Dan Armstrong - Man & Guitars

At left, this Dan Armstrong instrument was modified with a string-thru body tailpiece design, with individual adjustable saddlepieces - much like that used on Fender Telecaster guitars. Notice the black plastic or paint underneath the unit, most likely placed there to hide the scars of the routing of the acrylic for such an alteration. Also notice the chrome style scratchplate, with an additional screw added in front of the pickup as well as an additional switch added to the guitars circuitry.

At upper right, a humbucking pickup, complete with ring is somehow attached in the regular pickup cavity with an unusual tunable style bridge and tailpiece added. Notice what looks like a single black & white wire leaving the pickup ring and entering the guitar underneath the black replacement scratchplate.

At left, a clear plexiglass scratchplate replaces the original and reveals the 9 volt battery and all other components within the control cavity. Mounted on the plate in the usual Gibson style is an active EMG pickup. Clear speed knobs replaced the originals. The good news - is that all of this is all easily reversable. The bad news is that the body has been routed for a Kahler Tremolo unit.

At right, and seen from the backside the routing looks clean, but sadly it is non-reversable. The clip-on type strap holder that's hanging on the strap pegs is rather interesting. Even in this smaller view a neck shim can be easily seen.

At left, a close-up of the internal parts within the control cavity. I've never been a fan of the clear type scratchplates, as in my opinion it reveals too much junk and clutter which I feel ruins the look and the lines of Dan's creation. At right, the headstock now forever supports the locking type nut of the Kahler unit.

As seen upper left and right, an immense modification to a Dan Armstrong guitar. So much so that I have to wonder why the one who did all this just didn't purchase a guitar that had all these features on it. For starters, a DeArmond neck pickup is placed in the neck position which had to necessitate some routing away of the neck tongue. With the original scratchplate gone, the remainder of the neck tongue is covered over with a metal cap, and then everything is covered with a clear plastic scratchplate.

As seen above left, two dual control type knobs allow for a myriad of adjustments. Two mini type switches allow for just as many pickup selections and options. At right, a Kahler 2200 floating Tremelo system replaces the original bridge/tailpiece combination. At right, a twin blade single coil looking pickup is encased in a clear resin or plastic in the shape of a Dan Armstrong pickup that utilizes the banana plugs of the original but is equipped and wired with a small toggle switch eminating from the casing, possibly for coil tapping, etc.

At left, a side view of the DeArmond neck pickup. Notice how you can see the actual crowns of the last three frets. At right, and seen from the underside of the guitar body one can get a summation of how much wood had to be removed from the neck tongue to use this pickup.

Above left, acrylic on the back side of the body had to be routed away for the springs of the tremolo system. At right, it appears that even the control cavity has been routed where the potentiometers reside. Likely these are not the original pots.

Above left, and looking somewhat like John Kay's guitar - the original faux-wood headstock veneer and truss rod cover have been replaced by silver metal counterparts. The string lock-down of the Kahler Tremelo system has also been added to the headstock. At right, and better seen in enlarged view one can make out the very edge of the metal veneer at the top of the headstock. Apparently a different set of tuners once adorned this headstock as set-screw holes can be seen above the D and G tuners.

Shown here with the trem bar installed, the Kent Armstrong ST bridge pickup and the DeArmond model 55 or 60 toaster pickup in the neck position stands out when set against a clear guitar with a clear scratchplate.