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The "Masterbuilt"
guitars. When Bob
Benedetto re-worked the X-700 Stuart he made a limited edition of
50 or so of the highest quality. These were known as the Masterbuilt series
and had serial numbers GBB1000-1052. In
general, their labels simply call the Model "Stuart",
no reference to X-700. The only way you will know
whether you have a Masterbuilt guitar is that it will say "Masterbuilt"
on the Certificate of Authenticity.
All the GBB models
have Westerly labels even though most were not finished or
sold until after 2001
I really love my old
'86 Stuart but it has a few issues and I wanted to know
whether Bob Benedetto had lifted the X-500 to a new level.
I found this one in California and it had hardly been played!
My first impressions
were entirely to do with its looks. It's a
work of art and I had it in my hands for a full five minutes
before I plugged it in.
Acoustically, it was full and sweet with bags of volume.
Through my AER 60 Combo it was rich and powerful.
If only I could play better!
But again, it's a big
guitar and it feels big. It's heavy too and somehow my
'86 is more nimble and it has those sweet, sweet, Johnny
Smith sounding pickups.
I have to keep a
closed lid on my collection - I only have space
for eight guitars. My '86
Rhode Island Stuart or this 2001 Guild Benedetto Stuart?
Tough choice!
The serial number GBB1050 was manufactured in May 2001.
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