While Tuesday’s post about recording at D’Angelico Guitars’ showroom provided insight to remote recording, now, it’s time to look more closely at the actual instruments!
Although D’Angelico make fantastic high-end instruments right here in New York City, the cost of those guitars and basses goes beyond what might be considered affordable.
However, their Premier range is made in the east. So players on a tighter budget can also part with cash.
In recording guitars for What Kind Of Privilege Is This?, I only used ones from the Premier range. Because this website focuses on affordability, I want to be able to talk about them.
Also, the instruments I played were not brand new. Although it’s a showroom, it’s not just for show. They’re on walls, in the air and dust, for people to play. And they’ve definitely been played plenty. If they were on Reverb, they’d be “mint” rather than “brand new.”
Additionally, I just be providing a quick overview of the five instruments I used in the showroom. Otherwise, I’d be spending months talking about a single brand. Yawn. Specs etc are readily available on D’Angelico’s website, and any other detailed review online. These aren’t new and exclusive to anybody, so not worth getting into.
D’Angelico Premier bass
First impressions
Because we recorded drums already, first up is the Premier bass.
The Premier range has but two basses – this one, and an electro-acoustic one. This is about $800 new.
So, the most striking thing about picking up the Premier bass is that it weighs nothing. Like, seriously, if it was any lighter, it’d float away, I’m sure of it.
Blue is my favorite color, so I’m a fan of the aesthetics of this instrument!
In use
I just can’t fault it. Granted, I was playing directly into the BandLab audio interface, rather than an amp. Obviously, this can make the bass seem a bit flat, and lack any kind of warmth, but, it was doing what I needed and expected it to do.
It was perfectly comfortable to play. The action on this model was relatively low, so I didn’t have to fight it too much. The fingerboard wasn’t overfinished, which I appreciated.
The Premier bass doesn’t have a pickup select switch. Which I find weird, but not a deal-breaker.
I love the aforementioned weightlessness. Certainly, it makes the Premier bass ideal for stage use. But also, it makes the instrument feel a little flimsy. In saying that, it’s all relative. I normally play solid blocks of wood.
I would definitely have taken this one home.
D’Angelico Premier Bowery
First impressions
Because I normally record my Hummingbird for half my acoustic guitar sound. As a dreadnought in the range, I gave the Bowery a go, guessing it would be a good alternative to the usual.
It felt somewhat weighty for an acoustic guitar – that’s not a negative, it’s reassuring! It had a “broken-in” vibe to it. Now, I’m not sure if that’s just the model I was using, but I was digging it!
In use
The Bowery was both brighter and louder than I was expecting.
Although it’s technically an electro-acoustic model, I still miced it up. There are a 100 million articles on the internet about why that’s better that doesn’t need repeating here.
Although I can’t fault anything about the Bowery, there wasn’t anything about it that screamed at me either. Sure, the rosette and the inlays are a bit fancy schmantzy for a guitar of this price. But, that’s not something I need.
In saying that, because in light audio recording, we focus on the cost and space consumption of things, we don’t always get to spoil ourselves with aesthetically pleasing stuff.
You can find a Bowery for less than $400, so if you’re on a budget and want something pretty, I would recommend seeing if you feel it.
D’Angelico Premier Niagara
First impressions
The Niagara is the same style as my Taylor TSBTe, so I was expecting that light and bright sound. This was a very clean guitar, that screams “bring me to the beach!”
The sun was shining on my way to the showroom, which may have affected my line of thought.
In use
Firstly, I really didn’t get the light and bright sound that I was expecting from the Niagara.
Surprisingly for a guitar of it’s stature, I found the sound to be loud, mellow, and a little bit harsh.
Now, look, I’m a rock musician, and I tend to give guitars a good leathering, so by itself, the Niagara’s tone isn’t a problem. However, when I’m recording guitar, it’s the contrast between my Hummingbird and Taylor that I love. Panning each of those wide left and wide right is just the sex.
I wasn’t sure I’d get that contrast from the Bowery and Niagara. I still don’t think I’m over how loud that little guitar is.
D’Angelico Premier DC
First impressions
Next, it was time for some D’Angelico Premier electric guitars.
“DC,” as I recall, stands for “double cutaway.” And, it’s a semi-hollow guitar with humbuckers. As I have noted in previous electric guitar sessions, this is the kind of guitar I use to play open chords right the way through a song. So that’s the kind of vibe I’m after.
I played it through a Fender Blues Junior.
In use
The DC was a lovely guitar. There are certain brands that are known for this type of guitar in this price point, but I certainly wouldn’t rule out the DC if you’re in that market.
D’Angelico started out as a premium jazz guitar back in the 30s, so this is is a bit of nod back to those days.
Because …Privilege… is quite a punk song, the gain on the Fender was fairly cranked, but I did have a little play on the clean setting. It made the DC reek of versatility.
Now, I like the DC, but not as much as I like the next one I played…
D’Angelico Premier Brighton
Allow me to preface this section by stating: this was the one.
First impressions
Have you ever picked up a guitar, and just… felt it?
And it’s funny, in terms of specs, there’s nothing exceptional about this guitar. I guess the fact that it’s not as weighty as similar spec guitars helps. Maybe it’s the vibrancy of the ocean turquoise color? Maybe it’s the slightly unorthodox shape?
Essentially, picking up this guitar made me want to jump around while giving it a good leathering!
In use
The initial feels from the Brighton weren’t dispelled when I started playing it.
As a solid body guitar with humbuckers, I played power chords on the verses and open chords on the choruses. In terms of tone, it nailed it through that Fender.
And, it was fun to play. I think the neck profile was slimmer than I expected. This particular example had a fairly low action. Combined, that meant there was no fight in playing this guitar. I could just thrash it out.
Although I focus on recording, but I could picture myself having a ball on stage with this.
The Brighton has coiltapped humbuckers. I’m never blown away by such things. And I needed humbuckers right now.
However, I tried the single coil side of things on the Brighton and it’s certainly one of the better ones. I probably would have used it for the lead guitar parts of …Privilege… But I hadn’t worked any out yet, and I didn’t want to take up any more time at the showroom. I don’t think my noodling working out a solo is fair on anybody.
D’Angelico Premier series: conclusion
To conclude, none of the instruments in the D’Angelico Premier range disappointed. But there are two that certainly got me excited: the bass and the Brighton.
If I had more time with the Brighton, I might suggest that it could be a good substitute for having separate single coil and humbucking guitars.
But I didn’t, so I can’t.
Overall, if your guitar collection is missing a particular tone, there’s a good chance the Premier range will be able to cover it without breaking the bank. And, at the prices they sell for, the quality and tones are just right. Check them out!
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