The Guild Benedetto Signature Series models are classic Guild guitars redesigned by Robert Benedetto in 1999. Production of these models began at the Guild Westerly, Rhode Island plant.
 | Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith AwardRobert Benedetto updated the design of the Guild Johnny Smith Award archtop in 1999 - changing the carve of the top and back, the bracing, the shape of the f-holes and pickguard. This model was initially made in limited numbers in the Guild Westerly Rhode Island factory and has a "Benedetto" inlay in the fingerboard. The headstock has a pearl "GUILD" logo and engraved abalone and pearl "Artist Award Model" inlay on the front, and typically are signed by Johnny Smith on the back. |
 | GUILD X700 STUART BENEDETTOAccording to Guild, the Stuart X700 Benedetto Signature model (a redesign of the Guild X700 Stuart by Robert Benedetto) was the ultimate in electric jazz guitars, the pride of our sound engineers and wood craftsmen. Its distinctive fast action, 5-piece neck is fashioned of select flame Maple with an Ebony fretboard elegantly inlaid with deluxe two-tone Abalone and Mother-of-Pearl position markers. The Stuart’s full Venetian cutaway body is 17" wide by 3" deep and boasts the same graduated, carved solid Spruce top as the Artist Award. |
Specifications:
| Model | Image | Binding | Made in | Number of strings | Scale length | Finish colors | Finish effects | Finish material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Award 1999 to 2006 |  | body binding, neck binding | USA | 6 strings | 25.6 inches scale length | - | - | - |
| GUILD X700 STUART BENEDETTO 2001 to 2006 |  | body binding, neck binding | USA | 6 strings | 25.5 inches scale-length | blonde finish, brown finish, honey finish | gloss finish, sunburst finish | nitrocellulose finish |
| Model | Body back material | Body shape features | Body sides material | Body style | Body top material | Pickguard material | Pickguard shape | Soundhole | Body depth | Body width | Hollow body |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Award 1999 to 2006 | flamed maple body back | carved top, single cutaway | flamed maple body sides | archtop | spruce body top | black pickguard | pickguard, raised pickguard, stepped pickguard | 2 f-holes | - | - | - |
| GUILD X700 STUART BENEDETTO 2001 to 2006 | flamed maple body back | single cutaway | flamed maple body sides | archtop | Solid spruce | black pickguard | raised pickguard | 2 f-holes | 3 inches body | 17 inches wide body | hollow body |
| Model | Body fret | Headstock inlays or logos | Neck joint | Neck material | Neck width | Number of frets | Tuner layout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Award 1999 to 2006 | Neck joins body at 14th fret | Brand name logo or inlay on headstock | set neck | maple neck | 1.69 inches wide at nut | - | - |
| GUILD X700 STUART BENEDETTO 2001 to 2006 | - | - | - | - | 1.69 inches wide at nut | 20 fret | three-each-side |
| Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tailpiece | Tuners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Award 1999 to 2006 | adjustable ebony bridge | gold hardware | harp tailpiece | Grover Imperial tuners |
| GUILD X700 STUART BENEDETTO 2001 to 2006 | adjustable rosewood bridge | gold-plated hardware | harp tailpiece | Grover tuners |
| Model | Fingerboard inlay material | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard position markers | Inlay at 12th fret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Award 1999 to 2006 | abalone fingerboard inlay material, pearl fingerboard inlay material | ebony fingerboard | triangle-in-block fingerboard position markers | - |
| GUILD X700 STUART BENEDETTO 2001 to 2006 | abalone fingerboard inlay material, mother of pearl fingerboard inlay material | ebony fingerboard | triangle-in-block fingerboard position markers | brand logo inlay at 12th fret |
| Model | Pickups brand and model | Pickups configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Award 1999 to 2006 | Benedetto S-6 pickup(s) | 1 humbucker pickup |
| GUILD X700 STUART BENEDETTO 2001 to 2006 | Benedetto A-6 pickup(s) | 2 humbucker pickups |
| Model | Volume controls | Tone controls |
|---|---|---|
| Guild Benedetto Johnny Smith Award 1999 to 2006 | 1 volume control | - |
| GUILD X700 STUART BENEDETTO 2001 to 2006 | 3 volume controls | 2 tone controls |
