DAngelico Deluxe Bedford SH BK

DAngelico Deluxe Bedford SH BK review

The DAngelico Deluxe Bedford SH BK pairs an offset semi-hollow body with an HSS pickup layout and gold-colored hardware. Its black finish and bound body give it a polished appearance, while the contoured F-hole design adds a distinctive detail. At a listed price of 1329, it offers a notably broad specification set for a guitar aimed at players who want several electric-guitar voices in one instrument.

That range is the central appeal. Two Seymour Duncan STR52-1 single-coil pickups sit at the neck and middle positions, with a Seymour Duncan SM-1b mini humbucker at the bridge. A five-way switch selects and combines the pickups, while one volume and one tone control keep the control layout straightforward. The result is a configuration suited to clean, rounded sounds as well as brighter combinations and more forceful bridge tones. Player feedback describes the output as moderate, with enough flexibility to work with effects, including fuzz.

Construction and hardware

The body has an alder top, back, and sides, and uses a semi-hollow offset construction with a contoured F-hole. The neck is a three-piece maple, walnut, and maple design, finished with a matte coating. An ebony fingerboard carries 22 frets and split-block inlays made from mother-of-pearl and abalone. The body has seven-ply binding, and the F-hole-style pickguard has five-ply binding.

Scale length is 629 mm, with a 43 mm nut width. The bridge is a gold-colored Tune-O-Matic design, paired with a DAngelico stopbar tailpiece. Grover Super Rotomatic locking tuners complete the hardware. A hard case is included; a gig bag is not. There is no tremolo, so players looking for a vibrato arm will need to consider another model.

One owner reports that the guitar arrived with low string action and no fret buzz. The same owner found it balanced on a leather strap, without the neck tending to drop. Those are useful signs for players who value comfortable handling straight out of the case, though setup can vary from one instrument to another. Another owner, after nearly two years, described the instrument as well made and reported no visible construction defects.

Sound and playing experience

The pickup arrangement is more flexible than a conventional two-pickup setup. The five-way switch gives access to the neck and middle single coils, the bridge mini humbucker, and combinations between them. In practice, this makes the Bedford a plausible choice for players moving between clean parts, rhythm work, and higher-gain sounds. One reviewer specifically noted that the guitar could produce metal-oriented rhythm tones when paired with a suitable pedal. That is a report about the instrument in a rig, not a claim that it is designed exclusively for heavy music.

Its semi-hollow body also contributes to the instrument's character, though one owner found its unplugged volume modest compared with a B.C. Rich Bich. That comparison is only one player's impression, and acoustic loudness is not a reliable substitute for assessing an electric guitar through an amplifier. The useful point is that the Bedford's main tonal range comes from its pickups and amplified sound rather than unusually high unplugged volume.

Quality control and long-term notes

There is an important quality-control caveat in the owner feedback. One buyer received a guitar with a faulty five-way selector that made unreliable contact, then received a replacement that appeared to function correctly. The same buyer praised its playability and wide range of sounds. This is a report of an individual instrument, not proof of a recurring defect, but the selector is central to the Bedford's pickup flexibility. Test every switch position and confirm that the signal remains consistent before keeping a new guitar.

A separate owner noticed noise in some pickup positions when connected to an amplifier and wondered whether shielding might need attention. That observation does not establish a general electronics fault, but it is another reason to check the controls and wiring in the actual instrument. The long-term review also notes that sweat and hand contact dulled the finish on the gold-colored pickups and bridge. The owner considered this minor, but players who want the hardware to retain its original shine should expect visible wear with use.

Verdict

The DAngelico Deluxe Bedford SH BK combines a carefully detailed semi-hollow build, comfortable reported balance, and a useful three-pickup layout. Its strongest case is versatility: the single coils and bridge mini humbucker provide contrasting voices, with the five-way switch making them accessible without a complicated control scheme. The included hard case adds practical value.

Buyers should inspect the selector and listen for unwanted noise across all switch positions, especially given the reported examples. With a properly functioning instrument, the Bedford SH BK offers an appealing blend of distinctive styling and adaptable amplified tones. Its specifications make it worth trying for players considering a high-end HSS guitar who also want a semi-hollow construction and an offset body.