D'Angelico Excel DC

[olectric]

I finally bought a jazz box! I ordered this guitar through my teacher, Jerry Hahn. He has an endorsement with D'Angelico where he gets whatever one guitar he wants at a time for free. This one cost me $1200. It is their cheapest model--a 335-style semihollow. Jerry and I agreed that it sounds much better than any 335 that either of us have ever played (not that I've played too terribly many, but I know he has!)--and he used to own a mid-60s Gibson ES-335!

It has a 24.75" scale length with Kent Armstrong humbuckers. Features also include a flamed maple body (laminate) and classic D'Angelico tailpiece.

It's not one of their $5,000 hand-carved, solid wood masterpieces, but IMO, it's the best 335 out there. Really sweet, round tone with great sustain. It's strung up with .012s, so that's taking some getting used to (I have always played .010s). In my search, I played all the Ibanez, Gibson, and Heritage jazz boxes I could find. This one is the sweetest. Try one out if you're looking for a traditional semihollow.

Oh yeah, this thing is HEAVY. I'll bet it's at least 9 lbs. It's heavier than my buddy's Greg Curbow 5-string bass. Feels like twice the weight of my Atom when I'm wearing it. Good thing I don't need to be running around the stage and jumping off amps at my jazz gigs. That would become tiresome.

I'll post pics later.

[Suriel Zayas]

justin, congrats on the great find. i really enjoy my gb10 a whole lot. i also use 12's, but the neck, action & string tension are so comfortable that it feels almost seamless when i jump from the andy's.

[olectric]

justin, congrats on the great find. i really enjoy my gb10 a whole lot. i also use 12's, but the neck, action & string tension are so comfortable that it feels almost seamless when i jump from the andy's.

Thanks, man. The neck on this guitar is really great also, but I need to get it set up the way I like it. My teacher plays 13s and 14s, and they feel fine because of the neck and setup on his D'Angelico. Time for a trip to Mass Street!

Here's a pic. Overall a very cool guitar.

What stuff do you play with your Benson? Standards/originals? Bop? With a combo or big band?

<img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/olectric/IMG_1062.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

[Suriel Zayas]

What stuff do you play with your Benson? Standards/originals? Bop? With a combo or big band?
you got a nice looker there. mine is a '79, almost mint, in that color, but a little aged. it's usually a 5 piece combo and we do most of the fake book. lately one of the andy's makes the gig vs. the benson.

[olectric]

you got a nice looker there. mine is a '79, almost mint, in that color, but a little aged. it's usually a 5 piece combo and we do most of the fake book. lately one of the andy's makes the gig vs. the benson.

Do you have any recordings? I'd love to hear that stuff! I'm sure a lot of others on here would as well.

cheers

[Suriel Zayas]

i'll try and scrape up something, i know there is something laying around.

[Suriel Zayas]

jusitn, here are 2 songs from the jazz ensemble at the church. forgot to mention 1st song is tag dtc and 2nd son is gb10.

God leads us along (http://file-3649-01godleadsusalong.mp3.hearusplay.com )
our great saviour (http://file-3649-07ourgreatsavior.mp3.hearusplay.com )

[olectric]

great playing, man! are those clips with your carr hh rig?

[Suriel Zayas]

that's the carr rambler.

[Suriel Zayas]

great playing, man! are those clips with your carr hh rig?
thanks, but big props to the sax player, bobby franceshini (from the mike stern band).

[olectric]

thanks, but big props to the sax player, bobby franceshini (from the mike stern band).

Yeah, definitely man...I meant great playing from everybody!

Were those recorded with your Carr amp?

[Suriel Zayas]

recorded with the carr rambler.

[dannopelli]

Where do you worship? Maybe I'll attend next time I visit family in NJ?

[funalij]

Olectric, congrats it's a beautiful guitar, makes me feel GAS attack ;) .
I guess in a future I will have a semihollow.

Javier

[Suriel Zayas]

Where do you worship? Maybe I'll attend next time I visit family in NJ?
i work at a couple of churches between ny & nj. these recordings are from the ny church. let me know the next time you're in town to see if our skeds coincide.