Guitar
Makerby
John D'Angelico
Date1960
Place MadeNew York, New York, United States, North America
ModelExcel
Serial No.2105
SignedInlaid in mother-of-pearl on headstock: D’Angelico / NEW YORK [incised on tail of “o” and filled with black ink]Engraved on tailpiece: D’Angelico [in cursive lettering] / NEW YORK [on tail of “o”]
MarkingsBranded on inside of back: 2105
Engraved and filled with black ink on peghead inlay: Excel
Stamped (vertically) on tuner gear covers: GROVER
Stamped on plastic of pickup cover: DeArmond / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / ROWE INDUSTRIES / TOLEDO.O. U.S.A. / [along right side] MOD.1000
Pickup control unit cover stamped: VOLUME / TONE / RHYTHM
DescriptionSoundboard: arched, two-piece, quarter-cut spruce: medium grain with slight curl
Back: two-piece, maple cut off-the-quarter: narrow, horizontal curl; wooden pin through back into neck block on bass side of center joint
Ribs: two-piece, maple cut off-the-quarter: narrow curl angled to right
Head: three-piece maple with black-stained hardwood veneer on front and back; head topped with gold-plated, turned brass ornament; double-layer ivory celluloid binding with very narrow clear strip in middle, with two-ply (black-white) celluloid purfling trim; two pieces of geometric white celluloid inlay decoratively engraved and filled with black ink, including name “Excel”; mother-of-pearl “D’Angelico / NEW YORK” inlay; seven graduated mother-of-pearl slotted diamonds inlaid on back of head; aluminum stair-step truss rod cover
Neck: maple with narrow curl; integral with head
Heel cap: ivory celluloid with two-ply black and white celluloid trim
Binding: double-layer ivory celluloid binding with very narrow clear strip in middle, trim comprised of six-ply (black-white-black-white-black-white) celluloid purfling strips on top and back and two-ply (black-white) celluloid purfling strips on sides
Fingerboard: ebony bound in ivoroid with single black and white celluloid purfling strips on each side; end terminating in a point, with rounded edges on the sides; separate maple support under fingerboard beyond 16th fret; 22 nickel-silver frets; mother-of-pearl block inlays behind 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, and 15th frets; imitation tortoise-shell celluloid side dots behind 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 15th frets; double imitation tortoise-shell celluloid side dots behind 12th fret
Nut: bone
Bridge: two-piece ebony (compensated) with nickel-plated brass screws for height adjustment
Tailpiece: gold-plated brass with “stairstep” upper edge, geometric cut-outs, engraved line decoration, and hinged lower end, secured to lower rib with three gold-plated steel domed, slotted screws
Tuners: six Grover Imperial gold-over-nickel-plate worm-gear machine tuners with chevron-shaped heads
Endpin: gold-plated brass
Soundholes: f-holes bound in ivory celluloid with two-ply black and white celluloid purfling strip trim
Pick guard: later translucent dark red-brown celluloid bound in double-layer white celluloid with thin clear layer between, with eight-ply (black-white-black-white-black-white-black-white) celluloid purfling strip trim, mounted on guitar with gold-plated brass bracket and three gold-plated steel screws
Pickup: D’Armond with chrome-plated steel fitings and dark red plastic coil cover; clear plastic knobs for volume and tone potentiometers, black button for rhythm switch push
Lacquer: golden
Linings: kerfed mahogany
Neck block: mahogany; chamfered corners
End block: mahogany; chamfered corners
Soundboard bracing: spruce X-brace
Grafts: vertical spruce grafts on inside of ribs with tapered edges; spruce block grafts with tapered edges on inside of back near neck and end blocks; spruce block graft with beveled edges on inside of soundboard near end block
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 1057 mm (41-5/8″)
Back length: 519 mm (20-7/16″)
Upper bout width: 311 mm (12-1/4″)
Waist width: 263 mm (10-11/32″)
Lower bout width: 437 mm (17-7/16″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 76 mm (3″)
Rib height, at waist: 77 mm (3-1/32″)
Rib height, at end block: 76 mm (3″)
Head length: 203 mm (8″)
Head width, top: 116 mm (4-9/16″)
Head width, bottom: 86 mm (3-3/8″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 350 mm (13-25/32″)
Neck width, nut: 43 mm (1-11/16″)
Neck width, heel: 53 mm (2-3/32″)
Soundhole length: 163 mm (6-13/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): high E: 627 mm (24-11/16″); low E: 633 mm (24-29/32″)
Credit LineGift of Joseph Townsend, in memory of Louise Palazola, 2022
Object number15662
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