D'Angelico Style A-1 1939

[cgratham]

Hi All,

After realizing that I am far more of an acoustic archtop player and selling most of my gear (I didn't have that much to start with), I somehow managed a way to acquire this beautiful guitar.

It's a 1939 style A-1 with serial number 1452. It's 17" with a 1 3/4" nut width. Surprisingly to me, the neck is fairly slim, not dissimilar to the Tal Farlow I just sold. Definitely slimmer than my '34 L-4 (round hole) and my '59 ES-125. According to my bathroom scale, it's exactly 6 lbs.

It's be refinished at some point in it time and has a couple of cracks near the treble F hole that were repaired long before the refinish. Pick guard is not original either. Came with the original pink plush lined case.

The sound is gorgeous, as close as I can get to all the recent DA clips. Compared with my '34 L-4 it's quite different (at least from the players' perspective). The L-4 is louder for sure. The DA has more bass and I would say an overall broader response. The DA has a slightly longer sustain by my unofficial test. I notice that pretty much everywhere in the range (but maybe more noticeable up the neck) with the DA I can hear more notes ringing more evenly. I'm not sure if this is what people mean by a more complex tone, but that seems to fit how I hear it. I'm not a great player, but I will try to record some clips so people can hear for themselves the comparison. I just need to tweak the setup a bit and get organized first.

This was a huge stretch on my budget, but it really is everything and more than I could have hoped for. I just sit there playing with a silly grin on my face wondering how I ever got so lucky!

Fire away with any questions.

Cheers, Chris

[floatingpickup]

That's beautiful. Perhaps you have the history on the guitar, but I can offer a little bit in case you don't. I had a 1939 Style B for many years, s/n 1414. I just checked the D/A ledger and your guitar was originally sold to the same person as my guitar, Bill Bjurmark. I did some research when I bought mine and I spoke to his family. According to the DA ledger, he bought quite a few guitars from John around that time. I believe he was a teacher and also had a store in Long Island. There is some information on him at this link Bjurmark Winden Guitar Info | Scott McCagg
Enjoy that lovely instrument.
keith

[cgratham]

Hi Keith,
Thanks very much for that info. I had no history on the guitar, so this is great info. Much appreciated.

Cheers, Chris

[Stringswinger]

Congrats Chris!!! She is beautiful. You have arrived. There is no trade up from this.

Did you snag that from the link I posted in the other thread? (Joe D., the early bird gets the worm...you snooze, you lose).

I have found my DA's to have excellent sustain and to have very even response in every position on the fretboard. They are also very dry. A 30's L-5 has lots of reverb. My D'A's have almost none (just the way I like it). From what I have read, many jazz guitarists consider them the ultimate recording guitar.

Pickguards wear out and in the old days, guitars got refinished. John D. refinished many of his guitars from the 30's and 40's in the 50's and 60's.

The style A was priced to compete with Gibson's L-10. When Epiphone started selling a lot of Triumphs that were priced to compete with Gibson's L-7, D'Angelico started making the A-1 at the L-7 price point. The only difference between the Style A and the Style A-1 is the peghead inlays and the finish (The A-1 did not have a sunburst back....your now does, Bravo!)

John's guitars are all built of the same materials (He saved the fanciest flame maple for the Excels) and with the same craftsmanship. A style A-1 will sound as good as an Excel. They are the best of the best. You now have a guitar made by the Stradivarius of the guitar. Be advised though, that you are more of a caretaker than an owner.

Welcome to a small and elite club!

Cheers,

Marc

[Dennis D]

Hi Keith,
Thanks very much for that info. I had no history on the guitar, so this is great info. Much appreciated.

Cheers, Chris

Congratulations, Chris !

You sold 'gear' and you bought ' art '.

And a masterpiece !

May you enjoy it a long time and in good health !!

Dennis

[cgratham]

Hi Marc,
Thanks for the info and all the info over the past few weeks. Your clips and comments were very informative and helped me make the decision. And yes, it is the guitar in the link you posted, so thanks for finding it. I owe you a bottle of Vino as a finders fee! I had not thought I would find a DA that I could afford - and this was still a big stretch. I'm sorry Joe D if you were thinking about this guitar. I waited a couple of days after Marc posted before I contacted the seller and then it things just got rolling ...

Now that I get to play it in person, I truly understand you comments about DA's Marc. I have no qualms about the refin' or the pick guard or the fact that's it is not as fancy as the Excel or NY'er. I just consider myself very lucky to caretake it for a while (hopefully very many years).

I've got a line on an original Dearmond RC1000 monkey on a stick. I guess I may as well go all in :-)

Cheers, Chris

[cgratham]

Thanks Dennis,
Hope you don't mind if I use that quote. Fully attributed of course.

Cheers, Chris

Congratulations, Chris !

You sold 'gear' and you bought ' art '.

And a masterpiece !

May you enjoy it a long time and in good health !!

Dennis

[DC Ron]

Lovely, historic guitar. Congrats!

[Stringswinger]

Chris,

Any vintage Dearmond, the Guitar Mike, the 1000 or the 1100 will be a fine addition to that guitar. They are the right pickup for that guitar.

Cheers,

Marc

[Dennis D]

Thanks Dennis,
Hope you don't mind if I use that quote. Fully attributed of course.

Cheers, Chris

You're welcome Chris.

And use that quote as you wish - glad you liked it !

Dennis

[citizenk74]

Magnificent! Play and conserve it long and well in good health!

