Excel d-10

[Bob Sehy]

Im trying to date this Excel d10, I believe its an older one 1980s? It's an 8 and 4 setup, On the way to me now, very clean underneath. (and no cracks LOL)

[Toshiyuki Shoji]

As a former employee of Excel, I can offer some insight.

The pedal and pedal bar design used on this guitar was adopted sometime in mid-1989. Based on the image, I cannot say this with absolute certainty, but I believe the guitar was most likely manufactured in the 1990s.

[Dan Beller-McKenna]

Toshiyuki, do you recall when the emblem changed from the one Bob is showing here to the simpler, rectangular one on later guitars?

Thanks!

[Bob Sehy]

thanks Toshiyuki. Does this help?

[Bob Sehy]

another

[Toshiyuki Shoji]

Thank you for taking the photos.I’ll look into this to determine the guitar’s age. Please allow me a little time.

[Bob Sehy]

Thanks much! Can you tell me if a standard set of legs 13 1/2 will fit this model? Or are they different?

[Toshiyuki Shoji]

The leg threads on Excel guitars are Whitworth 1/2, which is a different type from those used by other brands.

[Toshiyuki Shoji]

From 1979 through the end of 2024, Mitsuo Fujii published a newsletter for steel guitar players in Japan. I was involved in editing the publication for approximately the last ten years of its run.

I have retained almost all issues of the newsletter as reference material and have recently reviewed them. The earliest document in which I can confirm the newer Excel logo appears is from October 1990. In addition, the advertisements printed in the newsletter changed to the newer logo starting in August 1994.

Mitsuo was known to change guitar specifications quite frequently, sometimes on a whim, and depending on customer orders, it is also possible that buyers could choose either the older or newer logo. He would sometimes bring out older parts to build guitars, and for a period of time, older and newer specifications may have coexisted. For these reasons, it is difficult to determine an exact manufacturing date.

I do not have information on how overseas advertising or sales were handled, and it is unlikely that Mitsuo himself kept detailed records or documentation.

Based on the available information and my best estimation, I believe your guitar was most likely built sometime between 1989 and 1994.

[Toshiyuki Shoji]

another

[Bob Sehy]

Thank so much for spending the time to research this, I did find a fuzzy guitar company label label and number XL D10 1 under the guitar. I notice the one in the catalog pic had purling trim on the front apron whereas mine does not. As you said, maybe it was a custom build?

[Bob Sehy]

Please correct me if Im wrong. It appears also that mine has the same pedals as the catalog pics from 1994, and not the 1989 ones. Hard to tell for sure from the pic, but appears so? And, different rear legs also (dont know if that matters much). I guess it's safe to assume early 1990s. If needed, are parts still available for this model?

[Toshiyuki Shoji]

Your guitar is fitted with the same pedal design as the one shown in the advertisement published in 1994.

The rear legs differ only in the length of the thicker section; otherwise, they are essentially the same.

Because this guitar is quite old, it may not be possible to source or reproduce every single part. However, I am more than happy to consult with you and discuss what options may be available.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to explore possible solutions.

[Bob Sehy]

Thanks for all your help.