These guitars feature a miniaturized version of a Fender Stratocaster® styled headstock only unlike the Fender this headstock has its tuners in a 4x2 design with the 4 lower string tuners placed on the upper portion, like the Stratocaster's tuners - however the remaining 2 tuners are on the bottom side of the headstock. Rumor has it that Dan was warned about the headstock being shaped too close to the Fender headstock but Dan said he wasn't worried about it. Ironically, as the guitars were first displayed at a NAMM showing it was not Fender that objected but rather Ernie Ball® who had claimed a copyright infringement on the 4x2 tuner design, despite the fact that other guitar makers were using this same design.

photo courtesy of Walt Dills

As a result of this complaint Dan designed a new headstock shape that utilized a 3x3 tuner design on a headstock that can only be described as a Flying V® and Stratocaster fusion. On Both of these headstocks, Dan reintroduced yet another 'hold-over' from the past, this one from the Dan Armstrong/Ampeg acrylic guitars..... headstocks that were shaped in such a fashion that the tuners were located directly above the string slot on the nut, which in turn allows for a straight run of the string as it leaves the nut and makes its way into the tuner.

photo courtesy of Walt Dills

photo courtesy of Walt Dills

At left, the backside of the 3x3 style headstock revealing its six Gotoh^® tuners. At right, the backside of the Dan Armstrong/Westone III guitar revealing its serial number. Notice the body beveling.

photo courtesy of Walt Dills

photo courtesy of Walt Dills

At upper left, The Dan Armstrong/Westone 'Signature III' guitar it its case. Notice the tags still hanging from the carrying handle on the case. At upper right, the guitar in its case once again revealing the 3x3 headstock design. This headstock design is rarely seen on any of the Dan Armstrong/Westone instruments, as soon afterwards production of these guitars ceased altogether - for neither Dan - nor any other designers of the Signature Series line was able to save Westone from virtual extinction.