[2bornot2bop]

Insanely beautiful job on the refin...Let me think...A-1 or TF? What's there to think about

Congrat's my BC friend!

[cgratham]

Hi 2b,

Thanks very much. Well the TF is beautiful, but it's definitely from a different branch of the family tree than is the DA

Take care,
Chris

Insanely beautiful job on the refin...Let me think...A-1 or TF? What's there to think about

Congrat's my BC friend!

[fws6]

Thats superb, congrats !

this was the one from Intermountain G&B right ?

I nearly pulled the trigger on that one too.

[cgratham]

Thanks fws6,
That's the one. I'm glad you held off and let me join in the D'A club!



Cheers, Chris

Thats superb, congrats !

this was the one from Intermountain G&B right ?

I nearly pulled the trigger on that one too.

[Eddie Lang]

All this talk lately about the early D'Angelico got me itching for one. I had a serious look at the one at Intermountain too, and I was making plans in my head: "ok, what if I can sell this one quickly, then that one, and these over there."

Congrats! May it bring you countless hours of bliss!

[Max405]

Congrats Chris!!! She is beautiful. You have arrived. There is no trade up from this.

Did you snag that from the link I posted in the other thread? (Joe D., the early bird gets the worm...you snooze, you lose).

Marc

Hi Marc,
Thanks for the info and all the info over the past few weeks. Your clips and comments were very informative and helped me make the decision. And yes, it is the guitar in the link you posted, so thanks for finding it. I owe you a bottle of Vino as a finders fee! I had not thought I would find a DA that I could afford - and this was still a big stretch. I'm sorry Joe D if you were thinking about this guitar. I waited a couple of days after Marc posted before I contacted the seller and then it things just got rolling ...

SS, Thanks bro, I definitely checked out that Guitar. I talked to my wife about it. She warned me that if I bought it before I sold other things to make up the difference, she was going to be angry. She said something about using crazy glue on something while I was sleeping..
About snoozing and losing..
Cgrat, I am glad you got the Guitar. The thing about D'A's is there will always be someone who is wanting the guitar as much if not more than you. That is a beautiful Guitar. The added bonus of FloatingPickup giving you some provenance makes it even more special. I cant think of any other item where a list of original purchasers is available. Truly a world class Piece. I haven't arrived yet, but you definitely have.

But I'm on my way... Someday.

[destinytot]

Beautiful guitar and story - swing forth and prosper!

[cgratham]

Hi Joe D,

You sound like my kind of guy. Thanks for the words and the story. Actually my story is similar. Only Mrs cgratham decided to buy in as soon as I had one guitar sold and the other two listed. Oh, yeah and I raised the ante by offering to build her a small painting studio in the back yard. I think that's what cliched the deal.

So one guitar sold at a really good price here, two more may be sold locally today. The studio is not built yet, but she is designing it and it will be done. It's all definitely worth it, so keep at it my friend. And head up to Vancouver sometime and you can play mine!

Cheers, Chris

SS, Thanks bro, I definitely checked out that Guitar. I talked to my wife about it. She warned me that if I bought it before I sold other things to make up the difference, she was going to be angry. She said something about using crazy glue on something while I was sleeping..
About snoozing and losing..
Cgrat, I am glad you got the Guitar. The thing about D'A's is there will always be someone who is wanting the guitar as much if not more than you. That is a beautiful Guitar. The added bonus of FloatingPickup giving you some provenance makes it even more special. I cant think of any other item where a list of original purchasers is available. Truly a world class Piece. I haven't arrived yet, but you definitely have.

But I'm on my way... Someday.

[rpguitar]

A framed photo of your D'A should be hung in the new studio, just to christen it and give it good vibes.

[cgratham]

Great idea Roger,
Maybe I'll even commission Mrs cgratham to paint a portrait of me and my D'A . Oops ... just thought about how that might go over. I like you idea better.

Cheers, Chris

A framed photo of your D'A should be hung in the new studio, just to christen it and give it good vibes.

[Dennis D]

A framed photo of your D'A should be hung in the new studio, just to christen it and give it good vibes.

.....and maybe a framed copy of that photo of John D'A and Jimmy D'A standing in front of the store...this one is enhanced - - I'm guessing the orig. is B&W - -and more authentic, (I think ).....

[Max405]

Hi Joe D,

You sound like my kind of guy. Thanks for the words and the story. Actually my story is similar. Only Mrs cgratham decided to buy in as soon as I had one guitar sold and the other two listed. Oh, yeah and I raised the ante by offering to build her a small painting studio in the back yard. I think that's what cliched the deal.

So one guitar sold at a really good price here, two more may be sold locally today. The studio is not built yet, but she is designing it and it will be done. It's all definitely worth it, so keep at it my friend. And head up to Vancouver sometime and you can play mine!

Cheers, Chris

Thank you Chris. Enjoy the Guitar.
I appreciate what you said.

Joe D.

[Max405]

.....and maybe a framed copy of that photo of John D'A and Jimmy D'A standing in front of the store...this one is enhanced - - I'm guessing the orig. is B&W - -and more authentic, (I think ).....

DD, Thanks for the Photo.
It looks like it was taken yesterday.. Sad thing, there is a Hotel now where they are standing..
A little restaurant on the hallowed grounds..

[wintermoon]

congrats, you never forget your first DA [if you're lucky enough to have had more than one]
kinda feels like there's nowhere else to go....until you find one you like better

interesting shaped guard.
p.s. the case is a late 40s/50s case, but looks nice....