Vestax D'Angelicos?

**buduranus2** · 03-25-2018, 02:06 PM

I've seen several of these in different configurations for sale online at what seem to be reasonable prices. I'm wondering if anyone owns or has played these and, if so, how they compare to Heritage or Gibson.

**deacon Mark** · 03-25-2018, 02:57 PM

I don't know about the ones today but I have an 18 inch NY made in about 2000. It is a fantastic guitar and made flawless has given me no trouble at all. The early ones where much better than the stuff I see around today but I do notice a new batch that seems to be coming from Japan.

**buduranus2** · 03-25-2018, 03:13 PM

They seem very nicely made. Just not sure why they seem to be undervalued.

**JazzNote** · 03-25-2018, 03:33 PM

I have a Vestax NYL-2. It plays very well, is very well manufactured, in fact a terrific guitar for its price. I bought it used, so i don't exactly know what year it was produced, my guess is that it is about 8 to 10 years old now.

I don't know the Heritages, but can compare it to Gibsons. It is as comfortable as a high end Gibson like Johnny Smith and the sound gets close too. I also have an Incheon EXL-1DP wich is a very good instrument too, but tonewise not as "mature sounding" as the Vestax.

**ThatRhythmMan** · 03-25-2018, 04:19 PM

I have first hand experience with several of the Vestax D’Angelicos. The last official year these guitars were made for sale in the US is 2004, although it seems that the same guitars were made for the Japanese market later than this.

They are almost all pressed spruce top guitars with solid maple sides and backs. There were a few made with carved tops as I understand, but I’ve yet to see one.

All of them that I’ve played were superbly nice playing guitars and sound really great amplified. They won’t function well enough as an acoustic guitar to play with other instruments, but are good enough acoustically for practice. Because of this, they can be great gigging guitars without a lot of feedback issues.

I’ve sold a few of them and all of the buyers have been extremely happy with them as well. They are hard to beat for the price.

**Cunamara** · 03-25-2018, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by buduranus2

I've seen several of these in different configurations for sale online at what seem to be reasonable prices. I'm wondering if anyone owns or has played these and, if so, how they compare to Heritage or Gibson.

The Vestax ones are IIRC made-in-Japan guitars on par with Aria, etc. The ones I have played were nice enough instruments- seemed well made, well finished, nice necks and had good tone. One in partiucular was really quite good. Enjoyable and gig-worthy. They are not top quality instruments with carved tops, tap tuning, etc.- nor are they priced as such- like Heritage or Gibsons (although there are also some luthier-made, very top-drawer D'Angelico replicas). And of course the Vestax and subsequent instruments are miles away from a real D'Angelico which are only the ones made by John D'Angelico, Vincent DeSerio and/or Jimmy D'Aquisto at the D'Angelico shop in New York.

I have a beef with the use of the D'Angelico name, to be honest, since John D'Angelico had nothing whatsoever to do with those instruments other than their aping the cosmetics of the 1950s real ones. It just seems wrong to me. But IME they are quite decent guitars beyond that issue.

**buduranus2** · 03-25-2018, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

They are not top quality instruments with carved tops, tap tuning, etc.- nor are they priced as such- like Heritage or Gibsons (although there are also some luthier-made, very top-drawer D'Angelico replicas).

OK, now I'm starting to get it. Appreciate your insights. I guess the proof is in the playing. BTW, I've seen some Triggs D'Angelicos that seemed very well-made. Thanks!

**deacon Mark** · 03-25-2018, 09:59 PM

Actually mine has plenty of bite and produces good sound acoustically. Better than some actual carved tops, however it is not either of my originals for sure. It compares favorably to some acoustic boutique archtops......but i wont mention names.

**buduranus2** · 03-25-2018, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by deacon Mark

Actually mine has plenty of bite and produces good sound acoustically. Better than some actual carved tops, however it is not either of my originals for sure. It compares favorably to some acoustic boutique archtops......but i wont mention names.

