My guess would be the inadvertent bending of strings when forming chords. The string gauge may have been slightly lighter than what Vinnie is accustomed to using.
That last one was a total monument. What an instrument. Gorgeous to listen to and gaze upon. I was hypnotized. Please continue to use it's power only for good, and never let it fall into the hands of those with evil intent.
One thing that distinguishes this great presentation is the excellent sound quality. This makes the differences in the tone production of the guitars easier to appreciate. What a treat it is to hear them after all this time!
As both a sound engineer and player, it was lovely to hear the four guitars played back-to-back too, with no waffle, between performances, enabling us to hear the differences in the tones from the beautiful playing...
I'm a Swing player, and I've been lucky enough to have played several D'Angelico guitars, but most of them were pretty dead from needing to be "played in", and being too valuable to be played regularly (what a shame!!!). The one that really sounded wonderful was one that looked like it had been dragged many miles thru the desert behind a horse!! The other one that impressed me was one that I played for around an hour. After about a half an hour, it starts coming alive, and by the end of the hour, was really great!! The four you have her are definitely alive and wonderfully woody and toneful!! Thanks for the great video!
Never thought of an archtop played acoustically, as a fingerstyle instrument. Mic and placement are excellent. Howard Morgen had many YT videos playing archtops acoustically but never picked up this wonderful resonance. Great guitars, video and playing ! Thank you !
I met Vinny at the Liverpool Philamonic Hall. He was with Frank Vignola along with Tommy you know who. I told him then what a great player he was. He still is.
Vinny + vintage D'Angelicos = magic!! Chord-melodist extraordinaire (and he did not show off his jaw-dropping rhythm guitar chops), the Bach Allemande was an unexpected little gem! Bucky must be smiling somewhere…
I owned & played an D´Angelico for quite a while and played it live..very well rounded, great sounding and reliable piece of art! Love D´Angelicos! Those in that Video are so damn gorgeous, Hmm..love´em! Greetz from Germany!!!!
The first model has this particularly characteristic midrange sound that I have never heard on any other guitar. Incredible. I think I just fell in love with her.
I love them all but my favorite one is the last one. Each guitar is it's tone is outstanding and it is really nice to look at. I only want one but I would prefer the blond one. To hold and play a part of history would make my day, week, month and year. The tone you can pull out of it sounds amazing. Smooth like velvet fog.
It's interesting to note that some parts of those beautiful D'Angelico instruments were "off the shelf" items. The trapeze tailpiece, wooden bridge, and tuners, on some of the early models shown here didn't change for decades. The 1947 Epiphone "Spartan", an entry level arch-top, has the very same tailpiece, bridge, and tuners.
Very cool guitars and great playing! I've always loved D'Angelico styling and headstock design. Really enjoyable walk through the evolution of the guitars. Thanks!
What a coincidence! In the third model I was with the sheet music of the Allemande from Partita No 2 in D minor in front of me on a flute transcription! Beautiful. I´m gonna try it on the guitar one octave lower.
Nice playing and sound Demo! That Blond Birdseye 1940s Excel is one of the Best AT I have ever listened to! Back 35 years ago. There was a Elderly Greek or Italian Gentleman in Carmichael CA that owned a Early small Dark burst model. Probably a 1933/34. It’s sounded good but my Early 1940s Epiphone’ Broadway had a little more to offer tone and volume wise. But the EPI was 17” I believe the DAngelico’ was a 16” model.
Priceless video!!! Only 1.164 guitars! That's a mountain of work for one man's life, especially a man who didn't make it 60! John D'Angelico (RIP maestro with maestro Jimmy! also dead at 59!). The greatest, the man who elevated Gibson even higher, to the top of Art Deco beauty, like the Chrysler building. Jazz history, American history, New York history, Italian-American history, History. 1. first guitar 1932: amazing. Lower arching? gives it more of flat top sound with a longer sustaining note. So great. 2. 1934: thin. Either too lightly constructed, too much arching, something 3. 1936: He nailed it by this time. Love that Bach! Perfection in arch top sound 4. 1949: flat and somewhat tubby sound, which is what most think an arch top should sound like. Big body creates the sort of unpleasant hollow "boomy" sound that acoustic jumbos get. Probably more for looks (which are out of this world) and amplification (which they probably were using by this time?). Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't think there are any other online examples of early D'Angelicos actually being played (especially acoustically) anywhere. This is the first, and I've been waiting decades.
as you started playing this Bach piece … ohuuu! I believe it’s Invention No.4, not sure… that was so beautiful! Very tasteful 🤝 Thank you very much for this great content 👍
Bach re-used some of his compostions in different pieces, but I know it as the Allemande from the 2nd Partita for Unaccompanied Violin. Definately unexpected, here!
