DAngelico Excel Mini DC Viola

DAngelico Excel Mini DC Viola review

The DAngelico Excel Mini DC Viola is a semi-hollow electric guitar with a center block, a 628 mm scale, and a distinctive viola-red finish. Its laminated flamed maple top, back, and sides give the instrument a polished look, while the center block sets it apart from a fully hollow guitar. The listed price is $1,399. The model has been available since May 2021, and its item number is 515160.

The owner feedback available for this review comes from a player who chose the Excel Mini DC over the Deluxe version after the latter was temporarily out of stock. After several weeks of playing, the owner said the decision felt right. That account offers a useful real-world impression of the guitar's sound, finish, setup, and a small hardware annoyance, though it is one player's experience rather than a controlled comparison with the Deluxe.

Construction and playing feel

The body and top are maple, with laminated flamed maple used across the top, back, and sides. The neck is a three-piece maple, walnut, and maple construction. An ebony fingerboard carries 22 frets and mother-of-pearl split-block inlays. DAngelico specifies a slim C-shaped neck profile and a 43 mm nut width. Together, those measurements describe a relatively compact-feeling neck, although comfort will depend on each player's hands and preferred setup.

The 628 mm scale is shorter than the common 648 mm electric-guitar scale. That difference can affect string tension and the reach between frets, but it does not establish how a particular set of strings will feel. The owner reported that the guitar arrived with excellent action and played well right out of the box. That is encouraging for setup quality, but action can change with climate, string choice, and personal preference.

Five-ply binding frames the body, and the five-ply Scalini pickguard adds another period-inspired detail. The owner did mention that the pickguard rattled slightly when the guitar arrived. Tightening its mounting screw resolved the issue. It is a minor fix, but worth checking during initial setup rather than assuming every example will arrive without adjustment.

Pickups and controls

The Excel Mini DC uses two Seymour Duncan '59 humbuckers. In the owner's account, they sounded excellent alongside the viola finish, and the player remained pleased with the choice after several weeks. No detailed genre comparisons or measured output figures were provided, so that praise should be read as a positive playing impression, not a claim about a specific tonal range.

The control layout includes two volume knobs, two tone knobs with push-pull switching, and a three-way pickup selector. The push-pull function adds switching options, although the supplied information does not specify the exact wiring behavior. Players should check the guitar's documentation or test the controls directly before relying on a particular coil configuration.

There is no tremolo system. The fixed bridge is a Tune-O-Matic design paired with a D'Angelico Stairstep tailpiece. Grover Super Rotomatic tuning machines handle tuning at the headstock, and the hardware is gold-plated. An EG2P jack socket completes the listed hardware details. The combination gives the instrument a traditional fixed-bridge setup rather than a vibrato-equipped layout.

What the owner noticed

The player bought the guitar as a personal Christmas gift and initially expected to miss the Deluxe model. Once the Excel Mini DC arrived, the Deluxe came back into stock, but the owner decided not to exchange it. The '59 pickups and viola finish were central to that satisfaction. The guitar also arrived well packed, shipped quickly, and passed the owner's quality-control expectations with its action already set to their liking.

That experience is reassuring, especially for someone ordering without trying the instrument first. Still, packaging, shipping speed, and factory setup can vary by retailer and individual guitar. The pickguard rattle is the only specific fault mentioned, and the owner fixed it with a screwdriver. There is no report of a persistent electronic, tuning, or structural problem.

Verdict

The DAngelico Excel Mini DC Viola combines a maple semi-hollow body with a center block, an ebony fingerboard, two Seymour Duncan '59 humbuckers, and a shorter 628 mm scale. Its push-pull tone controls provide additional switching, while the fixed bridge keeps the hardware layout straightforward. The owner feedback is especially positive about the sound, appearance, and out-of-box action, with one loose pickguard screw as a small correction.

At $1,399, it is a considered purchase, and the available feedback cannot establish how it compares directly with the Deluxe version or how every unit will be set up. For players drawn to its compact scale, semi-hollow construction, and viola finish, the reported experience makes a strong case for trying one in person. A case is included; the listing also indicates a bag, so buyers should confirm exactly which accessories are supplied with the guitar.