D'Angelico Excel EXL-1 Dark Iced Tea Burst

An Excel EXL-1 Archtop in the Spirit of D'Angelico

The Excel EXL-1 follows the tradition of great "hollow body" jazz guitars: generous craftsmanship, meticulous finishes (7-ply binding, 5-ply pickguard), and equipment designed for musicality. Within the D'Angelico range, it targets guitarists seeking a classic-looking archtop with a lively acoustic response and straightforward amplification focused on the neck tone.

For Which Guitarists and Styles?

This EXL-1 is aimed at intermediate to advanced guitarists who want a characterful guitar: traditional jazz, swing, bebop, chord melody, mellow blues, or even pop/indie looking for a full-bodied tone. The 3-position selector and the 1 volume / 1 tone control setup prioritize efficiency on stage and in the studio, allowing quick tonal adjustments.

The Sound

As a hollow body, the body fully contributes to the sound: the spruce top provides definition and precise attack, while the flamed maple back and sides enhance clarity and note sustain. The ebony floating bridge contributes to a natural response and beautiful dynamics, especially appreciated on complex chords. The Seymour Duncan 59 humbucker (Alnico V) neck pickup delivers a warm low register, singing mids, and smooth highs, with a balanced output level that transitions from warm clean tones to controlled jazz-blues crunch.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To maintain the original feel and balance, prefer electric strings with a 12-52 gauge (jazz set), identical to the factory setup. A standard strap will also be suitable for comfortable playing, with the case already included for transport.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	H	Nbrs of frets	22
Category	Hollow body	Body	Flamed Maple
Left handed	No	Bridge / tailpiece	Fixed
Strings	Steel	Electronics	Passive
Nbr of strings	6	Color	Gradient
Top	Spruce	Finishing	Glossy
Fingerboard	Ebony	Hardware	Gold

Type	hollow body guitar	Frets	22
Cutaway	yes	Neck thickness	fret 1 = 21 mm / 0.83"; fret 12 = 23 mm / 0.91"
Back and sides	flamed maple	Inlays	"small diamonds" (acrylic)
Body thickness	7.62 cm / 76.2 mm / 3.00"	Headstock attachment	Cupola
Body width	43.18 cm / 431.8 mm / 17.00"	Bridge	floating ebony
Binding	7-ply	Tailpiece	D'Angelico Stairstep
Finish	Dark Iced Tea Burst	Tuners	Grover 150 Imperial
Profile	C	Pickguard	Scalini Solid Black (5-ply)
Construction	set neck, 3-piece (maple/walnut/maple)	Neck pickup	USA Seymour Duncan 59 Humbucker (Alnico V)
Truss rod	double action	Controls	1 volume, 1 tone
Scale length	639 mm / 25.16"	Selector	3 positions
Nut width	43 mm / 1.69"	Power supply	none (passive electronics)
Nut	Graphtech NuBone XL	Case included	yes
Radius	304.8 mm / 12.00"	Weight	6 kg