 D'ANGELICO | | ACOUSTIC MODELS/STYLES | Most D'Angelicos are in better than average condition. Because each guitar was normally custom built per individual specifications, there is very little standardized pricing structure within the variations. The price range of a D'Angelico guitar can be under $10,000 for a repaired, player's grade instrument; the high range has exceeded $100,000 - specifically depending on the condition, rarity, and even previous owner premium in some cases. It is highly recommended that several professional appraisals be secured before buying/selling/trading any D'Angelico guitar.
With the rise of the "archtop renaissance" in the 1990s, a number of current luthiers are offering very high quality archtops in the same price range as the player's grade D'Angelicos (various models that have had professional repair). As a result, the player's grade D'Angelico market is fairly soft these days while challenged by the instruments of such builders as Triggs, Mortoro, De Cava, and a number of others. | | EARLY MODELS (1932-34) | | - various configurations of models produced between 1932 and 1934. |
| STYLE A | | - 17 in. wide, generally parallel braced, carved spruce top, carved maple back and maple sides, f-holes not bound, three-ply bound body (some early models single bound,) adjustable ebony bridge, rounded bound tortoiseshell celluloid pickguard (later models with bound stair step guard,) bound ebony fingerboard with block position markers (some early models with dots,) usually equipped with simpler trapeze and Grover DeLuxe tailpieces, bound three-point or five-point headstock, early models having a block inlays bearing "D'Angelico" logo and model name (later models w/"Style A" engraved on inlaid shield design and inlaid "D'Angelico" script logo), button tuners, originally available only in full Dark Brown Sunburst, some later models in Blonde, all metal parts nickel-plated. Earliest ledger date: 3/10/36. Last ledger date: 9/14/45. |
| STYLE A-1 | | - 17 in. wide, parallel braced, carved spruce top, carved maple back and maple sides, single bound top, f-holes not bound, adjustable ebony bridge, rounded single bound tortoiseshell celluloid pickguard (later examples w/double stairstep pickguard), single bound ebony fingerboard with block position markers (some models w/ dots), usually equipped wtih simpler trapeze or Grover DeLuxe tailpiece (some later models with hinged "A-1" tailpiece - flat plate trapeze with diagonal cross bar and arched string retainer), single bound arched headstock bearing "D'Angelico" pearl script logo and engraved diagonal pearl block with "A-1" name, button tuners, sunburst top only, all metal parts nickel plated. Earliest ledger date: 5/2/38. Last ledger date: 11/20/43. |
| STYLE B | | - 17 in.wide, generally parallel braced, carved spruce top, carved maple back and maple sides, f-holes not bound, three-ply to five-ply bindings on top, adjustable ebony bridge, rounded bound tortoiseshell celluloid pickguard (later models w/ bound double stair step pickguard), bound ebony fingerboard with block position markers and pendant arch, early models with simpler trapeze or Grover DeLuxe tailpieces, later models with stair step tailpiece, triple-bound broken arch pediment headstock (with decorative finial) with "Style B" in banner, oval pearl marquetry inlay (later models with engraved "Style B" on inlaid pearl shield) and inlaid "D'Angelico" script logo, button tuners (later examples with Grover Imperials), originally available only in full reddish brown Sunburst, some later models in Blonde, all metal parts gold-plated. Earliest ledger date: 9/2/33. Last ledger date: 2/17/48. |
| EXCEL | | - 17 in.wide, generally X-braced, carved spruce top, carved maple back and maple sides, one-ply to three-ply bound f-holes, seven-ply binding on top, adjustable ebony bridge, engraved three-ply to five-ply bound double or triple stair step tortoiseshell celluloid pickguard, triple bound ebony fingerboard with engraved block position markers and pendant arch, early models with w/ simpler trapeze or Grover DeLuxe tailpieces, (later models see preceding explanation), three-ply to five-ply bound broken arch pediment headstock (with decorative finial - some later with center dip headstock), with script "Excel" logo inlaid in shield (some early examples labeled "Exel") and pearl "D'Angelico" script logo (pearl or aluminum skyscraper truss rod cover by the late '40s), scalloped Grover tuners (later examples with Grover Imperials), originally available only in full reddish Brown Sunburst, Blonde option by late '30s, all metal parts gold-plated. Earliest ledger date: 3/16/36, some earlier undated entries. |
| Excel Cutaway | | - similar to the Excel, except has a single cutaway, earliest ledger date: 05/09/47. |
| MEL BAY (SPECIAL) | - Earliest ledger date: 05/07/49. A variation of the New Yorker, headstock inlaid with the guitarist's name. Sold through Gravois Music, St. Louis, MO.
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| NEW YORKER | | - 18 in.wide, generally X-braced, carved spruce top, carved maple back and maple sides, seven-ply (or more) binding on top, five-ply bound f-holes, inlaid ebony bridge, engraved seven-ply bound tortoiseshell celluloid triple stairstep pickguard, three-ply bound ebony fingerboard with diagonally segmented pearl block position markers and pendant arch (tailpieces see preceding explanation), center dip headstock with seven-ply binding (some later models with broken arch pediment headstock and decorative finial), inlaid pearl script "D'Angelico" logo, "New Yorker" skyscraper logo (pearl or aluminum skyscraper truss rod cover by the late '40s), Grover Imperial tuners (some with Kluson "Seal-Fast" models), originally available in full reddish brown sunburst, blonde option by late '30s, all metal parts gold-plated. Earliest ledger date: 9/26/36. |
| New Yorker Cutaway | | - similar to the New Yorker, except with a single cutaway, earliest ledger date: 9/18/48. |
| New Yorker Special | | - similar to the New Yorker Cutaway, except with a 17 in. body, earliest ledger date: 11/26/47. Listed as "small NY Cutaway," also later referred to as "Excel New Yorker" or "Excel Cutaway Johnnie (sic) Smith" model. Smith's personal guitar (01/05/55) was listed as an "Excel 1000." All names were applied interchangeably to 17 in. Excel Cutaways with New Yorker appointments. |
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