DAngelico Deluxe Bedford SH Matte Walnut

DAngelico Deluxe Bedford SH Matte Walnut review

The DAngelico Deluxe Bedford SH Matte Walnut pairs an offset semi-solid body with a contoured F-hole and an HSS pickup layout. Its listed price is 945. The construction and hardware give it a clear technical profile, while one owner's report raises a specific fit concern: a gap at the upper edge of the pickguard large enough to hold a pick. That observation deserves attention when inspecting the instrument in person.

Body and neck construction

The body, top, back, and sides are listed as alder, with a satin walnut finish. The offset outline is paired with a contoured F-hole, and the body binding uses seven plies. The pickguard follows the F-hole styling and has five-ply binding. These details make the body's outline and trim a central part of the Bedford's appearance, rather than leaving the hardware and pickups to define its character alone.

The neck is a three-piece maple, walnut, and maple construction, finished in satin. It has an ebony fingerboard with 22 frets and split-block inlays made from mother-of-pearl and abalone. The scale measures 629 mm, and the nut width is 43 mm. Those figures provide a useful sense of the neck's dimensions, though they do not establish how the neck will feel in a player's hands. That depends on setup and personal preference, so trying the guitar is the best way to judge its profile and reach.

Pickups and controls

The HSS arrangement uses two nickel Seymour Duncan STR52-1 single-coil pickups in the neck and middle positions, plus a nickel Seymour Duncan SM-1b mini humbucker at the bridge. A five-way switch selects between the pickup combinations, with one volume control and one tone control for adjustment.

This layout gives the Bedford a mix of single-coil and humbucker pickup types within a single instrument. The specifications identify the models and positions, but do not provide output measurements or describe how each selection sounds through particular amplifiers. The owner feedback supplied for this review calls the pickups perfect, which is positive but remains one player's impression rather than a broader performance test.

Tremolo and hardware

A Wilkinson six-point tremolo is fitted, along with Grover Super Rotomatic locking tuning machines. The hardware is chrome, and the output connection is an EG2P Switch Craft mono jack. The specifications confirm that the Bedford has a tremolo system and locking tuners, but they do not provide information about tuning stability under heavy tremolo use or the setup condition of any individual instrument.

For buyers who plan to use the tremolo, the practical check is straightforward: test its movement and return to pitch on the specific guitar being considered. A well-functioning setup matters more than the component names alone. The same applies to the locking tuners. Their inclusion is a useful specification, but setup, string installation, and playing style can all affect the result.

Fit concern: the pickguard gap

The owner feedback describes the neck, body, and pickups as perfect, but says the pickguard has a gap at the top where a pick can be inserted. The owner asks whether this could be a manufacturing flaw. Based on the supplied information, there is no way to determine whether the gap is within the intended fit, caused by a particular assembly issue, or limited to that individual guitar.

Because the pickguard is a visible fitted part, inspect its upper edge before buying. Check whether it sits evenly against the body and whether the gap is consistent along the edge. If a pick can be pushed underneath, ask the seller to explain the fit and confirm whether the instrument can be adjusted or exchanged. The report should not be treated as proof that every Bedford has the same problem, but it is specific enough to warrant an in-person check or clear photos before purchase.

What to check before buying

• Inspect the pickguard, especially the upper edge around the contoured F-hole area.
• Play each position on the five-way switch and test both controls.
• Check the neck, frets, and fingerboard on the exact instrument being considered.
• Test the tremolo and confirm that the tuning remains acceptable after use.
• Confirm that the included case is present. A gig bag is not listed as included.

Verdict

The DAngelico Deluxe Bedford SH Matte Walnut has a defined combination of alder construction, a three-piece maple and walnut neck, an ebony fingerboard, Seymour Duncan pickups, a Wilkinson tremolo, and locking Grover tuners. Its listed details make it possible to assess the hardware and layout before trying it, while the reported pickguard gap is the main fit issue raised by the available owner feedback.

That concern calls for inspection, not a blanket judgment about the model. If the pickguard sits cleanly on the guitar in front of you and the neck and electronics meet your preferences, the Bedford's specifications make it a distinctive offset option. If the gap is present, ask the retailer to address it before completing the purchase.