D Angelico Guitars of America New Yorker NYL-2

2003 model, purchased new. Pressed solid spruce top, laminated maple sides and back. All the specs have been listed by previous reviewers. Natural finish. One floating pickup w/adjustable pole pieces, but not adjustable pickup height (no height control is definitely a defecit). Very stunningly beautiful guitar that always gets positive comments from musicians and non-musicians alike.

I play swing and fingerstyle jazz/pop from the 30's and 40's. This guitar has THE sound! Single notes are big and fat and chords are full with good definition of each note. I have it strung with Thomastik Swing Flatwounds .12 - .50 and they sound and play fantastic. I am running it thru a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue and it sounds very nice. Acoustically it sounds as good and loud as another solid wood archtop I own.

I was not happy with the factory setup. The high E and B strings buzzed at the 10th, 11th and 12th frets. I took the guitar to a local nationally acclaimed "boutique" music store and they spent an hour setting it up, tweeking the truss rod and filing the frets. Now it plays and sounds like a dream. Also, the pickup bounced up and down while I played (fingerstyle, my thumb kept hitting it), this bounce was easily remedied with a small piece of felt between the top of the guitar and the bottom of the pickup. I noticed a few places in the binding where corners did not match up 100%, more like 99.99%. You'd have to look hard for this "flaw". Wood quality is top notch with a very tightly grained spruce top and highly flamed sides and back.

The guitar is built rock solid and should last a lifetime. Unfortunately it has the typical Japanese polyurethene finish that's impossible to repair. I am a bit worried about the gold finish on the pickup. My thumb touches it frequently when I play fingerstyle and I know eventially I'll wear away the finish.

Sent a few inquiring emails pre and post sale to D'Angelico in New Jersey and they were answered quickly, politely and accurately.

As I previously stated I was disappointed with the factory setup and had to pay $75 additional dollars locally to have the guitar setup correctly. I did however purchase this guitar mail-order and I would imagine if I bought it locally this setup would of been done for free. Unfortunately these guitars are not available as widespread as say a Martin, Taylor or Fender guitar.

I've been playing for 36 years and have owned many guitars. This is one of the best I've owned. I'd buy another if this were lost or stolen.

I was offered an endorsement for D'Angelico guitars.I picked the NYL-1,which is completely hand carved,by who?I don't know.I tried reaching them by phone to change to an NYL=2 CUSTOM.After over a dozen calls,and almost more e mails,someone returned my call.Most of their guitars are pressed tops,not carved.Even the NYL-2 CUSTOM has a carved top,but pressed back.Pressed means that the top is shaped softned in water or a similar solution,then pressed into shape.Carving a guitar from scratch takes time,pressed tops are cheaper to do,and the sound of the guitar is not as warm,or professional.With an acoustic guitar the top of the guitar vibrates or rings.When the top is pressed,yes there is less feedback,but the sound is cheap,and not really pro.Beware pressed top guitars are cheap copies of a great late luthier John D'Angelico.If D'Angelico were not already passed on,these guitars would certaily kill him.The overall sound ,unplugged is thin,yet plugged in it sounds good,not great.I gave up my endorsement for the lack of quality of the guitars,and no customer support.Russel Malone is a Buscarino guitar endorsee,although he claims to have used his D'Angelico on his new recording.I have yet to hear from these professional guitar luthiers.

A cheap replica of a great guitar.

Heritage,Gerard Melancon,Terry McInturff,Roger Sadowsky,guitar endorsee/

This is a follow up to a review I posted three years ago on this guitar. As a matter of fact, I posted the first review and if you scroll all the way to the bottom you can read it.

I won't go into the features as you can read them in all of the reviews previous to this one.

As I said, I have now owned this guitar for three years and it has just gotten better with time. The acoustic tone has opened up tremendously. There are just not words to describe how warm and smooth this superb instrument sounds acoustically.

Electrically, the mini-humbucker suspeneded from the pickguard has a nice, full, round tone with well defined bass and bright but not brittle highs. The pick up does have a very pronounced mid-range that is ideal for jazz, which this guitar is designed for. The tone and volume controls, also pickguard mounted are very linear and minute adjustments of them vary the tone substantially. There is virtually no jazz tone that this pickup cannot reproduce admirably.

