Howard Paul, President & CEO
Benedetto Guitars
10 Mall Terrace, Suite A
Savannah, GA 31406
Office: (912) 692-1400
Cell: (912) 663-0996
One of the most important and enjoyable aspects of combining a playing career with his role as CEO of Benedetto has been telling the remarkable story of the uniquely American “Jazz Guitar” which was developed by Lloyd Loar for Gibson Guitar Co. in 1922. Without the original L5 model and the legendary jazz guitarists who used it to pioneer the art form, there would be no Benedetto Guitars.
Howard travels extensively to share his passion about this instrument/music evolution in a 1-1/2 hour seminar entitled: “Jazz Guitars: History, Architecture & Performance Characteristic.” He regularly engages university and conservatory students and faculty, summer guitar workshop attendees, museums, civic group, and business/community associations. These workshops are often FREE and open to the public and serve as Benedetto’s way of preserving the history of this remarkable instrument.
The seminar includes: an overview of the development of the guitar in jazz; the physics of the archtop vs. more traditional guitars; the construction materials and processes of a carved archtop; the differences between independent luthiers and larger manufactures; sonic comparisons between laminates vs. solid carved instruments; the current state of the industry; etc. Howard often brings a variety of Benedetto guitars along, allowing attendees to experience these fine instruments first hand.
In recent years Howard has traveled to conduct these seminars at: Berklee College of Music; UA Philadelphia New School; NYU; USC Thornton School of Music; SDSU; NC Central; U South Carolina; UGA; UNF; UCF; Winthrop; UNO; UL-Monroe; UL-Lafayette; Furman; Musicians Institute; programs in Italy, Greece, Germany and England; National Guitar Museum (multiple locations); National Guitar Workshops; Crown of the Continent Guitar Festival, and many others. Many groups have also traveled to Benedetto in Savannah, GA, for the added pleasure of touring the shop.
