Someone recently asked me what my favorite model was...I told them it was the Bambino Deluxe :-) I just like the way it looks, all around... and I don't even play!
This custom Bravo Deluxe was special ordered for Dr. Jack Harris through DHR Music - it is now in Dr. J's hands and, well, he sent a note I had just had to share (you know me)...
"Bob - this is a work of art that I will cherish the rest of my days. And once again, it's not just the guitar itself, but everything it represents. A world class company with world class artisans and very special people who know exactly what it means to delight a customer. BG is simply the best!!"
Now is that a fab testimonial or what? Grazie, Dr J :-)
(Visit the boutique for other blue guitars and, well, the whole color wheel...and more to come!)
photo: Jonathan Tenenbaum (thanks for helping out!)
T'RRIFIC TRIO!
I love browsing through the latest Jack Wilkins and Howard Alden photos...this one from Jack's website made me smile just looking at it :-)
Taken at Jack's regular gig at Bella Luna's in NYC (very cute site btw), they are joined by dear friend, guitar great Gene Bertoncini.
Both Jack and Howard play their signature Benedetto models... :-)
Jack has a new CD coming out May/June - more on that (right, Jack (aka "Amadeus")?!) :-) And Sir Howard will be in New Orleans and Vienna soon - we expect some fab photos (right, Howard?!?)
Howard will be there at DHR Music and Van Hoose Vintage Instruments booths.
Go by and say howdi! :-)
BRAVO TO TAL AND PALS :-)
In addition to liking to post historic photos [this is one of our favorites of all time], the other reason was to show Tal Farlow and his signature guitar, a tribute guitar of which we just posted on Bob's Boutique.
For those who might not recall, this was June, 1996 at the Waterloo Jazz Festival, Stanhope, NJ, hard to believe...the 4 great jazzers to the left of Tal pose with their Benedettos. For any new BGers, l to r: Howard Alden, Frank Vignola, Jimmy Bruno and Bucky Pizzarelli :-)
This was also the first day we started collecting signatures for Bill Doyle's now famous guitar - "Anima e Corpo" - including 80 great jazzers signatures. Initially, Bill had wanted a tribute guitar to the then recently released "Concord Jazz Guitar Collective" (Alden, Vignola & Bruno) CD. So we were going to get the incredible trio's signatures and then Bob could start making the guitar. Well, Bucky Pizzarelli was there too as well as Tal! How do we not include their John Hancocks on these guitar backs (3 were actually signed)? We checked with Bill Doyle and he said absolutely (natch). So that's how it came to be that we were on a quest to gather as many famous jazz guitarist signatures as we could...and this was the day that we were privileged to get Tal's signature. (could write a book on that, hmmm]. Anyway, here is Tal with his guitar and now you can have a Benedetto version (if you like this story as much as I clearly do) ;-)
p.s. photo by our late friend Rich Raezer [still miss ya, RRR]
"BOLDER" IS BETTER :-)
Love my group photos!
Special thanks to Robb's Boulder Music, Colorado, for a great shot of the, well, great guys at their store, with some cool Benedettos, including Bennys, a Bravo and an Andy.
(l to r): Tim Springett, Ryan Sniegowski, Seth Goodman (w/Andy), & Mark Arroyo.
(Thanks, Seth! ;-) )
JUST JAZZ GUITAR?
Jazz legend (and local Savannahian!) Ben Tucker may just be the only exception to Bob repairing a bass, an upright at that (due only to the size; not that we don't love them!)
Here's Ben and BG's own Jonathan Tenenbaum (they used to golf together) after the repair was done. You know me, camera always ready.
:-)
DHR AT SXSW GUITAR SHOW - that's Awesome Austin, baby!
Leave it to DHR to be on the cutting edge of guitar shows!
March 21st - 22nd was the SXSW Guitar Show in Austin, TX, the first guitar show to be incorporated with the world-renown South by South Festival.
Always in a big way, DHR had a fab booth full of, well, lots of Benedettos and other goodies... note their (also fab!) new Banner - thanks, Dale and Jai!
