D’Angelico Excel Vintage Archtop Guitar 1937 – Sunburst

Here we have a vintage archtop carved by master builder John D’Angelico. This Excel is serial number 1293, dated 10/28/37 in the ledger and sold to Moresco Bros in Bridgeport, CT. This guitar reportedly spent many years on the bandstand with a professional player in New York City before being held in a couple of private collections.

This Excel is in very good overall condition with some (to be expected) maintenance and updates having been done. The neck is rebound and the fingerboard is refretted. The original inlays were re-engraved and filled. The original guard disintegrated long ago, but a modern competent replacement is now installed. There is a top crack that has been repaired under the guard. The tuning machines are era-correct, but not original to the instrument. The peg holes had been widened for modern Grover imperials, but were doweled to accommodate the retrofitted shafts of the current vintage Grover set. There is a filled hole on the back of the headstock where we suspect someone drilled out a tuning machine screw that had broken off. The bridge is an old competent replacement. The headstock finial is a replacement.

The finish is original on this guitar. The finish on the back of the neck has been played off over time. The body, F hole, and headstock binding are all original and in good condition. There is some wear on the side of the guitar where it rests on the player’s leg. The back shows lacquer checking along the center seam, but the seam itself appears to be closed and stable. Beyond the noted top crack, the guitar is otherwise free of cracks or breaks. It is in great playing condition.

Tonally, this one has everything going for it. It has a wonderful deep bass note with mid-range overtones, and a nice crisp high end. It’s clear, full, and complex with plenty of sustain. The top is open and drives easily. The guitar reaches volume effortlessly, but still sounds sweet played delicately. The scale length is 24 3/4″, and the nut width is 1 11/16″. It weighs 6lbs 6oz. The neck is a full vintage C shape that measures .930 to 1.070 at the 1st and 10th.

This is a fantastic archtop guitar. Ships in a modern SKB molded case and includes the old Lifton hardshell case that this guitar has lived in for many decades.