Ted Girard
Hi Marc, I just wanted to write and tell you that I'm very happy with my Excel 1DP. I would never have considered a guitar made overseas until I got this one. It is gorgeous, well made and plays beautifully. I think it is a great value for the money, I would have expected to pay a lot more for this quality. I wanted to thank you and Nick for taking the time to answer all my questions and friendly service. I don't see how anyone considering this type of acoustic/electric/jazz guitar could do any better than deal direct with you. Thanks Again.
Marty Power
I received the NYSD-9 yesterday about 30 minutes before I left for my gig, so I decided I'd try it on the job. (I trust you guys - I'd NEVER bring a guitar literally right out of the box to a gig without inspecting it, changing strings, etc.) You have a winner with this one - it plays perfectly and sounds amazing. I played
it through a little 30 watt Ultrasound (duo jazz gig) and it sounded
marvelous; a solidbody that sounds great through a straight amp with no
effects/overdrive etc. is a rare bird, but this is one of those.
The feel is perfect, the neck is straight and fast, and the guitar is
gorgeous, although I honestly didn't examine it until after the gig - I
wanted to judge it strictly on playing and sound first, since I know you
always produce nice pieces. I'm extremely happy with this guitar - I
didn't think you'd come up with one that I'd like as much as my EXL-1DP.
Well done, and thanks!
Michael & James Colwell
“I had written to D’Angelico about some problems my son had encountered when he returned a guitar he’d purchased. I mentioned some costs that were incurred in the exchange between the original & replacement guitars. I thought you might send some guitar strings as compensation. I was shocked when you sent not only some strings but also a cheque for the total amount I said we incurred. This was very generous of you & I want to thank you most sincerely.
I have included photos of my son playing his D’Angelico guitar a few weeks ago. He has also played it at several school performances… as well as at the Huber College Year-End Showcase. He has several performances coming up this year, including one at the Int’l Association of Jazz Educators Conference in Toronto where you can be assured James will be playing his D’Angelico guitar.”
John M Stephens
"My son and I have bought a couple of quality guitars from Fazio's in St. Louis. My son has been getting more into jazz, so we have been shopping for a Gibson 335 which Fazio's does not sell.
Tuesday evening my son and I went to Fazio's for a clinic presented by Peter Mayer. Peter is a wonderful musician who is best known as a member of Jimmy Buffet's band. But Peter also writes and tours with his own band.
Anyway at the Fazio's clinic Peter was playing his Lowden acoustic and a Martin D28. But then he picked up your EX-DC, played it for the next 10-15 minutes of the program and just raved about the tone. After the clinic, we asked a Fazio's sales person what the hollow-body was that Peter was playing, fully expecting it to be some exotic $5K guitar we could only admire. He told us about you guys and then floored us with the under $2K price. My son played the EX-DC, loved it and we bought it on the spot. We felt it beat the 335 hands-down.
To tell you the truth, had we know it was Korean made we likely would not have bought it. Snobs I guess. But after looking at the EX-DC and playing it, we were way too blown away to even suspect it was not made in the USA.
I thought you would enjoy the story."
Phil Upchurch
"I love my EXL-1 you guys gave me at the show. Records great as all my D’Angelicos do direct into the boards everywhere I've recorded. Engineers are amazed as am I."
Eric Arbuckle - Glascow, Scotland
"I have recently purchased your beautiful Excel EXL-1 in the natural finish from Ad Lib Music and have to say that it is without doubt the best guitar I have ever played in 50 years of playing."
Ken W.
On his NYL-4: "This guitar is a Sunburst model and is really the best guitar I've ever owned (30 years of playing/owning guitars) and the best I've ever played. The sound is opening up nicely...and every time I pass by it, it screams at me to pick it up and play it! You guys do a great job!! .... Thanks for making the lifelong dream of owning a D'Angelico guitar a reality."
Jon L
-on his NYSS-3B
"I can't get over this guitar, the neck pick up is super dark, but the bridge pickup gives me that Frisell sound. I love this."
Mark C
I got the guitar this afternoon. Oh what a great box! I was concerned about quality control and set up but this thing seems flawless. You must remember I have the real deal, a 1953 New Yorker that is a hard comparison. The look is there and it plays wonderful so far. I would rate it better than some of the handcarved guitars that some makers are getting double and triple prices for.
I also play a Hollenbeck (he made one of the Blue Guitars for Chinery) and of course it is wonderful. I just wanted you fellows to know you have a mighty happy customer and I would recommend you to anyone.
Ron Gallahan
Truly a Beautiful,Well Made,And Great Sounding Guitar.I Love The Feel & Playability of My Limited Edtion D'Angelico,As well as the looks I get when I pull it from it's case & it's heard by friends for the first time.After hearing "Duke Robillard" play a DiAngelico some years back, I'd wanted one badly.And finally sold a couple of 'Les Pauls' to buy the one I now own.Had I known they were so affordable (The Newer Models),I'd have bought one after hearing one of my guitar heroes playing his.I would'nt sell mine for anyhing.Thank you for bringing back a classic,that is just as well made,looks maybe even more beautiful,and kicks serious butt.A Blues & Jazz lover's dream.
Thank You!!
'Austin Blues Society Member'
'San Antonio Blues Society Member'
'Music City Blues Society Member'
'Tennessee Jazz & Blues Society Member'
Rick B.
