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c.1999 D'Angelico New Yorker NYL-7

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Body size at lower bout: 17" Body depth: Scale length: 25 1/2" Nut Width: 2" Neck depth: .82/.94, 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. Macassar 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 parallel braced for warm, woody tone with the full depth, pro-sized 17" body.

This remarkable guitar is an extremely rare example of the NYL-7, the firm's only 7 string archtop offering. 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-7 was specified by the maker with a hand carved German spruce soundboard, and solid, highly flamed maple back and sides. Other premium features unique to the model include the Macassar ebony pickguard, tailpiece, and pearl inlaid bridge, along with a unique art-deco multi-ply pearl truss rod cover.

Crafted with a stunning fiddleback maple body, and a lustrous honey blonde finish, this gleaming guitar has been maintained in showroom condition, with no pickup ever attached. The voice is warm and vibrant, and the gentle D profile neck has smooth low action over a fresh high precision setup, and plays effortlessly. Apart from a bit of fogging on the headplate, the guitar looks much as it did when it first left the factory over a quarter century ago. Even the original protective plastic covering for the case handle has never been disturbed.

As this guitar was shipped without a serial number, it's certainly possible that it was in fact the prototype for this rare model. Indeed, the only other example of which we are aware is the one pictured in the 1999 D'Angelico catalog, a copy of which is included with this guitar. In over three decades, we've yet to see another ourselves. 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.