1996 Benedetto Custom Archtop Guitar – Built for Ron Escheté – 'The Grey Ghost' – Verified Provenance + Appraisal

A Historic Benedetto Archtop — Custom-Built for Jazz Legend Ron Escheté (1996)

Offered here is a 1996 Benedetto Custom, hand-built for internationally respected jazz guitarist Ron Escheté, a pioneering 7-string master, educator, and prolific studio musician. This guitar’s provenance is fully documented both by Benedetto Guitars and by a 2025 written appraisal (included in this listing).

Escheté used this instrument during his long tenure teaching at GIT / Musicians Institute (Hollywood, CA) and through years of recording and performance. Benedetto themselves confirm that there are dozens—possibly hundreds—of recordings featuring this exact guitar.

This is not just a boutique archtop—it is a museum-caliber piece of jazz history.

Finish & Aesthetic Details

This guitar features the extremely rare Silver/Gray Jazz Burst finish, a color Ron Escheté specially requested on multiple Benedetto builds. The headstock sports his signature dove inlay, another Escheté hallmark.

Front and back finishes are shown clearly in the photos: beautifully aged, original lacquer with the elegant fade that makes these early Benedetto Customs so recognizable.

Recent Professional Restoration & Setup (Feb 2025)

Performed by The Repair Zone in San Diego (documentation included):

Neck reset

Fresh lacquer refinish on neck (done cleanly and professionally)

Full setup: truss rod, action, intonation

New strings

Hardware & electronics inspection/optimization

Guitar cleaned, tightened, and made stage-ready

Plays absolutely flawlessly with smooth, low action and a warm, articulate jazz voice.

Specifications

(Confirmed by Benedetto + appraisal)

Build Date: March 1996

Model: Custom

Serial Number: 37396

Body: Laminated (ply) archtop construction

Lower Bout: 16"

Body Depth: 2-1/4" (thin, comfortable profile)

Scale Length: Likely 25"

Nut Width: 1-3/4"

Fingerboard Radius: Extremely round 7-1/4" (rare for archtops)

Pickup: Built-in Benedetto B6

Hardware: Black Grover tuners (original spec)

Finish: Silver/Gray Jazz Burst

Inlay: Ron Escheté dove inlay on headstock

Tone & Performance

This Benedetto offers exactly what jazz players hope for:

Warm, lush mids

Round, vocal treble response

Tight, balanced lows

Fast, fluid feel from the round fingerboard radius

Smooth amplified tone from the B6 pickup—classic Benedetto clarity

It is the sound of refined, straight-ahead jazz guitar.

Provenance

Documented by Benedetto Guitars:

Built specifically for Ron Escheté

Used during his years at GIT / Musicians Institute

Likely appears on numerous recordings

Features his signature finish and dove inlay

This is one of the very few Benedetto's associated with Escheté that has surfaced on the private market.

Appraisal (February 2025)

Prepared by The Repair Zone, San Diego.

Estimated market value:

$15,000 – $25,000 USD

The appraisal confirms:

Authenticity

Artist provenance

High-end craftsmanship

Excellent condition after restoration

Significance to jazz history

Photo of the full appraisal is included in this listing

Condition

Overall excellent for a 1990s professional-grade archtop:

Freshly refinished neck lacquer — smooth and clean

Light signs of age on body typical of 30-year-old lacquer

Hardware in excellent working order

No cracks, no structural issues

Gorgeous shine on top, back, and sides

Plays better than many new instruments

A truly top-condition player's and collector’s instrument.

Includes

1996 Benedetto Custom (Ron Escheté guitar)

Hard case

2025 appraisal document

Setup and restoration from February 2025