D'Angelico Guitars from J Hale Music

The D'Angelico Guitar Story
Master Luthier John D'Angelico created his first archtop guitar in New York in 1932. From that time, 1164 guitars were made before John D'Angelico's death in 1964. During the 32 year period, there were primarily four archtop guitar models, the New Yorker, Excel, Style A and Style B. However, many instruments were made including double cutaways, electric blues guitars with mounted humbuckers and tone controls, mandolins, and a few eccentric items as well. Today the original D'Angelico Guitars are extremely valued as collector's items, and command very high prices.

Now, in addition to the New Yorker models, D'Angelico Guitars Of America re-introduces the Excel line of jazz guitars. Years of development have gone into these new Asian built instruments and it shows! Delightful to hand, ear, and eye ... these instruments are absolute winners! Whether its a jazz guitar or a blues guitar, the D'Angelico Guitar Excel line is a serious contender. There are 3 models: the EXS-1DH (16" archtop guitar), EXL-1 (17" archtop guitar) and EX-DC (double cutaway blues guitar). Owner and jazz guitar player Jeff Hale liked the first EXS-1DH so much that he kept it for himself and gigs with it regularly.

Good News!!  Effective April 21, 2008, we have reached an agreement with D'Angelico Guitars which allows us to once again offer these fine Excel model guitars for sale- Please Click On the "Click Here" link below


NEW!! The New Yorker NY-SD is the Rolls Royce of solid-bodies.

The finest mahogany is used for the arched back & neck, alongwith a solid, highly-figured, carved maple top that adds both equisite beauty & a signature "snap" to the amplified tone of the guitar. A pair of gold-plated humbucking pickups along with an adjustable bridge & stop-tailpiece produce a classic solid-body sound.

Luxury appointments like the multi-ply binding, gold-plated Grover Imperial tuners & genuine mother-of-pearl split-block fingerboard inlay make this truly a unique gem among other solid-body instruments. Big tone, warm sustain & eye-catching beauty make the NY-SD the perfect guitar whether you're into screaming rock, subtle jazz or anything in-between. The NY-SD is a totally balanced, comfortable & practical work of art.

Available Now!


New Yorker NY-SD: J Hale Price $1,395.00- includes hardshell case and our complete professional setup.

Specify finish color during checkout in "Special Instruction" area. Choose from Natural, Sunburst, Wine Red, Blueburst, Blackburst, Black Cherryburst.

 

 

New Yorker Archtops are SOLD OUT. It is not certain when more will be available. We will update our site as new information becomes available.

The NYSS Semi Hollow will be available later this year. These instruments will be Korean built and sell for $1,595.00 with case. Contact us should you want to reserve one.

After nearly 2 years these fine instruments are once again available.  Hand built in Nagoya Japan, these new instruments feature CARVED spruce tops with highly flamed laminate back and sides.  Previous NYL instruments were built with pressed solid spruce tops. 

The NY17 (floating Kent Armstrong pickup) and NY17M (mounted/built-in Kent Armstrong pickup) feature 17" multi-bound body, polished brass stairstep tailpiece, ebone bridge, tortoise style pickguard with volume/tone controls, single built-in humbucker with adjustable pole pieces, 3" rim depth, bound f-holes, ebony fingerboard with split block MOP inlays, 25 1/2" scale length, nut width measures 1 11/16". Grover Imperial tuners, multi-bound headstock with ebony overlays and fancy D'Angelico Inlays.  Beautifully rich acoustic and amplified tone. Includes deluxe hardshell case. 

The NY16 is a 16" version of the NY17M with mounted Kent Armstrong humbucking pickup.

Our custom shop setup is included with every D'Angelico instrument. This setup is very thorough with frets leveled and dressed, individual string height adjusted at the nut, intonation and truss rod adjustments, adjustment of pickup pole pieces and your choice of strings. Each instrument from J Hale will be fully and carefully inspected for mechanical and electrical integrity. When you receive your guitar it will play beautifully. We will also include our standard, 48 hour approval policy. 

Sold Out - NY17 with hardshell case: $3,995.00
Sold Out -NY17M with hardshell case: $3,995.00
Sold Out - NY16 with hardshell case: $3,995.00


Click on thumbnails below for full sized pictures.

NY17M Violin Finish


USA Handcrafted New Yorker NYL2's.  These instruments rival originals built by John D'Angelico and are hand crafted by Master Luthier Bill Comins. List Price is $30,000.00. Currently Unavailable.
Call 262 367 5720 By Special Order .
Click on thumbnails below for full sized pictures.


Currently SOLD OUT - Available Fall 2008. NYSS Semi Hollowbody: This popular design is well on its way to becoming a 21st century classic. The NYSS is the most versatile instrument in the D'Angelico family, as well as one of the most popular. With full-sized Kent Armstrong humbuckers mounted in a select spruce top with a solid maple tone-block, this great&guitar lends itself to warm Jazz, screamin' Blues, raunchy Rock & soulful R&B. It has big tone, sustain for days & it's smaller, thinline body & shorter scale makes it a comfortable, balanced beauty.
The performance on this top-of-the-line semi-hollow is second to none, &in the grand D'Angelico tradition, there is no more luxurious guitar of its type. The NYSS retains all of the trademark New Yorker appointments, including multiple bound highly figured maple back & sides, a bound stairstep tortoise-shell pickguard, genuine mother-of-pearl split block fingerboard inlays, our gold-plated D'Angelico stairstep tailpiece & gold-plated Grover Imperial tuners. No other semi-hollow can offer the dazzling beauty & tone of this stunning creation. The NYSS is truly in a class all its own.

Neck: Figured Maple with Ebony fingerboard, 24.75" scale length, 1 11/16th" nut width, Pure mother-of-pearl inlay, Rosewood headstock veneer, 22 frets

Body: Hand-carved archtop construction, Solid German Spruce top with solid figured Maple back & sides 14.75" W x 1.75"D, Single venetian cutaway, 7-ply ivoroid binding

Electronics & Hardware: Gold plated Kent Armstrong humbuckers, Gold plated "tune-o-matic" style bridge, Faux tortoise-shell pickguard, 2 individual volume & tone controls, Gold-Plated 3-way toggle switch. Gold-plated D'Angelico stairstep tailpiece, Gold-plated Grover Imperial tuners

SOLD OUT