D Angelico Guitars of America EXS-1DH Excel

This is an add-on to my previous review.
I wanted to add that the switch that comes with these guitars are terrible! They work ok, but they make the sound terrible. I never would have believed the switch could effect the sound myself, but I changed it out for a switchcraft-type (with the leaves) and couldn't believe the difference. I then changed the switches back 2 more times to be sure, and that cheap box-type switch it comes with really robs some of the tone. It's a pity because the guitar can sound really, really good, but the signal has to pass through that switch.
The difference is sound is like rolling down the volume a few numbers: it's not as clear, it's not as alive, it's just more dull.
So anyway, if you do one thing to your Excel, change that switch!

D'angelico should use better switches, the difference in sound is dramatic.

This is a korean-made hollow-body with 2 humbuckers. The body woods are all laminated spruce top with flame maple back and sides. The neck is 2-piece rock maple with a walnut stripe dwon the middle. Very nice looking axe with MOP and abolone inlays all over. Solid brass tail-piece which is laquered. Grover tuners with imperial buttons. The pickups are Korean-made kent armstrongs. Just a really, really beautiful guitar. I score it high in this category because the hardware is relly pretty top-notch.

This sounds as only a hollow body can. Rich and warm with a lot of woody archtop sound in the mix. The pickups are not up there in the hand-wound custom after market territory (like Fralins, etc) but I think are equal to Gibson's '57 classic pickups, which I've had on several guitars. It has a very rich, full sound this is my first hollow body and I can't believe how it makes my solid body guitars sound so muich less fat (I have a home-made tele and a gibson Historic 58 Les Paul). There is quite a variety in the sound between the two pickups and the tone controls. The sound was about a 7 with the stock set-up, but I replaced the pots with Alphas and the caps with Sozos and now it's about a 9. I will be replacing the pickups soon too. Although I do think the electornics need to be upgraded to make a it world-class guitar, it's a damn fine one right out of the box, and especially for the money! I give it an 8 for this category because it really has the potential to be a world-class guitar, but the electronics need to be upgraded for that. But from the factory it sounds very, very good; again especially for the price.

Ok, this is where I was really blown away. For the price I paid and the fact that it was Korean made, I wasn't expecting a whole lot. BUT...the finish and build quality equalled or surpassed my $3200 Historic Les Paul in all areas! The fret work is perfect, I mean perfect. The finish is near perfect. The only thing I can spot on the whole guitar is a tiny, tiny extra laquer on the back of the headstock on an edge, but it's so small you'd never notice it. The action was perfect, and so where the pickup heights. I really think this company puts real effort into making these guitars extremely well and with tremendous care. My Gibson on the other hand, had orange peel in the finish on both sides of the headstock. The inlays on the Dangelico are also done with more precision and with less filler around the edges than my historic Lp.

The finish on this Excel is poly, but it isn't the usual Asain super-think encased-in-plastic kind you usually find. It's extremely thin, so thin in fact that in the right light you can see the tiny ridges in the grain of the spruce top. Very nice! It's light enough to let the guitar vibrate pretty freely.

This guitar is a super-great bargain and a winner out of the box, but if you put a little work into it yourself you can really have a top-of the line guitar. I already mentioned replacing the electronics. But the wooden bridge base and the pickguard both need a little more finish sanding. They both looked fine, but smoothing the edges out with 2000 grit made them look top-notch. Not a problem for me and cheaper for me to put in that extra hour of labor than at the factory.

The quality of this guitar is really up there with a guitar 2 or 3 times the price. I mentioned upgrading the electornics, but I should point out that this Excel came stock with the same or better electonics (better pots and caps about the same quality pickups)than my $3200 Gibson lp.

But when I replaced the pots on this guitar, I got a good look at the insides. The quality of the insides can tell you a lot about a guitar. The bracing (solid spruce) and everything in there looked amazingly neat! It was as high-quality on the inside as the out. I did find one little drip of glue, but otherwise totally immaculate. I was very impressed.

Yes, this guitar is very solidly built. The hardware is really good, especially the tail-piece! Everything is very solid. The finish will last a long time. Nice big solid strap buttons too. No problem using it a gig with a backup.

But, I have to give this category a 9 because of a cold solder joint on the neck volume. This caused the neck Pickup to cut in and out. I changed out the pots anyway, so it was no big deal for me to fix, but that wasn't too hot right out of the box!

I emailed them one question and I got an extremely friendly and informative response back. It did take a few days, but that's ok.

I've been playing for 16 years, went to berklee college of music. I play mostly roots type music, rock, blues, country, bluegrass, getting into jazz and any combo of the above. I think this guitar is a fantastic value! I get the feeling that this company is really trying to put out a high quality product, and is not just a heartless business. Out of the box it's great guitar, with a little upgrading (and I don't know of an axe yet that can't use that) it can be a world-class guitar IMHO.
One thing I haven't mentioned yet is the neck. It's a little on the slim side but it is super comfortable. It's very nice. I though I was a super-chunky neck only guy, but this has changed my mind.
But anyway, a great bargain and I think it's possibly the very best new hollowbody deal out there at the moment.