Ampeg Dan Armstrong Acrylic Guitar

A little history: Ampeg is a cre Socit annnes in 1940 and Specializes in amplification for low o name: Ampeg = amplificated peg, PROCD avant-garde against low amplification via the "tip" that supports the instrument. In the mid 60's, Ampeg began making guitars but it was not until 1969 that this kind Ampeg Dan Armstrong rvolutionnaire and will remain in memory. For its design, uses the Ampeg luthier and guitarist from New York studio Dan Armstrong. It offers quite futuristic CHARACTERISTICS: a transparent plexiglass body with high density is supposed to bring more sustain, a round of the 24 frets unusual era, and a plating pickgard t Formica you fawn kitchen (long live the years 60-70!). For microphones, Dan Armstrong seeks the help of a German migr, Willi Lorenz Stich, better known by his name Amrican: Bill Lawrence. It will manufacture six interchangeable microphones (3 for low, 3 for guitar) for the country, rock and jazz.
If this guitar has remained in the memory (including through its use by some guitarists Keith Richards which clbres), its commercial success will not really go. It will be factory 1969 1971 9000 copies in total, including a few copies in black smoke plexiglass.
It owes its surrender, as so often in the guitar world, artist nostalgic. At this point remember the Jaguar Fender Mustang with Kurt Cobain, the Montgomery Airline Jack White and even the sunburst Les Paul Standard in 1958-61. In this case INTERESTED is Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters emerges that Dan Armstrong. Again in the spotlight, it will mark its rdite trentime anniversary in 1999.
It still produced today, but not faile to find one!

- Body in plexiglass
- Saddle sleeve screwed (4 screws), Rosewood fingerboard 24 frets, neck-body junction box the 24me!
- Scale 24.75 "648 mm, taken from button type" dots ", profile D
- 2 interchangeable pickups: 1 double, 1 single
- 1 volume knob, 1 Tone Tone slecteur of 3 positions
- Block bridge / tailpiece one pice, rosewood bridge with adjustable saddles individual NO
- Pickgard plating head and Fawn formica
- Comes with flight case trs chic!

The construction quality is good without being exceptional, the finish is plain trs.
As against what the original transparent body!
Formica is the same if not better effect: it trs kitsch!
The pickups are "surrounded" Contents of a plastic that can be held not rev much over time. To see ...
O But the three microphones are passs home? It will say he brings can not be expected and that the versatile two were enough.

Despite these default I put 9 / 10 as impossible not to fall in love.

UTILIZATION

The handle is enjoyable but fairly thick and wide. Key possde plutt a radius dish. 24 cases, the unusual c'tait era. If they are available because of the body-neck junction box of 24me, they do not turn the handle until the handle shred highway is wide 24me the box: 21 boxes would be sufficient I think.
The mcaniques hold the tuning well. For home against the ropes are really "light": it can be even not 9-42! A change quickly!
It's a pretty heavy guitar with a weight close to a Les Paul. Ergonomics is, she inspires plutt stratocaster.
Changing pickups is very simple: they are simply visss the body by a screw that is handled with little fingers on the back of the instrument, without tools.
A dtail of importance: the back button to fawn "dots" are really small trs. The reprage is not always ais especially with 24 spaces available.

The ease of playing is unique because the handle off and pais, Most recent internship boxes are ultimately difficult to use for shredders crazy.

SOUNDS

First vacuum, is enjoyable surprise. Is that it sounds good this guitar! The sound is rich with great sustain.

Once connected, we find these qualities. Well let's be clear: this is a guitar plutt guides to the rock. The plexiglass body brings a lot of momentum and sustain the sound, but even when deprived lot of heat from the wood.
The humbucker is a good output level and large saturation, a little cold, are well developed. The microphone is not as simple INTERESTED, one suspects a bit, because it fits less well with this body so special. We could even have all of AIM's three original mics, why not an option, to get an ide ...
The three-position switch is actually a selector Tone is like the Esquire and Telecaster Fender Premire. Tone severe acute Tone and direct. Well it finally brings INTERESTED but little nuance, the tone "serious" softer for jazz or blues fawn Clapton (the woman tone) n'tant not really the field of pr This predilection Dan Armstrong.

The sound quality are waiting for this guitar but if you promise a great versatility, it is ultimately nothing: it is clearly oriented rock or heavy rock chih.

OVERALL OPINION

I have this guitar long rv: DEFINITIONS futuristic and innovative, it's a real collector's haphazard. It vritablement a guitar out of time.

The black point: it is rare and especially bill 1500 euros. We do not regret the purchase but it's even expensive compared to competition.
Except that it has no competitor tural.
Other default: in case of breakage, o find the spices parts (neck, bridge, pickgard, microphones, ...)?

This is a guitar you love or hate, but also beyond the Aesthetics is a real guitar sounds good with it, and not really vintage: it is cut e for the big modern rock!

Everything is rightly said in the previous notice (Notice that I wanted to buy it without trying it).
For the record: I saw this guitar once, when I was young, in shop windows. Then my pupils were dilated and I told myself "one day she will be mine. Oh yes, one day she will be mine!".

In short, no other guitar has the same characteristics but I actually liked the third microphone.

So 10 for the bold technique of his time.

UTILIZATION

For my part the handle is very comfortable, accessible. Broad but not thick, the space of string is ideal. The setting of the guitar is simple, we can adjust the strings low enough, more tools are provided.

I find it a little heavier than a day before Les Paul. The body has a little protruding edges. it is rather compact.

I am very careful not to scratch (I'm a maniac) so I can not tell whether it marks easily.

Its level, few knobs so easy to adjust.

So 8 to the weight and stops.

SOUNDS

It is a decidedly rock guitar, with a good tube amp you get it a little more heat. But the lack of slight midrange / bass. it is a matter of taste but a little quick equalizer and it is corrected. If you attack the strings although it easily crunch.
In short it is a distinctive sound, unique sustain. I love it for solos, it was flashy.

The knobs are not used much, it's very subtle, they used to for manic recording. Again this guitar has a sound, versatility is not strong.

So 8 for those who hoped more versatility.



OVERALL OPINION

It is therefore more than a year since I is a guitar and engaging, compact, with a handle really comfortable but difficult to grip (so that m impressed the most unusual being, once we are tasted).
She always makes an impact beef when I was out for the concerts even if it is a bit heavy in the game worth the candle.

It was a childhood dream and I was carefully preserved.
It is indeed rare and that it would be nice if the rest would become commonplace it. But I doubted myself before ordering since we can not try it anywhere.

For me it is a beautiful 9 because these defects are forgetting the more you play with.