D’Angelico has upgraded its entire Excel line of acoustics and introduced the Tammany OM, which was previously available only in the budget Premier line. The Excel Tammany includes a solid Sitka spruce top, Fishman electronics and fancy appointments on an instrument that exudes elegance, yet streets for well under a grand.
D’Angelico guitars have a distinctive, uptown appearance, and the Excel Tammany’s orchestra model body is symmetrically sexy. Its Vintage Sunburst finish appears especially rich and luxurious surrounded by cream-colored bindings, and the three-ring rosette with a middle ring of abalone makes for an appealing centerpiece. Split-block acrylic pearl inlays pop from the ebony fingerboard, and the shapely headstock is adorned with a mother-of-pearl Excel Shield logo, gold-colored skyscraper truss-rod cover and golden Stairstep Wave tuners. Players going for a nitty-gritty look may prefer another style, but the Excel Tammany surely suits the bill for those seeking a slick-looking acoustic.
The Tammany’s relatively shallow body is comfy to hold, and the C-shape neck’s low profile and slim width facilitate a relaxed feel in hand. The out-of-box setup was spot on. With a fingerstyle-appropriate instrument, I’ll often test playability by tuning to open E and playing the Allman Brothers’ “Little Martha.” That lovely melodic riff falls under the fingers so readily in open position, but it was also easy with the Tammany barred at the fifth fret, indicating the guitar’s exceptional playability. The only thing that stuck out about the Tammany’s playability was that the bridge edge was not tapered or well-rounded, so it jabbed into my palm a bit when playing fingerstyle. It was not an issue when playing with a pick, because the heel of the hand is usually higher on the bridge or at the base of the strings, where they meet the bridge.
The Excel Tammany delivers