The only word that can describe the fit and finish on this guitar is FLAWLESS! The gold hardware still looks like new with no wear or tarnishing and the vintage sunburst finish is stunning. The quality of woods used is of the finest quality. The flame in the maple sides and back look three dimensional.

I have no doubt that this guitar will be around and enjoyed by my great-great-great grand children. Guitars of this quality haven't been built since the 30's and 40's. I have owned some of the finest vintage archtops ever made and this D'Angelico is right up there among the best.

They are extremely helpful and friendly and are very passionate about their product. They have answered every question I've ever had and went out of their way to solve a minor issue I had. This is the way customer support is supoosed to be.

Absolutely the best that money can buy. Play one and see for yourself.

-year 2002
-solid pressed top
-

-great for jazz
- nice mellow tone with clarity of notes
-frets too tall and round.
-neck has slight built in relief,I prefer a straight neck like a Gibson L-5

String spacing at the Bridge sloppily done.
pickup and pickguard too low,can't be adjusted easily.

Should last a lifetime with maintenance.

Company doesn't like to return phone calls and promptly honor requests

I would look at other guitars if stolen such as a Victor Baker.More guitar for less money.I find it strange that the Japanese manufacturer can't be easily contacted for complaints.

Straight ahead Jazz Box with one pick up.

Perfect jazz box sound. I've had Gibsons etc. and this one's sounds as good or better than any L-5 I've ever played.

Fit and finish is awesome. Better than any of the new Gibson's and on a par with guitars costing twice as much. (or more)

Built like a tank. Only time will tell. Always take a back up.

They were great as far as letting me know where to buy and back log.

Been playing for 25 years and have owned other similar guitars. Would buy another one in a second if it was stolen. Love everything about the guitar but if I had to pick the number one thing... it inspires me. Looked at new Gibson L-5s and Guilds etc.... and by FAR for the money and quality this guitar is head and shoulders above the rest.

All the standard appointments you would expect from a Jazz box. This solid pressed spruce top is the way to go. Love the floating pickup it sounds great. Neck is awesome size. I usually find them to chunky or too thin on archtops but this is the perfect in between for my taste. The case is a beautiful finishing touch for this awesome sounding, classy looking archtop.

I love archtops and have had many and this is my favorite sounding one. The tone is amazing accoustically or plugged in. You may consider leaving your collectible vintage stuff at home in the closet. The only problem is these are even more beautiful and your concious may bother you if you ding it up.

Just totally fabulous! Love the neck, finish and how great it felt right out of the box.

Built rock solid.

Love the support from the guys they are super cool and helpfull. Would personally give them a 10+ if that was possible. Makes me appreciate the guitar even more.

Amazing value for your buck if you are looking for a great sounding, looking and playing archtop.

17" Single Cutaway Jazz Archtop, 25.5 inch scale, 22 fretes, Mother of Pearl inlay (split blocks) on fretboard and at headstock, multi ply (blk/wht) binding, Grover Imperial Tuners, Ebony Saddle/Bridge and fretboard, Solid pressed (not carved, but solid wood shaped by a press) German Spruce Top with binding at F holes, Floating Humbucker (single PU at the neck position) with 1 vol and 1 tone on pickguard. Sides and back are moderately flamed laminate maple. Neck is mildly thin and slim.

Came with standard jazz flatwound strings, very mellow and bassy tone that yields about as much acoustic tone as you could ask for in an archtop. Extremely full and velvety. Played it through a California Blonde, Fender Deluxe, Pod w/headphones, Polytone 80w. Typical of a guitar of this type it will distort easily without the right amp settings, etc. Good guitar for Jazz, Easy Listening, and some general acoustical work. Compared it to a Gibson ES 175 and L4, Ibanez George Benson, Gretsch Syncromatic (junk). The Ibanez came closest but could not rival the acoustic qualities of this guitar. When I played it in the store the mere sound of the guitar made people come to hear what it was and when they saw it they were overcome by it's beauty.

Factory Setup was good. Only flaws I noted was the custom layered plastic truss rod cover was delaminating at one of the screw holes and the marker dots on the side of the neck seems to be hand painted and not well aligned (but does not look bad) I contacted DAngelico and have not heard back yet if they will send a new truss rod cover.