Plectrum Bach - doesn't get better then that! I recently purchased a 1959 Excel and need to get to work on the violin sonatas/partitas and cello suites!
Is the 49 Birdseye 17" an X-braced design or Parallel/Trapezoid ? It is warmer in tone, but not as much as the typical X-braced I'm familiar with. The Birdseye Maple is always a crystal clear and sweet tone. Regardless of bracing design. I used to build big-bodied Jazz guitars per Benedetto Specs., which were per DAngelico Specs., so this video was like a visit from a long-lost friend. May be time to sharpen my pencils, chisels and study some of my vintage lumber stock... Thanks, Marc Deja Blu Guitars
Thanks for this video, gents - helps me understand a very important part of the archtop creation/progression - well done, Vinnie. And, BTW - I'll take the '34 !
Very nice, and an excellent educational video. My only point of confusion is: why did Vinnie play the '34 Excel finger style, but the other three with a pick? I have an EXL-1 from 2013, and, although it sounds great, it is not quite a match for any of these, particularly the '49 Excel. My thanks for producing and sharing this wonderful video. I am highly indebted to you folks at D'Angelico. Keep on doing what you are doing!
The first one sounded a little muffled in the higher register, don't know if the wood is past it's prime or something else. The last one, the cut away, is sweet heaven up and down the register. I'll take that one please... in my dreams.
I have a SS 175 baby blue with gold trim and a Bixby tremolo .what a history Thanks for the video ...oh ya the ones your playing have 100 grand price tag..I say WOZA
will you offer an acoustic, full bodied model with no cut in the future? e.g., an acoustic version of the B-style. Some new colors for B-Style would be interesting too.
We have a player who can actually play ! Players pick up these one of a kind archtops and don’t have the slightest clue how to play. When someone knows how to play you can appreciate how good these guitars sound
A lovely demonstration - thanks! I do have one caveat: why on earth didn't Mr. Raniolo play ANY chords, on the 1936 model Excel?? The single-note lines were beautiful, but as a demonstration, it was an odd oversight... Otherwise, excellent work!
It's nice when you have someone demonstrating a guitar who actually knows how to play it and hear what a guitar is really capable of
Thought I heard a lot of notes that weren’t true - as if the player wasn’t used to that scale length…
@@paulneeds You suggest that the player might be not used to the scale length? Good heavens! Do you by any chance know who Vinny Raniolo is?
... oh. Well Hendrix couldn't tune a guitar.
Good guitarists do not have to know technical skills and verbal articulation.
My guess would be the inadvertent bending of strings when forming chords. The string gauge may have been slightly lighter than what Vinnie is accustomed to using.
That last one was a total monument. What an instrument. Gorgeous to listen to and gaze upon. I was hypnotized. Please continue to use it's power only for good, and never let it fall into the hands of those with evil intent.
Don't worry it's in safe hands!
The 1934 had unbelievable projection and warmth. Priceless!
One thing that distinguishes this great presentation is the excellent sound quality. This makes the differences in the tone production of the guitars easier to appreciate. What a treat it is to hear them after all this time!
The last one - omfg! Gorgeous to look at and listen to. Can’t imagine what that’s worth
As both a sound engineer and player, it was lovely to hear the four guitars played back-to-back too, with no waffle, between performances, enabling us to hear the differences in the tones from the beautiful playing...
I'm a Swing player, and I've been lucky enough to have played several D'Angelico guitars, but most of them were pretty dead from needing to be "played in", and being too valuable to be played regularly (what a shame!!!). The one that really sounded wonderful was one that looked like it had been dragged many miles thru the desert behind a horse!!
The other one that impressed me was one that I played for around an hour. After about a half an hour, it starts coming alive, and by the end of the hour, was really great!!
The four you have her are definitely alive and wonderfully woody and toneful!!
Thanks for the great video!
Great video, great guitars and it was also great to hear Vinnie playing solo. Thank you.
Beautiful!
I love when UA-cam introduces me to new music, musicians, etc.
What beautiful voices these guitars have, thank you so much.
Never thought of an archtop played acoustically, as a fingerstyle instrument. Mic and placement are excellent. Howard Morgen had many YT videos playing archtops acoustically but never picked up this wonderful resonance. Great guitars, video and playing ! Thank you !
remarkable clarity and tonality through the tonal range-EXCELLENT
Beautiful instruments, fantastic playing. Thanks for this, it brightened my day.
Beautiful guitars and excellent playing to match!
I think this must be the best guitar demo on youtube,masterpieces demonstrated by a master musician.
FANTASTIC presentation. Perfect playing for the acoustic archtop. Those guitars drip with personality.
