1938 D’Angelico Excel
In 1932, John D’Angelico established his own shop at the age of 27, after apprenticing with his great uncle for the better part of the preceding two decades. By 1937 his guitar models were standardized, shortly after the first Excel model was recorded in D’Angelico’s ledger. The example offered here dates from 1938. It is a 17” non-cutaway sunburst model built with parallel bracing older-style non-stairstep tailpiece, and standard shaped F-holes.
This D’Angelico offers beautifully warm and expressive mids, and a strong fundamental presence with a lovely compliment of comfortably restrained overtones. With round and balanced treble response and incredible sustain, it's a remarkable solo guitar and has enough power under the hood to hold its own in an ensemble setting as well.
Carved spruce and maple with typically ornate purflings, pearl inlays, gold hardware, and deco pickguard, this is a particularly attractive instrument. It remains in better condition than most of its breed, as these guitars were built for and used daily by professional musicians. The body is crack free, with binding that is in remarkably good shape, and original finish throughout. The neck has been visibly reset, and there is minor finish damage along the edges of the heel and a minor repaired grain crack under the fretboard on the treble side of the neck. The frets and nut are replacements that appear to be quite recent, and the tailpiece shows a repair at the fold.
The guitar’s neck has a fast and comfortable C-shaped carve, with a 1st fret depth of .867” and a 9th fret depth of .965”. The nut width is 1.68”, string spread at the bridge is 2”, and the scale is 24.8”. The frets are Dunlop 6105 (or similar) and measure .090” wide by .055” tall; the board is compound radiused at about 10” to 14”.
The instrument’s cosmetic condition is quite appealing, with crazing, scratches and dents in the finish, but not much mechanical playwear. The back of the neck shows moderately worn sections within the first 5 frets, but nothing unsightly. The guitar’s original Gold Grover StaTites are in excellent shape and work well.
With period hardshell case
This D’Angelico offers beautifully warm and expressive mids, and a strong fundamental presence with a lovely compliment of comfortably restrained overtones. With round and balanced treble response and incredible sustain, it's a remarkable solo guitar and has enough power under the hood to hold its own in an ensemble setting as well.
Carved spruce and maple with typically ornate purflings, pearl inlays, gold hardware, and deco pickguard, this is a particularly attractive instrument. It remains in better condition than most of its breed, as these guitars were built for and used daily by professional musicians. The body is crack free, with binding that is in remarkably good shape, and original finish throughout. The neck has been visibly reset, and there is minor finish damage along the edges of the heel and a minor repaired grain crack under the fretboard on the treble side of the neck. The frets and nut are replacements that appear to be quite recent, and the tailpiece shows a repair at the fold.
The guitar’s neck has a fast and comfortable C-shaped carve, with a 1st fret depth of .867” and a 9th fret depth of .965”. The nut width is 1.68”, string spread at the bridge is 2”, and the scale is 24.8”. The frets are Dunlop 6105 (or similar) and measure .090” wide by .055” tall; the board is compound radiused at about 10” to 14”.
The instrument’s cosmetic condition is quite appealing, with crazing, scratches and dents in the finish, but not much mechanical playwear. The back of the neck shows moderately worn sections within the first 5 frets, but nothing unsightly. The guitar’s original Gold Grover StaTites are in excellent shape and work well.
With period hardshell case