D'Angelico
Born in 1905 in Little Italy, on Manhattan's Lower East Side, John D’Angelico became an apprentice to his grand uncle Signor Ciani when he was only 9 years old. Signor Ciano was an expert violin and mandolin maker. D’Angelico adopted the principles from his grand uncle and incorporated them into his world-renowned and strictly hand-made archtop guitars. He produced them in a very limited quantity — during the late 1930s John and his two employees produced approx. 35 instruments per year.
In the 1940s John D’Angelico was already known as the finest builder of archtop guitars although some generous offers were made by large manufacturers, John D’Angelico kept his independence as he knew that his loyalty lay on the craft of his instruments. In the cold winter of 1964, D'Angelico passed away from heart failure. He was only 59 years old.
47 years after D’Angelico’s death the brand was rebuilt by an enthusiastic and ambitious team in D’Angelico’s home town, New York City. The passion and meticulous attention to supreme sound and details which John was renowned for remained within the company.
D’Angelico, a legend reborn!
Just breathe. Youâre not seeing things. The EX-175 is the only DâAngelico archtop equipped with a Bigsby vibrato. With a strong, crisp low-end and a fiercely cranky high-end, the EX-175 is made for players seeking the new rock edge DâAngelico provides. The Bigsby allows for anything from glassy shimmers to warped dizzy-spells, while the roller bridge guarantees stable tuning. Dare to be dynamic: the EX-175 is resilient to feedback and can be pushed harder than most archtops while still maintaining clarity. Its ultra-slim taper neck makes for supreme comfort, whether youâre blazing through gained-up note-heavy licks or carefully articulating fingerpicked lines.
Much style. Much sound. The EX-DC is DâAngelicoâs response to the rising popularity of the double-cutaway semi-hollow electric guitar. Powered by dual Kent Armstrong humbuckers, the EX-DC was designed with versatility in mind, offering a marriage of enveloping fullness and vivid high-end that never gets tinny. Its heavier body is balanced wonderfully by the signature DâAngelico headstock, while its standard neck shape and medium jumbo frets make for great comfort. Never short on style, the EX-DC is also available with a gold stairstep tailpiece and comes in a variety of colors, including a striking seafoam green.
The perfect live guitar. The EX-SS packs a lot of punch in its 15-inch body, the smallest of all the DâAngelico archtops. Truly a versatile instrument, the EX-SS boasts a rich, full-bodied low-end when on the neck pickup, and a powerful mid-range on the bridge pickup. High-output Kent Armstrong humbuckers deliver crisp attack and balanced resonance, making the EX-SS perfect for live settings. The signature DâAngelico stairstep trapeze-style tailpiece offers style and purpose, providing comfortable string tension for bluesy bends. The EX-SS shines when kept clean or boosted with overdrive, ideal for RnB, jazz, rock, and all the nameless places in between.
The EX-59 dates back to 1959. Originally designed by master-luthier John DâAngelico in 1959, the EX-59 is a classic archtop but equipped with P-90 pickups, ideal for the player who wants to exercise some attitude. Its 17-inch body and signature DâAngelico headstock come together to create excellent balance and playability. An exact replica of the original EX-59, this reissue keeps the â59 flair, accentuated by the absence of a pickguard and complete with retro-vibe volume and tone knobs. Buttery but unafraid to bite, the EX-59 has been adopted by blues icon Robert Randolph as his guitar of choice.