DAngelico Excel SS Soho Dark Cherry Burs

DAngelico Excel SS Soho Dark Cherry Burst review

The DAngelico Excel SS Soho is a fully hollow electric guitar, built with a laminated spruce top and laminated maple back and sides. Its narrow, lightweight design and floating Kent Armstrong pickup give it a clear jazz focus. The supplied player feedback reinforces that impression: owners describe a distinctly jazz-oriented sound, easy playability, and a finish that meets a high standard. The listed price is 1,890.

One naming detail is worth noting before getting into the feel and sound. The product name supplied is "DAngelico Excel SS Soho Dark Cherry Burs," while the listed finish is Dark Cherry Burst. The specifications also identify the instrument as hollowbody, not semi-hollow. That distinction matters when comparing it with thinner guitars that have a center block.

Construction and hardware

The top is laminated spruce, and the back and sides are laminated maple. Five-ply body binding outlines the body, while the maple, walnut, and maple neck has a narrow profile described as a C shape. The ebony fingerboard has 22 frets and split-block mother-of-pearl inlays. Its 635 mm scale and 43 mm nut width provide the main reference points for players considering string feel and neck fit.

Gold-plated hardware gives the instrument a bright visual contrast against its Dark Cherry Burst finish. The five-ply pickguard is made from dark-stained satin Macassar ebony, and owner feedback says it stays firmly in place. The D'Angelico stair-step tailpiece is another prominent design element. One player found it somewhat flashy, a matter of taste rather than a functional complaint.

The tuners are Grover 509 Super Rotomatics. A reviewer found them effective, and the control layout is simple: one volume control and one tone control. Players reported that both controls respond usefully. The guitar has a floating Kent Armstrong Jazzy Joe mini humbucker, an EG2P output jack, and no tremolo. It comes with a padded gig bag, not a hard case.

Playing feel and sound

Feedback consistently points to a comfortable, light instrument. One player described the neck as quite slim and comfortable, with a feel that made longer sessions less tiring. Another was looking specifically for a thin, light hollowbody and found the guitar suited that purpose. The fretting experience was also described as easy, with smooth movement up to the 20th fret noted in one owner's account.

The pickup floats above the top rather than sitting directly in it. That design, paired with the hollow body, is central to the guitar's jazz character. Players describe the sound as unmistakably jazz-oriented, with strong dynamics and plenty of tonal detail. One owner said the sound matched what they had heard in demonstrations. The guitar was also praised for precision through a Trace Acoustic amplifier and a Koch Studiotone.

A player recommended flatwound strings in a 12, 52 gauge for this guitar. That is a personal setup choice, not a factory specification, but it offers a useful starting point for players aiming for a rounded jazz response. The neck's comfortable profile and the responsive volume and tone controls give players straightforward ways to shape their sound.

What to consider before buying

The main practical drawback in the feedback is the included bag. The gig bag is padded, but several owners would have preferred a hard case at this price. Anyone who transports a guitar frequently or needs greater protection should budget for a separate case. The available specifications confirm that no case is included.

The instrument has been available since April 2023, and its item number is 565076. Taken together, the construction details and player reports make the Excel SS Soho a focused choice for guitarists after a light, fully hollow instrument with a slim neck and a floating mini humbucker. Its strongest points are its comfortable feel, jazz-leaning voice, and careful finish. The chief compromise is the soft gig bag, while the bright tailpiece may divide opinion.

Verdict

The DAngelico Excel SS Soho delivers the essential qualities its design suggests: a lightweight hollowbody, an easy-playing neck, and a detailed, jazz-oriented sound. Its laminated spruce and maple construction, ebony fingerboard, and floating Kent Armstrong pickup are clearly defined parts of the package. The reported results are positive, especially for players who value comfort and tonal nuance. Just remember that the included protection is a padded bag, not a hard case.