D'Angelico Excel Style B Dark Iced Tea Burst

A D'Angelico Archtop at the Heart of the Excel Series

With the Excel Style B, D'Angelico continues the tradition of characterful hollow body guitars designed to offer both true acoustic response and musical amplification. This "Dark Iced Tea Burst" variant highlights the brand's refined aesthetics, while the hardware (Grover tuners, Stairstep tailpiece, ebony fingerboard) clearly positions the model as a serious archtop for expressive and nuanced playing.

For Whom and Which Styles?

This Excel Style B is primarily aimed at intermediate to advanced guitarists seeking a comfortable and inspiring hollow body, especially for jazz, blues, swing, ballads, and all styles where right-hand dynamics and harmonic richness are central. Its short scale length facilitates bends and phrasing, and its neck pickup naturally emphasizes a round, singing, and articulated playing style.

Sound Characteristics

The combination of spruce top + flamed maple (back and sides) provides a balanced response: a clear attack, present mids, and acoustic projection typical of archtops. The DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 neck pickup (Alnico V) favors controlled warmth and very good definition, ideal for complex voicings and clean lines. The simple electronics (1 volume, 1 tone + 3-position selector) go straight to the essentials and allow quick adjustments while preserving the woody personality of a true hollow body.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To stay as close as possible to the original feel and balance, favor a set of 12-52 gauge strings (jazz type). A microfiber cloth is also useful to preserve the "Dark Iced Tea Burst" finish and keep the hardware clean daily.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	S	Bridge / tailpiece	Fixed
Category	Hollow body	Electronics	Passive
Left handed	No	Electroacoustic	Yes
Strings	Steel	Color	Gradient
Nbr of strings	6	Finishing	Glossy
Nbrs of frets	20	Hardware	Chromed

Type	hollow body guitar	Frets	20
Top	spruce	Neck thickness at 1st fret	21 mm / 0.83"
Back and sides	flamed maple	Neck thickness at 12th fret	23 mm / 0.91"
Thickness	7.62 cm / 3.00" (76.2 mm)	Truss rod	dual action
Width	43.18 cm / 17.00" (431.8 mm)	Bridge	floating ebony
Binding	7-ply	Tailpiece	D'Angelico Stairstep
Profile	C-shape	Tuners	Grover 150 Imperial
Construction	glued neck, 3-piece (maple/walnut/maple)	Pickguard	Scalini Solid black (5-ply)
Scale length	24.00" / 609.6 mm	Neck pickup	DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 (Alnico V)
Radius	12.00" / 304.8 mm	Controls	1 volume, 1 tone
Fingerboard	ebony	Selector	3-position
Inlays	"small diamonds" (acrylic)	Power	not applicable (passive electronics)
Nut width	43 mm / 1.69"	Finish	Dark Ice Tea Burst
Nut	Graphtech NuBone XL	Weight	6 kg