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1942 D'Angelico New Yorker
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Serial number: 1583, stamped inside back
Body size at lower bout: 18" Scale length: 25 5/8" Nut width: 1 23/32" Body Depth: 3 1/8" Neck depth, 1st/10th frets: .95/1.03
Materials: Solid handcarved highly figured flame maple back and sides; solid bookmatched hand-graduated Adirondack spruce top; solid flame maple neck with 3-ply walnut/maple centerstripe; engraved mother of pearl split-block fingerboard inlays; pearl art-deco peghead inlay, nine-ply body and headstock binding, triple bound fingerboard and soundholes.
Hardware: Original hardware includes gold engraved stairstep art-deco tailpiece; first edition Grover Imperial tuners; adjustable ebony bridge with inlaid feet. Vintage correct bound stairstep tortoise pickguard.
Notes: Some guitars whisper. Others croon. This one just sings. Like the entire Mormon Tabernacle Choir in unison.
The instruments of master builder John D'Angelico are widely regarded as representing the pinnacle of the modern luthier's craft. Completed on May 27th of 1942, this extraordinary guitar was built for a customer named Andrino, as recorded in D'Angelico own hand in his little black ledger. Of Mr. Andrino we know nothing in particular, other than he must have kept his prize instrument safely at home, as it shows none of the rigors of the road, or hard knocks in the clubs.
With its full depth 18" body, this New Yorker model was the maker's top-of-the line offering, and looks and sounds every bit of it. From the ornate geometric peghead inlay to the stairstep pickguard and tailpiece, the instrument is in every way a masterpiece of high art deco design. Lovingly maintained, this stunning example has been preserved in superb condition, with exceptional flame maple body and a fine-grained, tap-tuned soundboard of prewar Adirondack spruce.
The sunburst finish is subtly shaded, with just enough fine age checking to verify its originality. The gold hardware is all original as well, including the engraved deco tailpiece, early Grover Imperial tuners, and the inlaid ebony bridge, in addition to a splendid vintage correct tortoise pickguard, with dramatic multi-ply art-deco binding. The extravagant nine ply binding is all tight to the body, and the instrument shows no cracks, pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Apart from a single lacquer scratch under the strings, the instrument is remarkably free of playwear for a guitar of its considerable vintage, with the original fretwork still in notably fine condition.
Even with tonewood this well aged, one might expect a guitar with this little play to remain rather tight and tonally restrained. Not this baby. When put her through her paces at a recent jam session, the verdict of the assembled players was unanimous: she's the real thing. With its parallel braced, tap tuned Adirondack soundboard and long scale, the guitar is an absolute powerhouse, with a huge dynamic range, throbbing bass, brilliant highs, and volume and projection to burn. The upper register is crystal clear, with pronounced natural reverb, and four-to-the bar comping in the mids and lows makes this big kitty positively purr.
The neck profile is a classic gentle C, pleasingly solid in the hand, with smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup. Accompanied with a copy of its original ledger entry, this magnificent instrument is complete with its original deluxe Geib leather covered plush lined hardshell case. For the dedicated acoustic player, this big box shows conclusively what all the fuss was really about. One only, call now.
Setup: Bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as required; bridge foot contour inspected; bridge radius inspected; bridgewheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge conditioned; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.
This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze strings (.013-.056). 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 moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
