1957 DA Excel -- any info?

**sgcim** · 09-24-2016, 07:57 PM

I agree that 20K was a premium price for 'a' D'A back in '88, but THAT particular D'A is the equivalent of a Stradivarius.

Every note had a strength and sustain that I've never heard equaled. As much as JS and Gibson tried, the JS guitar JS played on the Verve LPs didn't come close to the sound he got on the later Roost LPs.

There was a good reason why JS kept that guitar up until his playing days were completely over. Plus he probably needed the money.

Kenny Burrell also wound up selling his NYer, and chances are, it was probably a money situation with him, also.

**GNAPPI** · 09-24-2016, 08:17 PM

Let's see, equity in the house, git only 40 miles away for a test drive... I'd even save the angst of shipping not to mention the $75 shipping fee.

Oh well at least the test drive is possible, I may go down to check it out.

**Stringswinger** · 09-24-2016, 09:12 PM

Gary, if it was only a 40 mile drive for me, I would test drive that guitar for sure. Whether JS owned it or not, it is a holy grail guitar.

**GNAPPI** · 09-24-2016, 10:26 PM

Well Google says it's 35 miles, on my rocket sled thats a tad less ;-)

I'll call them and see if they are open tomorrow, if I get to play it, I'll have them take a pic of me playing it and give an in hand report on it.

Funny I'm watching Indiana Jones and the last crusade now :-)

**Cunamara** · 09-25-2016, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

" Personally at $40K I think it is massively over-valued and is worth half that, but I may simply not have an even remotely accurate grasp of the value of such guitars. Others have opined that the price seems reasonable, even without the Johnny Smith provenance, and they may be right and I may be out to lunch. Wouldn't be the first time."

it's been for sale for over a year @ 40K w/no takers, probably be gone by now if someone like Wexer or Gruhn had it for sale. it's worth closer to 40K than 20, just not in the hands of the right dealer.

Good point, a sale price that high from a private seller on Reverb may not be the best route. And many potential buyers will probably have spotted the discrepancy.

**Cunamara** · 09-25-2016, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by sgcim

I agree that 20K was a premium price for 'a' D'A back in '88, but THAT particular D'A is the equivalent of a Stradivarius.

Every note had a strength and sustain that I've never heard equaled. As much as JS and Gibson tried, the JS guitar JS played on the Verve LPs didn't come close to the sound he got on the later Roost LPs.

Agreed about the status of that particular instrument, IMHO possibly the single finest jazz guitar ever made. Whatever that means in any non-overwrought practical sense. Did you ever have the chance to hear the guitar in person? I have only heard the post-55 Roost recordings and the limited sound quality of the YouTube video.

Was the 1962 "Man With the Blue Guitar" recorded with the D'Angelico? I am inclined to think yes, even though he would have had the first Gibson by then.

**Plectrum** · 09-25-2016, 05:21 PM

Looking at two editions of the Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide books, prices for D'Angelico have gone down significantly between 2009 and 2015. It is not so with comparable models from other brands. How to explain it?

**Stringswinger** · 09-25-2016, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by Plectrum

Looking at two editions of the Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide books, prices for D'Angelico have gone down significantly between 2009 and 2015. It is not so with comparable models from other brands. How to explain it?

Just as Gibson destroyed the Epiphone name by using it on Asian Imports and Fender did the same to Guild, now the D'Angelico name has been tarnished by the efforts of the Ferolito family (Arizona Iced Tea family who bought the name).

For me, it has worked pretty well. I have been able to acquire real D'Angelicos at doable prices. And no matter how many mediocre Asian guitars the Ferolito's sell with the DA name on the headstock, my real DA's are some of the best guitars that I have ever played.

**Plectrum** · 09-25-2016, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

Just as Gibson destroyed the Epiphone name by using it on Asian Imports and Fender did the same to Guild, now the D'Angelico name has been tarnished by the efforts of the Ferolito family (Arizona Iced Tea family who bought the name).

For me, it has worked pretty well. I have been able to acquire real D'Angelicos at doable prices. And no matter how many mediocre Asian guitars the Ferolito's sell with the DA name on the headstock, my real DA's are some of the best guitars that I have ever played.

Wow! I didn't think that would have had an impact on the vintage DA! Bummer for those who already own one and who may see a significant drop in resale value.

**wintermoon** · 09-25-2016, 06:48 PM

I don't agree that original DA's value has been affected by the Asian copies. Most serious buyers know the dif.
The fact is when the economy tanked the high end (over 15k) arch top market did as well and hasn't recovered

**Stringswinger** · 09-25-2016, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by Plectrum

Wow! I didn't think that would have had an impact on the vintage DA! Bummer for those who already own one and who may see a significant drop in resale value.

I think the drop has already happened and prices have stabilized. Though it is possible that with changing demographics, acoustic archtops may lose popularity (as they did in the 70's) and that might cause further downward pressure on the DA market. On the other hand DA's are super rare and are as much historic pieces of fine art as they are historic fine instruments.

I think they will be high value items so long as American civilization exists. And certainly longer than I will exist.

**Stringswinger** · 09-25-2016, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by wintermoon

I don't agree that original DA's value has been affected by the Asian copies. Most serious buyers know the dif.
The fact is when the economy tanked the high end (over 15k) arch top market did as well and hasn't recovered

I beg to differ. The cachet for rich collectors has been somewhat diminished by the many Asian DA's out there. Rarified brand names are quite important to the silk stocking trade. In clothing, cars and yes, even guitars.

**wintermoon** · 09-25-2016, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

I beg to differ. The cachet for rich collectors has been somewhat diminished by the many Asian DA's out there. Rarified brand names are quite important to the silk stocking trade. In clothing, cars and yes, even guitars.

I beg right back.
It's not just DA's that are down, it's high end acoustic archtops across the board

**HeyNow** · 09-25-2016, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by Plectrum

Looking at two editions of the Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide books, prices for D'Angelico have gone down significantly between 2009 and 2015. It is not so with comparable models from other brands. How to explain it?

I've never found any vintage guitar/amp price guides to be remotely close to reflecting real world prices/values.

**sgcim** · 09-25-2016, 08:27 PM

I would think that the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC's exhibit on DA's, solidified the value of DA's for collectors once and for all.
'Vintage Guitar Magazine' is a commercial publication that covers the types of guitars that Baby Boomers buy.
Every time I look at it expecting listings of D'As, all I see are mainly Gold Top LPs, Pre-CBS Fenders,etc...

DA's are another market. People are always going to spend more money for Gold Top LPs, and Pre-CBS Fenders, because they're more essential parts of popular culture than D'As.
But old acoustic guitars, of which there are a limited number (1,000 DAs), will have a fairly stable value among art collectors, which may fluctuate with what's left of the economy.

Basically, a well made electric guitar is a well made electric guitar:

**mauibob** · 09-26-2016, 07:59 PM

Bob the serial number of our guitar is 2030. i tried to get it on a picture but its too far inside to see. hope this clears the mystery As i stated it did belong to Hank Risen s collection. best regards Eddie

Arturo Corce

**Cunamara** · 09-26-2016, 08:51 PM

Bob, you have definitively solved the question about whether the guitar is the one mentioned in the letter. Thank you. It part of the Risan collection, no reason to doubt that. Whether Johnny Smith actually ever owned it may be harder to settle, but how much does that matter? It's a late period D'Angelico Excel cutaway.