DAngelico Premier Bedford Black Flake

DAngelico Premier Bedford Black Flake review

The Premier Bedford Black Flake has an unusual place in a guitar lineup. Its offset semi-hollow body and contoured F-hole give it a distinct outline, while the HSS pickup layout brings together two single coils and a bridge mini humbucker. The result, according to one owner, is a guitar with a character of its own alongside familiar designs such as Strat-style and Tele-style instruments, as well as semi-hollow and single-cut models.

That owner's account is useful, but it is not a controlled comparison or a professional evaluation. They describe the sound as enjoyable and flexible, with a preference for using its more aggressive character in moderation. They also found softer, rounder tones available. In their experience, the Bedford could sound gritty and lively without being limited to that one character.

Body, neck, and hardware

The guitar has a basswood body, top, back, and sides, with an offset semi-solid construction and a contoured F-hole. A five-ply F-hole-style pickguard and three-ply body binding add visual detail, while the Black Flake finish gives the model its name. The source specifications use both "linden" and "basswood" for the body material. Basswood is the material description used for the top, back, and sides.

The maple neck has a satin finish and a C-shaped profile. Its ovangkol fingerboard carries 22 frets and white pearloid block inlays. The 628 mm scale length and 43 mm nut width are useful reference points for players comparing neck dimensions. These measurements alone do not determine whether the neck will suit a particular hand, so trying it in person remains the best way to judge its feel.

Chrome hardware includes a Tune-o-Matic bridge, a DAngelico stopbar tailpiece, and Grover Super Rotomatic tuning machines. There is no tremolo. The guitar ships with a gig bag, but no hard case is included.

Pickup layout and controls

At the neck and middle positions, the Bedford uses Duncan Designed TE-103 single-coil pickups. The bridge position has a Duncan Designed MH-102 mini humbucker. All three pickups have chrome covers. A five-way blade switch selects the available pickup combinations, with one master volume and one master tone control, both rated at 500k.

The owner's feedback suggests the guitar can cover contrasting moods, from fuller, smoother sounds to more biting, energetic ones. They particularly liked its lively, bell-like quality while also describing the sound as solid. Their main reservation was that the pickups could offer more contrast from one another. That is a subjective impression, but worth considering if clearly distinct pickup positions are a priority.

Playability and setup

In the owner's case, the factory setup was the most noticeable drawback. They found the original string action unsatisfactory and reported a substantial improvement after a professional setup by a guitar technician. After that adjustment, they were very pleased with the guitar's playability and overall finish. This experience does not establish that every Bedford will need the same work, but it is a practical reminder to check the action and intonation when evaluating one.

The same owner described the construction as solid and robust, with little to criticize about the workmanship. The contrast between that positive impression and the disappointing initial setup is important: a well-made instrument can still arrive needing adjustment to match a player's preferences. Buyers should factor in a setup check rather than assume the factory settings will feel right straight out of the gig bag.

Verdict

At a listed price of $611, the DAngelico Premier Bedford Black Flake offers a distinctive body format, an HSS pickup arrangement, and a gig bag. The available owner feedback points to a broad tonal range, a solid-feeling build, and good playability after professional adjustment. It also raises two fair cautions: the factory string action may not suit every player, and the pickup positions may not sound as different from one another as some players would like.

This is a personal, single-owner impression rather than a lab test, so the sound descriptions should be treated as listening notes, not guarantees. The Bedford may appeal to players looking for an offset guitar with both single-coil pickups and a mini humbucker, especially if they value a look and tonal character that stand apart from more familiar shapes. Try the controls and inspect the setup before buying, since those details will have a direct effect on whether this particular instrument feels right.