2006 Bob Benedetto Frank Vignola Model #173

Here is a very, very rare and unusual guitar. Bob Benedetto came up with this Selmer/Archtop hybrid design for Frank Vignola. It combines the Selmer body (15 3/4" wide, 3 5/8" deep) with a carved top/back and a 25" scale length. The result is the ultimate Gypsy crossover guitar! It has the acoustic volume to play unamplified (much louder then regular archtops, even other Benedettos are rarely this loud!) while simultaneously having a warm, fat, but acoustic like amplified sound when using the amazing Benedetto S-6 humbucker. A great guitar for someone who needs the best of both worlds (acoustic and electric). I know of no other guitar that does this so well!

For more info see: https://shoppingcart.djangobooks.com/item--2006-Bob-Benedetto-Frank-Vignola-M...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Django
• Reinhardt
• Selmer
• Guitar
• Gypsy
• Jazz
• Manouche
• Frank
• Vignola
• Archtop
• Benedetto

[DjangoBooks]

The Benedetto pickups were actually designed by Kent Armstrong. You can also find his own handmade pickups which are similar. The ones at StewMac are the Asian made knock offs. Beware, they don't sound nearly as good and are very noisy and thin.

[oyecarnal]

any reviews of frank vignola's knew thorell guitar???

looks quite similar to this one actually...

[DjangoBooks]

I played a Thorell Vignola last weekend. Very nice....sounds and feels a lot different than the Benedetto. Not as light weight and closer to what I'd expect of an archtop in tone. The Benedetto is acoustically louder and a bit more Selmer-ish.

[DjangoBooks]

It's the Benedetto S-6 made by Seymour Duncan. Kent Armstrong designed the S-6 but I don't think he ever actually made them.

[EnvyInc]

@DjangoBooks Kent Armstrong does make a suspended jazz mini humbucker, which is available from StewMac. It's also considerably less expensive than the Benedetto pickup. I haven't had the opportunity to A/B the pickups, so I'm not sure which I'd prefer, although in the interest of economy, I'd lean toward the Kent Armstrong model.

[HendrixcommaMartin]

Ahhhhhhhh it retains so much character plugged in. I love it.

[romanosalvatore]

And very very very expensive (99% of their guitars).

[Tototwice]

Awesome sound and a really good player!..... REALLY lovely tone and enjoyed listening..........KEEPON  STRUMMIN...DALLAS

[petermelton]

oh wow. i wish i had money. that thing is beautiful.

just gotta hope a korean knock of it comes out :)

nice playing as well

[remingtonride]

Gee, that does sound good.