D’Angelico Guitars, the history, charm, musicians who play them

D’Angelico guitars were created and made famous by Italian luthier John D’Angelico, who was born in 1905. His workshop, D’Angelico Guitars, was founded in New York City, precisely in the neighborhood of Little Italy, in 1932. D’Angelico was known for his skill in building archtop guitars, which were especially popular among jazz musicians at the time.

D’Angelico guitars are known for their quality craftsmanship, aesthetic beauty, and exceptional sound. John D’Angelico initially produced only a few guitars a year, all by hand, and each of them was considered a masterpiece of violin making. The first guitar built by John D’Angelico dates back to around 1932, the year in which he opened his shop / workshop in Manhattan, in the neighborhood of Little Italy.

D’ANGELICO ELECTRIC GUITARS:

Excel SS

Is one of D’Angelico’s best-known and most well-regarded semi-hollow body guitars, often praised for its rich sound and luxurious aesthetic. Below are some technical specifications and detailed features of a standard Excel SS template, keeping in mind that some specifications may vary slightly depending on different versions or years of production:

Specifications:

1. Body
   • Type: Semi-hollow.
   • Material: Spruce top, laminated maple back and sides.
   • Dimensions: 15″ Length, 1.75″ Wide Shoulder.
   • F-hole: Yes, with classic design.
   • Pickguard: Scallop with D’Angelico logo.
2. Neck
   • Material: Walnut.
   • Profile: Slim with “C” shape.
   • Fretboard: Rosewood with mother-of-pearl block inlays.
   • Frets: 22, medium jumbo.
   • Scale: 25″
3. Hardware
   • Bridge: Tune-O-Matic bridge with “stairstep” tail.
   • Tuning machines: Rotomatic Stairstep, 18:1 ratio.
4. Electronics
   • Pickups: 2 Humbuckers (usually Seymour Duncan).
   • Controls: 2 volume controls, 2 tone controls.
   • Pickup Selector: 3-way.
5. Finish
   • Finish: Varied, often available in sunburst, natural and different color options.
   • Headstock: Traditional D’Angelico with logo and inlay.
   • Binding: Multi-ply.

Additional Details:

• Sonic flexibility: The Excel SS is renowned for its versatility, being suitable for a variety of musical genres thanks to its combination of humbucker pickups and semi-hollow body.
• Playability Comfort: The body shape and neck profile are designed to provide comfortable and accessible playability.
• Elegant aesthetics: Attention to aesthetic detail, such as the fingerboard inlays and sculpted headstock, are hallmarks of D’Angelico quality.

The D’Angelico Excel SS can offer a remarkable stage presence and excellent sound for various styles of music, from jazz and blues to rock and pop.

Deluxe SS

is a semi-hollow body guitar that is part of the brand’s Deluxe series. The guitars in this series are known for their high-quality materials, excellent workmanship, and advanced features:

Technical Features and Specifications:

1. Body
   • Type: Semi-hollow.
   • Material: Spruce top, with laminated maple back and sides.
   • Dimensions: Compact dimensions with length and width that may vary slightly depending on versions.
   • F-hole: Present, classic.
2. Neck
   • Material: Generally walnut.
   • Profile: Thin, “C” shaped.
   • Fretboard: Rosewood or ebony, with block inlays or iconic designs.
   • Frets: 22 frets, medium jumbo.
   • Scale: Generally around 25″.
3. Hardware
   • Bridge: Most often a Tune-O-Matic with a “stairstep” type tail or vibrato variant.
   • Tuning Machines: Grover Super Rotomatic type tuners, or variants.
4. Electronics
   • Pickups: Seymour Duncan humbuckers, widely used models such as the Seymour Duncan DA-59.
   • Controls: 2 volume controls, 2 tone controls.
   • Pickup Selector: 3-way.
5. Finish
   • Finish: Available in a range of finishes with more luxurious options and unique colors.
   • Headstock: D’Angelico design headstock with logo.
   • Binding: Present and often luxurious or multi-layered.

Additional Notes:

• Sonic versatility: The Deluxe SS is known for offering a rich sound spectrum, making it suitable for different styles of music such as jazz, blues, rock, and pop.
• Custom Options: Some models may offer slightly different specs with custom pickup options and special finishes.