This Guitar is a copy of the famous DAngelico New Yorker guitars made 1930 - 1964. Vestax is a Japanese company that has been buiding guitars for long time with a wide range of quality sort of like Ibanez. Vestax did an excellent job on this guitar and it is built solid and well. However it is extremely beautiful and I am not sure that it is a gigging instrument except for special occaisions. It has just a 1 yr. Warranty but I am not worried.

Don't know yet. Email me for an update.

You will not find a better value for sound. The original guitars sell for $25k - $60k. Not much out there that can compare with the tone of this guitar. NOTHING out there can compare with the beauty of this guitar. Guitar lists for $4500. Here is the website for DAngelico/Vestax: http://www.dangelicoguitars.com/

Tone and Beauty are the favorite features. If it were stolen, I would need counseling.

Volume and Tone. What more could you want.

This is a jazz box and it sounds like every other D'Angelico I've heard. It has a warmth to its tone that makes you wish you were a better player.(it entices me to practice...Ha)

Setup was perfect. I've always liked seting my electrics up alittle slinky for bends. This guitar is setup to be a jazz box of your dreams.

If they would have had these on the Titanic, they could have rowed to shore. Very well built.

I have been wanting a electric arch for along time, but never really wanted to peel out the big bucks for one. I've past a couple of super 400's up over the years that I wished I would've bought.(they sounded wonderful)For 6 or 7 thousand dollars I wanted to make I would use it. I have a nice selection of gear T.Anderson, PRS, Fender,Martin,Collings,Dobro,and Derby pedal steel, and my Earl Scruggs Gibson mastertone. I guess I'm like you I like high quality crafted instruments. The D'Angelico NYL-2 is in a league of its own.

Please see my earlier review. Jazz boxes don't come with a lot of features, just the important ones.

Absolutely incomparable. As sweet as it gets!

Still perfect!

Still built like a tank. An incredibly solid instrument.

This is an update to my earlier review. I developed a buzz on the first and second string at the tenth fret. I contacted D'Angelico and asked them where I should take my guitar to have it looked at since I did not want to ship it from my home in California to their facility in New York. They allowed me to take my guitar to own luthier and have the repair made. It turned out to be nothing more than a couple of high frets and they paid to have all of the frets leveled and polished. This is the kind of customer service one should get from all manufacturers, especially high end guitar makers. I thank the fine people at D'Angelico Guitars of America for their superb handling of this issue.

The Best guitar I have ever played, and I've played them all over the last 40+ years. I love it more today than the day I bought it.

1999 recreation of the legendary luthier D'Angelico's most famous design, the "New Yorker". 17" archtop with pressed German spruce top. 22 fret bound ebony fretboard with slotted block pearl inlays. Mini double coil floating pickup mounted to pickguard. Back and sides of flamed maple. Maple neck. Came with alligator (?) skin hardcase.

Smooth sound amplified. Great jazz tone. Punchy tone unamplified. Since I usually play acousicly, I took off the pickup and pickguard (I'm a big fan of the early jazz players like Eddie Lang). The back of the pickup is covered with felt, which sits on the soundboard at the bottom the neck. Removing it (as well as the large pickguard) increased the acoustic volume substantially. Spruce top instruments take awhile for the sound to open up, but it's not bad so far for a pressed top instrument. It may not have the resonance of a carved top, but as the sound opensthe tone should get sweeter. Time will tell.
The ornamentation of the instrument is one of the coolest things about it, recreating more or less the wonderful art deco appointments that make helped to make D'Angelico's instruments unique in the archtop world. These guitars have simply the coolest headstock and tailpiece shapes to ever grace a guitar. The shape of the bound f holes are really beautiful too

The action came perfect from the factory. Finish is perfect. I raised the action because I think guitars sound and play better when you have to dig into them. With the action so low it developed a buzz early on at the 10th fret. Great toned sunburst finish. Neck is a little thin for my tastes. Beefier the better as far as I'm concerned, but certainly not intolerable.

This instrument will outlast me for sure. I would feel secure of using it on a gig without a backup

haven't dealt with them as of yet

I have been playing for over 20 years in many styles. Archtop jazz axes are ridiculously expensive nowadays, even ones with pressed tops. This is actually one of the less expensive instruments I've seen that is also a fully functional acoustic archtop (that is, if you want something better than the Korean made Epiphone Emperor Regent).
This Instrument does an impressive job of recreating the sound and feel of these legendary instruments, whithout the legendary price tag