Does D’Angelico Make Left Handed Guitars?
Yes, left handed D’Angelico guitars do exist. Although at the time of writing, there is just one available model from the current lineup; the Excel EXL-1.
There does, however, seem to be the odd older left handed D’Angelico guitar still available, at the time of writing, which I’ve included here too. They’ll be in limited supply though.
Go straight to the left handed D’Angelico guitars.
Otherwise, read on for more info.
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Some famous players of D’Angelico instruments include Pete Townshend (The Who), George Benson, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan), Melissa Etheridge, Chris Daughtry (Daughtry), Brendan Benson (The Raconteurs), Luke Pritchard (The Kooks), Jack Johnson, Tomo Fujita, and Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Go’s).
Well-known lefties who’ve played D’Angelico guitars include Elliot Easton (The Cars), Hayley Kiyoko, Cautious Clay, and Jonathan Butler.
Who Are D’Angelico Guitars?
D’Angelico Guitars was founded in 1932 in New York City by master luthier John D’Angelico, who opened a small shop in Manhattan’s Little Italy.
Here, John D’Angelico would produce made-to-order guitars using the skills he’d learned from his grand uncle Ciani, who was a respected violin maker.
By the late 1930s, D’Angelico was producing, on average, 35 instruments per year, and by the end of World War II, he had gained a reputation as the “finest builder of archtop guitars”, with his instruments being used by many of the rising stars of jazz at the time.
In 1952, 17-year-old James D’Aquisto was offered a job as an apprentice at D’Angelico, cleaning windows, sweeping up, and running errands.
D’Aquisto would go on to help design and build guitars considered to be of the “Golden Era” of D’Angelico, from the late ’50s to the early ’60s. His designs were recognized for their luxurious and detailed style.
By the early ’60s, D’Aquisto took over much of the instrument production, due to John D’Angelico’s growing health problems, and by 1964, D’Angelico passed away from heart failure at the age of 59.
D’Aquisto purchased the D’Angelico shop from the D’Angelico family, but later built guitars under his own name.
Much later, in 1999, the D’Angelico brand was taken over by John Ferolito Sr., a businessman, guitar player, and collector.
Several years later, in 2011, Ferolito Sr. sold the brand to new owners; his son John Ferolito, and partners Steve Pisani, and Brendan Cohen, who extensively researched John D’Angelico’s guitar-building to continue his high-quality craftsmanship, with the plan to also make them accessible on a worldwide scale.
Nowadays, D’Angelico takes all the hallmarks of their timeless guitar designs of the ’30s, offering both new and historical guitar models, including archtops, semi-hollows, solid bodies, and acoustics.
My Thoughts On D’Angelico Guitars?
I didn’t really know much about D’Angelico guitars until relatively recently. I’d heard of them back in the early nineties but largely ignored them, as I wasn’t into hollow-body or semi-hollow guitars at the time.
It was only around 2018 that I took a little more notice of them, as I was struck by their fancy-looking features; from the gold hardware to the Art Deco-inspired stylings.
They have exceptional build quality and of course they sound great too!
The Different Types of D’Angelico Guitars
D’Angelico produces various types of guitar; Hollow Bodies, Semi-Hollows, Solid Bodies, and Acoustics. They’re available across three different Series:
- Premier Series – These are the core models and are the most affordable line of D’Angelico guitars. Made in Indonesia.
- Excel Series – D’Angelico’s standard line of vintage-inspired guitars, which feature premium tonewoods and branded hardware and pickups. Made in Korea.
- Deluxe Series – These include Limited Editions and custom features, along with premium tonewoods and pro-quality hardware and pickups. Made in Korea.
Related reading:
Check out these beautifully crafted left handed Duesenberg guitars!
How about these handsome Gretsch guitars?
Left Handed D’Angelico Guitars
Please note: Where lefty guitar or bass images haven’t been provided on the official website, I’ve flipped the right handed image to show what the left handed version might look like.
D’Angelico Excel EXL-1
$1,499.99 MSRP, Made in Korea
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.5″ (648 mm)
- TOP: Laminated Flame Maple
- BACK / SIDES: Laminated Flame Maple
- NECK: Set-Thru – 3 piece with Dual Action Truss Rod
- NECK PROFILE: C-Shape
- NECK FINISH: Gloss
- FINGERBOARD: Pau Ferro with Mother of Pearl/Abalone Split-Block Inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 16″
- FRETS: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
- NUT TYPE: Bone
- NUT WIDTH: 1 11/16″
- BRIDGE: Ebony with Mother of Pearl Inlays
- NECK PICKUP: USA Seymour Duncan Johnny Smith Floating Mini-Humbucker
- CONTROLS: Volume, Tone, 500k Potentiometers
- HARDWARE: Gold
- TUNERS: Grover Super Rotomatic
- FINISH: Gloss – Natural, Iced Tea Burst
Check price/availability at:
D’Angelico Excel DC
$1,999.99 MSRP, Made in Korea
Specs:
- STRINGS: 6
- SCALE: 25.5″ (648 mm)
- TOP: Laminated Spruce
- BACK / SIDES: Laminated Flame Maple
- NECK: Set Neck – 3 piece with Dual Action Truss Rod
- NECK PROFILE: C-Shape
- NECK FINISH: Gloss
- FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with Mother of Pearl/Abalone Split-Block Inlays
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 16″
- FRETS: 22 Jescar 47/104 Nickel Silver
- NUT TYPE: Tusq
- NUT WIDTH: 1 11/16″
- BRIDGE: Gold Tune-O-Matic with Stopbar
- NECK PICKUP: USA Seymour Duncan 59 Humbucker (Gold Cover)
- BRIDGE PICKUP: USA Seymour Duncan 59 Humbucker (Gold Cover)
- CONTROLS: 2x Volume, 2x Tone (with push/pull), 500k Potentiometers, 3-way Toggle
- HARDWARE: Gold
- TUNERS: Grover 150 Imperial
- FINISH: Gloss – Vintage Natural
Check price/availability at:
Final Thoughts
So, at the time of writing, there’s only one left handed D’Angelico model from the present range; the D’Angelico Excel EXL-1, available in two finishes.
It’s a shame, as with many guitar companies, that D’Angelico doesn’t provide many more lefty options. There are still some older models available to buy at the time of writing, but they could be harder to come by.
It’d be nice to have, at the very least, one of each type of guitar: hollow, semi-hollow, solid body, and acoustic. Ah well, I always say this, but let’s hope there’ll be more in the future!
What are your thoughts on D’Angelico guitars? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo credits: dangelicoguitars.com
