D'Angelico Style A. and Excel

[Stringswinger]

Eddie used this end pin jack on my Style A and I think it is what is on his:

Tapastring Guitar Care Products | The "Vintage Jack" | End Pin Jack No Drilling Required

Both of my DA's have holes in the neck for the Dearmond rods. For those of us who are players, some modifications are necessary. After all these guitars were built to be played.

Sometimes I think Eddie and I are the only guys left who still gig with a DA. When Joe D. Gets his, then there will be three of us.

[neatomic]

tho some "those of us who are players" can play happily with the lowliest of tools





cheers

[Stringswinger]

Joe Pass had two D'Aquistos. And he used them on gigs.....

[Jabberwocky]

Joe Pass had two D'Aquistos. And he used them on gigs.....

Do you know what Joe Pass's estate did with them?

[cgratham]

Hi Marc, Joe, et al,
Yes, that Eddie Diehl movie was very influential in my decision. What a guy and what a life. Just in case others have missed it, here's the link to the entire movie

Chris

[cgratham]

Ha Marc,
i knew you didn't mean literally the only two guys. There is a guy here in Vancouver who's got two DA's (Excel and Model B), and I've seen him gig on each.

I guess I'll have to shed a bit and do a gig on my A-1 with my 16 year old son (who plays double bass). The last guitar player he played with in a gig was Peter Bernstein! So I fear I'm bound to be a let down - and not just because I'm his dad.

Cheers, Chris

Sometimes I think Eddie and I are the only guys left who still gig with a DA. When Joe D. Gets his, then there will be three of us.

[Stringswinger]

@Chris...I am sure that you will sound great and make your son proud to be on the gig with you.

@Jabs...When Joe needed money to pay for his medical bills from the cancer he sold his carved top D'Aquisto to a rich collector. He left his laminate top D'Aquisto to his son, Joe Jr.

[Max405]

SS,
After watching your videos, that was all I needed to see and I was convinced that the perfect jazz tone can come from these guitars. There is another guy who plays one I think his last name is Amplo. He plays nice chord melody on one too. This is exciting.
Joe D

That is not either of the guitars that are for sale. Just an example of a non-cut DA in the hands of a master.

[Rob MacKillop]

I agree, Joe. Sublime jazz tones.

[rpguitar]

Hey Roger, I'm not sure if that was an attempt at humor or are you making fun at me? If it was the later, I don't appreciate it at all. Please clarify.

I was certainly not making fun of you. I was pointing out that by chasing those vintage D'As, you might be letting a combination of your wonderful new Heritage, and the D'A name on those two vintage guitars, lead you down the path of spending a ton of cash on something that won't improve your musical life in a manner commensurate with the expense.

It's the old "the thing I have is so wonderful, I need a better version of it" curse.

Then again, perhaps I'll be wrong. In any case, it is most definitely not mockery, just banter in the manner commonly seen on the forum.

[fws6]

Yup I know a thing or two about these guitars

[Dennis D]

Johnny Smith's own D'A is for sale:

https://reverb.com/item/415868-d-ang...l-1957-natural

Just a couple things I noticed - - for sale by Miami Vintage, nice enough folks I guess........I bought an LP from them but it was a while back....but they don't deal in a lot of archtops......

Then I saw the Hank Rison's name on the Bill of Sale.......All that did was remind me of that Guernsey Auction of parts of his collection. As in, it depends what your definition of ' sale', 'auction', 'reserve', ' appraisal ', and maybe what your definition of 'is' is......

Of course I guess I have a different definition of the word ' credibility' too.....

MHO

[rpguitar]

From the details, Johnny's D'A was sold to Hank Risan in 1988. Who knows where it's been since. But it was Johnny's! Hank is a prior owner of my '28 L-5. I imagine that he has had his way with a lot of special guitars over the years.

I really did find it fun to check out Johnny Smith's actual house for sale on a real estate site, with no mention at all of its provenance (nor would one expect there to be).

[Bluedawg]

My dream is to buy a retirement gift for myself someday ... assuming I actually retire

Something like this could fit the bill ......

But I'm also considering a Parker or Benedetto La Venizia ..... or maybe a Citation


But then again I may have to settle for not having to sell what I already have as my retirement gift ... LOL

[Dennis D]

From the details, Johnny's D'A was sold to Hank Risan in 1988. Who knows where it's been since. But it was Johnny's! Hank is a prior owner of my '28 L-5. I imagine that he has had his way with a lot of special guitars over the years.