I met Vinny at the Liverpool Philamonic Hall. He was with Frank Vignola along with Tommy you know who. I told him then what a great player he was. He still is.
Vinny + vintage D'Angelicos = magic!! Chord-melodist extraordinaire (and he did not show off his jaw-dropping rhythm guitar chops), the Bach Allemande was an unexpected little gem! Bucky must be smiling somewhere…
I owned & played an D´Angelico for quite a while and played it live..very well rounded, great sounding and reliable piece of art! Love D´Angelicos! Those in that Video are so damn gorgeous, Hmm..love´em! Greetz from Germany!!!!
Wow , you don't get to hear guitars like these just any day !
The first model has this particularly characteristic midrange sound that I have never heard on any other guitar. Incredible. I think I just fell in love with her.
Vinny Raniolo - one hell of a player 👍
Beautiful Instrument, as well as Vinny's playing.!!
Such amazing instruments.
Also, excellent playing, Thank You Mr. Raniolo.
Wow! So much guitar history here
I love them all but my favorite one is the last one. Each guitar is it's tone is outstanding and it is really nice to look at. I only want one but I would prefer the blond one. To hold and play a part of history would make my day, week, month and year. The tone you can pull out of it sounds amazing. Smooth like velvet fog.
Lovely video. I could have watched the gentleman playing these beautiful guitars for hours. Many thanks
Fantastic video! Great playing by Vinny. That 1936 reminds me a lot of my 1940. I’d love to see more videos like this.
All of them beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
This was so well done, thank you for this. Wow
I am there, back in those days, the 20s/30s. Wonderful.
Amazing playing Vinny!
They're beautiful sounding instruments.
This was terrific, thank you for sharing. Wonderful instrument!🎧
It's interesting to note that some parts of those beautiful D'Angelico instruments were "off the shelf" items. The trapeze tailpiece, wooden bridge, and tuners, on some of the early models shown here didn't change for decades. The 1947 Epiphone "Spartan", an entry level arch-top, has the very same tailpiece, bridge, and tuners.
Very cool guitars and great playing! I've always loved D'Angelico styling and headstock design. Really enjoyable walk through the evolution of the guitars. Thanks!
Thank you Vinny!
Excellent video, thanks for sharing info for the historic time, Guitar, D Angelico
Beautifully played and recorded.
Thanks! What a fun trip back in time!
What a coincidence! In the third model I was with the sheet music of the Allemande from Partita No 2 in D minor in front of me on a flute transcription! Beautiful. I´m gonna try it on the guitar one octave lower.
Incredible sounding guitars and great playing! Wow!
What a nice demonstration for classic D’Angelico!
Great demonstration of 4 beautiful instruments. Thank you!
Legendary builds and tone to match - and great to see Vinnie doing them justice in his own right.
Wonderful, what a joy to see and hear these beautiful guitars being so lovingly played.
This makes me wish I was a jazz cat instead of a knuckle dragging rocker. Great vid and playing. Beautiful guitars w so much history.
what's stopping you?
So, get a nice acoustic with low action and a Mickey Baker book.
Never too late to change!
Wonderful. Thank you!
exquisite playing!
Lordy !trying to find the materials to make them to order must have been a challenge in itself 😮
Beautiful images and sounds.
Fantastic!
Nice playing and sound Demo! That Blond Birdseye 1940s Excel is one of the Best AT I have ever listened to! Back 35 years ago. There was a Elderly Greek or Italian Gentleman in Carmichael CA that owned a Early small Dark burst model. Probably a 1933/34. It’s sounded good but my Early 1940s Epiphone’ Broadway had a little more to offer tone and volume wise. But the EPI was 17” I believe the DAngelico’ was a 16” model.
Vinny!!!!
beautiful playing!
Priceless video!!! Only 1.164 guitars! That's a mountain of work for one man's life, especially a man who didn't make it 60! John D'Angelico (RIP maestro with maestro Jimmy! also dead at 59!). The greatest, the man who elevated Gibson even higher, to the top of Art Deco beauty, like the Chrysler building. Jazz history, American history, New York history, Italian-American history, History.
1. first guitar 1932: amazing. Lower arching? gives it more of flat top sound with a longer sustaining note. So great.
2. 1934: thin. Either too lightly constructed, too much arching, something
3. 1936: He nailed it by this time. Love that Bach! Perfection in arch top sound
4. 1949: flat and somewhat tubby sound, which is what most think an arch top should sound like. Big body creates the sort of unpleasant hollow "boomy" sound that acoustic jumbos get. Probably more for looks (which are out of this world) and amplification (which they probably were using by this time?).
