Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Award 2002 Opulent Brown

"Is that a Benedetto?" Lee and I both turned and looked at the door. There was our technician extraordinaire, Supa Jake with a big smile on his face. "Supa Jake, you know doggone well it is" chimed Lee and it was at that moment when all three of us found ourselves smiling. Jake is an accomplished Jazz guitarist in his own right and while we secretly think he doesn't mind setting up '85 Charvels with a Khaler on it, these are the guitars he lives to address. Their quality, tone and craftsmanship are exactly what he is about and appreciates- heck Lee plays Les Pauls and I'm a bass player for Pete's sake but we also can appreciate a fine piece of work when we see and hear it. So, Jake gets this guitar cleaned, restrung and set- up. It was now time to play and believe me when I say he was a different animal as he went to work on his craft. He can play all of those cool, smoky chords and runs that a Jazz cat does and Lee and I found ourselves actually doing more listening than talking. Lee asked Jake to play "Eleanor Rigby", by the Fab Four and I'll be danged if he didn't launch straight into the very song! This Johnny Smith Award literally breathes on it's own and the tone is one of the warmest and most well- balanced I've personally ever heard on a Jazz box. The details of it's construction are meticulous to say the least and after speaking with one of the top Guild experts in the U.S., we have come to also appreciate just how incredibly rare this guitar truly is. It was constructed in California, under the keen eyes and approval of Bob Benedetto himself and bears his signature on the interior label. I've stated on many times that this is one of those guitars that we get excited about when we "close the case" on the deal and I'd say that if we're still getting excited about these pieces after all these years, then we're just lucky, if anything at all. If you have any requests or questions, please call or email and we'll respond both pleasantly and promptly.