Excel DC

is one of the most popular semi-hollowbody electric guitars in the D’Angelico line, appreciated for its versatile sound and smooth lines. Features may vary slightly depending on the year and specific version, but here are some typical specs and technical characteristics for Excel DC models:

Technical Features and Specifications:

1. Body
   • Type: Semi-hollowbody with double cutaway.
   • Material: Spruce top, laminated maple body.
   • F-hole: Yes, with classic design.
   • Pickguard: Scallop with D’Angelico logo.
2. Neck
   • Material: Walnut or maple.
   • Profile: Slim, comfortable for various styles, great playability.
   • Fretboard: Rosewood or Ebony, with block inlays.
   • Frets: 22, medium jumbo.
   • Scale: Usually 25″.
3. Hardware
   • Bridge: Tune-O-Matic with a goosetail or “stairstep” tail.
   • Tuning machines: Grover Super Rotomatic.
4. Electronics
   • Pickups: Humbuckers, with many versions featuring Seymour Duncan.
   • Controls: Two volume controls and two tone controls.
   • Pickup Selector: 3-way.
5. Finish
   • Finish: Numerous options including solid and sunburst colors.
   • Headstock: Classic D’Angelico design with inlay and logo.
   • Binding: Typically present, with varying levels of detail depending on the finish.

Notes:

• Versatility: The Excel DC is known for its wide tonal range, being able to navigate through different genres of music with ease.
• Ergonomic Design: With double cutaway and slim neck profile, it is designed for easy access to the upper frets.
• Aesthetics: The Excel DC features refined aesthetic details such as mother-of-pearl inlays, elaborate pickguards, and detailed binding work.

Premier SS

it is a semi-hollowbody guitar well known for its quality and clear tone, it maintains a more affordable price than other lines of D’Angelico. Below are some standard features and technical specifications of the D’Angelico Premier SS, please note that specifications may vary slightly between different versions or special editions.

Technical Specifications and Features:

1. Body
   • Type: Semi-hollowbody, single cutaway.
   • Material: Spruce top, laminated maple back and sides.
   • F-hole: D’Angelico standard style.
   • Pickguard: Usually black, three layers.
2. Neck
   • Material: Maple.
   • Profile: Thin “C” profile.
   • Fretboard: With mother-of-pearl inlays.
   • Frets: 22, medium size.
   • Scale: Normally 25″ .
3. Hardware
   • Bridge: Chrome Tune-O-Matic.
   • Tuning machines: Chrome Rotomatic.
4. Electronics
   • Pickups: 2 D’Angelico humbuckers (some versions are fitted with Seymour Duncan).
   • Controls: 2 volume controls, 2 tone controls.
   • Pickup Selector: 3-way.
5. Finish
   • Finish: Available in different finishes and colors.
   • Headstock: Typical D’Angelico shape, with logo.
   • Binding: Present, usually simpler than the top lines.

Notes:

• Sonic Versatility: The Premier SS is known for its rich and versatile sound, covering various musical genres from jazz and blues to rock and pop.
• Price: The Premier line is positioned as one of D’Angelico’s most affordable options, making it popular with musicians looking for D’Angelico quality at a more affordable price.
• Comfortable Design: The Premier SS is loved for its sleek and comfortable design, with a slim body and neck profile that make it easy to play.

Bedford SH

It is an electric guitar that is part of the company’s semi-solid line and combines a modern and retro design with performance-oriented technical features. Below are some of the general features and technical specifications of the D’Angelico Bedford SH. However, specifications may vary slightly based on the year of manufacture and special versions.

Technical Features and Specifications:

1. Body
   • Type: Solid-body with a small semi-hollow portion.
   • Material: Mahogany.
   • Shape: Offset, with a unique asymmetrical design.
2. Neck
   • Material: Maple.
   • Profile: Slim, with a “C” shape.
   • Fretboard: Ovangkol.
   • Frets: 22, medium jumbo.
   • Scale: 24.75″.
3. Hardware
   • Bridge: Strat-style or fixed tremolo, depending on the version.
   • Tuning machines: Vintage or locking type, depending on the model.
4. Electronics
   • Pickups: Combination of 2 x Duncan Designed TE-103 single coils and a Duncan Designed MH-102 humbucker.
   • Controls: Volume, tone, and 5-way selector switch for pickups.
5. Finish
   • Finish: Varied, available in different colors and finishes.
   • Headstock: D’Angelico style with engraved or appliquéd logo.
   • Pickguard: Varies depending on model and color.

Additional Notes:

• Versatility: The Bedford SH is designed to be extremely versatile with a wide range of tones due to its unique pickup configuration.
• Playability: The ergonomic body and slim neck are designed for maximum comfort.
• Aesthetics and Design: It offers a contemporary look with references to classic design, representing an interesting encounter between the ancient and the modern in the world of electric guitars.

