29/12/2023, 15:19 1939 D'Angelico Style A-1-

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1939 D'Angelico Style A-1
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Serial number: #1452, December 2nd, 1939, recorded by hand in the builder's ledger.

Body size at lower bout: 17" Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut width: 1 11/16" Body Depth: 3 1/4" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets:
.84/.92"

Materials: Solid hand graduated Adirondack spruce soundboard; solid handcarved flame maple back, sides, and neck;
mother of pearl block fingerboard inlays; engraved pearl peghead inlay; bound body, fingerboard and headstock.

Hardware: Original nickel hardware includes Grover DeLuxe trapeze tailpiece, Grover Sta-Tite open-back tuners,
compensated adjustable ebony bridge. Vintage correct bound tortoise stairstep pickguard.

Notes: The instruments of master builder John D'Angelico are widely regarded as representing the pinnacle of the modern
luthier's craft. His Style A-1 model is identical in dimensions, bracing and materials to the Excel, differing only in cosmetic
details and appointments. Stamped with serial number 1452, this guitar is listed in D'Angelico's ledger as completed on
October 23rd, 1940, for a customer by the name of Bjurmark.

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This handsome guitar shows that the maker

used finely figured tonewood across the breadth
of his product line, with attractive curly maple
in the body and neck, and bookmatched
Adirondack spruce for the soundboard. Original
hardware includes the Grover Sta-Tite tuners
and lightweight compensated adjustable ebony
bridge. The Grover DeLuxe trapeze tailpiece is
original as well, with a recent vintage correct
bound tortoise stairstep pickguard completing
the Art Deco styling.

Carefully maintained, the guitar is remarkably

free of pick, thumb, buckle or fingerboard wear.
The handsome dark Cremona sunburst finish
appears to have been professionally replaced
some decades ago, in a subtly shaded original
style true nitro lacquer. The binding is tight to
the body, and a pair of grainline cracks near the
bass soundhole have been soundly resealed long
ago. The original nickel hardware is in excellent
condition, with a bound tortoise stairstep
pickguard correct in contour and materials.

The neck has a fine medium "D" profile, with

fresh pro fretwork on the solid ebony
fingerboard, and smooth, low action over a
fresh high-precision setup. The voice is open
and powerful, with a tap tuned parallel braced
soundboard providing remarkable focus and
projection. A special bonus is the vintage
DeArmond Model 1000 Rhythm Chief, the
original floating pickup, complete with string
clamp rod and control box, quickly removable
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with two small thumbwheel screws. Clear and detailed, the slightly microphonic design of this classic single coil pickup
combines body resonance with string response for matchless vintage tone.

A trio of positively gobsmacking concert videos featuring the virtuoso Pasquale Grasso showing off this guitar's
incomparable tone may be viewed here, here, and here.

After you've caught your breath, you will be pleased to find a copy of the original ledger entry for the instrument, in
D'Angelico's own hand, included in the gleaming brown Lifton plushlined hardshell case. Timeless, elegant, and right to the
point, the D'Angelico Model A-1 is an exceptional find in a true master quality instrument, from the Stradivarius of the
archtop guitar. One only, call now.

Setup: Bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected; bridge foot contour
inspected; bridge radius inspected; bridgewheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned
and hand polished.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge phosphor bronze strings. The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge
strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with light relief for acoustic playing
with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

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