NGD: D'Angelico EX-63
 

On a whim, I ordered an EX 63 round hole archtop, used. I wanted something to compliment my new AR610. What a fun instrument! Although it's not solid, it sounds really good! Pictures soon!

Here are the two together.Attachment 50836

Bonedigger, what is your general opinion on the imported D'Angelico electrics regardless of their body styles? I've been seeing them the last few years and I've been wondering about their craftsmanship, playability, and tone. Thanks!

I think they are on par with similar price range guitars. I have played a few of the $400-700 range semi hollow and hollow bodied Asian made D'Angelico guitars and they sounded and played on par with most of the Korean Gretsches and the Epiphones. I do believe resale would be better on an Epi or Gretsch though due to name recognition.

BD... Late Christmas? Somebody has been on a shopping spree! Congrats! :D

I got one of these 63's 2 years ago.Absolutely love it.After some tweaking its got the absolute smoothest action of any acoustic I ever played, very close to my electrics.

I go through "phases"! [emoji1787] I buy, sell, buy, sell...

After having the guitar for close to a week now, I must say it's quite a fun guitar! It's not quite as responsive as my Eastman but it has great tone and is very well built! I was really blown away by how fun it is to play!

Just found this thread - my grandpa's main guitar was a 40s Emperor without a pickup (grandpa hated electric guitars - that's why he made me my first guitar [a small acoustic - grandpa was a luthier], rather than let my uncle give me a cheap Harmony Bobcat), and I briefly dabbled with an Epiphone Century Series DeLuxe. Since I said goodbye to my Taylor AD-27 (its thin neck was uncomfortable for me), I've been contemplating replacing it with another archtop acoustic (I've had Gretsches off and on since 2008), and learned about the EX-63. I'm intrigued by it, but what is it's neck like - thin like the current D'Angelicos, or nice and chunky?

Hi, Ellen.I wouldnt call the neck on the EX 63 overly thin, but I havent played an acoustic in over 30 yrs before I got the 63 about 2 yrs ago and my reference is from an electric standpoint.What I did like at first glance at the 63 was the neck and action being close to an electric, so you might find it too thin.I would say you should find one in a store to try first and not buy blindly online.This may be hard to do since it was discontinued.I believe GC may still have some in stock.

Thanks for the info. My other thought is another Epiphone Century Series (the Deluxe I had, had a pretty chunky neck). I'd like to get another Eastman (I have an Eastman E8OM - loooove the neck!), but their archtop acoustics are pretty pricey. There are the vintage ones, but more than likely that means one that's almost like firewood, like a Harmony or Kay, or a Gibson, Epiphone, or Gretsch that would need work.

Not necessarily - I've seen very-good-to-excellent examples of the (discontinued) all-carved Eastman AR605 non-cutaway 16" comp box selling for $1000-1200 (about what you'd pay for a primo no-issues '50s Kay or a vintage Gibson/Epiphone/Gretsch that needs TLC, as you state), the MIJ Gretsch Synchromatic 400 17" non-cut (think George Michael) for similar money, and serviceable New York Epiphone Blackstone/Zenith (as well as some early-Kalamazoo examples of the latter) 16-inchers in the $1200-1800 range; the trick here is to be both persistent and ready to move right now when the right one comes along - the NY Epis in particular were/are largely a Northeast Corridor regional phenomenon, and FYI you're not the only one who's looking... :guitar:

Ugh!! I forgot about the MIJ/Terada made Gretsch Synchromatic - silly me!! Especially since I almost bought one 9 years ago! Thanks for the reminder. Also I'll keep the Blackstones & Zeniths in mind - along with the Gibson L-50s. Thanks for the ideas :)

FWIW you'll pay 30-50% more for the L-50 on name alone, and IME as much as twice the price for an acoustic Super 400 versus an Epiphone Emperor in comparable condition; another benefit in your case is that, except for certain upper-line models in the 1937-39 period, New York Epiphone necks can be seriously chunky - frequently measuring in excess of .90" at the first fret (tenth-fret measurements of 1.10" are not uncommon) - and as I'm sure you're aware from first-hand experience, quality equals or exceeds their Gibson counterparts...