DAngelico Excel Style B Dark Iced Tea

DAngelico Excel Style B Dark Iced Tea: Hands-On Evaluation

DAngelico's Excel Style B Dark Iced Tea is built to recall the golden era of archtop hollowbody guitars, both in sound and in appearance. For players seeking that classic 1930s and 1940s jazz voicing in a modern, accessible package, this guitar invites a close technical inspection. Here, I take a detailed look at its build, components, playing comfort, and amplified behavior, drawing on both specs and real feedback from users.

Materials, Fit, and Finish

The Excel Style B uses laminated maple for the back and sides, paired with a laminated spruce top. The body's deep "Dark Iced Tea Burst" finish nods to the sunburst tradition of early jazz guitars, with seven-ply binding framing the body for extra visual impact and durability. A five-ply tortoiseshell pickguard adds to the period-correct motif.

The neck construction is a multi-piece stack of maple, walnut, and maple, selected for stability and tonal consistency. Players will find a C-shaped neck profile, a moderate width at the nut (43 mm), and a 24.75-inch scale length. The ebony fingerboard, with 20 frets and split block inlays in mother-of-pearl, is a clear upgrade over typical rosewood or synthetic options in this price range. The final fit and finish, from the binding to the fret ends, is described as flawless by early adopters and matches expectations for a boutique-inspired instrument at this price point.

Hardware Selection

A signature D'Angelico tailpiece, the stairstep design, anchors the bridge, with Grover Imperial 150 gold-plated tuners completing the hardware set. The guitar ships without a tremolo, as befits its jazz-focused target, but does include a robust hardshell case in the price. The gold-plated hardware feels solid and elevates the vintage look, while the jack socket is the established EG2P standard, built for reliability.

Pickup, Controls, and Amplified Tone

The single pickup system centers on a DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000, one of the classic floating single-coil types preferred by jazz players. This setup offers a clear, rounded tone with pronounced midrange and sweetened highs, excelling at fingerstyle jazz, swing, and pre-bebop genres.

• Volume and tone controls are mounted discreetly on the pickguard, allowing for easy adjustment with minimal visual clutter.
• Floating pickup design ensures the spruce top vibrates freely, preserving the signature hollowbody resonance even when plugged in.

In practical terms, this delivers exactly the tonality that attracted an earlier generation of jazz players to archtop electrics: plenty of acoustic presence when unplugged, and a rich, singing lead voice when amplified. The pickup balances subtleties and warmth, but does not stray into overly bright or modern territories. If you are targeting classic jazz, chord melody, or early swing sounds, the DeArmond system here delivers authority and clarity without modern harshness.

Playability and Ergonomics

The neck's C profile provides solid support without excess girth, making extended chord work and melodic runs accessible. At 24.75 inches, the short scale allows for slinky bends and easy reach across the 20 frets. The ebony fingerboard feels smooth, with the added benefit of high-end touch that will satisfy detail-oriented players. The nut width (43 mm) keeps spacing comfortable for both traditional fingerings and modern voicings. The guitar is fully hollow with a non-cutaway body, which limits upper-fret elbow room somewhat, but this is consistent with the instrument's focus, to serve traditional jazz and chordal styles rather than high-octane fusion or rock soloing.

Visual Impressions and Heritage

The Art Deco aesthetic, from the split-block inlays to the signature tailpiece and ornate pickguard, marks this as a modern homage to D'Angelico's classic designs. The Dark Iced Tea Burst finish stands out on stage or in the studio with considerable depth and shading. While the Excel Style B is manufactured to contemporary standards, the appearance authentically evokes the original New York builds of the 1930s and 40s. As one field review put it, this is as close to a true D'Angelico jazz guitar as today's player can find without tracking down a high-priced vintage model.

On the Gig and in the Studio

Unplugged, the Excel Style B projects well for a laminated archtop, with an articulate attack and sufficient warmth. Plugged in, the DeArmond's output is tailored for clean tones; it also tolerates subtle overdrive for those exploring pre-bop or blues. With 20 carefully set frets and reliable tuning from Grover hardware, the guitar stays practical for both gigging musicians and serious hobbyists seeking an authentic hollowbody voice.

Value and Ideal User

At a street price of $1555 and shipping with a fitted hardshell case, the Excel Style B targets dedicated jazz guitarists, swing/big band session players, or anyone who appreciates period-correct aesthetics and acoustic resonance. While not the pick for aggressive modern genres, it achieves a rare blend of tradition and playability in today's mid-range archtop market.

• Pros: Flawless fit and finish, convincing acoustic and electric jazz tone, high-end components, vintage-correct styling, includes hardshell case.
• Cons: No cutaway limits high-fret access, single pickup means no tonal variety for rock or fusion, dedicated to a vintage sonic palette.

For those craving jazz guitar character with reliable build and strong vintage roots, the DAngelico Excel Style B Dark Iced Tea justifies a close look and delivers historic sound in a modern package.