Dan Armstrong - Man & Guitars

A Greco advertizing page from Music Life magazine circa 1970 revealing a few of their various guitars offerings with obvious attention being given to their Dan Armstrong · Ampeg copy in a dark acrylic. The literature reveals a stock number of No.380 with a price of ¥38,000 Yen. This particular flyer is easily dated as the Greco name reveals the letter R looking more like the letter N as it is well known that the Greco logo looked more like 'Gneco' at that time. The instrument appears to be quite different from many other Greco acrylic models shown on this site. The model shown here features the scoop cavity for interchangeable type pickups, and also features a combination bridge/tailpiece like the Dan Armstrong · Ampeg model.

A Greco magazine that has their Dan Armstrong copy on the cover. According to Frank Meyers - author of the book 'History of Japanese Electric Guitars' and his web site 'Drowning in Guitars' - "it’s from a Japanese Music Trades magazine dated November of 1970" which agrees with the flyer above as the R in Greco looks like an N making it read more like 'Gneco' which is correct for that time period. Again, notice the sweeping scoop in the body for interchangeable pickups, and how it too, features a combination bridge/tailpiece, not only like the Greco shown above - but even more to the point - like the original Dan Armstrong models. Notice the lighter color of the Greco interchangeable pickup when compared to the Dan Armstrong pickups. Courtesy of Frank Meyers.

According to Frank Meyers this is a page from within the above Greco Music Trades magazine. We now know that their Dan Armstrong copy at that time had the model number EG380. The EG probably refers to 'Electric Guitar'. I'm guessing the VB in the violin bass photo of the VB300 refers to 'Violin Bass' but I cannot verify that. Again, notice the lighter colored pickup on the Dan Armstrong copy. Courtesy of Frank Meyers.

A 1971 Electra brochure showing their offerings - copies of the Dan Armstrong · Ampeg guitar. Named the 2246WC and 2255WC models - they differ in hardware design, as the 2246 features slide-in modular pickups while the 2255 model sports dual humbucking (looking) pickups.

An Ibanez catalogue page depicting their copies of the Dan Armstrong · Ampeg instruments with specs on their clear guitars and basses.

A page from a 1971 Shaftesbury catalogue page depicting their copy of the Dan Armstrong · Ampeg guitar.

Literature for Eros and Epiphone guitars as well as several other brand copies. Probably dated around 1971-72. Photo courtesy of Bill Richardson.

A copy of the March 8, 1971 Ampeg Product Bulletin #17 - Procedures For Updating Armstrong Guitars And Basses. These pages depict how to improve the tonal response from earlier made Dan Armstrong instruments by making changes within their respective control cavities.

A brochure depicting the Dan Armstrong guitar and bass amplifiers that Dan made in the 1971-72 era when he worked with Boosey & Hawkes.

An operating instructions manual that accompanied the sale of a Dan Armstrong guitar and bass amplifier that further describes and depicts the tone shaping section (graphic equalization sliders) as well as the various switches and other features of the amplifier.

An advertizement for the Dan Armstrong amplifiers that was in the January 22, 1972 issue of Melody Maker - a music newspaper that was targeted at musicians. In this ad was a list of cities in the UK that had music stores which held seminars with Dan Armstrong as he demonstrated his new line of amplifiers.

Another advertizement for the Dan Armstrong amplifiers that was in a British newspaper. Here too, this ad shows a list of cities in the UK that had music stores which held seminars with Dan Armstrong as he demonstrated his new line of amplifiers.

The front and back side of an invitation to meet Dan Armstrong as he displays his new amplifiers.

A Retail Price List for the Dan Armstrong amplifiers, as well as Dan Armstrong Super Strings. The lower left corner has been torn away.