DAngelico Excel DC Trans Cherry

DAngelico Excel DC Trans Cherry: Thorough Hands-On Test

The DAngelico Excel DC Trans Cherry sits at a crossroads between tradition and modern versatility. With its laminated maple construction, double cutaway semi-hollow design, and a pair of USA-made Seymour Duncan '59 humbuckers, it aims to impress jazz, blues, and rock players alike. Below, I break down the build, tonal palette, and real-world functionality after thorough hands-on use.

Construction and Materials

This semi-hollow instrument features a body, top, and sides all made of laminated maple, offering both resonance and feedback resistance. The central block provides added sustain and controls unwanted feedback at higher gain settings, a trait that sets it apart from fully hollow instruments.

The neck stands out with its three-piece construction: maple, walnut, maple, finished in a slim Narrow C profile that balances hand comfort and play speed. The rosewood fingerboard, detailed with mother-of-pearl and abalone split block inlays, gives the playing surface a traditional look with a touch of luxury. Twenty-two frets line the 24.75-inch scale fingerboard, set against a 43 mm nut width for a classic yet broadly appealing feel.

Other construction highlights include the five-ply body binding, gold-plated hardware, Grover Imperial tuners, and a distinctive five-ply black pickguard. The translucent cherry red gloss finish is deep and even, showing off the maple's grain, testament to DAngelico's commitment to aesthetics and build quality at this price point.

Electronics and Controls

Sonic flexibility sits at the core of the Excel DC's appeal. The dual Seymour Duncan '59 humbuckers capture the warmth and response of late-50s humbuckers, delivering a full, balanced tone in both clean and driven situations. Each pickup's gold-plated cover complements the visual luxury.

• Two Volume Controls, Smooth response, with independent adjustment for each pickup.
• Two Push/Pull Tone Controls, Engaging coil split turns each humbucker into a single coil, greatly widening the available tones.
• 3-Way Selector Switch, Standard toggle between neck, bridge, or both pickups.
• EG2P Jack Socket, Reliable connectivity for stage or studio use.

The push/pull coil split unlocks single-coil clarity in an instant. Combined with pickup selection, seven distinct tones are available, delivering everything from rounded neck warmth to glassy bridge bite. However, in my unit, the selector switch initially exhibited some faulty behavior and required servicing, a minor but noteworthy quality control annoyance reported in at least one user review.

Feel and Playability

Weighing in the midrange for a semi-hollow, the balance on a strap is excellent, with zero neck dive and comfortable seated use. The Narrow C profile invites both chord and lead work; bends and vibrato require minimal effort thanks to the 22 well-finished frets and moderate string tension from the 24.75-inch scale length.

The D'Angelico stopbar tailpiece and Grover tuners provide solid tuning stability, even after extensive use. The included gig bag is well-padded, though not a hard case as one user mistakenly noted. Still, for musicians on the go, this helps justify the instrument's asking price.

Sound: Detailed Impressions

• Neck Pickup (Humbucker Mode): Bold lows, warm mids, articulate highs, ideal for jazz or clean blues.
• Bridge Pickup (Humbucker): Tighter bass, a touch of brightness without harshness, suitable for rock or funk rhythm.
• Both Pickups (Humbucker Mode): Classic semi-hollow chime, plenty of width for rhythm or comping.
• Coil Split Modes: Noticeable single coil snap; lower output, especially useful for funky cleans or airy chord vocabulary. Not as thin as classic bolt-neck solid bodies, but genuinely inspiring and much more versatile than most semi-hollows in this bracket.

The pickups respond dynamically to picking strength, complementing expressive playing. Combined with the robust maple and rosewood bodywork, this guitar delivers snappy attack and sustain even during crescendo runs or muted rhythms. Feedback remains well controlled unless intentionally provoked at stage volumes, confirming the value of the central block design.

Practical Drawbacks

The most significant downside encountered was the suboptimal pickup selector switch, addressed easily, but worth mentioning. Gold plating is vulnerable to tarnish over months of regular gigging, so periodic cleaning is a must. The bundled gig bag, while durable, will not offer the impact protection of a molded hard case for frequent flyers or road trippers.

Conclusions: Modern Versatility with Artisan Roots

For $1,590, the DAngelico Excel DC Trans Cherry offers a blend of classic materials, modern electronics, and striking looks. The Seymour Duncan '59 humbuckers provide warmth and dynamic range, while the coil split and control layout bring versatility to jazz, blues, and beyond. Build quality is high, with minor room for improvement regarding hardware QC. Players seeking a flexible, stage-worthy semi-hollow with bold aesthetics will find this model delivers substance as well as style.