Bob Benedetto

Robert Benedetto
Robert Benedetto in his shop, circa 1976
Born	(1946-10-22) October 22, 1946 (age 71) The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Luthier
Website	Benedetto Guitars

Robert Benedetto (born October 22, 1946 in The Bronx, New York) is an American luthier of archtop jazz guitars. In 1968, he made his first archtop guitar in New Jersey and has handcrafted nearly 850 musical instruments. His guitars appear on many recordings, videos, and TV and film soundtracks, and have been featured in books, magazines and museums (including the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History and the National Guitar Museum).

By the 1970s (he relocated to Florida in 1976), his reputation grew as he crafted archtop guitars for professional jazz players Bucky Pizzarelli, Chuck Wayne, Joe Diorio and Cal Collins, and in the 80s and 90s for Johnny Smith, Jack Wilkins, Ron Eschete, Martin Taylor, Howard Alden, John Pizzarelli, Andy Summers, Jimmy Bruno, Kenny Burrell and Pat Martino, among others, collectively known as “The Benedetto Players”. More recent jazz guitarists who play Benedetto guitars include Dan Faehnle, Joe Negri, Chico Pinheiro and Andreas Varady.

Benedetto married Cindy Whyte in 1975 who has photographed and extensively documented Robert’s guitars and their players. In 1983, Benedetto began making violins for both orchestra and jazz artists. His most notable endorser was Stephane Grappelli.

In 1990 Benedetto relocated to East Stroudsburg, PA. Shortly thereafter, in 1992, he offered an archtop guitar making course at his shop. In 1994 he published his book "Making An Archtop Guitar", followed in 1996 with his instructional DVD "Archtop Guitar Design & Construction". That same year Cindy organized the first of the ongoing Benedetto Players in Concert series.