D'Angelico NYSS-3 Semihollow Archtop Jazz Guitar - Extremely Rare

This D'Angelico is not like the others, hence the massive price tag, which is not a typo. However, I am open to negotiation, so please propose a price to me and we'll go from there.

Extremely rare, ultimate semi-hollow, made in Japan, NYSS-3B.

This is a serious listing for a serious guitar. I realize the listed price is probably off-putting for most. But this is a real gem. However, please don't hesitate to send me your best offer and I'll evaluate that. I do intend to sell this guitar.

If you are you are looking at this, you are probably aware that this is the holy grail of semi-hollow guitars. It is a thinline semi-hollow with a solid spruce top, maple center block, flamed maple back and sides, and ebony fingerboard. Alligator hardshell case included, beautiful condition.

This guitar was made in Japan, not to be confused with the much lower quality Korean-produced "reboot" D'Angelicos that are currently for sale in the US. This one is from the particularly desirable Vestax/Crews-era -- directed by Hidesato Shiino, these are known to use better materials and have higher quality craftsmanship than the more recent Japan-made versions. They're just in a whole other league of excellence, hence the rarity and high price.

These D'Angelico's are legendary for their quality craftsmanship and this is no exception. The neck and fingerboard look and feel as though they are carved out of marble - perfectly formed and exceptional to the touch. The fingerboard is dense, rich black ebony - much higher quality than other production models I've played. All of the materials and woods are all beautiful. The action is low and the guitar plays very nicely.

The tone of this guitar is exceptional. With the bridge pickup on, it gives you that typical Carlton-Scofield 335 sound, but with the added richness of spruce; in the neck position, it sounds just like a big fat D'Angelico archtop - the solid spruce top gives it a remarkable acoustic jazz sound. It is the axe of choice of the world's greatest jazz guitarist, Kurt Rosenwinkel.

This is what Kurt says about this guitar:

"I’ve always kept an arsenal of guitars, and have always looked for very specific things from each—the response and character of each note, the clarity of each note within a chord, sustain, frequency range, playability. I’ve often found myself compromising, sacrificing one quality for another.

Now that I have the NYSS-3, I feel that I’ve found the single guitar I’ve been seeking for more than 15 years. It produces a warm, fat tone, with a lot of front end—the kind of tone I need to carry a band and push the music in different directions without the sound getting in the way. With every note, I can feel the whole instrument resonate under my fingers.

When I’m absorbed in playing, I don’t want to be distracted by the guitar, and with the D’Angelico, I can trust the workmanship; I can trust it to always stay in tune and always give me the sound I need."

Also comes with original Vestax keychain in the case!

Neck Specifications

Selected Maple, White neck binding
25" 1/2 scale, Ebony fingerboard, 22frets, Pearl Zig zag position marker
14ﾂｰpitch peghead with pearl "D'Angelico" and "New Yorker" inlays, multiple black and white binding

Body Specifications

Small sized original "New Yorker" style body (14" 1/2) with center block
Press curved Solid spruce top, 5 ply flame maple back and rims
F sound holes with white and black binding

Electrical & Hardware Specifications

Grover Imperial type machine head
Original dual coiled pickups mounted on Body
Controls: 1 PU selector, 2 volumes, 2 tone, Output: 1/4 phone jack
Adjustable "tune O-matic" type brass bridge
Original "New Yorker" style brass trapeze tailpiece
Original "New Yorker" style pickguard with black and white binding