Ampeg Dan Armstrong Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1970)
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Item # 9088
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Ampeg Dan Armstrong Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1970), made in New Jersey, serial # D2304A, clear acrylic finish, acrylic body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a fine example of one of the last great 1960s American guitar/bass ideas, the Ampeg Dan Armstrong, nicknamed the "See Through" for obvious reasons. In 1968 amplifier giant Ampeg was looking to get into the guitar and bass market, after several previous attempts had met with middling results. They consulted New York-based Dan Armstrong whose "hip" guitar shop had become a Mecca for electric players.
Armstrong agreed to design what they billed as "The Ultimate Guitar", a high quality instrument that was an original concept, not a re-tread. The resulting guitar and bass were both visually and sonically unique. In contrast to many over-designed 1960s instruments, Armstrong emphasized clean lines and simplicity -- so clean, in fact, that you can see right through it!
The most radical element (the body) is cut from a block of transparent Lucite. The deep double cutaway offers access to all 24 frets, inspired by the Danelectro Longhorn. The edges were contoured to reduce weight and make it comfortable to play. The design has other kinship with Danelectros. The chrome bridgeplate was similar, but bolted solidly to the body with a similar one-piece rosewood saddle. A whimsical touch is a wood-grained Formica pickguard and headstock facing -- a visual pun on a plastic guitar!
While Armstrong's "ultimate" guitar had interchangeable pickups, the Bass was not built with this facility and has a single humbucker designed with Bill Lawrence in the middle position. The tone control and tone switch offer together an unusually wide range of sounds, and this is a surprisingly versatile bass. The tones range from an almost baritone twang like a Danelectro to a deep Gibson-y thump, all from just the one pickup.
The 30" scale neck is relatively traditional, made of maple with a rosewood fingerboard and bolted solidly to the body. The small, slightly asymmetrical headstock looks graceful and still rather modern. The truss rod is adjusted at the head, which is equipped with heavy cast Schaller machine heads. The short-scale neck has a somewhat "Gibson-y" feel despite the Fender-like materials; short-scale basses were losing favor at the time and this is about the last classic design of its type.
The Dan Armstrong/Ampeg guitar and bass set were launched when established guitar names were perceived as losing some luster. The "See Throughs" (a term Ampeg trademarked) were premiered at the June 1969 NAMM show, listing at $290.00 plus $60 for the case. They got a huge boost when the Rolling Stones took a set on their epic 1969 US Tour. The guitar became forever linked to Keith Richards, and other players soon followed "Keef's" lead. Bill Wyman used the bass for a time in the early '70s, as did Jack Bruce.
Unfortunately the Armstrong "See-Throughs" had a short production life. Armstrong personally had issues with Ampeg's management and refused to continue his licensing agreement. The See-Through guitars ceased production in 1971. Around 3,000 each of the guitar and bass were produced over less than 2 years. The Ampeg/Armstrong remains unique today despite many other subsequent instruments made from different plastics. It still exudes a supreme badass cool and sounds as unique as it looks.
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 13 1/8 in. (33.3 cm.) width, and 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm.) . Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This bass is all original and very clean, showing only very light play wear with a bit of finish rubbed off the treble side of the neck. The pickup works fine and has none of the flaking of the outer casing that is common with these. The frets show only the lightest wear. The original case is also intact with some more exterior wear. A superb example of this beautiful if eccentric classic, and a very cool bass to play still. Excellent + Condition.
This is a fine example of one of the last great 1960s American guitar/bass ideas, the Ampeg Dan Armstrong, nicknamed the "See Through" for obvious reasons. In 1968 amplifier giant Ampeg was looking to get into the guitar and bass market, after several previous attempts had met with middling results. They consulted New York-based Dan Armstrong whose "hip" guitar shop had become a Mecca for electric players.
Armstrong agreed to design what they billed as "The Ultimate Guitar", a high quality instrument that was an original concept, not a re-tread. The resulting guitar and bass were both visually and sonically unique. In contrast to many over-designed 1960s instruments, Armstrong emphasized clean lines and simplicity -- so clean, in fact, that you can see right through it!
The most radical element (the body) is cut from a block of transparent Lucite. The deep double cutaway offers access to all 24 frets, inspired by the Danelectro Longhorn. The edges were contoured to reduce weight and make it comfortable to play. The design has other kinship with Danelectros. The chrome bridgeplate was similar, but bolted solidly to the body with a similar one-piece rosewood saddle. A whimsical touch is a wood-grained Formica pickguard and headstock facing -- a visual pun on a plastic guitar!
While Armstrong's "ultimate" guitar had interchangeable pickups, the Bass was not built with this facility and has a single humbucker designed with Bill Lawrence in the middle position. The tone control and tone switch offer together an unusually wide range of sounds, and this is a surprisingly versatile bass. The tones range from an almost baritone twang like a Danelectro to a deep Gibson-y thump, all from just the one pickup.
The 30" scale neck is relatively traditional, made of maple with a rosewood fingerboard and bolted solidly to the body. The small, slightly asymmetrical headstock looks graceful and still rather modern. The truss rod is adjusted at the head, which is equipped with heavy cast Schaller machine heads. The short-scale neck has a somewhat "Gibson-y" feel despite the Fender-like materials; short-scale basses were losing favor at the time and this is about the last classic design of its type.
The Dan Armstrong/Ampeg guitar and bass set were launched when established guitar names were perceived as losing some luster. The "See Throughs" (a term Ampeg trademarked) were premiered at the June 1969 NAMM show, listing at $290.00 plus $60 for the case. They got a huge boost when the Rolling Stones took a set on their epic 1969 US Tour. The guitar became forever linked to Keith Richards, and other players soon followed "Keef's" lead. Bill Wyman used the bass for a time in the early '70s, as did Jack Bruce.
Unfortunately the Armstrong "See-Throughs" had a short production life. Armstrong personally had issues with Ampeg's management and refused to continue his licensing agreement. The See-Through guitars ceased production in 1971. Around 3,000 each of the guitar and bass were produced over less than 2 years. The Ampeg/Armstrong remains unique today despite many other subsequent instruments made from different plastics. It still exudes a supreme badass cool and sounds as unique as it looks.
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 13 1/8 in. (33.3 cm.) width, and 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm.) . Scale length is 30 in. (762 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This bass is all original and very clean, showing only very light play wear with a bit of finish rubbed off the treble side of the neck. The pickup works fine and has none of the flaking of the outer casing that is common with these. The frets show only the lightest wear. The original case is also intact with some more exterior wear. A superb example of this beautiful if eccentric classic, and a very cool bass to play still. Excellent + Condition.