If you’re shopping for a beginner acoustic guitar, you’ll know there are plenty of options. From safe and steady guitars from recognizable brands to risky but potentially superlative offerings from lesser-known names, there’s a guitar for everyone. What you probably won’t find, however, are too many acoustics with the visual flourishes and practical features to match today’s review model, the D’Angelico Premier Gramercy.
The D'Angelico Premier Gramercy is essentially an affordable intermediate acoustic-electric guitar that combines stylish aesthetics with a nice set of practical features, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and even more accomplished players looking to add something else to their roster.
The Gramercy is constructed with a Grand Auditorium-shaped body, which includes a single cutaway and spruce/sapele combination for the top, back, and sides, paired with a mahogany neck and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. This combination of woods should contribute towards a warm and resonant tone, which can then be amplified thanks to a Fishman preamp and tuner, making it stage-ready right out of the box.
For the price, on paper, it looks like a lot of guitar for not a lot of money, with some nice visual appeal thrown in to sweeten the deal. But does it live up to the promise? Let’s find out.
Build Quality
Straight out of the box, the build quality of the D'Angelico Premier Gramercy was immediately impressive, especially considering its price point. The satin finish on the spruce body felt great while the neck, crafted from mahogany and shaped into a slim C-profile, was comfortable and precise, even with my spindly long fingers.
The rosewood used for the fingerboard and bridge is as you’d expect, offering durability (at the bridge) and a smooth playing surface (for the neck).
Playability
In terms of playability, the Premier Gramercy stood out mainly due to its ergonomic design and comfortable neck profile. Despite its size, this isn’t a guitar with too much in the way of heft. The 25-inch scale length and 1 11/16-inch nut width make it accessible for players with different hand sizes, and the action was generally well set up out of the box, with no significant fret buzz or sharp edges, which can often be a concern with new guitars under the $500 bracket.
The deep single cutaway allows for excellent access to the higher frets, which is particularly beneficial for lead playing and complex chord shapes if that’s your bag. For the most part, however, we think this will find a home as a strumming partner for an advanced learner rather than the go-to for anyone practicing overly complex genres. And, as a basic strum machine, it’s hard to find fault.
Tone
Overall, the spruce and sapele body delivered a mostly warm and rich tone, particularly when strumming big open chords, with a pronounced midrange that suits various musical styles. I did find the tone was a little toppy but this might be down to the factory strings it came with.
The onboard electronics, however, including the Fishman preamp, did a commendable job of amplifying the guitar’s natural tone without adding unwanted coloration, making it suitable for both unplugged and amplified performances. It's worth pointing out, though, that there are no EQ controls on the guitar - what you hear is what you get.
Again, for the price, it’s decent enough, though, and the fact there’s an onboard tuner was neat.
Final Verdict
The D'Angelico Premier Gramercy is a well-rounded acoustic guitar that offers a lot of value for its price. Priced around $389, it competes well with other guitars in its range, such as the Seagull S6 and the Epiphone EJ-200CE. Compared to these models, the D'Angelico provides a unique blend of aesthetics, playability, and tonal quality, making it a worthwhile investment for beginners and seasoned players alike.
With its solid build, comfortable playability, and versatile tone, it’s an excellent choice for beginners looking for their first ‘proper’ guitar, as well as for more experienced players seeking an affordable, reliable instrument for practice or performance. Its suitability for a wide range of musical genres further enhances its appeal, making it a versatile addition to any guitarist's collection.
Specifications
- Top Wood: Spruce
- Back and Sides Wood: Sapele
- Neck Wood: Sapele
- Radius: 14”
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Number of Frets: 20
- Scale Length: 25”
- Contact: D'Angelico
