Excel EXL-1 vs Broadway

[V7#5b9]

I don’t recall anybody ever posting a comparison of their two or more guitars of the same type. So I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Besides, I’m enjoying my retirement and more spare time. As I had indicated in my Epiphone Broadway post I wanted D’Angelico Excel EXL-1 for a long time. It wasn’t easy to get my hands on it, but I finally did it.

To digress for a moment, I already have an Excel EX-DC (semi-hollow) which I got back in 2014, shortly after the brand had re-entered the market. Back then I figured they needed to put out good products to succeed. I wasn’t wrong. Frankly, it rivals my Gibson ES-335 and although I called my Gibby the real deal I actually bought a not-so-cheap piece of nostalgia. Don’t get me wrong. I dig my Gibby and it’s a great guitar, but I’m more and more convinced that I got myself an image. There are guitars just as good if not better out there.

Back to the main theme. It’s been over a decade since D’Angelico hit the market and I hoped they didn’t begin to slack. Again, I wasn’t wrong. I can’t speak for every single one, but my Excel EXL-1 is literally flawless in terms of craftsmanship with great setup and crazy low action. I love it. What struck me the most was the acoustic quality of the instrument. It sounds strikingly similar to D’Angelico Originals. Maybe it’s got something to do with D’Angelico Electrozinc round wound strings which apparently are the re-creation of the original invention by renowned luthier John D’Angelico and master string maker John D’Addario. Regardless, the arch-top is a keeper for sure. 

And so is the customized Broadway. I put a fret wrap behind the nut and rubber grommets behind the bridge to eliminate micro-overtones. The Broadway sounds cleaner this way. With Gibson ‘57 Classic humbucker in the neck position the Broadway sounds like the real L-5. Of course, the Henriksen amp handles the arch-tops or any other guitar superbly, giving you that classic jazz tone. Picture included.

 

 

So how do they compare? Let’s consider some differences:

Excel EXL-1                                        vs                               Customized Broadway

Strings: D’Angelico Electrozinc Jazz 12-52                        D’Addario Chromes 12-52 flat wound

Fingerboard: Ebony                                                              Pau Ferro

Body Depth: 3”                                                                      3 1/8”

Bridge: Ebony                                                                        Pau Ferro

Tailpiece: D’Angelico Stairstep                                             Frequensator

Neck Pickup: Saymour Duncan 59 humbucker                  Gibson 57 Classic humbucker

Made in: Korea                                                                       China

Obviously, they sound similar, but not the same. Each one has its own character or voice. Both have a broad dynamic range and sound good acoustically. The D’Angelico with a single humbucker and controls mounted on the pick-guard has more going for it in that respect. Plugged in they both can sound very similar depending on the EQ. On the scale from one to ten I’ll give D’Angelico 10 out of 10 and Epiphone 9 out of 10.

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

Very jazzy