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't think there are any other online examples of early D'Angelicos actually being played (especially acoustically) anywhere. This is the first, and I've been waiting decades.
They both probably died prematurely from inhaling too much sawdust...
as you started playing this Bach piece … ohuuu! I believe it’s Invention No.4, not sure… that was so beautiful! Very tasteful 🤝
Thank you very much for this great content 👍
Bach re-used some of his compostions in different pieces, but I know it as the Allemande from the 2nd Partita for Unaccompanied Violin. Definately unexpected, here!
Plectrum Bach - doesn't get better then that! I recently purchased a 1959 Excel and need to get to work on the violin sonatas/partitas and cello suites!
I now know what I want for Christmas!!!
Oh santa... 🎸🎅
WOW! Just WOW!
Vinny 's playing is definitely on the highest level of musicality,what a pleasure to listen to him playing on this wonderful instrument
Wonderful!!
Is the 49 Birdseye 17" an X-braced design or Parallel/Trapezoid ? It is warmer in tone, but not as much as the typical X-braced I'm familiar with. The Birdseye Maple is always a crystal clear and sweet tone. Regardless of bracing design.
I used to build big-bodied Jazz guitars per Benedetto Specs., which were per DAngelico Specs., so this video was like a visit from a long-lost friend.
May be time to sharpen my pencils, chisels and study some of my vintage lumber stock...
Thanks,
Marc
Deja Blu Guitars
Wow, i wish I could play like him and have one of those guitars
such a cool sound.
The tone!
Thanks for this video, gents - helps me understand a very important part of the archtop creation/progression - well done, Vinnie. And, BTW - I'll take the '34 !
Vinny rules!
Very nice, and an excellent educational video. My only point of confusion is: why did Vinnie play the '34 Excel finger style, but the other three with a pick? I have an EXL-1 from 2013, and, although it sounds great, it is not quite a match for any of these, particularly the '49 Excel. My thanks for producing and sharing this wonderful video. I am highly indebted to you folks at D'Angelico. Keep on doing what you are doing!
The 1949 Excel sounds wonderful. It would be interesting to pair it with a DeArmond RC1100 PUP.
Bravo!
You walk into a room and there are 4 original D'Angelico guitars hanging out vying for attention. What dreams are made of.
Thank you ❤️
Craftsmanship seems excellent 👌 it would be fun to try them on playability...! Keep up the great work. From,JD
Excellent 🔥
Wow! Dude can PLAY!
The first one sounded a little muffled in the higher register, don't know if the wood is past it's prime or something else. The last one, the cut away, is sweet heaven up and down the register. I'll take that one please... in my dreams.
magnifico.💯💯💯💯💯💯
Great. I love beautiful DA guitars; I have a 39. Thank you. edit: the 36!!
Exquisite !
Absolutely lovely…. Would anyone have an idea what strings were used, are these bronze , what manufacturer, which gauge?
Thanks in advance.
Love the first and third tones. Very Spanish sounding to my ear.
Very nice
Vinny is a phenomenal player!! Does anyone have a list of the songs he played?
Mannnnn 1 & 4 are Just Sooooooo Sweet and Big and Round and Just sound Soooooo Beautiful and Huge & Beautiful Playing too.....!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)
Super! Come back to Italy with some of them! We'll cook for you a super dinner ;-) We miss you!
that's awesome
After that I am looking forward to a carved top Hollowbody , solid wood Reissue
I have a SS 175 baby blue with gold trim and a Bixby tremolo .what a history Thanks for the video ...oh ya the ones your playing have 100 grand price tag..I say WOZA
Bach Partita in D minor (BWV1004) I Allemande 5:32
will you offer an acoustic, full bodied model with no cut in the future? e.g., an acoustic version of the B-style. Some new colors for B-Style would be interesting too.
Very tasty playing
We have a player who can actually play ! Players pick up these one of a kind archtops and don’t have the slightest clue how to play. When someone knows how to play you can appreciate how good these guitars sound
The third tune sounds like a song on Frank Vignola’s blues for a gypsy album. Gypsy Bach? 🤔Amazing album
A lovely demonstration - thanks! I do have one caveat: why on earth didn't Mr. Raniolo play ANY chords, on the 1936 model Excel?? The single-note lines were beautiful, but as a demonstration, it was an odd oversight... Otherwise, excellent work!
I loved hearing all these marvelous instrument’s however people, the 1940s Excel was so seeet and seemed to have a much more refined tone.
Beautiful guitars and playing! What is the name of the Spanish sounding song Vinny played on the first guitar?
Should recreated these and sell them to the public for reasonable price
That isn't dry humor; it's arid :-D
Vinny - Get back on the road with Vignola!
What song he was playing in the very beginning of the video?