John D’Angelico (American, 1905–1964) Archtop Guitar, Mel Bay New Yorker model (serial number 2038), 1957 Spruce, maple, ebony, brass, celluloid, mother-of-pearl; blonde finish, cutaway; 18 x 44 1/2 in. (45.7 x 113 cm). D'Angelico Guitars of America 141 West 28th Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10001. [email protected] (646) 460 8472. Become a Dealer. SPG builds D'Angelico's Standard Series/Excel Series, introduced in 2005. For help dating, see Serial Numbers. John D’Angelico was born in 1905 in New York to an Italian-American family, and was apprenticed in 1914 to his great-uncle, Raphael Ciani, who made violins. Original D'Angelico guitars are identified by a serial number punched inside the bass f-hole—the serial numbers ranging from 1001 to 2164. D'Angelico Archtop Guitars D'Angelico Guitars.
(Redirected from D'Angelico)
Born | 1905 |
---|---|
Died | September 1, 1964 (aged 58–59) |
Nationality | United States |
Occupation | Luthier |
Known for | Founder of D'Angelico Guitars |
John D'Angelico (Little Italy, Manhattan, 1905 – Manhattan, September 1, 1964) was a luthier from New York City, noted for his handmade archtopguitars and mandolins. He founded the D'Angelico Guitars company, where other notable luthiers like Jimmy D'Aquisto served as apprentices.
Luthiery[edit]
John D’Angelico was born in 1905 in New York to an Italian-American family, and was apprenticed in 1914 to his great-uncle, Raphael Ciani, who made violins, mandolins, and flat top guitars.[1][2][3] This apprenticeship would become the basis for construction principles he later incorporated into his archtop guitars.[4] After Ciani died D'Angelico took over the management of the business, but he didn't like having to supervise the 15 employees. As a result, he left and founded in 1932 D'Angelico Guitars at 40 Kenmare Street in Manhattan's Little Italy.[5][6] Here he began making guitars initially based on the 16 inch Gibson L-5 and subsequently working on his own designs.
Instrument designs and output[edit]
Initially D'Angelico's guitars were based largely on the 1920s version of the Gibson L-5 with a 16 inch lower bout and 'snakehead' headstock design, but by 1937, he had settled on four main f-hole archtop guitar designs, heavily influenced by the GibsonL-5:[7][8]
1933 D'Angelico archtop guitar #1034
D'Angelico Excel (1950) previously owned by Chet Atkins, in the Country Music Hall of Fame
- Style A – 17 inch body. Phased out in the 1940s.
- Style B – 17 inch body. Phased out in the 1940s.
- Excel – 17 inch body
- New Yorker – 18 inch body. Approximately 300 made.[9]
Through at least the late 1930s, D’Angelico's guitar necks had non-adjustable steel reinforcement. Later models had functional truss rods.[10] By the late 40s, D'Angelico was building only the Excel and the New Yorker. All New Yorker models featured pearl inlays in the headstock and fingerboards, as well as quadruple bindings.[11]
All of D’Angelico's guitars were hand-built, and many were customized for specific people, so substantial variation is evident in his output. D’Angelico's shop rarely made more than 30 guitars per year.[12] In all, it is estimated that he built 1,164 guitars.[13] D’Angelico also built a few round-hole (as opposed to f-hole) archtops, and a few mandolins.
While D'Angelico's craftsmanship was not always exemplary, the performance of his guitars established him as the premier maker of archtop guitars.[3] During the late 1930s, when production was at its peak, D'Angelico made approximately 35 instruments per year with the help of only two workers, one of whom was Vincent 'Jimmy' DiSerio.[3][14][4] His recognition as the 'finest builder of archtop guitars' later brought offers from larger companies, but ultimately he decided to keep his operation under his own name.[4][14]
D'angelico Serial Number Us
During the 1950s, some of the instruments leaving D'Angelico's shop had mixed features, such as an Excel-sized guitar with New Yorker features created for Johnny Smith, or D'Angelico necks custom fitted to bodies customers brought in.[15] Original D'Angelico guitars are identified by a serial number punched inside the bass f-hole—the serial numbers ranging from 1001 to 2164.[15]
In 1952 Jimmy D'Aquisto joined the company as an apprentice.[3]
D'Angelico had a heart attack in 1959 and also parted ways with DiSerio, who left to work at the Favilla guitar company. As a result, he closed the business but soon reopened it after D'Aquisto who was unable to find work, convinced him to do so.[3] After several more heart attacks and having also suffered from pneumonia John D'Angelico died in 1964 at the age of 59. He had built 1,164 numbered guitars with the last ten finished by D'Aquisto.[3][16] D'Aquisto then bought the business but a poor business decision lost him the right to the D’Angelico name.[17]
The D'Angelico Guitars brand has continued under other owners.
