All-Original & Immaculate 1970 Ampeg Dan Armstrong 6-String

Throughout the 1960's, Ampeg, a premier builder of amplifiers, was unsuccessful in its attempts to break into the guitar market. Then, in 1968, the company teamed up with New York luthier and session-guitarist Dan Armstrong to develop a distinctive new line of guitars.

In his quest for originality and desire to create something exceptional, Armstrong designed an instrument with a number of innovations including, first and foremost, a body machined from a block of transparent Lucite. (He would later explain that the design evolved from his search for a rigid, maintenance-free material that would increase sustain and eliminate unwanted vibrations.). His would also be one of the earliest electric guitars to utilize a 24-fret fingerboard providing two full octaves along with deep body cutaways which offered easier access to the highest of those frets. Another distinctive design was the introduction of interchangeable pickups. Additional period vibe came with a pickguard and headstock laminate made from woodgrain Formica, a material better known for its use in furniture and countertops.

In a 1973 interview with Guitar Player Magazine, Armstrong said "I just wanted to be as original as possible, not to copy anybody's anything".

The all-new guitars were manufactured at Ampeg's facility in Linden, NJ and introduced at the NAMM show in Chicago in June of 1969 with a price at launch of $290. (For reference, the list price at the time for a Fender Stratocaster was $299). In 1970, Ampeg raised the price to a lofty $340 (at the time fully 10% of the price of an average new car!).

For their upcoming tour in the fall of ‘69, the Rolling Stones needed new stage gear and included with their welcome new Ampeg amps was a Dan Armstrong "See Through" guitar. Keith Richards took this unusual instrument straight away and promptly made it one of his mainstay instruments. Ampeg was, of course, delighted with the high-profile visibility of its new marquee product and went on to feature Keith in its advertising. His endorsement may have helped influence other ‘converts' including Lou Reed, Ronnie Wood (then with The Faces), and even Paul McCartney, owner of the first and only left-handed version custom-built for him. Over time, Ampeg Dan Armstrongs would also be adopted by a number of household name rockers including Joe Perry, Tom Petty, Randy Rhoads, Joe Walsh, Alannis Morrisette and David Gruel.

Despite all the innovation, after just two years of production, modest demand and expensive production costs would spell the end for this imaginative guitar. The last original ADA was built in the fall of 1971 with a total of only approximately 2,350 ever made! (By comparison, last year alone, Gibson and Fender EACH made over 150,000 guitars).

Serial Number A1115D was produced in the summer of 1970. According to a sticker on its (Ampeg factory) case, it appears that the guitar was either sold new or passed through “Bob's Music Center” in Hendersonville (a suburb of Nashville), Tennessee. Today the guitar remains entirely original (incl. Lucite body, maple neck, frets, Schaller tuners and date-coded pots, etc.) with no apparent prior repairs, modifications or replacement parts.

#A115D in Very-Good-to-Excellent condition. The neck is straight, the Lucite is clear with remarkably few blemishes, the frets are very good and action is low. The only noticeable blemish is an inch long finish-only scar on the back of the neck. (See photos).

The guitar comes with two of the interchangeable pickups, one marked "CB" and an unidentified second one. (Reproductions of Armstrong’s various pickups are faithfully recreated by his son Kent in the UK and are readily available online.)

As mentioned, the sale includes the guitar’s original Ampeg tolex factory case which is in fair-to-good condition cosmetically but very good condition structurally.

Of the four total '69-'71 Ampeg Dan Armstrong guitars listed on Reverb (incl. one in Germany and one in Australia), this one is least expensive and, if not the nicest, at least as nice as any of the others.

NOT a reproduction or reissue, #A115D is one of the only approximately 2,350 original 6-string Ampeg Dan Armstrong guitars made between 1969 and 1971. It appears to be entirely original and looks, plays and sounds fabulous.

Much more than a conversation piece, these guitars provide a unique sound and stage presence and make a great addition to any collection. It is hard to imagine how they will not continue to appreciate over time.