My curiosity is getting piqued. I'd like to play one and see how it compares to my EXL-1. I'm guessing a more focused and open sound and better playability.

**capnrory** · 03-25-2018, 10:31 PM

My only experience is with a 2003 D'A Vestax-made NY SD-9 solid body. I bought sight unseen and have kept it strung with Thomastik flat wounds since acquiring in 2006(?). It has a wonderful jazz tone with the Kent Armstrong humbuckers, and I have zero complaints about fit, finish or durability. I know most of the discussion here is about the archtop's, but I thought I would throw in my triplet phrase considering the topic is Vestax D'A's.

**Max405** · 03-25-2018, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by deacon Mark

Actually mine has plenty of bite and produces good sound acoustically. Better than some actual carved tops, however it is not either of my originals for sure. It compares favorably to some acoustic boutique archtops......but i wont mention names.

you know, I remember a long time ago watching a video of a guy coaxing some of the nicest sounds out of a DA Exl-DP. It was a beautiful Korean made DA. I believe (I can be wrong), the players name was Deacon Mark.
Joe D.

**ThatRhythmMan** · 03-25-2018, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by buduranus2

My curiosity is getting piqued. I'd like to play one and see how it compares to my EXL-1. I'm guessing a more focused and open sound and better playability.

Bring your EXL-1 over and I’ll let you A/B them. I’ll let you compare a few other guitars as well.

**GNAPPI** · 03-26-2018, 12:25 AM

Kurt Rosenwinkel has an NY-SS it seems to work for him :-)

**helios** · 03-26-2018, 02:56 AM

I can say that pressed spruce archtops that are made in Japan are probably going to be superior to the average lot of archtops out there, based on my experience with MIJ Ibanez guitars. I also agree that I dislike it when the rights to a name are acquired, while there is little or no affiliation to the original namesake. The Indian Motorcycle Company is a moniker that springs to mind. Its various permutations have had nothing to do with the original Springfield MA company, yet the brand name goes on (although I confess that I consider the current iteration to be quite awesome). It ends up being all about marketing!

**takauya** · 03-26-2018, 04:43 AM

Japanese made D'angelicos are made by Terada factory, which also makes Sadowsky, Gretsch, etc. Vestax used to be the distributor, and IIRC, Crews is the distributor now. I don't think they export the products outside of Japan. I'm not sure though. Also, they are nothing to do with American D'angelico company today. Actually Vestax sued American D'angelico company and lost.

I used to have the exact model Kurt Rosenwinkel has been using for decades. It was just a good guitar, nothing's special. I think they are overrated. In Japan nobody cares for the "Vestax D'angelico".

**deacon Mark** · 03-26-2018, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by Max405

you know, I remember a long time ago watching a video of a guy coaxing some of the nicest sounds out of a DA Exl-DP. It was a beautiful Korean made DA. I believe (I can be wrong), the players name was Deacon Mark.
Joe D.

Joe if I could get into the youtube account I would take them all down but I cannot get in to the account. Lost the password and no way to do anything to get it.

**Max405** · 03-26-2018, 09:36 AM

Mark, don't take them down. They were great. I for one knew that you were being informative. I knew where your heart was, and your talent was very obvious.
Great Stuff.
Joe D

**Max405** · 03-26-2018, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by takauya

Japanese made D'angelicos are made by Terada factory, which also makes Sadowsky, Gretsch, etc. Vestax used to be the distributor, and IIRC, Crews is the distributor now. I don't think they export the products outside of Japan. I'm not sure though. Also, they are nothing to do with American D'angelico company today. Actually Vestax sued American D'angelico company and lost.

I used to have the exact model Kurt Rosenwinkel has been using for decades. It was just a good guitar, nothing's special. I think they are overrated. In Japan nobody cares for the "Vestax D'angelico".

Maybe I am making an incorrect assumption here, but it is nice to hear what someone from Japan thinks about these instruments. In general, the Japanese manufacture great things, but you don't often hear what the Japanese public thinks of their countries products.
Thanks for your post.
Joe D

**GNAPPI** · 03-26-2018, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by takauya

In Japan nobody cares for the "Vestax D'angelico".

