D'Angelico DAPD500VNATAPS Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

D'Angelico guitars have a long, storied history beginning in the 1930s in New York City. John D'Angelico handcrafted custom archtop guitars that became highly prized by jazz guitarists like Django Reinhardt. Though the original D'Angelico company stopped production after John's death in the 1960s, the brand was revived in the 1990s and continues to make high-quality, professional guitars today.

The DAPD500VNATAPS model is part of D'Angelico's Premier Series of acoustic-electric guitars. It features a vintage-inspired single cutaway design with an all-laminate construction. This guitar combines traditional D'Angelico style with modern playability and electronics, designed to appeal to guitarists looking for an affordable, stage-ready acoustic-electric.

Construction

The D'Angelico DAPD500VNATAPS acoustic-electric guitar features a solid, all-maple construction that provides bright, clean tones with good sustain and resonance.

The top is made of high-grade solid Sitka spruce that gives the instrument volume and clarity in the higher register. The back and sides are AAA-grade flamed maple, adding warmth and richness to the overall sound.

Maple is known for its strength, durability, and beautiful figuring. It's an excellent tonewood that provides a balanced sound across the frequency range. The all-maple build results in a lightweight yet sturdy instrument.

The build quality on the DAPD500VNATAPS is excellent, with tight joinery, clean bindings, and flawless fit and finish. It's constructed using traditional techniques like dovetail neck joints and X-bracing, indicating careful hand craftsmanship. The neck angle and action are properly set up for optimal playability.

Overall, the solid maple construction and exacting build quality make the DAPD500VNATAPS feel like a high-end, professional instrument with great tone, sustain, and durability. The woods are carefully selected and the guitar is meticulously constructed for superior acoustic performance.

Another excellent acoustic-electric guitar option to consider is the Ibanez TCY10ETBS. This model features a thinline cutaway body made of mahogany back and sides with a solid spruce top. The thin, streamlined body provides comfort and playability while still producing full, resonant tones.

The Ibanez TCY10ETBS utilizes an Ibanez under-saddle piezo pickup and AEQ-SP2 preamp system for plugged-in amplified tones. The onboard electronics have tone shaping controls for volume, bass, mid, treble, and presence. This allows for dialing in a variety of tones from bright and crisp to warm and rounded.

Some additional specs on the TCY10ETBS include a mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard, smooth satin finish, and chrome die-cast tuners. The guitar comes equipped with D'Addario strings installed from the factory.

When it comes to construction, the Ibanez offers a high level of quality and attention to detail. The tuners keep the guitar in tune well, the nut and frets are smoothly finished, and the bridge sits properly for correct action and intonation.

Those looking for a thin, easy-playing acoustic-electric at an affordable price would do well to check out the Ibanez TCY10ETBS. It provides versatile electric and acoustic tones in a compact, comfortable body size. The electronics allow plugging into an amplifier or PA system for live performance or recording situations.

In summary, the D'Angelico DAPD500VNATAPS and Ibanez TCY10ETBS represent two high-quality options for players seeking a great acoustic-electric guitar. The all-maple D'Angelico provides excellent resonance and sustain, while the thinline Ibanez offers comfort and electronics for amplified tone. Evaluating construction, tonewoods, and features will help guitarists select the right model for their needs.

Electronics

The D'Angelico Premier Deluxe DAPD500VNATAPS acoustic-electric guitar features a state-of-the-art pickup and preamp system that accurately captures its warm, balanced tone whether you're plugged in or playing acoustic.

Pickup Configuration

The DAPD500VNATAPS utilizes a D'Angelico custom humbucker pickup paired with an L.R. Baggs Anthem pickup system. The humbucker is positioned under the bridge to pick up full lows, balanced mids and clear highs from the guitar's solid spruce top. The L.R. Baggs Anthem system uses an undersaddle pickup and built-in mic to capture the nuances of the guitar's entire sound profile.

Preamp and EQ

The guitar's preamp is equipped with volume and tone controls, plus three-band EQ for shaping your amplified tone. Bass, mid and treble controls allow you to boost lows, sculpt mids and add brilliance to the highs as desired. There's also a phase switch to help eliminate unwanted feedback at higher volumes. The preamp delivers exceptional tonal control and flexibility when playing live or in the studio.

Playability

The D'Angelico Premier Dreadnought features a comfortable and playable 25.5" scale maple neck with a 12" radius and 21 medium jumbo frets. The C-shaped neck profile is neither too chunky nor too thin, providing a nice balance that accommodates various playing styles.

