D’Angelico upgrades flagship Excel EXL-1 archtop guitar

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

Mike is editor-in-chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He's spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, and 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.