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1999 D'Angelico New Yorker NYL-1

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Serial #: 9910099 Body size at lower bout: 17" Body depth: Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 1 11 1/6" Neck depth: .83/.92, 1st/10th fret

Materials: Hand carved X-braced German spruce top; solid maple back, sides, and neck; solid ebony fingerboard with pearl slashed-block inlays; seven ply body binding; triple bound f-holes.

Hardware: All original gold hardware includes Grover Super Rotomatic sealed back tuners with Imperial keys. Armstrong J.Smith floating pickup with volume, tone controls and 1/4" jack. Solid ebony hardware includes stairstep tailpiece, bound pickguard, and pearl inlaid adjustable compensated bridge.

Notes: From his tiny storefront workshop on Kenmare Street in New York City, John D'Angelico became the most famous archtop guitar builder in the history of the instrument. His peerless craftsmanship and striking art deco designs set a standard for the hand built instrument that has lasted to this day.

For decades however, few players could dream of owning one of these legendary guitars, as collector demand pushed prices into orbit. Under license from the D'Angelico family, some of the most popular models were reissued with painstaking attention to detail. From the stairstep tailpiece to the art deco pickguard to the 'Chrysler Building' truss rod cover, these meticulously crafted instruments recapture the flair and elegance of the streamline era.

With its full complement of pro features at an unbeatable price, the NYL series became one of the most wildly successful archtops of recent years, used by top pros like Phil Upchurch, Russell Malone, Duke Robillard, Jerry Hahn, Grant Green Jr. and many more. The solid spruce top is X-braced for warm, woody tone with the full depth, pro-sized 17" body. This handsome instrument is an original Vestax built model, signed by CEO Hidesato Shiino of the famed Terada workshop near Nagoya, Japan.

This remarkable guitar is an extremely rare example of the NYL-1, the pinnacle of the firm's archtop offerings. This vanishingly scarce model appeared only in their very first catalog, and is in fact the only one we have ever seen offered for sale. While the other NYL models were fitted with pressed spruce tops and laminate backs, the NYL-1 was specified by the maker with a hand carved German spruce soundboard, and highly flamed solid maple back and sides. Other premium features unique to the model include the solid ebony pickguard, tailpiece, and pearl inlaid bridge, along with a unique art-deco multi-ply pearl truss rod cover.

Crafted with stunning fiddleback maple back and sides and a lustrous honey blonde finish, this gleaming guitar has been maintained in showroom condition, without apparent playwear of any kind. The voice is warm and smooth, with the 17" X-braced graduated spruce soundboard, and the gold Kent Armstrong Johnny Smith floating pickup, with volume and tone controls. The gentle D profile neck has smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup, and plays effortlessly.

The rarest and most elegant offering of the entire Vestax line, it seems clear that at most only a tiny handful of these stunning guitars would have ever been produced. In over a quarter century, we've never seen another. An exceptional find for both the player and collector alike. One only: call now.

Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge flatwound nickel strings. 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. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original brown faux alligator deluxe arched DA logo plush hardshell case.