Review Demo - D'Angelico EX-59

Read the review: bit.ly/DAngelic...
Between the 1930s and the ’60s, in a tiny shop on New York’s Lower East Side, luthier John D’Angelico made roughly three-dozen archtops per year. They are extraordinary instruments. And with their sensual curves and art-deco embellishments they’re also some of the most artistically built guitars ever. D’Angelico’s legendary instruments have been compared to Stradivarius violins and were even the centerpiece of an exhibit several years ago at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Perhaps surprisingly, D’Angelicos were originally made on a custom basis for working players, and were even relatively affordable. Now, collectors shell out tens of thousands of dollars for a specimen, so they’re not exactly within reach of the working musician. But the D’Angelico name has been revived in a line of considerably less expensive guitars and basses that bear the luthier’s inspiration. To learn more about this new line, we played the EX-59, a P-90-equipped hollowbody patterned after one D’Angelico built in 1959.
Gleaming with gold hardware, our test EX-59 looked as if it were just strung up on D’Angelico’s workbench. The guitar has the luthier’s trademark staircase tailpiece, and the scroll headstock boasts ornate mother-of-pearl inlay work, a skyscraper-shaped steel truss-rod cover, and stair-step Grover Super Rotomatic tuners. The two pickups are controlled with a standard 3-way switch, and there are master tone and volume knobs.
The single-cutaway fully hollowbody EX-59 is 3" deep. The top, back, and sides are all made from laminated maple, and on the back and top, a book-matched outer ply features impressive curly figuring. The maple neck incorporates a walnut center stripe for strength and stability, and the handsome fretboard and bridge are made of dark rosewood.
Our EX-59 is impeccably built. The 22 jumbo frets set along the 25.5" scale neck are smoothly crowned and polished, the nut is perfectly notched, and so are the saddles on the bridge. The lovely faded cherry sunburst pattern smartly complements the gold hardware, and the finish, if just a little thick, is rubbed to a flawless gloss. The f-holes are smoothly shaped and bound, and the inlay work looks immaculate. (For D’Angelico purists it might be a little too perfect-the originals have a lot of “charming” design anomalies.)
To continue reading the review, visit: bit.ly/DAngelic...

[@paulgilbert4]

Dude! John !! I read your wikipedia page. You're a great guy and a great musician. You have accomplished much. I hope i could play jazz as good as you or just be as good of a musician as you. You are one of my new guitar heroes. Much respect.

[@johnbohlinger4868]

Thanks for the kind words. I promise, anything I can play, you can play as well. Cheers, jb

[@46Coup]

This is one of the best gear reviews I have seen on you tube. John uses a simple straight forward format giving this EX 59's attributes in a clear concise manner with plenty of personality thrown in to keep me from getting bored with the presentation. His guitar styling's are exceptional. All butter and honey. Would like to learn some of those licks he uses.

[@birartesbira1831]

Very nice guitar. Excellent demonstration.

[@tommywd40]

John, you kick some serious ass. Always look forward to your reviews

I was a little worried when mr. B started out, but he´s the right guy at the right place. I learn the exact right things about the new products from him.

[@jeffriley9807]

John this review has encouraged me to go try the ex59 out for myself. Thx

[@nitemareman1]

Lightning fast chord changes. Great playing as usual John!

[@BrianOates]

What he is playing at the beginning was almost note for note from Jerry Reed's composition "Jiffy Jam." John Knowles has a book of Jerry Reed transcriptions with this tune in it as well as many others.

[@johnbohlinger4868]

Yup..that's my hacky take on Jiffy Jam. Jerry Reed remains my hero. Thanks

[@IPushHard]

John, PG should be aware that the only reason I subscribed was due to great reviews...and awesome playing. I wish I were as well rounded of a player as you are. Great video.

[@M3RRIH3W13]

Impressed with the Mesa Lead channel on the EX-59. That was a great rock tone coming from a hollowbody!

[@BreadLightPray_EWFMgtr]

☑ just bought a resale matte black series 59 deluxe , I am suspecting it will sound similar to this with the DA_P90's _seems a gorgeous guitar❗😊 gotta say I like the no pick guard look 👍

[@johnfenner347]

Great playing . Super Sounds ! . Really Appreciate this Review. Most unfortunate that people who don't know what they are talking about and just want to be Rude, find their way onto these Sights. Best Wishes. John Fenner.

[@simonverkerk8392]

Really slick riffs on the bridge pickup especially! Cool

[@darrellqueen3333]

Best playing I've heard from you on these demos. Nice!!!!

[@scottt9382]

Makes me happy to see someone plugging a hollowbody into a Boogie for a change. Love the Lone Star!

[@eddiegeorge4047]

Great opener John !

[@rigorhead01]

One of your best demos John! Great playing! Love the guitar, love the Lonestar.

[@everhard1000]

Nice work,John !!!

[@guitarplayntaylor91]

Stellar playing!

[@WiseedE]

Nice playing, Mr. Bohlinger. Very nice indeed!

[@MatthewMacFarlaneMusic]

D'angelico's are so stylish. Great axe and review!

[@mellecaster]

Great Demo John !

[@greatvanzini]

It's a beauty. Great playing as usual.

[@JackFossett]

Beautiful playing!

[@georgeavouris8539]

Wonderful demo and wonderful review.

