Dan Armstrong - Man & Guitars

One of the papers inside the aforementioned Ampeg envelope is a sheet with a listing of all the Ampeg Service Centers nationally. At the bottom of the page you will notice that this listing is dated Febuary of 1970.

Another paper that was inside the Ampeg envelope is a sheet introducing the Ampeg Scrambler. One of the few effects pedals that Ampeg would release, and ironically the effects unit that Dan and George Merriman would greatly alter to come up with the Dan Armstrong Green Ringer. Courtesy of Bill Richardson.

Another paper that was inside the Ampeg envelope is an Ampeg sales catalogue featuring their complete line of amplifiers, and an Ampeg AMB-1 and AMUB-1 bass on the back, or last page. Oddly enough, the clear acrylic Dan Armstrong models are not listed. The reason for this is unknown. I thought perhaps it was a catalogue that was produced earlier, but the amplifier section lists the SVT model which would seem to date the brochure in and around 1969 or 1970. As such, the omission of the Dan Armstrong models remains somewhat a mystery to me. Courtesy of Bill Richardson.

A flyer released by Ampeg introducing Dan Armstrong and his Dan Armstrong Superstrings which were often part of the case candy that came with the purchase of a new acrylic instrument. Courtesy of Bill Richardson.

Ampeg also had a folder to hold their various publications and brochures. Courtesy of Bill Richardson.

Like any business, Ampeg mailed out form type letters to their various dealers showing their newest lineup of musical products. Dated on March 16, 1970 these letters included the Dan Armstrong · Ampeg clear guitars and basses.

Along with the above business letters Ampeg sent along an order form which was in triplicate using carbon copy type paper. 3 sheets were used. The top one was in white and was the one to be written on and sent to Ampeg in their enclosed envelope. The next sheet was a carbon and was yellow which also went to Ampeg, or, if a salesman made the sale, then he kept this copy. Lastly, the pink carbon copy was the customers copy.

A postage paid Ampeg envelope also accompanied the order forms and literature above.

An Ampeg advertizement where one could clip and fill out a portion of it, and mail it in to Ampeg for a catalogue on the Dan Armstrong · Ampeg guitars and basses. Courtesy of Bill Richardson.

An Ampeg advertizement for the Scramber distortion unit. Courtesy of Bill Richardson.

A Univox Lucy flyer with specs on their guitars and basses. Somewhat hard to read - the ad states: "Like a hunk o'ice--cold clear through. Yet she comes on strong! With a neck that sizzles. And 24 frets you can really get into. Double-pick-ups that put out just the real string signal - interpreted by a 3-way toggle. Rosewood fingerboard on a rock-hard maple neck. Solid-cast transparent acrylic body. Comes as a bloomin' bass, also. You'll love Lucy. Body size 13 1/3" x 16 1/2" Overall length: 38" (41 1/2" Bass). Hardshell, ornately-trimmed plush-lined case. List price: Guitar $275.00 w/deluxe case. Bass $285.00 w/deluxe case. UNIVOX Lucy Guitar/Bass Outfit UHS-1/UHS-1B"

An Aria brochure with a bit of a surprise. Seen here alongside the guitar is the matching Aria bass model which to my knowledge has never been seen beyond this ad and makes me wonder if they scrapped the idea of a bass model after this ad was already printed.

An Aria guitar ad giving a closer look at their Dan Armstrong copy.

An article from an Ampeg publication depicting the Dan Armstrong · Ampeg clear bass. Interestingly, the bass shown is somewhat modified in that it reveals a piece of the scratchplate missing by the thumbrest. Also, it's somewhat odd that an ad for a bass shows 'interchangeable' slide-in pickups (though here the wording is 'slot-in' pickups). One can only conclude that alot of mis-communication occurred at the time of the ad.