Dan Armstrong - Man & Guitars

At left and right, Ali Handal of the Ragdolls often plays a reissue Dan Armstrong guitar. Seen here, she is playing slide.

Above left, singer/guitarist Barry Hay of Golden Earring played a Dan Armstrong · Ampeg for the 1973 promo of Radar Love and during the 'Moontan Period-Tour' that followed. Despite playing the instrument for such a long time, by 1983 he apparently stated "The only thing I liked about the instrument were the hot-swappable pickups". At right, Mike Heppner, the founding member of the band Priestess has a re-issue Dan Armstrong · Ampeg guitar in his arsenal.

Above left, although Mike accesses other guitars, he is often seen utilizing the Dan Armstrong · Ampeg guitar for live performances, while ar right, and seen better in the enlarged view, it appears he has not done any mods to his guitar at the time of this photo, for the original rosewood bridge and Kent Armstrong dual blade humbucking pickup (think ST) can be seen.

Above left and right, Paul 'Frosty' Hertz of Chain of Strength - a hardcore punk band from California also played a Dan Armstrong during his tenure. He got the nickname 'Frosty' when he was young and a bit overweight. Kids being kids, they called him 'Frosty' or more commonly 'Frosty the Snowman'. Despite weight loss the nickname apparently stuck, even into adulthood.

At left, there appears to be a decal of sorts on the scratchplate and white control knobs. At right, the guitar is seen sporting a black humbucker and some type of tunable bridge.

As for his Armstrong guitar Hertz states "I bought it on Sunset Boulevard at a shop called 'Guitars 'R Us'. It was right across the street from the classic 'Guitar Center' on Sunset. That whole area was called 'Guitar Row'. It's all pretty much gone now.

I wanted to play the Dan Armstrong guitar because of Greg Ginn of Black Flag and BL'AST! I think I paid $600.00, which back then was a steal. Now they go for like $4,000.00. I still have the original receipt for it."

At left, and seen better in the enlarged view, the humbucking pickup can be better seen. A black scratchplate has replaced the original. The tunable bridge is still a bit out of focus, but Tele looking knobs have replaced the originals.

Notice the INFEST sticker on his guitar, obviously giving a nod to the band Infest - a hardcore punk band formed in 1986 and widely considered to be pioneers of the sound now known as 'powerviolence'.

At left, Scott Hill of Fu Manchu plays his No.1 axe - a re-issue Dan Armstrong · Ampeg guitar in modified form. At right, the Dan Armstrong plexi has been his go-to guitar since 2000.

At left, Hill playing his Dan Armstrong in Colorado Springs. At right, and like many other players, Hill often strums his plexi up high and wears the guitar somewhat low.

At left, Hill in concert. As can be seen at right, Hill has an arsenal of Dan Armstrong · Ampeg guitars.

His SSD model is believed to be a nod to the 80's band from Boston called SS Decontrol (Society System Decontrol) who, after recording two albums formally shortened their name to SSD. Originally a straight edge hardcore punk band, their sound had changed to heavy metal after their second album and punk fans left in droves as a result. Coupled with internal conflicts, SSD dis-banned in 1985. As for the name, it is widely believed that SSD was, and still is a statement about society as a whole - rather than any personal or political stances.

At left and right, Hill picked up the Dan Armstrong · Ampeg guitar mostly because of Greg Ginn of Black Flag, stating "Greg Ginn is my main man."

At left and right, Hill stated in an interview that "I mainly play an Ampeg Dan Armstrong guitar. I’ve been using Seymour Duncan Hot Rail^® pickups since ’94. I replace them every couple of years because they get so sweaty. Those are a major part of my sound. I then go to the fuzz pedal, and then into a Marshall JCM800 head."

At left, Hill once again accessing his SSD guitar, while at right, a Dan Armstrong model that features a creme colored Hot Rail pickup, but unlike most of his plexi models this one still retains the original scratchplate.

At left and right, one thing common to virtually all his Dan Armstrong instruments is the installation of a Schaller roller bridge for better intonation and added sustain.

At left and right, Hill playing what must be his favorite guitar, the SSD model.

At left and right, and better seen in enlarged view, the Schaller bridge can be seen, as can the Hot Rails pickup.

At left, another shot of Hill's SSD guitar. Apparently, and according to Hill... "SSD was a straight edge hardcore band from Boston. Society System Decontrol (SSD). I think it is, and has been, a statement about society as a whole rather than expressing any personal political stances." Notice how he uses a guitar cord vs. a wireless unit in this photo. At right, Hill blazes through a number.

At left, a great shot of Hill playing. Again the Schaller bridge can be seen, while at right, both the bridge and the Hot Rails pickup can more easily be seen.

At left, Hill, with a sticker adhered to the pickguard of one of his Dan Armstrong · Ampeg guitars - honoring the 1981 album and its title track by LA's punk band called Wasted Youth - back in the 1980^'s. The lyrics are heavily laden with anti-war protests, though from what I can recall, the 80^'s is best known for the end of the cold war, and the dismantling of the Berlin wall though there may have been some military action going on that I can't recall however.

At left and seen better in enlarged view, notice a BL'AST! sticker as well as other stickers on the backside of the maple neck on one of Scott's Dan Armstrong · Ampeg guitars. At right, and seen in the enlarged view, the BL'AST! sticker can again be be seen.

An early photo of Scott. Notice shorter hair as well as how his Dan Armstrong is less modified, showing the stock scratchplate, complete with white lettering that can be seen in the enlarged view.

The pickup in his plexi looks to be a white or creme colored Hot Rails model. There is an unknown sticker on the acrylic body behind or back of the Schaller bridge / tailpiece combination.

At left and right, if there's one thing Scott loves as much as his Dan Armstrong guitars it's his horizontally striped shirts! But that's OK Scott - we love ya!

At left and right, Josh Homme and members of Queens of the Stone Age all playing Dan Armstrong instruments in the music video Sick Sick Sick.

Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple in the mid 1970's and Black Sabbath in the mid 1980's is seen here posing with a bill of sale and a Dan Armstrong bass that he acquired in 1979 from Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott.

In the enlarged view, it appears the pickup has a darker colored resin around the pole piece, likely a repair as a result of the thin resin in this area.