Dan Armstrong - Man & Guitars

At upper left and right, the CSL bass features 21 frets on its rosewood fingerboard and with the exception of the badged name on the headstock is virtually identical to the Conrad bass copy. On this particular model, it appears that the volume and tone knobs and the 3-way selector switch have been replaced.

Also, and like the Conrad Bumper bass, the scratchplate on the CSL basses look more like the original Dan Armstrong models and less like their guitar counterparts as the scratchplate don't wrap around both sides of the pickups like on the guitar models.

Above left, a closer look at the CSL bass body. The acrylic bass body is like that on other copy basses but in the case of the CSL it has been rumored that some (if not all) were actually machined in the UK. However, past employees at CSL have responded using the words "no way" as well as other colorful phases. While I cannot prove, nor disprove these reports it would seem to add additional labor and expense to their models which runs contrary to the idea of selling a copy.

These basses are equipped with pickups that feature individually adjustable pole pieces just like those advertized in the Conrad literature for their bass model. But as can be seen at left, and ironically unlike the Conrad bass, they do, in fact, feature the adjustable pole pieces with a chrome plated metal cover over them.

At upper right, the CSL brand name is clearly seen in this close up the headstock. The tuners are identical to the Conrad clear acrylic bass. In fact, many of the Dan Armstrong copy bass copies utilized these same tuners.

Above left and right, a modified CSL bass with a white scratchplate and pickup rings.

At left, and with the scratchplate removed, the tongue of the three piece laminated neck can be seen. Strangely, although the acrylic is routed all the way to the pickup the tongue of the neck end just short of the pickup. At right, and seen better in the enlarged view, where the neck meets the body there must have been some over-tightening of the neck bolts as the acrylic appears to be cracked on the bass side.

At left, with the nuts removed and the neck detached from the body I noticed a shim laying on the acrylic body just forward of the front pickup. Looking down at the bolts that secure the neck to the body I noticed washers. Thinking there were just two washers on the two bolts nearest the pickup, I assumed that the aforementioned shim wasn't enough. However, upon closer examination I discovered that there are washers on all four of the bolts - suggestion to me that the entire neck had to be raised relative to the body for decent string action.

At right, and seen better in the enlarged view, the washers made indentions into the maple tongue of the neck. As hard a wood as maple is, and to still have such indentions from the washers would seem to verify that over-tightening of the neck bolts took place, and explains the cracked acrylic in earlier photos mentioned above.

At left, with the scratchplate removed the pickups get pulled out. Notice the electrical tape near the actual pickup. Notice too, the all metal bridge piece. At right, with the pickup cover removed it reveals that the pickups on this bass are, unlike many copy models - actual humbucking pickups. Also notice the short lead wires emenating from the pickup where the tape was.

At left, the CSL bass has the usual volume and tone controls pickup selector switch and output jack that appears to be strengthened by the addition of a matching white washer. The aforementioned all metal bridge has been replaced by a wooden one but is much, much higher. This may help to explain the addition of those four washers under the neck mentioned further up - for the bridge is so tall in fact, that it took more than the usual shim to compensate for the additional height.

At right, and from the underside of the scratchplate the control pots, switch and output jack can be seen. Notice how the jack is doubly supported as even on this side there is a washer supporting it.

At left, a look at the tailpiece without the bridge placed over it. At right, the headstock on this bass has a replacement truss rod cover that has a very unusual shape. It's hard to say what instrument it came off of.

At left, this CSL bass appears to have some replacement knobs, while at right, the headstock appears to be stock.

CSL was a brand name managed by Charles Summerfield Ltd. - based in Saltmeadows Road, Gateshead. A UK importer/distributor of Ibanez guitars, Star drums and Kawai organs. Originally a toy importer, they soon began importing musical instruments as Maurice Summerfield - the youngest son, became an accomplished jazz guitarist and began importing Ibanez guitars to the UK around 1970. While brother Melville continued with the toy business, Maurice pushed the Ibanez jazz guitars, and apparently contributed some design ideas on certain models as well. Maurice was likely the one behind the eventual CSL badge name.