As storied as is the name D’Angelico in the world of high-end custom archtop guitars, it’s been exciting to see both the brand and the art deco styling applied to several lines of more varied—and more affordable—models in recent years.
As storied as is the name D’Angelico in the world of high-end custom archtop guitars, it’s been exciting to see both the brand and the art deco styling applied to several lines of more varied—and more affordable—models in recent years. New to the mid-priced Excel lineup, these Shoreline guitars are semi-acoustic thinlines in both single-and double-cutaway guise, each with full-on D’Angelico bling and some lively new color schemes. Both guitars were tested through custom tweed Deluxe and JTM45-style amps, with a selection of overdrive pedals.
EXCEL SS SHORELINE
Although the basic shape might hark back to several smaller-bodied archtops—Gibson’s ES-225 and ES-125 and Ibanez’s George Benson Signature model among them—D’Angelico’s new Excel SS Shoreline adds a mash-up of Manhattan jazz and Memphis rockabilly to create an unlikely mélange that works surprisingly well. Given the fancy empire headstock, pearl block markers, multi-ply binding, ebony knobs, bound tortoiseshell pickguard, and gold hardware—all compounded by a gloss Surf Green finish on this example—it’s a look that you really might have to own if you buy one. But make it your thing, and it’s a guitar that really cuts a stunning figure in a wide variety of genres, from post-bop to blues to psychobilly, with a stop at just about all stations in between.
The 15"-wide, 1.75"-deep body with single rounded cutaway has been crafted of the traditional semi-acoustic ingredients of laminated maple top, back, and sides and a solid center block. The glued-in neck is a three-piece maple construction with a lusciously dark rosewood fretboard and a genuine bone nut, all applied to