[@michaelwilson1960]

Great guitar & review

[@picker63028]

Nice playing and excellent review. Sweet guitar. Boogie amp sounds great too. Not my choice for jazz amps, but does the job.

[@brianeharmonjr]

Cherry burst is an unfortunate color choice on these, but otherwise seems like a stellar guitar for the price.

[@BillWardWesternLights]

I have been looking at the EXL-1 which has great reviews both plugged in and acoustically with a floating pickup. This really sounds great, with a lot of diversity in sound and obviously has a better pickup system. One of the things I am looking for in an archtop now is a large body guitar that also can be played acoustically and sound good while practicing and just jamming in the living room. How would this compare acoustically with the EXL-1 played acoustically? Thanks a bunch!

[@rydes68]

Fantastic review, lovely playing very versatile. Been looking for an affordable (within reason) archtop with P-90's (my favorite pickups by a mile). This guitar is everything I'm looking for except the fact they don't make it left handed...and possibly a different paint job (vintage/tobacco sunburst). cheers.

[@sidownes]

same, including fact I'm a lefty :(

[@reggiehobbs8800]

WHAT is he playing at the beginning of this video? Great playing.

[@runescaper1333]

Jiffy jam

[@MuriMorello]

a even worse copy of brent masons first rule of thumb

[@HouseofChains81]

This is John Bohlinger! PEACE OUT! *goes into light jazz riff* I found that too funny. Great playing. Have you considered giving a few online lessons. You have a great technique with your picking and hybrid picking. I'd love to learn more.

[@johnbohlinger4868]

I'm filming some quick lessons for Premier Guitar now. Look for them in 2015.

[@oneinchsidehop]

I guess "where the author gets of his ass and takes a jazz class" has really paid off fast. Really nice review/demo.

[@Blackgrass1]

Since it doesn't have a center block, I wonder how the feedback is when playing loud on stage. Any experiences?

[@2121toso]

What a player!!

[@scottt9382]

I always like this guy. I thought these were called a 'Series 59' - not a real EX-59 (those were/are the old classic ones).

[@flexiblemusica]

Great Guitar!! Thanks!

[@caiquecabelo5536]

I love this guitars! great video!

[@marklr5716]

what a great review!!

[@ric9452]

John is a great guy .....

[@Mistershredd]

I guess sliding the bridge back into correct centered position just wasn't an option.

[@axlrose5803]

What's the style of guitar at the beginning? A subgenre of jazz or what? Sounds great!

[@itaiarad098320]

Funk? I would not say so. Maybe country. Wonderful playing, great instrument.

[@gha714]

the bridge looks out of line to me...

[@aportilla007]

Bridge pinned?

[@DiegoBarretoGuitarra]

That reverb tail is so annoying! :(

[@predeem1629]

Is this a full hollowbody?

[@djsogovusogovu1412]

WHAT IS THE PRICE FOR THAT GUIATR?

[@misha1151]

Men..p-90s are awesome

[@shotaenoshimacgp8213]

jiffy jam! jerry reed

[@seamusbrowne4909]

What!!! No EBONY BOARD.😮😯😲

[@runescaper1333]

Are your hands for sale too?

[@Yusnijewel24]

made in ?

[@johnkleeman2801]

Republic of Korea

[@johnkleeman2801]

Unsung plant. In the hand it feels like Gretsch main line quality. IMHO

[@216trixie]

NOOO.....For fucks sake: It's pronounced "Dan-gel-ico". You don't say the "D" separately. Same with D' addario.

[@Dionydejesus]

I had to admit in my personal taste the P90 is ugly as hell, but the sound is marvelous, I hope if someone can build the P90 but like the PAF style it would be awesome. It's just cosmetic thing; but sometimes if you see a girl with a ugly lipstick you can said yuck?? depends!! LOL!!

[@cobyup10]

Lol 1.11/16th

[@mrelmer6512]

In my opinion the D'Angelico Ex59 line of guitars quality is awful and very plastic feeling. I wouldn't spend $1,500 on a jazz box like this for a beginner.

[@Mistershredd]

Okay, decent practice take. Now learn your speech and try again.

[@mickkennedy1344]

"Hi, I'm John Baw--ling--GUR..." --- It's pronounced DANgelico, John -- why do you Americans always mis-pronounce people's names? -- I bet you say 'Dee-Addario' too -- then again, who else would pronounce Giovanni Caboto as 'John Cabot'....ffs. :))

[@Walsh2571]

+Mick Kennedy agreed. I'm an Australian who is over self conscious of their accent, so I always get asked "What accent is that?" - i've hybridized between British, Australian and American. But i'd never commit such a crime as disfiguring another language (like Italian in this case).

[@jamest.byrnes8142]

You know I went to school with an entire family of D'Angelicos who all, I suppose, mispronounced their names according to those up on their high horses. And I do believe it was the English who christened that Italian navigator.

[@scooter5005]

Um, what was your point? Nothing much to do with reality as this was a great review.

[@mickkennedy1344]

"mispronounced their names according to those up on their high horses" -- Do you mean they said 'Deee-Angelico', well that's wrong, it's an Italian name, it's pronounced DANgelico -- you're saying Italians are up on "their high horses"........because they won't mispronounce their own names to suit Americans?

[@blueswood854]

Who gives a shit?