Dan Armstrong - Man & Guitars

Like most other Dan Armstrong copy brands, Raven also made a matching bass guitar. At left, the Raven name is easily seen on the instruments headstock, as is a replacement truss rod cover. Also on the headstock is a fair amount of 'blistering', or 'lifting' of the gloss covering over the faux-wood veneer. This is fairly prevalent among all the copy brands, and it's origin remains unknown.

Some of this 'lifting' may be due to cases of casual apathy by past owners, but as seen at right, this bass has a set of new tuners and it could be that installing replacement tuners required enlarging the tuner holes. If so, it's also possible that improper tools were used, which could account for said lifting as well. Notice the 'Song Bird Music' sticker giving their web address in the enlarged view. Likely no longer in business as neither the URL nor internet searches work.

At left, the Raven bass is seen lying on its hardshell case sporting a glossy black scratchplate. After looking at the faux-wood veneer on the headstock above, it's obvious that this scratchplate is a replacement, though a well made one. Notice how much oversized the scratchplate is compared to the original Dan Armstrong bass. However, like the Ampeg bass, the acrylic body does have two strap pegs on the bottom and one in the upper cut-away horn.

At right, and seen from the backside, a large amount of acrylic has been routed out for the control and pickup cavities. The 3-piece laminated neck can also be seen, but notice that not much of the neck gets seated into the acrylic body compared to the original Dan Armstrong models. Also notice the shim at the base of the neck.

At left, the Raven bass, features what some have described as two "very responsive and loud humbuckers". The combination bridge/tailpiece is exactly like those on other badged basses, but the full width metal saddlepiece appears to have an ebony replacement.

At right, electronics include volume controls for each pickup as well as a master tone control and output jack. In the enlarged view, notice the shaved metal washer for the height adjustment screw on the front pickup. Apparently, the pickup ring has some damage in and around the hole for the height adjustment screw.

At left, the Raven bass in full view lying on its hardshell case. Better seen in enlarged view.

The Raven badge name is one that is apparently filled with a fair amount of confusion among many musicians. It's a case of Raven instruments and Ravenwest instruments.

It's rumored that Eric, who now runs Ravenwest was the son-in-law of Ray, then, the owner of Raven... and who, for whatever reason, sadly had killed Eric's mother only to take his own life shortly afterwards.

As Eric became owner of Raven he blew out the last of the Raven guitars on Ebay before re-branding and changing the name of the company to Ravenwest.