I really did find it fun to check out Johnny Smith's actual house for sale on a real estate site, with no mention at all of its provenance (nor would one expect there to be).

Glad that '28 L-5 is in your hands now !!

[Max405]

I was certainly not making fun of you. I was pointing out that by chasing those vintage D'As, you might be letting a combination of your wonderful new Heritage, and the D'A name on those two vintage guitars, lead you down the path of spending a ton of cash on something that won't improve your musical life in a manner commensurate with the expense.

It's the old "the thing I have is so wonderful, I need a better version of it" curse.

Then again, perhaps I'll be wrong. In any case, it is most definitely not mockery, just banter in the manner commonly seen on the forum.

Oh, OK. Im sorry that I jumped to conclusions. I gotta stop being so sensitive.

Thank you Roger for explaining that. And thanks even more for trying to help "save me from myself". Sometimes, I'll admit, I need that.

Joe D

[skykomishone]

Man, thank you for posting this info on Eddie. Very Kick Ass in my opinion. Love, just love that sound and playing. The guitar is very awesome. Makes me want to work up a version of Prelude to a Kiss like his on one of my fine instruments.

[rpguitar]

Yeah man, tough and sensitive - that's how we roll in Jersey, capisce? Of course, I'm of Russian Jewish heritage so I have no business speaking Italian.

Anyway, we are all on a different journey, or perhaps at different points in the itinerary within the same one. I am thankful that for whatever reason, the D'Angelico mystique has not found its way into my soul as the Gibson one has. Both can be costly indulgences, but the D'A version can be truly brutal on the wallet.

Anyway, I do like my own quote (rephrased): "The thing I have is so wonderful, I need a better one." That's signature material methinks. I still go down that road often in my thoughts, although perhaps less often than I used to.

[Stringswinger]

Roger,

I envy you. Both the D'Angelico AND the Gibson mystique have captivated me. Then there is Fender... I have 6 Gibsons, 3 Fenders and 2 DA's. I still have 4 guitars on my bucket list, 2 Gibsons, 1 DA and 1 Fender.

I am just glad that I am not similarly affected by Martins, D'Aquistos, Strombergs, Benedettos and Monteleones...

BTW, it was very wise of you to get Hank's 28 L-5...

Cheers,

Marc

[vinnyv1k]

Go for it bro. The fat lady still is not singing. I had a 1978 Super 400 that I have longed for since I sold it. Everyone makes that one big mistake sale. I am 62 years old but can't get a Super 400 out of my mind. Getting the 10K OK from the wife is my problem but your wife is a sweetheart when it comes to keeping Big Joe happy so pull that trigger my man.

[fws6]

> . I still have 4 guitars on my bucket list, 2 Gibsons, 1 DA and 1 Fender.

What Fender ?

On a side note, Eddie diehl's DAngelico was originally built for a local NY player Manny Dieli. Manny also had another guitar: http://niceguitar.eu/1966daquistonyspecial.html

[Stringswinger]

Frank,

I would like an early 60's Strat or Tele. I am unwilling to pay current prices.

If I never get one, that will be fine, but if prices fall to a level that I feel is fair, I will be pulling the trigger on one of those.

Cheers,
Marc

[2bornot2bop]

I'm of Russian Jewish heritage so I have no business speaking Italian.

No *hit! Put Russia on your bucket list - You'd love St. Petersburg. Rent a flat, it's much cheaper.

[NotDave]

Regarding Eddie's D'A, he added the pickup, as a floater. He did not carve a cavity into the top of the D'A. The pickup is affixed to the end of the fingerboard by a piece of ebony that Eddie fashioned for this purpose, and there is a tiny hole underneath the pickup, through which the pickup wire is threaded into the body. The endpin is not a Tapastring, which came to market long after Eddie installed the pickup on his D'A.

(I know these things because I spent a fair amount of time with Eddie and his D'A. He worked on several of my archtops over the years, sometimes on an outpatient basis, letting me watch as he worked, we spent lots of time talking about guitars and other stuff over lunch, and he somehow endured working through a few lessons with me. I introduced Eddie to the Tapastring endpin, and put him in touch with Keith at Tapastring to discuss the product, which Eddie very much liked. And I share all this not to try to elevate my standing in the D'A or archtop communities by seizing on an association with Eddie or Tapastring; it's just that I'm amazed and overjoyed to know and be able to recall relevant facts about anything.)

NotDave

[Max405]

Is the listing of all D'Angelicos available online? I have the listing in my "what's in a name" book but it doesn't have any info on #1155.
Thanks in advance.
Joe D