Born in NYC’s Little Italy, D’Angelico is widely regarded as one of the finest archtop guitar manufacturers of the 20th century. Nowadays, they make guitars of all shapes and sizes; all built with the same exceptional detail, mastery and flair that put them on the map.
The Excel EXL-1 is the modern-day counterpart to John D’Angelico’s original archtop. Typically spellbinding looks, and an authentic design with a handful of modern appointments, this timeless instrument delivers hollow-body warmth in 21st Century fashion.
Body & Neck
The Excel EXL-1’s curvy single-cut body employs a Flame Maple construction with a laminate Spruce top. This provides plenty of top-end clarity to counter the hollow-body warmth, with a pinch of acoustic-esque resonance for good measure.
The multi-piece neck employs a strip of Walnut sandwiched between solid Maple. This adds yet more midrange/top-end brightness to the woolly humbucker sound, great for bringing out your jazz leads and rhythmic comping.
Hardware & Electronics
A single USA Seymour Duncan Johnny Smith floating mini-humbucker sits in the neck position, just like the archtop designs of old. This class-style pickup ensures a warm, dynamic response that perfectly complements the tonewood combination.
As with many of D’Angelico’s modern hollow offerings, the Excel EXL-1 is generously adorned with gold hardware, top to bottom. Grover Super Rotomatic tuners, skyscraper truss rod cover and the classic Stairstep tailpiece all ooze art-deco swagger.
Specifications
Body
- Body style: hollowbody
- Shape: single cutaway
- Body material: Laminate Flame Maple
- Top material: Laminate Spruce
- Binding (top): 5-ply
- Pickguard: Tortoise Scalini (5-ply)
Neck
- Neck material: Maple/Walnut/Maple
- Neck shape: C-shape
- Neck joint: set-thru
- Fretboard material: Pau Ferro
- Truss rod: dual action
- Scale length: 25.5”
- Radius: 16”
- Inlays: Mother of Pearl Split Block
- Frets: 22, medium jumbo
Electronics
- Neck pickup: USA Seymour Duncan Johnny Smith Floating Humbucker
- Controls: volume, tone
Hardware
- Tuners: Grover Super Rotomatic
- Nut material: Bone
- Bridge: Ebony with MOP inlays
- Tailpiece: D’Angelico Stairstep
