D’Angelico Reintroduces Flagship Archtops: EXL-1 and Style B

D’Angelico Guitars is kicking off 2024 with the launch of all-new versions of their flagship Excel EXL-1 and Excel Style B archtops. The EXL-1 and Style B return with vintage-inspired pickups and aesthetic appointments honoring the roots of the iconic brand.

“We are thrilled to once again offer the EXL-1 and Style B in the Excel Series,” says Ryan Kershaw, EVP of Product at Bond Audio. “These guitars are the true spirit of our brand, and we’ve worked hard to make them sound, feel and look better than ever before. These are special instruments, and we’re excited to offer them in these new variations.”

D’Angelico Excel EXL-1

The flagship archtop in the D’Angelico line has returned—now in two colorways with two different pickup configurations. Inspired by John D’Angelico’s single-cutaway “Excel” model that was first introduced in 1947, the Excel EXL-1 offers woody, articulate tone, ideal for both rhythm and lead playing. Featuring a redesigned neck shape, the EXL-1 promises the perfect balance of comfort and heft, still prioritizing remarkable mobility but also offering improved handfit. On the Dark Iced Tea Burst finish, a full-sized Seymour Duncan 59 humbucker yields broad tone with singing sustain, while a Johnny Smith Floating Mini-bucker on the new Amber finish offers woody, focused tone that prioritizes body top resonance.

D’Angelico Excel Style B

A faithful replica of John D’Angelico’s rhythm-focused archtop and go-to model throughout the 1930’s, the Style B is an old-school non-cutaway archtop embodying the spirit of New York City jazz. With a 24.75″ scale length and only 20 frets, the Style B is easy to wield and offers naturally rich, mellow tone. A redesigned neck shape offers improved handfit and sustain while still prioritizing remarkable comfort. And offered for the first time ever in the standard D’Angelico line, the Style B welcomes back the legendary DeArmond Rhythm Chief pickup, often seen on original D’Angelico’s of the late 30s and 40s. Played acoustic, the Style B offers woody, warm tone, and thanks to the transparency of the DeArmond pickup, its amplified sound is much the same.

Both archtop models feature Grover hardware, an ebony fingerboard, and Jescar fretwire, and are available in Dark Iced Tea Burst and Amber. The Excel EXL-1 is $1899.99 and the Excel Style B is $1699.99, both available at retailers worldwide.

These models will be making their first appearance to consumers at the NAMM show in Anaheim California as well.