DAngelico Excel 59 Solid Black

DAngelico Excel 59 Solid Black review

The Excel 59 Solid Black takes a traditional hollow-body format and dresses it with distinctive retro details. Its black finish, five-ply body binding, tortoiseshell pickguard, and gold-plated hardware give it a strong visual identity without straying from the familiar outline of a jazz guitar. The abalone split-block fingerboard inlays add another period-inspired touch. In person, the result is striking, but the styling remains cohesive rather than busy.

This model has a laminated spruce top with a laminated maple back and sides. The neck combines maple and walnut in a maple-walnut-maple construction, and the ebony fingerboard carries 22 frets. DAngelico lists a 635 mm scale and a 43 mm nut width. The guitar is a true hollow-body instrument, not a semi-hollow design, and it has no tremolo. A fitted case is included.

Build and playing feel

Field impressions describe the Excel 59 as carefully finished and light enough to sit comfortably against the body. The slim C-shaped neck profile is a significant part of the playing experience. Players who prefer a fuller neck may find it too shallow, but the reviewer found it comfortable and easy to play. The frets were also described as smooth, with a well-finished feel under the fingers.

The 635 mm scale gives the guitar a relatively compact feel compared with longer-scale electric guitars. That dimension, paired with the narrow neck profile, makes the layout approachable for chord work and single-note playing. The reviewer's experience was positive across both, though neck shape is personal, so trying the guitar before buying is sensible if a slim profile is not already familiar.

Two P-90 pickups, straightforward controls

The Excel 59 uses two Seymour Duncan D'Angelico Great Dane P-90 single-coil pickups. A three-way selector chooses between the pickup positions, while one volume control and one tone control handle the basic adjustments. The selector has a chicken-head design, and the guitar uses an EG2P output jack. This is a simple control layout, with no extra switching or onboard effects to learn.

According to the field report, the P-90s cover a broad range, from smooth jazz tones to a rougher rockabilly character. Notes remained clearly defined in both single-note lines and chords. The reviewer also found that the sound stayed transparent when using distortion, rather than becoming congested. These are listening impressions, not a promise that every amplifier or setup will produce the same result, but they point to pickups with useful range beyond clean jazz playing.

The guitar favors clarity and openness over sheer output or thickness. That lighter, more transparent character is part of its appeal: the tone has room around the notes, and the simple volume and tone controls respond gradually enough to make small adjustments worthwhile. Players looking for a dense, high-output sound may want a different instrument. Those who value definition and flexible P-90 response should find more to explore here.

Hardware, value, and verdict

Grover 150 Imperial tuning machines and DAngelico's stair-step tailpiece complete the hardware specification. The five-ply pickguard and body binding reinforce the visual theme, while the gold-plated finish ties the details together. The included case adds practical value for storage and transport. There is no included gig bag listed separately.

The Excel 59 Solid Black has been available since June 2023, with item number 568773. Its listed price is 1179. At that price, the reviewer considered the combination of finish, playability, and sound especially compelling, calling it a strong value and a particularly good jazz guitar in its price range. That assessment reflects hands-on opinion, but the supporting points are specific: clean finishing, comfortable playability, smooth frets, and two versatile P-90 pickups.

Verdict: The DAngelico Excel 59 Solid Black suits players who want a distinctive hollow-body guitar with a slim neck, clear response, and uncomplicated controls. Its retro styling is carefully executed, and its P-90s move convincingly between smooth and gritty sounds. The main point to check in person is the narrow C-shaped neck, which will feel comfortable to some players and too slim to others. For players who like that profile, the Excel 59 offers a polished, characterful instrument with a fitted case included.