{"product_id":"dangelico-style-a-arch-top-acoustic-guitar-1942-1329","title":"D'Angelico Style A Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1942)","description":"D'Angelico Style A Model Arch Top Acoustic Guitar (1942), made in N.Y. City, sunburst lacquer finish, maple back and sides, maple neck, spruce top, black tolex hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Style A was not one of John D'Angelico's more expensive guitars, but was still built with all the care and beauty that characterizes the purely handmade D'Angelico instruments. This is a full seventeen and one-half inch body arch-top guitar from the era that saw the full flowering of D'Angelico's talents as a guitar maker. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis guitar is registered in the D'Angelico ledgers as being sold in September of 1942, a few years before the Style A and B were phased out in favor of increased production of the top of the line Excel and New Yorker. It is built with top-grade materials throughout, despite its lower original price. The top and back are triple bound and finished in a beautiful reddish sunburst, as are the sides and neck. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAttractive curl figure to the maple throughout. The flared peghead is single-bound and faced in ebony, and bears the inlayed \"D'Angelico New York\" logo with a block engraved \"Style A\". The 1 5\/8\" ebony fingerboard is single bound with pearl block inlay. The neck is a single piece of curly maple. The tailpiece is a simple nickel-plated trapeze. The guitar is currently fitted with a period set of open-back nickle individual Kluson tuners -- it has obviously borne several different types over the years. The bridge is adjustable rosewood with a fitted bone cap on the saddle. The top is parallel braced. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tone of this guitar is incisive but with an overriding sweetness and balance that is the hallmark of a D'Angelico. Compared to more expensive and ornate D'Angelicos, this could be described as more of a \"player's\" guitar; certainly that is what it was built for, and more than sixty years later it is still true.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 17 1\/2 in. (44.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1\/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3\/4 in. (629 mm.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOverall condition is structurally fine, with noticeable wear from years of use. Finish is 100% original and has been neither oversprayed nor buffed out, as is often common with these guitars. The top has moderately heavy pickwear on either side of the strings. The pickguard has obviously been missing for awhile and there is a slightly enlarged hole where it mounted. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe neck has major areas of finish rubbed away, and has been refretted. There are several extra screwholes on the back of the peghead from previous tuner installations. There are old repairs to the back center seam and a small crack to the back on the upper bass bout, and a patch of finish rubbed off on the back. A small plastic strap button was added to the heel long ago; it has aged to match the binding. There is almost imperceptible evidence of a repaired split down from the headstock under the fingerboard on the treble side. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll work is completely solid and appears to be quite old. Obviously this guitar has seen a great deal of use in its 60+ years, and is set up to play perfectly for the next 60 and beyond. Comes with a more recent hardshell case in excellent condition.","brand":"D'Angelico","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853335613580,"sku":"1329","price":9000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_5496f07f-2860-459d-8758-64f441abdee8.jpg?v=1774334927","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/dangelico-style-a-arch-top-acoustic-guitar-1942-1329","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}