New D'Angelico Style B?

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-28-2019, 03:54 AM

A few guitar options are floating around my brain at the moment, and not all of the same type: Ibanez PM 100, 120, 200, an Eastman ER4, and the Korean-made D'Angelico Excel EXL-1 and the Style B.

The Exl-1 is a 17" box with full 25.5 string length, whereas the Style B is a more comfortable 16" box with a slightly shorter string length of 25".

I'm drifting towards the Style B. I know both are laminates, and coupled with a floating pup. I tend to equate floaters with carved tops, inset pups with laminates, but it could work.

I'm playing most of my jazz on a Fender Telecaster these days, or the Eastman gypsy-jazz acoustic, so the Style B would provide something different. People seem to like the Exl-1, but as I get older the smaller 16" body is becoming more appealing. The price of £1400 is about my upper limit.

Any experience here with the Style B?

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-28-2019, 03:55 AM

PS wish me a happy 60th!

**Pierrot** · 07-28-2019, 04:03 AM

No experience with any of these guitars but happy birthday to you, Rob!

**cmajor9** · 07-28-2019, 04:27 AM

Can’t really help with your choice, but a warm Happy Birthday to you, Rob!

**silverfoxx** · 07-28-2019, 04:28 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

PS wish me a happy 60th!

'
I'm sure everyone here wishes you a Happy Birthday Rob, ( youngster !)
may you be blessed with many more. have a good day and keep regaling
us with your videos.

Best wishes my friend, Alan

**Ray175** · 07-28-2019, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

PS wish me a happy 60th!

Welcome to the "sexy-genarian" club, Rob. Some of us have been members for a while now.

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-28-2019, 05:40 AM

Sexy genarian? Uggh, what a thought :-)

Thanks, everyone!

**Greentone** · 07-28-2019, 06:52 AM

Happy birthday, Rob.

Joe D has a Gibson ES165 Herb Ellis laminate with floating pickup that is awfully nice. I suspect that the Style B can be, also.

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-28-2019, 07:51 AM

Cheers, Greentone. What does Joe D know about guitars?! ;-) Only kidding, Joe!

I just fancy something a little different this time round.

**deacon Mark** · 07-28-2019, 08:06 AM

Rob happy birthday but I believe the B is still 17 inches wide but body style a bit different and scale lenght is 24.75.

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-28-2019, 08:22 AM

Thanks. I was going by the spec on the D'Angelico website: Excel Style B | Excel Series | D'Angelico Guitars

...but websites have been wrong before. I'll drop them an email.

**Michael Neverisky** · 07-28-2019, 08:22 AM

Happy Birthday and best wishes Rob!.
I celebrated by 60th birthday last year which is when I made a commitment to learn something about playing jazz. The guitar has been my companion for nearly 50 years, including years at a conservatory and yet... there is thankfully still more to learn!

I can't offer anything about the guitars you mention other than that I owned an ER4 for while which is a carved top, set pickup.

When I reach 70, maybe I'll file down my fingernails and learn to play Tarrega with my fingertips on a gut strung little guitar.

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-28-2019, 08:24 AM

Cheers, Michael. Sounds like a good plan!

**TedBPhx** · 07-28-2019, 10:33 AM

Happy Birthday, kid!

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-28-2019, 12:02 PM

Cheers, Ted!

**neatomic** · 07-28-2019, 12:08 PM

happy birthday rob!! may your days continue to be filled with music and good times

all the best

cheers

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-28-2019, 12:11 PM

Thank you, o venerable wise one!

**wintermoon** · 07-28-2019, 12:27 PM

looks like we share this day Rob, but you're way older than me!
well, a couple yrs anyway.....

I just have to make sure the folks @ our regular Sunday gig don't buy me too many drinks, I'm working!

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-28-2019, 12:30 PM

Ha. I feel so much mature and wise than I did yesterday

It comes with age. You'll get there, sonny.

**docsteve** · 07-28-2019, 12:30 PM

Happy Birthday Rob -

And I don‘t think you can go wrong with the PMs. Every one I played so far was good.

Gesendet von iPad mit Tapatalk

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-28-2019, 12:32 PM

Cheers, Steve. Hard to find second hand at a good price, but I'm in no hurry.

**JazzNote** · 07-28-2019, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

PS wish me a happy 60th!

Happy Birthday Rob i wish you all the best!
60 has changed the outlook for me, ever since then i'm more aware that time is running fast and there is yet so much to accomplish (going 63 in October)