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 →

Sound Pure Studios Control Room A — Durham, NC

Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC

Come hear it in our control rooms.

Sound Pure is a working studio in Durham, NC — a 1,000 sq ft live room and two pro control rooms. Book a session to audition gear in a world-class acoustic space before you buy.

$1,295