DAngelico Excel 59 Vintage Natural

DAngelico Excel 59 Vintage Natural review

The DAngelico Excel 59 Vintage Natural has the kind of design that can make a guitar feel special before it is plugged in. Its stepped tailpiece, stair-step pickguard, split-block inlays, and gold-plated hardware give it a distinct Art Deco look. Those details are paired with a hollowbody construction and two Seymour Duncan Great Dane P-90 pickups, a combination suited to players looking for a different voice from a solidbody or a larger traditional archtop.

At $1,499, the Excel 59 sits in a price range where fit, finish, and practical details matter. Owner feedback describes excellent finishing, a comfortable neck, and an instrument that arrived ready to play with little adjustment. One player did need to fine-tune the intonation on the first three strings, but reported that the work was quick and straightforward. As with any guitar, a setup check after delivery is sensible.

Construction and playability

The Excel 59 is a hollowbody guitar with a center block. Its laminated spruce top is paired with laminated maple back and sides. The three-piece neck combines maple and walnut, and the ebony fingerboard carries 22 frets and mother-of-pearl split-block inlays. A slim C neck profile and 43 mm nut width give the neck a relatively narrow, streamlined feel on paper, while owners describe it as comfortable to play.

The 628 mm scale is shorter than the 648 mm scale commonly used on many electric guitars. That can contribute to a less stretched feel across the frets, though individual comfort depends on playing style and setup. The instrument has a five-ply body binding and a matching five-ply black pickguard. One owner found that the pickguard sat high enough to catch on strumming and produce vibration. They lowered it and added felt to address the issue. That is a useful inspection point, rather than evidence that every example will need the same adjustment.

The guitar includes a case, not a gig bag. Gold-plated Grover Super Rotomatic tuners, a roller Tune-O-Matic bridge, and the DAngelico Stairstep tailpiece complete the hardware. There is no tremolo system. A reviewer reported that the guitar stayed in tune, while also noting that the supplied strap locks were not especially convenient for their use.

P-90 sound and controls

Two Seymour Duncan Great Dane P-90 single-coil pickups provide the main tonal range. The controls are straightforward: one volume control, one tone control, and a three-way pickup selector. The listed specification does not include a push-pull tone control, despite a mistaken product description cited by one owner. Buyers should expect the standard single tone control rather than a push-pull feature.

Owners describe a full, resonant acoustic voice and a pleasing clean sound through an amplifier. The P-90s are reported to cover both rounded tones and more biting sounds, with enough range for blues, jazz, and broader pop styles. One reviewer characterized the guitar as a middle ground between a Strat-style guitar and a large archtop. That is a useful description of its appeal: the P-90s offer more midrange character than many bright single-coil designs, while the body shape and hollow construction bring a different feel from a solidbody.

Playing unplugged is also part of the experience, according to owner feedback. The body resonates enough to make quiet practice enjoyable, though it remains an electric guitar intended to be used with an amplifier when more volume and control are needed. The reported clean tones sound like a particular strength, while the pickups can also handle dirtier settings.

Verdict

The DAngelico Excel 59 Vintage Natural is aimed at players who value distinctive styling and want a versatile P-90 guitar with a hollowbody feel. Its laminated spruce and maple construction, ebony fingerboard, slim C neck, and included case make a compelling specification for the price. The finish and decorative details receive strong praise from owners, and the reported sound spans warm, full cleans through more assertive blues and rock tones.

Potential buyers should check the setup, confirm the pickguard does not interfere with their picking, and remember that this model has one conventional tone control. Those are practical considerations, not reasons to dismiss the guitar. For someone seeking a visually distinctive instrument that can move between jazz, blues, and everyday amplified playing, the Excel 59 offers a clear identity and a broad tonal palette.