuners
Gotoh gold with ebony buttons
Fingerrest
Ebony

Neck

Neck
Flamed Maple
Fingerboard
Ebony
Radius
12"
Width at Nut
1 ¾"
Scale
25"
Frets
22

Other

Condition
Aside from a few very small/shallow indentations on the top (typical of a spruce top) and a few light marks on the ebony guard and headstock this is a very well cared for/clean guitar (no fret wear)
Case
Calton Case
Serial Number
S3038

Preowned. Proven. Prized.

Each preowned guitar at The Music Emporium is carefully inspected, play-tested, and chosen for its quality, character, and tone. Whether you're chasing a vintage gem or a modern classic, our curated selection delivers trusted value and expert-backed authenticity.

High Standards

We accept only preowned guitars that meet our rigorous standards for authenticity, condition, and performance, each one carefully vetted to ensure it upholds the level of quality our customers expect.

Accurate Representation

Every instrument is meticulously photographed and accurately described, so you can buy with confidence knowing exactly what to expect.

Inspection & Setup

Each instrument is thoroughly inspected by our staff for authenticity and condition, with any necessary work and a full setup completed before it’s listed for sale.

Have Questions?

If you have any questions about this instrument’s condition, feel free to give us a call or drop us an email - we are always happy to provide an in-hand description and make sure you’re confident in your purchase.

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