Deluxe Ludlow

It is an electric guitar model that combines style, playability and quality construction. D’Angelico’s Deluxe series is known for featuring guitars with high specs and remarkable attention to detail. Here are some general technical features and specifications of the D’Angelico Deluxe Ludlow:

Technical Specifications and Features:

1. Body
   • Type: Solid-body with offset design.
   • Material: Ash.
   • Finish: Various options, available in different opacities and colors.
2. Neck
   • Material: Maple walnut maple.
   • Profile: Slim profile, with “C” shape.
   • Fretsboard: Pau Ferro.
   • Frets: 22 frets, medium jumbo.
   • Scale: 24.75″.
3. Hardware
   • Bridge: Tune-O-Matic.
   • Tuning machines: Grover Super Rotomatic.
4. Electronics
   • Pickups: Humbuckers Seymour Duncan DA-59.
   • Controls: Dual volume and tone control, with 3-way pickup selector.
5. Finish
   • Finish: Varies, with different color options and styles.
   • Headstock: D’Angelico’s typical oversized headstock.
   • Pickguard: F-Hole Style (5 Ply).

Notes:

• Playability: The Deluxe Ludlow is known for its playability thanks to a slim neck and a comfortably contoured body.
• Versatility: Pickups and electronic configurations are selected to offer a versatile tonal range suitable for various styles of music.
• Design: The offset design and attention to detail make it a distinctive piece of D’Angelico’s production.

Deluxe Atlantic Baritone

It’s a solid-body electric guitar, geared towards providing an extended tonal range thanks to its baritone scale. Baritone guitars are known for their lower sound range and for being versatile in different genres of music. Here are some of the specifications and general features of the D’Angelico Deluxe Atlantic Baritone guitars:

Technical Specifications and Features:

1. Body
   • Type: Solid-body.
   • Material: Alder.
   • Finish: Different finishing and coloring options.
2. Neck
   • Material: Maple.
   • Profile: Thin “C” shape.
   • Fretsboard: Ebony, with inlays.
   • Frets: 22 keys, medium size.
   • Scale: Baritone Scale, 26.75″.
3. Hardware
   • Ponte: Tune-O-Matic.
   • Meccaniche: Grover 509 Super Rotomatic.
4. Elettronica
   • Pickups: Humbuckers Seymour Duncan Seth Lover A4 Neck + Bridge.
   • Controls: Dual volume and tone control, with 3-way selector.
5. Finish
   • Finish: Various colors, finish, and styles.
   • Headstock: Traditional D’Angelico, with logo and inlays.
   • Pickguard: F-Hole Style Tortoise (5-ply).

Additional Notes:

• Sonic Versatility: The baritone scale offers an extended tonal range downwards, making it suitable for genres such as metal, jazz, and other styles that benefit from a deeper voice.
• Design & Construction: High quality construction and attention to details.
• Aesthetics: D’Angelico guitars often combine a classic aesthetic with modern touches, creating instruments that are both vintage and contemporary.

D’Angelico guitars are known for their quality and style, and over the years have been chosen by many famous and professional musicians in various musical genres. Here are some well-known artists and groups who have used or use D’Angelico guitars:

Bob Weir:

The Grateful Dead guitarist even collaborated with D’Angelico to develop a signature model, the Bob Weir SS.

Susan Tedeschi:

A talented blues guitarist who is part of the Tedeschi Trucks Band, she is known for playing several D’Angelico models.

Kurt Rosenwinkel:

The renowned jazz guitarist has used D’Angelico guitars and also has a signature model under the brand.

Brad Whitford:

The Aerosmith guitarist has been spotted playing a D’Angelico on several occasions.

Isaiah Sharkey:

Another highly regarded guitarist who has worked with artists such as John Mayer and often plays D’Angelico guitars.

Chet Atkins:

The legendary country guitarist has been associated with several brands throughout his career, but has also been a well-known user of D’Angelicos.

John Tropea:

The renowned session man and solo artist has often used D’Angelico in his recordings and performances.

The artists listed are just a small selection of the total number of musicians who have chosen D’Angelico over the years. Due to their versatility and build quality, D’Angelico guitars have been extremely popular in various musical genres, from jazz to rock, blues to country, and beyond.

If you love guitars and their history there is a dedicated section here on the site, and also my YouTube channel to learn more about the subject.