D'ANGELICO EXCEL, 1960, sunburst, 17" Excel Cutaway, 7 ply body binding, 3 ply ƒ hole binding, Ebony squared off board with block inlays, Johnny Smith style floating pickup at neck, repaired crack north of the bass ƒ...

It is known that John D’Angelico, the most revered maker of carved-top guitars ever to have lived, started out by learning to make mandolins from his uncle, Raphael Ciani, here in the Little Italy neighborhood of New...