The action on this guitar is set medium-low from the factory, making it very comfortable right out of the box. The action can be easily adjusted thanks to the truss rod in the maple neck. Intonation is excellent across the fretboard thanks to the compensated bone saddle. Notes ring out true all the way up the neck with no sharpness or flatness.

The smooth satin finish on the back of the neck allows for fast, slick runs up and down the fretboard. The neck is also topped with a genuine ebony fingerboard known for durability and smoothness. Overall the neck and fingerboard allow for very natural and fluid playability.

If you're looking for a more affordable acoustic-electric guitar option, check out the Stagg SCL50-NAT. This guitar features a laminated spruce top with mahogany back and sides, plus a mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. It has a full and balanced tone thanks to its dreadnought body shape. For amplification, it uses a Shadow preamp system with built-in tuner and 3-band EQ. The Shadow NanoFlex pickup provides excellent amplified tone and feedback rejection. With its attractive looks, great sound and easy playability, the Stagg SCL50-NAT is an excellent value acoustic-electric guitar worth considering.

When comparing the D'Angelico Premier Deluxe to the Stagg SCL50-NAT, there are some clear differences. The D'Angelico uses higher-end tonewoods like solid Sitka spruce and flamed maple back and sides. It also has more advanced electronics, with the L.R. Baggs Anthem undersaddle pickup and custom humbucker. The Stagg relies on laminated woods and a simpler Shadow preamp system. However, both guitars provide quality amplification and let you switch seamlessly between acoustic and electric tones.

The D'Angelico has a premium fit and finish, with details like pearl/abalone rosette and fingerboard inlays. The Stagg opts for a simpler appointments. The D'Angelico's maple neck and ebony fingerboard offer smooth playability, while the Stagg uses mahogany and rosewood. When played acoustically, the D'Angelico will likely sound richer and more complex than the Stagg.

That said, the Stagg SCL50-NAT punches above its weight given its lower price point. It produces a balanced, full-bodied acoustic tone and sounds great amplified. For guitarists on a budget or wanting good value, the Stagg is an excellent choice. The D'Angelico stands out for its top-shelf woods and electronics that match its premium aesthetic. Choose the Stagg to save money without sacrificing quality. Choose the D'Angelico for next-level looks, tone and playability.

Sound

The D'Angelico Premier DC produces a bright, balanced acoustic tone with plenty of volume and projection to fill small to mid-sized venues. Its all-solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides provide clarity in the low end, warmth in the midrange, and shimmer up top.

When plugged in, the Fishman Presys Blend pickup and preamp system reproduces the round, organic qualities of the Premier DC with excellent amplified tone. The Blend system utilizes an under-saddle piezo pickup combined with a body sensor to capture a full range of acoustic tone. This helps eliminate the quacky piezo sound in favor of a more natural amplified voice. The built-in preamp features volume, bass, and treble controls, allowing you to easily dial in your amplified tone. Between its acoustic potential and fantastic plugged-in performance, the D’Angelico Premier DC is stage-ready whenever inspiration strikes.

Versatility

The D'Angelico DAPD500VNATAPS offers excellent versatility for an acoustic-electric guitar. The solid spruce top and laminated maple back and sides provide a balanced tone that works well for various musical styles.

The guitar's semi-hollow body gives it a pleasant resonance without feedback issues, making it a great choice for both stage and studio use. It has enough projection to be heard alongside other instruments in a live setting, yet also records cleanly in the studio.

The D'Angelico excels at blues, jazz, country, folk, and rock. Its smooth, balanced tone allows it to blend nicely into an ensemble or complement a vocalist. The guitar is equally adept at rhythm parts or taking the lead.

Whether you play intimate coffee shop gigs or large halls, the DAPD500VNATAPS delivers. It's a versatile workhorse guitar suitable for any gigging musician. The guitar captures the warmth of an acoustic instrument with the punch and sustain of an electric when plugged in.

The D'Angelico's versatile semi-hollow design makes it a go-to choice for players who need one great-sounding guitar that can do it all. It's stage-ready, studio-ready, and ready to handle any musical style you throw at it.

Pros

The D'Angelico Premier DAPD500VNATAPS acoustic-electric guitar really shines when it comes to playability and versatility. The thinline semi-hollow body design makes this guitar lightweight and comfortable to play while still providing rich acoustic resonance.

