X 700 Stuart Benedetto 2004

[Rich Cohen]

I think it might be different, young sir!

Gilded, I'm sure it's long scale, 25 1/2".

 

[gilded]

Thanks, Rich.
I remember playing a single pickup Guild Benedetto guitar and they owner told me the scale was a bit longer than 25.5"

 

[GAD]

According to the catalog it's 25 9/16" but we all know how accurate catalogs can be.

 

[kakerlak]

Gilded, I'm sure it's long scale, 25 1/2".

Do you think it's still 1.75" nut?

 

[Rich Cohen]

Do you think it's still 1.75" nut?

I'll let you and GAD know when it's in my hands. The scale length figure I took off of the sellers website (Kansas City Vintage Guitars).

 

[GAD]

I'm interested to find out. That same 2003 catalog says that it's 1 11/16". The 2004 catalog says the same. FWIW, my pre Benedetto X700 is 1 3/4" at the nut.

 

[Rich Cohen]

Thanks Gary for posting the specs of both Guild Benedettos. My 2004 has two Benedetto A-6 humbuckers. Bob also made the guitar when Guild was still at Westerly. Maybe then the Stuart shipped with one pup. Can you clarify?

 

[GAD]

Thanks Gary for posting the specs of both Guild Benedettos. My 2004 has two Benedetto A-6 humbuckers. Bob also made the guitar when Guild was still at Westerly. Maybe then the Stuart shipped with one pup. Can you clarify?

I thought you said it was a 2004?

2000 catalog shows similar specs:

 

[Rich Cohen]

I thought you said it was a 2004?

2000 catalog shows similar specs:

All I'm saying is that according to my understanding, while Guild was still at Westerly, Benedetto collaborated with them to make some AA's and X-700 Stuarts, before they moved to Corona. Of course, I believe Benedetto worked out of the custom shop in Nashville, no?

 

[Rich Cohen]

On Reverb, this may be an example of the Westerly AA by Benedetto. Though the seller dates it loosey-goosey between 1999 and 2005. The label says Westerly.

https://reverb.com/item/33266842-benedetto-artist-award-by-guild?bk=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJqdGkiOiI5YTdkOWNhYy1jNTA2LTRkNTYtYWZlMS02NzE3MGM4MmE0OTYiLCJpYXQiOjE1ODk5MjU5NzAsInVzZXJfaWQiOiIiLCJzZXNzaW9uX2lkIjoiIiwiY29va2llX2lkIjoiM2RiMTBhNTYtNDJkYy00YjVkLTgxNGQtMzk2OWFiNDM1MGQyIiwicHJvZHVjdF9pZCI6IjMzMjY2ODQyIn0.mRVNzRtcZ6-xJgMASUeBL7PuOqScqW9zE3aLecN1PEM

 

[GAD]

I only know what I see in the catalogs and price lists. From what I recall Benedetto redesigned the X700 and AA and the redesigned models have his name on them. Since those appear in the 2000 catalog, I'd say it's likely that he was at Westerly, but it's just not something I know enough about.

From what I know the guitar in your last post is a 2000ish guitar but again i only guess where Hans actually knows.

 

[Rich Cohen]

Gary,
Here's a AA Benedetto for $5,000, which is a fair price.

2000 Guild Benedetto Flame Maple > Guitars Archtop Electric & Acoustic | Guitar Gallery

Guitar Benedetto Artist Award Archtop Guitar (used, pre 2005) Hand carved, flame Maple back & sides Hand carved, solid Spruce top Ebony headstock faceplate with elaborate abalone/MOP pitcher &...

www.gbase.com

 

[geoguy]

A Westerly-built Benedetto X700 Stuart should have a scale of 25 5/8-inch, and a nut width of 1 11/16-inch.

Congrats on the pending arrival of what should be a fabulous guitar, Rich.

 

[GGJaguar]

I'd still love to hear a good comparison between the laminated top X-500 and the solid top X-700. I could drive my '76 X-500 down to Cville to compare, but you know... pandemic. Plus, HB-1s versus the Benedetto humbuckers isn't apples-to-apples either.

 

[kakerlak]

I'd still love to hear a good comparison between the laminated top X-500 and the solid top X-700. I could drive my '76 X-500 down to Cville to compare, but you know... pandemic. Plus, HB-1s versus the Benedetto humbuckers isn't apples-to-apples either.

You need to find somebody with a first-year X-700 with HB-1s, like me. Not quite sure how many they made in '94. Mine seems to be #16 if the S/Ns are sequential. Mine is snappy, with a lot of jump/bark to it, acoustically.

 

[Rich Cohen]

You need to find somebody with a first-year X-700 with HB-1s, like me. Not quite sure how many they made in '94. Mine seems to be #16 if the S/Ns are sequential. Mine is snappy, with a lot of jump/bark to it, acoustically.

I'm hoping the X-700 Stuart will be snappy too, acoustically. I expect it will, with the right kind of strings on it. What strings do you have on your X-700?

 

[kakerlak]

I'm hoping the X-700 Stuart will be snappy too, acoustically. I expect it will, with the right kind of strings on it. What strings do you have on your X-700?

IIRC, it's got 11-gauge D'Addario chromes (flats) on it, but it's been ages since I've changed them. It mostly lives in its case -- I find myself reluctant to put any wear on it. I have always been curious what it'd sound like with rounds on it.

 

[fronobulax]

I could drive my '76 X-500 down to Cville to compare, but you know... pandemic.

You in the Valley? Maybe party at Rich's when default can get off work and travel for a visit.

 

[GGJaguar]

You in the Valley? Maybe party at Rich's when default can get off work and travel for a visit.

I'm currently in NoVA so about a 2 hour drive or so.

 

[SFIV1967]

My 2004 has two Benedetto A-6 humbuckers. Bob also made the guitar when Guild was still at Westerly. Maybe then the Stuart shipped with one pup. Can you clarify?

Looks like the one or two pickup versions were options (two different model numbers):

Ralf