D'Angelico NYSD-9
Quality Construction Yields A Quality Instrument

I must admit that when the fine folks at D'Angelico asked me to review their NYSD-9 single cut solid body guitar, my mind was locked into stereotypical thinking. Although I knew this would be a solid bodied guitar, I had visions of the jazz type arch tops that were synonymous with the D'Angelico name. That older jazz style players have loved since the 30's and 40's. I'm not a jazz arch type kind of player and my cord portfolio doesn't include many diminished 7th and 9th chords. My ambivalence about this review was certainly overshadowed by pure excitement when I peeled this pup....

OUT OF THE BOX
Cool, classy and unique tortoise shell brown leather case. Elegant looking even from the case standpoint. Six polished gold locking hinges, genuine brown leather handle topped with a classy D'Angelico faceplate, not only looks cool but latches tight and secure to ensure quality protection for its contents.

FIRST LOOK
The first look is a good one, of course the first thing that captures my attention is the overall look of sheer elegance of this instrument. Highlighted undoubtedly by the AAA grade flame maple carved top in gorgeous amber flame. Killer polyurethane finish allows this guitar to literally glow like an expectant mother! All the goodies cosmetically that you would expect from an instrument of this caliber, all gold hardware including tele style volume and tone controls with a classy brown tortoise marbling to the tops of the knobs. A small thing yes, but nice. Meticulous binding, black pickup rings and custom pickguard, gold tune-o-matic bridge with gold plated stop bar tail which is shaped aluminum, not cast. Bound mahogany neck with ebony board and headstock, classic D'Angelico mother of pearl diamond inlays, back of neck is a rosewood overlay, gold Grover Imperial tuners, three way toggle, gold input jack and jack plate. Rear cavity covers are in matching mahogany covers (which is very cool) round out the beauty cosmetically. From an appearance stand point, top notch meticulous detail! They say that beauty is only skin deep, or should I say wood deep, so lets get it on and we will....

PLUG IT IN
Down to my studio (the vault) I venture. If you don't know the drill by now, this of course is where it gets serious. My arsenal of amps await my arrival and as always with six pack in hand, I'm anxious to get the show on the road, so shall we? In waiting for my selection of amps to properly warm, I sit quietly and strum acoustically the D'Angelico. Designed with Les Paulish type of solid body design, this guitar is solid, very well balanced and really has a chimey snappy acoustical ring to it. I am fond of mahogany bodies because generally the tone is very warm and so far things are looking good and it's time to get electrified.

My selection of amps include a little of the same and a little of not the same. The standards consisting of a Marshall JCM 800 Silver Anniversary half stack, a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, a Peavey 5150, but also I have chosen a Line 6 Spider 1x12 combo as well. With first plugging into the Dual Rectifiers clean channel with the bridge pickup selected, this bad boy chimes like a bell, clean with a sparkly top end. Kick it into overdrive and the D'Angelico is capable of full tilt crunch, not overboard on the saturation which is nice, but definitely enough meat to produce heavy crunch tones. The low end is tight and defined mids are sweet and warm and the top end sparkles in this mode as well. I am really pleasantly surprised.

The neck pickup is sweet and bluesy. My sources tell me that these pickups are custom made by Vestax in Japan. I can tell you that they're not underwound but certainly not overwound either. Utilizing the Line 6 Spider and dialing up clean Fender type settings with a slight chorus produces tones that are traditional D'Angelico. Notes separate well and are not congested even in those funky minor diminished 7th Chords. If you're a Paul player you will definitely appreciate the 305 fingerboard width, 22 fret ebony board and medium jumbo frets. The neck also sports a polyurethane finish and the neck joins at the 16th fret.

The D'Angelico performed consistently through all the above amps tested. I must admit that my stereotypical view of these guitars has definitely changed forever!

FINAL MOJO
The D'Angelico NYSD-9 was a pleasurable experience for me. This guitar is for players and collectors who understand the seriousness of an investment grade guitar. Meticulous craftsmanship and a no compromise, attention to detail is certainly what D'Angelico guitars represent, and the solid body NYSD-9 is not the exception to the rule. Capable of a variety of sweet tones, playability and beauty all ring true with this guitar. At a $3,700 list price this guitar is certainly not inexpensive, however for those who understand and take their guitar investments seriously, the D'Angelico NYSD-9 must be understood for exactly that purpose.

SPECIFICATIONS
D'Angelico NYSD-9
Single Cutaway Solidbody Electric Guitar

• Carved Flamed Maple Top Mahogany Body
  (with Matching Mahogany plate covers)
  Arched top and back
  Mahogany Neck, Ebony Fingerboard Headstock
  Back is Rosewood overlay with mother of pearl diamond inlay
  Grover Imperial Tuning Machines
• Polyurethane Finish, 22 Frets, Neck Joins at 16th Fret
  Fingerboard Radius: 305 Fingerboard Width: 1.69 in. (43 mm)
  at Nut Scale: 24.72 in. (628 mm)
• Stop-bar Tailpiece (Shaped Aluminum 'not cast')
• Gold Hardware
• Finishes: Natural, Walnut, 'Big Apple' Red, Sunburst, Translucent Blackburst
• Custom D'Angelico Hard-shell Case Included
• Available Colors: Amber, 'Big Apple' Red, Walnut
• $3,700.00

INFORMATION
D'Angelico Guitars
PO Box 627
Westfield, NJ 07090
908-518-9010
908-518-9011 Fax
E-mail: dangelicoguitars@aol.com
www.dangelicoguitars.com