DAngelico Deluxe SS Satin Brown Burst

DAngelico Deluxe SS Satin Brown Burst review

The DAngelico Deluxe SS Satin Brown Burst makes a strong first impression. Its satin finish, gold hardware, and bound semi-hollow body give it a distinctive look, and player feedback suggests the appeal goes beyond appearance: it feels comfortable and delivers a broad range of tones. There is, however, a serious concern in the reported experience. One player encountered a clear grounding problem that caused persistent hum, a fault that affected recording and use with overdrive.

The listed price is 1699, and the model has been available since June 2022. Its construction pairs a single-cutaway semi-hollow body with a center block. Dao veneer covers the top, back, and sides, while the neck uses a maple, walnut, and maple construction. An ebony fingerboard carries 22 frets and mother-of-pearl split-block inlays. Five-ply binding around the body and a five-ply solid black pickguard add to the detailed styling.

Neck and hardware

The neck has a narrow C-shaped profile, with a 43 mm nut width and a 635 mm scale length. One owner described it as comfortable to play and specifically noted that it was not too thick. That feedback is useful for players who prefer a slimmer neck feel, though comfort is always personal. The same owner mentioned one sharp fret end. It was not described as a major obstacle, but it is worth checking the fretwork on the individual guitar before buying.

Hardware includes Grover 509 Super Rotomatic tuning machines, a D'Angelico stairstep tailpiece, and gold-plated components. There is no tremolo. The guitar comes with a case, while a separate bag is not included. Those details make the package straightforward: a fixed-tailpiece setup and a fitted case, without an added tremolo system.

Pickups and controls

The Deluxe SS is equipped with two Seymour Duncan Seth Lover A4 humbuckers, each with a gold cover. The control layout consists of two volume knobs, two tone knobs with coil-splitting, and a three-way pickup selector. Player feedback describes the pickups as well balanced and the neck-position sound as round. The reported tonal range suited jazz, blues, and rock, which makes the guitar a plausible choice for players who move between clean, warm sounds and more driven styles.

The coil-split function needs a more measured assessment. One player found the split-coil tones less useful, so the extra switching option should not be treated as a substitute for a dedicated single-coil guitar. It adds another available sound, but its value will depend on the player, amp, and musical context. The core appeal appears to be the humbucker tones, particularly the rounded neck sound and the balance between the two pickups.

The grounding concern

The most important caution in the available feedback is an obvious hum that stopped only when the player touched a pickup, a control, or the edge of the cable. The owner said this made the guitar unusable for recording and with overdrive. That is more than a minor annoyance. It points to a grounding fault on that instrument, and a semi-hollow construction can make diagnosis and repair less convenient than on a simpler solid-body guitar.

This is a single owner report, so it does not establish that every Deluxe SS has the same problem. Still, the symptom is serious enough to test before purchase. Plug the guitar into a known-good setup, check it in clean and overdriven conditions, and listen for hum that changes when you touch the hardware or strings. If buying online, ask the seller to confirm that the instrument has been tested for grounding noise and that the electronics work correctly. A fault this apparent should be caught during inspection.

Verdict

The DAngelico Deluxe SS Satin Brown Burst combines distinctive styling with a comfortable, relatively narrow-feeling neck and balanced humbuckers. Its round neck pickup sound and reported versatility make it appealing for jazz, blues, and rock. The satin burst finish, layered binding, and gold hardware give it plenty of visual character, while the included case adds practical value.

The reported grounding problem changes the buying advice. The available feedback is positive about playability and sound, but a guitar that hums heavily during recording or overdrive is not ready for normal use. Treat the electronics check as essential, and inspect the fret ends while you are at it. If the specific instrument is quiet and properly finished, the Deluxe SS has a compelling blend of feel, looks, and humbucker tone. If it shows the reported fault, have the seller resolve it before you commit.