Dan Armstrong - Man & Guitars

Some guitarists who own an Dan Armstrong · Ampeg guitar have asked about how to acquire a replacement neck. Up until now I had no answers for them other than to tell them to keep checking online in the hope that one turns up for sale.

It was totally by accident that I ran across what might be a reasonable alternative. There is a seller on EBay who makes Dan Armstrong copies. Ironically, this same seller also happens to sell Dan Armstrong copy necks individually.

Above left and right, these necks do not come with tuners but were installed here for advertizing purposes.

As seen above, the maple neck features rosewood fingerboards with 24 frets and small dot position markers. It also features a headstock fashioned after the Dan Armstrong model. At this time, it is unknown if the tongue of the neck seats firmly into the neck pocket of the Dan Armstrong · Ampeg acrylic model. Likely it will be close, but may not be perfect. However, it should be possible to shave the tongue portion down or, build it up, if necessary - to seat firmly into the neck pocket of a Dan Armstrong acrylic body. Naturally, holes would have to be drilled into the tongue to accommodate the carriage bolts of the older, original instruments, or the T-bolts of the newer reissue instruments. They even sell left hand models like that seen in the neck photos above. When making holes in the tongue to accept carriage bolts, or T-Nuts, care must be taken to proceed slowly and carefully so as not to crack and splinter the wood.

Above, a closeup of the headstock on one of their necks. By looking at the width of the string slots in the nut, you can see this neck is for a left handed instrument, or a musician that wants a reverse headstock on a right handed model - though the nut would have to be changed out if so. At right the seller has a good rating on EBay and I may purchase a right handed neck, just to try it out as they are quite affordable.

But as per my disclaimer I will point out that I cannot guarantee anything in regard to these necks until I actually try one myself, so 'Caveat Emptor' (AKA let the buyer beware). Although the auctions they had for their necks have since ended, I believe you can email the seller and request a neck.