I wanted to say, once again, that I'm just totally blown away by this instrument, and that you guys are just the absolute best in every way (customer service included)...thanks for making my dream come true!
T. Gilton
"...I just wanted to mention that I LOVE my NYL-2. ...Mandolin Bros sent me a sunburst (had it for nearly a year now), which I will take to my grave... I have been through a LOT of guitars (currently have 9), and only 2 of them are "take to the grave" instruments: the NYL-2 and my Lowden O25."
Kurt Rosenwinkel
"When I’m absorbed in playing, I don’t want to be distracted by the guitar, and with the D’Angelico, I can trust the workmanship; I can trust it to always stay in tune and always give me the sound I need."
Norman Brown
"I love the feel of each note on the neck of a D'Angelico guitar, and because each note is even in tone I can express myself with ease and consistency. The excellent quality of the wood produces a smooth, flexible sound that I use for Solo guitar and straight-ahead playing, as well as my slightly edgy Lead guitar sound. They are beautifully crafted. All around, D'Angelicos are Great Guitars!"
Phil Upchurch
There is no better guitar than the D'Angelico. Without exception, every guitarist that plays mine wants one for himself
Paul Yandell
The NYSS-3 is one of the easiest playing guitars I've ever used. The workmanship is excellent, it has a great sound, I think it is a winner!
Mark Ledford
"My NYL-2 is the perfect classic jazz box, and the NYSD-9 Solidbody is unparalleled in its versatility. For me, all roads lead to D'Angelico!"
Michael Aarons
D'Angelico's are BY FAR the best archtops on the market -- in ANY price range. Not to mention specific brand names of other makers, but the quality, workmanship, tone and feel are far superior to anything I have ever played
Bryan 'B' Hilton
From the first note I played on my NYL-2 I knew I never needed to look at another guitar. From a dark rich jazz tone to a bluesy growl my D'Angelico's gives me all the sounds I need.
Rik C.
Just wanted to say thanks for all your help with my purchase of my new NYL-2 Custom. It is the most amazing guitar I've ever had the pleasure to play. Both my jazz instructor and myself have noticed that every day the guitar just seems to "open up" and develop deeper and richer tone. When I received it, I literally went over it with a hand-held magnifying glass and could find absolutely NO FLAWS whatsoever!!! This guitar has actually made me a better player in just a week. I play longer and easier, the action is incredible... The vintage natural is simply beautiful and shows off the perfectly matched flamed maple back and sides (looks 3 dimensional sometimes). Again, thank you for helping make this major purchase such an enjoyable experience. I can honestly say that after looking and playing just about everything out there, I made the right choice!
Dan H.
Wow! This guitar will never see the market place again during my lifetime. It is beautiful, perfect, sounds wonderful, plays better than it sounds, and I think I have bonded with it. It is the guitar of a lifetime.
Thank you for making such an astonishing thing.
Gary G.
About a year ago, I purchased a D'Angelico NYL-4, 18" archtop guitar. I have to say, this guitar continues to amaze and delight not only myself, but all who hear and see it. After a year, the guitar has "opened up" a bit, and become even more expressive. I admit, I rarely bother to plug the guitar in unless necessary, preferring to enjoy the natural acoustics of this instrument. I am amazed at the variety of tones available in this guitar. Thanks again for a great guitar.
Bill S.
"I recently purchased a lovely sunburst NYL-2...I just wanted to let you know that I am thrilled with the instrument, from its appearance to its playability to its sound. It not only challenges me to be a better guitarist. It also is helping me get there."
Mark A.
"Just wanted to say thanks for all your help. I'm glad you guys stick behind your product. The D'Angelico line is a great value and a great instrument and I'm glad to be a part of the whole thing."
Bill G.
"Have to tell you how much I like this instrument. It is wonderful in every way, and a pleasure to play. I had been looking for a smaller bodied jazz instrument and am very pleased to have found the NYS-2. It sounds great behind my singer."
Greg Skaff
"For me, the D'Angelico is the ultimate jazz guitar."
Phil Upchurch
"Once you experience playing a D'Angelico, you just simply won't want to play any other guitar."
Will Matthews
"My D'Angelico is the best guitar I've ever owned. It's evenly balanced, plays fast and sounds great acoustically, and even better with my amp."
Jerry Hahn
"D'Angelico guitars sound great, feel good and are beautiful."
Grant Green Jr.
"One of the best guitars I have ever played... Plays evenly... Hits every note... A superior instrument!"
Duke Robillard
"The new D'Angelico archtop is the archtop guitar lover's dream, with its attention to original detail, great tone and its smooth playing neck."
Dave Zaworski
"As a reissue of a vintage guitar that is deified by collectors across the globe, the NYL-2 may attract detractors who cry that it isn't really a D'Angelico. That's their loss, because the new D'Angelico NYL-2 is a solidly constructed archtop with an extremely desirable straight ahead jazz tone that is a fine option for guitarists who desire high-quality sound and feel at a practical price."
D'Angelico NYL-2: Vintage style at a practical price
From Downbeat Magazine, May, 2001
Ray Matuza
"D’Angelico Guitars of America earns high marks in capturing the vibe and producing a fine replica of an instrument deemed to be one of the holy grails among jazz players and collectors alike."
