Sound Pure's Take
Condition: Used, Excellent
SP Luthier Notes: This instrument has been carefully inspected and, if necessary, serviced by our certified luthier to ensure it is in excellent playing condition.
The D’Angelico EXL-1 is a classic New York-style archtop built for players who appreciate warm, sophisticated jazz tones and timeless craftsmanship. Its fully hollow 17-inch body, laminated spruce top, and flame maple back and sides create a rich, acoustic voice with excellent projection and natural resonance. The floating Seymour Duncan Johnny Smith mini humbucker preserves the guitar’s acoustic character while adding a smooth, articulate amplified sound that excels for jazz, chord melody, and clean fingerstyle playing. Elegant details like the ebony bridge, Stairstep tailpiece, split-block inlays, and gold hardware complete its vintage-inspired aesthetic. Warm, refined, and effortlessly expressive, the EXL-1 captures the spirit of the great archtops that defined the golden age of jazz guitar.
From D'Angelico Guitars
The flagship archtop in the D'Angelico line has returned—now in two colorways with two different pickup configurations. Inspired by John D'Angelico's single-cutaway "Excel" model that was first introduced in 1947, the Excel EXL-1 offers woody, articulate tone, ideal for both rhythm and lead playing. Featuring a redesigned neck shape, the EXL-1 promises the perfect balance of comfort and heft, still prioritizing remarkable mobility but also offering improved handfit. On the Dark Iced Tea Burst finish, a full-sized Seymour Duncan 59 humbucker yields broad tone with singing sustain, while a Johnny Smith Floating Mini-bucker on the new Amber finish offers woody, focused tone that prioritizes body top resonance. Features include Grover hardware, an ebony fingerboard, and Jescar fretwire.
CONSTUCTION
- Headstock Shape
- Standard
- Logo Inlay
- Mother of Pearl D'Angelico New York Logo
- Series Inlay (Front)
- Mother of Pearl Excel Shield Logo
- Binding
- 3-ply
- Finish
- Gloss
- Headpin
- Cupola
- Tuners
- Grover 150 Imperial
- Strings
- D'Angelico Electrozinc Jazz 12's (12-52)
- Truss Rod Cover
- Aluminum Skyscraper
- Nut Width
- 1 11/16” (43mm)
- Nut Material
- Graphtech NuBone XL
- Fingerboard Material
- Ebony
- Binding
- 3-ply
- Fretwire
- Jescar 47/104 Nickel Silver
- Scale Length
- 25.5"
- Radius
- 12"
- Top Inlay
- Mother of Pearl Split Block
- Side Marker
- Yes
- Fret Number
- 22
- Neck Material
- 3 piece
- Finish
- Gloss
- Profile
- C-Shape
- Joint Type
- Set Neck
- Thickness
- 1F: 21mm, 12F: 23mm
- Truss Rod
- Dual Action
- Body Shape
- Single Cutaway
- Body Style
- Hollowbody
- Body Depth
- 3"
- Body Width
- 17"
- Color
- Amber
- Finish
- Gloss
- Top Material
- Laminated Spruce
- Back Material
- Laminated Flame Maple
- Side Material
- Laminated Flame Maple
- Binding
- 7-ply
- Bridge
- Floating Ebony Wood
- Tailpiece
- D’Angelico Stairstep
- Pickguard
- Tortoise Scalini (5-ply)
- Back Plate
- N/A
- Pickup Selector
- N/A
- Knobs
- 2 Mini Hexagon
- Strap Buttons
- Gold, Locking
ELECTRONICS
- Overview
- 1 Pickguard Mounted Floating Mini Humbucker
- Controls
- 1 volume / 1 tone
- Pickup (Neck)
- USA Seymour Duncan Johnny Smith Floating Mini Humbucker
- Pots
- 500k
- Output Jack
- Standard Mono
- Case
- Hardshell
- Weight
- 7lbs 2oz
Warranty
This item is sold without the Sound Pure 3-year warranty (used / B-stock / dealer-exempt). Coverage terms for items in this category live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.
Returns
Try Before You Buy: take it home, commit only when it's right. Program details →
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Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC
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