I wonder if it's because as consumers they have a liking for foreign goods as a status symbol like we in the U.S have for German cars, Rolex watches etc. ?

Or is there a domestic (Japanese) brand of git that"s held in higher esteem than the D'Angelico?

**LtKojak** · 03-26-2018, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by takauya

Japanese made D'angelicos are made by Terada factory, which also makes Sadowsky

The MetroExpress Line is made in Japan to Roger Sadowsky’s exacting standards under the supervision of Yoshi Kikuchi.

Roger and Yoshi began working together in 1993, when Yoshi started a year-long internship at the Sadowsky NYC shop.

In 2003, when Roger set out to launch his first line of affordable basses, Yoshi recruited a team of veterans from the Japanese guitar industry to set up a shop in Japan to produce the MetroLine series. Fifteen years and 10,000 basses later, Roger and Yoshi have established the MetroLine as the premier line of basses made in Japan.

If we believe Roger's word, then his guitars and basses are not being made in the Terada factory.

**2bornot2bop** · 03-26-2018, 07:50 PM

To the OP, having owned Heritage archtops, and 2 Vestax D'A's they're different guitars. Each great in their own right. I wished my Vestax had nitro finishes. Other than that, no complaints. The Vestax's had better finishing than the 70's 80's Aria's. No comparison in my experience. Can't miss with the Vestax, but I wouldn't pay $3k for one, as a matter of choice.

**buduranus2** · 03-26-2018, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

To the OP, having owned Heritage archtops, and 2 Vestax D'A's they're different guitars. Each great in their own right. I wished my Vestax had nitro finishes. Other than that, no complaints. The Vestax's had better finishing than the 70's 80's Aria's. No comparison in my experience. Can't miss with the Vestax, but I wouldn't pay $3k for one, as a matter of choice.

Gee, I didn't realize the Vestax DAs had poly finishes. I have a EXL-1, which is suitable for my current level of development. The only quibble I have with it is the poly finish on the neck. It feels different than nitro IMHO. I played a nice Heritage Super Eagle recently and would have bought it except the neck was so narrow (custom order) that I couldn't play it. I thought the Vestax DA would have been a nice step up for me, and may well still be. BTW, I've seen Vestax DAs for well under $3k. Thanks!

**takauya** · 03-27-2018, 03:08 AM

Originally Posted by LtKojak

If we believe Roger's word, then his guitars and basses are not being made in the Terada factory.

I meant the Sadowsky Archtop series. I'm not sure about the Metroline series.

**takauya** · 03-27-2018, 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by GNAPPI

I wonder if it's because as consumers they have a liking for foreign goods as a status symbol like we in the U.S have for German cars, Rolex watches etc. ?

Or is there a domestic (Japanese) brand of git that"s held in higher esteem than the D'Angelico?

Well, I don't mean Japanese people hate or dislike Terada made D'angelico. Actually IMO, they are good guitars, but to me it seems like people in other countries overrate "Vestax D'angelico". I've seen a lot of ads with way overpriced tags on Ebay or Reverb in the past. Honestly I've actually never heard anyone in Japan talking about it (Vestax D'angelico). Probably one of the reasons would be those Terada made D'angelicos are still on the market in Japan.

Also, you know Westville is also made by Terada as well as the Archtop Tribute guitars. The both are produced and distributed by Japanese guitar shop Walkin'. Especially the latter is very very popular in Japan.

**takauya** · 03-27-2018, 03:33 AM

Originally Posted by Max405

Maybe I am making an incorrect assumption here, but it is nice to hear what someone from Japan thinks about these instruments. In general, the Japanese manufacture great things, but you don't often hear what the Japanese public thinks of their countries products.
Thanks for your post.
Joe D

Many Japanese people like Japanese guitars especially jazz people. My take is that more fusion or rock type players prefer American guitars. People those idolizing are mostly using Gibson, Fender, PRS, Suhr, etc.