Some standout positive features include:

• The slim C-shaped neck profile is extremely playable and smooth. It allows for easy access to the higher frets.
• The guitar features a built-in AP3T Kent Armstrong electronics system. This provides natural amplified tones with 3-band EQ and tuner.
• The guitar has a gorgeous antique sunburst finish inspired by vintage D'Angelico models. It looks fantastic.
• The genuine ebony fingerboard is smooth and fast while adding visual appeal.
• Drop-in adjustment neck for relief allows for easy truss rod adjustments. This is a handy feature for setup and maintenance.
• The floating Kent Armstrong P-90 neck pickup captures the warmth and character of the guitar acoustically.
• Comes with an alligator-pattern hard case for safe storage and transport. A nice bonus not always included.

Overall the DAPD500VNATAPS excels when it comes to easy playability, great acoustic and amplified tones, eye-catching aesthetics and thoughtful extras like the case and truss rod adjustment system. For players looking for an inspiring semi-hollowbody guitar that can cover acoustic and electric needs, it hits a sweet spot.

Cons

No guitar is perfect, and the D'Angelico Premier DA500 does have some potential downsides to consider:

• The plastic nut and saddle may be disappointing for some players who expect higher end materials on a guitar in this price range. Upgrading to bone or Tusq may help improve tone and tuning stability.

• The pickup and preamp system is good but not great. It gets the job done for simple plugged-in playing, but lacks the dynamic range and tonal options of higher end electronics. Players who rely more on plugged-in sound may want to consider upgrading the electronics.

• The laminate back and sides don't resonate as beautifully as solid wood, so some players feel it doesn't have as rich an acoustic voice as similarly priced all-solid guitars. However, others feel the impact is minimal.

• It doesn't come with a hard case, just a padded gig bag. You'd need to buy a hardshell case separately for better protection.

• The wider nut width (1 3/4") doesn't suit all players. Those with smaller hands may find it uncomfortable to fret.

• As an imported budget guitar, it's reasonable to have some concerns about potential QC issues. There's a risk of getting a "lemon" with poor setup, finish flaws, etc. Thoroughly inspecting and testing before purchase is advised.

Overall, while no guitar is perfect, most of these limitations represent the tradeoffs expected in this price range. For many players, the core benefits of the DA500 outweigh these potential compromises. But it's helpful to be aware of them when considering your needs as a player.

Comparable Models

When looking at acoustic-electric guitars in the same price range as the D'Angelico Premier Bedford, here are some other excellent options to consider:

Fender Paramount PM-3

The Fender Paramount PM-3 is another all-solid wood acoustic-electric with impressive looks and tone. It has a Sitka spruce top with sapele back and sides, giving it a balanced and clear voice. The PM-3 has a Fishman preamp with tuner and pickup, providing great plugged-in sound. It has a comfortable C-shaped neck and smooth satin finish. Overall, the Paramount PM-3 is an outstanding all-around acoustic-electric for gigs or practice.

Taylor Academy 12e

For those wanting a Taylor acoustic-electric guitar without breaking the bank, the Academy 12e is a fantastic choice. It has a solid Sitka spruce top and layered walnut back and sides. The tone is bright and focused, great for fingerpicking. It comes equipped with Taylor's ES-B pickup system for natural amplified tone. The Academy 12e has a comfortable grand auditorium body shape. This is an excellent Taylor model for beginners looking to upgrade or intermediate players.

Yamaha A Series A5R

Yamaha's A Series A5R is an incredible value for a high-quality acoustic-electric. It features a solid Engelmann spruce top and rosewood back and sides. This guitar has Yamaha's SRT pickup system for amplified performance. The A5R has a dynamic and balanced tone, with crisp highs and tight lows. It's an outstanding option for gigging musicians who want the look, feel, and sound of a professional acoustic-electric.

Conclusion

The D'Angelico DAPD500VNATAPS Acoustic-Electric Guitar provides excellent value for the price point. The all-solid wood construction gives it a full, balanced tone that projects well unplugged or amplified. The built-in preamp and tuner make it stage-ready right out of the box.

While the neck may be too slim for some players, the smooth satin finish makes it very playable. The hybrid bracing allows for richness in the low end and sparkling highs. The guitar is very responsive dynamically, able to go from soft fingerpicking to aggressive strumming.

Overall, this is a high quality, versatile acoustic-electric that punches above its weight class. The vintage-inspired appointments like the slotted headstock and rope binding give it loads of style as well. For those looking for an inspiring guitar with classic looks and modern electronics, the DAPD500VNATAPS is an excellent choice that represents great value.