D’Angelico upgrades flagship Excel EXL-1 archtop guitar

By Michael Astley-Brown
published

Seymour Duncan mini-humbucker and visual tweaks

The Excel EXL-1 is D’Angelico’s own version of founder John D’Angelico’s original archtop design, and it’s been upgraded for 2018.

Tweaks include the addition of a Seymour Duncan Johnny Smith floating mini-humbucker, plus Art Deco-inspired details, including a scroll-style neck bevel, mother-of-pearl inlays on an ebony bridge, and split-block inlays on a pau ferro fingerboard.

Elsewhere, the model retains its 17-inch-wide, three-inch-deep body and classy stairstep tailpiece.

The Excel EXL-1 is available now starting at $1,499. Head over to D’Angelico Guitars for more.

Michael Astley-Brown
Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.