NO LONGER AVAILABLE: 2001 D’Angelico NYL-2 Vestax Left Handed Archtop Guitar Sunburst

Here is a rare treat – a sunburst D’Angelico NYL-2 Vestax archtop guitar – in Left Handed form and very nice condition, and with the original case.

This instrument is no longer available.  This post is maintained for historical purposes. 

The archtop guitars built by John D’Angelico are generally considered some of the finest built in the USA. Following his death in 1964, his apprentice Jimmy D’Aquisto completed the unfinished guitars and then built under his own name. The D’Angelico name and designs have been licensed by the family to various top quality builders. We’re dating this guitar to 2001 based on the serial number, and on serial numbers of other dated examples. The NYL-2 Vestax models were built under license during 2001 to 2004 by Hidesato Shino, a highly respected luthier at the Terada workshop.

The NYL-2 Vestax is based closely on the original D’Angelico New Yorker models, using a single cutaway 17 inch body with carved spruce top, carved flame maple back and flame maple sides. The neck is maple with a bound ebony fingerboard and the classic D’Angelico headstock, New Yorker inlay, and mother of pearl ‘skyscraper’ truss rod cover. The position markers are mother of pearl. The stairstep tailpiece is classic D’Angelico, and an ebony Vestax tailpiece is included in the case. The bridge is ebony. Metal parts are of course gold-plated, including gold Grover Imperial tuners with metal Deco-style buttons. The stock Kent Armstrong pickup and controls are mounted to the pickguard. Nylon-wound strings are installed.

This guitar has been played, but has also been well cared for. The finish has some minor scuffing and play wear but no dents or scratches. The flatwound strings certainly add to the jazz tone, and as a bonus are very easy on the frets. The neck is very comfortable. Overall, this is a very nice instrument.

The case itself is a bit eye-catching – it appears to be oriented to left-handed as well, though photos of right-handed NYl-2 Vestax models show the same case.