Dan Armstrong - Man & Guitars

CSL is another badge name copy of the Dan Armstrong guitar and with the exception of a headstock that's shaped like an original Dan Armstrong model it's otherwise identical to both the Aria & Conrad instruments. Also like the original Dan Armstrong model they feature smaller dot position markers on their 24 fret rosewood fingerboards.

Two CSL models as seen from the backside. At upper left, a 3-piece laminated all-maple neck bolts onto the acrylic body. At upper right, another CSL model which also employs a 3-piece laminated neck, but just like on one of the Conrad models seen in this section, this CSL model also breaks away from all maple laminates on the neck and instead featues a dark wood center laminate. One can only speculate as to such oddities as it seems extremely unlikely that a factory producing all maple necks would just change over to a different wood like this - especially on the guitar neck. Perhaps there was a price savings.

If that weren't enough, there are other differences as well. For instance, the pickups on the model at left appear somewhat different, than those on the right. But this could be just a matter of someone changing them out. However, the routing of the pickup & control cavities are quite another matter. While the shape of the routed cavities appear identical, there are some definite differences. Compared to the model on the right, the routing of the pickup cavity on the left is much (pardon the pun) 'clearer' and lacks the striping tool marks seen in the pickup cavity at right. Basically, the overall routing on the model at left appears clearer - as the neck tongue, pickups and control pots are much more easily seen than those on the right.

There's more. At upper left, I do not know if it's the angle in the photograph or not, but I seriously doubt it. Notice the lower (left) cutaway horn and how it appears to be shaped differently than the lower horn on the model at upper right - which appears to have more bevelling - not only in the lower, but the upper cutaway as well - yet they are both CSL badged copies. Again, this is not unique to CSL, for as mentioned earlier, similar practices have been documented on the Conrad models and one cannot help but wonder.

Above left & right, just like the aforementioned Aria & Conrad models - the CSL models sport two humbucking pickups, tunable bridge and stop type tailpiece. Two chrome knobs, 3-way switch & output jack are employed and can be seen atop an oversized scratchplate that wraps around the pickups.

At left, another CSL model that features a maple neck with a dark wood center laminate and pickup cavity with the aforementioned tool marks or striping of sorts. At right, notice the shim at the bottom of the neck tongue. More importantly, it's yet another CSL model that features a dark center wood laminate and... which also lacks any bevelling in the cutaways.

Above left, the CSL badge name is inlaid into the headstock with mother-of-pearl. The faux-wood veneer features a high gloss finish. Seen here there is some lifting, or blistering of this finish in & around two of the tuner posts. This is due to the enlargement of the tuner holes, probably with a hand drill, to accomodiate the installation of a new set of tuners.

At upper right, although the background is different it's the same headstock, revealing a set of Schaller tuners. One can easily see the unplugged holes from the set-screws of the original tuners, and sharp observers may have noticed the lack of a set-screw in the new set of tuners. In this case it's seen at the top-left, &/or the 'G' string tuner. Seen more easily in enlarged view, from what I can tell there never was a hole even drilled for a set-screw.

At upper left & right, the CSL and Dan Armstrong headstocks. Although similar, the dimensions of the CSL are still quite different. For starters the CSL headstock is much taller which allows for the badged name. The sides have a more pronounced curvy definition to them as does the top. The truss rod cover, though shaped like the original looks smaller, which is probably due to the fact that it resides on a larger headstock. Unlike the original however, it sits atop the string nut whereas the original does not. Also unlike the original is the placement of the Schaller tuners, for they do not allow the nearly direct string pull from the nut to the tuners. The most obvious difference is the faux-wood veneer which is much darker and features a high gloss finish that stands in sharp contrast to the flat matte textured finish of the latter Dan Armstrong models.

At left and right, a CSL copy that features a replacement tortoise shell scratchplate. The owner states the original had been broken in the usual manner - i.e. stepping on one's guitar cord while it's plugged into the instrument - which in turn breaks the scratchplate. In the enlarged view, notice the bridge has nylon saddles.

At left, and seen from the back, the replacement scratchplate has a very dark backside. At right, another CSL model (or so my notes say) that's stripped down. Difficult to say, but it looks like the bridge has nylon saddlepieces.

At left and right, the stock pickups and electronics on the CSL, as well as many instruments from the MIJ golden era were equipped by Maxon.

At left, the CSL name in pearloid adorns the headstock, while at right, replacement tuners can be seen. A sticker advertizing Andy's Guitar Workshop & Centre - 27 Denmark Street, London WC2 - Tel: 01-836-0699.

Above left and right, a CSL copy that's had its pickups and tuners changed out.

Closer examination reveals the neck pickup is a Seymour Duncan while the bridge pickup a Dimarzio.

It's unknown what type the front pickup is but the saddle pickup looks to be a Super Distortion humbucker.

Like every other CSL model shown on this page, blistering in, and around the 'D' string tuner can be seen It's unknown as to why it's so common in this particular area. Over on the right, Schaller tuners have replaced the originals. The original screw holes are easily seen. Notice the extra laminate at upper left to make up the headstock shape.

A CSL Dan Armstrong copy is surrounded by many other instruments in a guitar store.

The CSL brand name was used on guitars distributed in the UK by Summerfield Brothers of Gateshead England. CSL stands for Charles Summerfield Limited. CSL guitars were made during the 1970s in the FujiGen Gakki factory in Matsumoto Japan. FujiGen made many guitars for other brands including Ibanez, Fender, Yamaha and Greco. CSL instruments were typically copies of popular American models including electric and acoustic guitars as well as basses by Fender, Gibson and Rickenbacker. The CSL company was wound up in 1993, but Maurice Summerfield (the son of Charles) now trades as Summerfield Musical Instruments.