Great Groupies photo: Back row (l to r): Pat Kelly, Howard Paul, Dale Rabiner, J. Lee Rabiner, Bill Neale, Dave McCombs; Front row (l to r): Dillon Hodges, Tim May, Richard Gilewitz, Mary Ann Neale. :-)
p.s. my apologies to DHR and fans for the delay posting...seems I had a little "car trouble"!
DHR, Austin - more!
And the band played on! (L) Tim May on one of DHR's AMERICANA models (his own in the works, btw) jams with Dillon Hodges.
(R): BG's Howard Paul doing what he loves best with keyboard great Pat Kelly.
DHR, Austin - more Still!
(L) Guitarist Doug Drahem poses with his new ASB BAMBINO (in the case), purchased from DHR's Bill Neale, next to Howard on our ANDY.
Looking like Newlyweds, the Neales (Bill & MaryAnne) long-time friends of BG, at the DHR booth looking oh so stylish! :-)
Special thanks to Dale and J. Lee for the over-the-top booth...I couldn't have done better myself! :-)
IT HAD TO BE BLUE
A custom blue Bambino - ala Scott Chinery's Blue Guitar Collection - on Bob's Boutique now...
An eye-catcher for sure!
HAVE A JAZZY EASTER!
On its way to becoming a perennial favorite, our dear friend Norbert Jansen's timeless Easter sketch for BG.
I do believe the Easter Bunny takes requests now that it's been Year Two of his appearance.
Not sure which Benedetto model he's playing; I'll have to ask him :-) (any thoughts anyone? Lefty 7-string? hmmmm)
DAN FAN-TASTIC-LY
We are thrilled to have jazz great Dan Faehnle [Fan-lee] in the BG Family...he's been an endorser for a while now but only yesterday did we finally get him on the site (sorry for delay, Dan!) - check out Dan and his website.
And does he do justice to our beautiful Bravo Deluxe or what?
Don't forget that we offer (very cool) tours of our shop here in Savannah so if you find yourself lucky enough to visit our lovely city, please come on by!
Making an appointment is the best way so please email Howard at hpaul@benedettoguitars.com or call 912-692-1400. It's that easy!
Prepare to be amazed... :-)
TAL: A Tough Act to Farlow
We were blessed to know Tal Farlow personally and professionally.
For those of you who don't recognize it, this is Bob and me (yes!) with Tal in 1996 at the home of the late great Scott Chinery, taken at the 2nd Blue Guitar Party. (btw: Scott knew how to have a party!) Tal had just finishing playing our "La Cremona Azzurra". (that's reason to smile big :-) )
Anyway, Tal and the Chinery Blue have to do with these guitars so this seemed a fitting photo to use as my proverbial teaser.
Tal would love this ;-)
GIVING MYSELF THE BOOT! :-) (aka Cindy's back at BG)
Hard to know where to start thanking everyone for all the cards, flowers (I am now an official Garden Center), cookies, meals, and emails you have sent. Much appreciated and it did my heart good! :-)
Special thanks to Bob (husband, and now nurse, chef, chauffeur) for all he's done...I would not be healing so fast without him.
Special thanks to Howard as well for the humorous and informative updates on my accident... I am back at work for about a week now, about 5 hours a day.
Thanks also to all the guys at BG, especially Jonathan and Todd, too for helping out! (and to Patty Paul for the nudge to get this "first" email news done!
My right angle (broken badly) is healing very well and I can walk on it in 4 short weeks... I am now in a boot (no more splint) as you can see in this photo, giving the ole leg a break (no pun intended). The rest of me is aches and pains but I can live with that as I am eternally grateful to the Guardian Angels who spared me from death and severe injury. I owe you all one!
Lastly, I have missed doing my News as much as it seems you have all missed reading it...so here is my first entry back.
I'm sorry for the delay in posting photos, etc but I will get back on it, a bit each day. Nice to know it's been missed.
Thank you all for being the BEST fans and friends and loved ones! ;-)