Employees[edit]
Some of D'Angelico's employees went on to become craftsmen in their own right. Among them were Jimmy Di Serio, who worked for D'Angelico from 1932–1959, and D'Aquisto who would eventually buy the business from the D'Angelico family. D'Angelico and D'Aquisto are generally regarded as the two greatest archtop guitar makers of the 20th century.[18]
In 2011, works by D'Angelico and D'Aquisto were included in the 'Guitar Heroes' exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.[19]
Vincent 'Jimmy' DiSerio, was commissioned by Ralph Patt to modify a GibsonES-150 (six-string archtop hollow-body guitar) to have a wider neck, wider pickup, and eight strings circa 1965; seven strings enabled Patt's major-thirds tuning to have the E-E range of standard tuning, while the eighth string enabled the high A♭.[20]
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- Peterson, Jonathon (2002). 'Tuning in thirds: A new approach to playing leads to a new kind of guitar'. American Lutherie: The Quarterly Journal of the Guild of American Luthiers. 8222 South Park Avenue, Tacoma WA 98408: USA.: The Guild of American Luthiers. Number 72 (Winter): 36–43. ISSN1041-7176. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2012.CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
References[edit]
- ^Bonds, Ray (ed.) (2006). 'The illustrated directory of guitars.' Barnes & Noble/Salamander Books, p. 104.
- ^Wheeler, Tom (1982). American guitars: an illustrated history.' Harper & Row. p. 22.
- ^ abcdefAcoustic Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Chartwell Books. 2011. pp. 38–42. ISBN978-0-7858-3571-4.
- ^ abcWilliam), Green, Frank W/m (Frank (2008). D'Angelico : John D'Angelico : master guitar builder : what's in a name?. Centerstream. ISBN9781574242171. OCLC191808803.
- ^Will Levith (January 23, 2015). 'Joe Bonamassa and the Amazing Technicolor D'Angelico Shop'. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ^Teddy Kim (August 22, 2014). 'Rock On! D'Angelico Guitars Is Back in Business in Chelsea'. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ^Bonds, Ray (ed.) (2006). p. 104.
- ^Achard, Ken (1999). 'The History and Development of the American Guitar.' The Bold Strummer, p. 16.
- ^Denyer, Ralph (1998). 'The guitar handbook.' Alfred A. Knopf. p. 47.
- ^Wheeler, Tom (1982). pp. 22-23.
- ^Achard, Ken (1999). p. 16.
- ^Bonds, Ray (ed.) (2006). p. 106.
- ^Wheeler, Tom (1982). pp. 22.
- ^ ab'About | D'Angelico Guitars'. angelicoguitars.com. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
- ^ abAchard, Ken (1999). p. 43.
- ^'NAMM 2015: Revived D'Angelico guitar brand shows off new acoustics'. January 23, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ^Stern, Stephen (Fall 1995). 'Jimmy D'Aquisto – Luthier Extraordinaire'(PDF). Frontline magazine. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- ^'Images from the Lillibridge Gallery'. D'Angelico/D'Aquisto/Gudelsky Workshop. National Music Museum; The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069. September 8, 2009. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
- ^'Guitar heroes: Legendary craftsmen from Italy to New York, February 9-July 4, 2011'. John D'Angelico. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
- ^Peterson (2002, p. 37)
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John D'Angelico. |
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_D%27Angelico&oldid=986459363'
Payment Terms - Orders Internet orders may be paid for using the following methods: VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. For phone or mail orders you may pay money orders and cashier's checks by mail. Just call us at 773-525-7773 to place your order. All non-credit-card orders are subject to a 10-business-day hold. We do not accept international credit card or PayPal payments from international accounts. For international security reasons, please call the store to arrange a Bank Wire: +01-773-525-7773.
D'angelico Serial Numbers
Shipping Charges - Taxes and Title Separate charges for shipping and handling will be shown on your order form. As a security precaution, initial orders and orders shipping to alternate addresses may be held for extended verification. We reserve the right to make partial shipments, which will not relieve you of your obligation to pay for the remaining deliveries. All items purchased from Chicago Music Exchange are made pursuant to a shipment contract. This means that the risk of loss and title for such items passes to you upon our delivery to the carrier. The published rates are for US domestic shipping only. Contact us directly if you wish to place an international order. For more information on our shipping policies, including rates, delivery times, and delays, please visit our website at chicagomusicexchange or call us at: 773-525-7773. If applicable, a separate charge for taxes will be shown on the invoice. We are required to collect sales tax on all orders shipped to Illinois.
D'angelico Serial Numbers
Free Serial Numbers
3-Day / 15-day Return Policy If you are not completely satisfied with any product, return it for a full refund of the product purchase price, full credit, or exchange of your choice. We give you 3 days from the shipping date on Vintage instruments, and 15 days on New instruments. Credit card returns are issued a credit for purchase price. Refunds are made for product value only, excluding shipping and handling charges. New, Unopened items: You may return most NEW, untouched, unopened items within 15 days of delivery for a full refund. if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.) we'll also pay the return shipping costs. AmEx credit cards: Note that if your order was paid using an AmEx card we may pass on a 3.5% fee of the purchase price to process your refund. Vintage, Used items: We have to evaluate vintage and used guitars, amps, and other items on a case by case basis. We spend a lot of time with you and the item before your purchase to try to avoid any surprises after your purchase. AmEx credit cards: Note that if your order was paid using an AmEx card we may pass on a 3.5% fee of the purchase price to process your refund. You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, we strive to issue your refund sooner. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days). Send your return to: Chicago Music Exchange 3316 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 60657 The following items are returnable only if defective OR unopened or unused: strings, harmonicas, microphones, cleaners, polishes, and polishing cloths. Software/soundware, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, and videos may be returned for credit only if they are in their original, sealed packaging. If defective, these items will only be exchanged for the same product. For complete details on our guarantees, shipping, and return policies, please contact our Customer Service Department at 773-525-7773; fax us at 773-525-2775; visit our website at www.chicagomusicexchange.com, or write us at Chicago Music Exchange, 3316 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657.