1969 AMPEG DAN ARMSTRONG BASS
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On June 22 1969 Ampeg debuted the Dan Armstrong clear lucite body bass at the National Association of Music Merchants (N.A.M.M.) convention in Chicago. The bass originally sold for about $350 with case. It featured a smooth Formica covered "woodgrain" headstock, truss rod cover and pickguard. Some 1969 headstocks were wider than later models. During the year (as early as serial # D565A) the Rosewood thumb rest moved VERY slightly up toward the headstock, now centering between the pickguard screws. Late in the year the tuners began to change from small Schaller with slothead screws to Grover with Phillips head screws. On occasion the tuners were Schaller with larger longneck turning paddles. Late in the year the the four bridge screws began to change from slothead to Phillips head.
Other 1969 Dan Armstrong features: 24 fret maple neck usually with small pearloid dot fret markers and occasionally with rectangular side neck markers, Indian rosewood fretboard, 4 bolt on neck, occasional brass neck shim, large brown resin humbucker pickup. The pickup was originally secured in place with a chrome securing plate and then more commonly secured with a thumb screw through the body. Smooth Formica "woodgrain" pickguard with "Dan Armstrong" or "Dan Armstrong.Ampeg" lettering, two aluminum knobs, CTS "D shaft" potentiometers, various capacitors, Switchcraft input jack mounted on pickguard, chrome bridge with rosewood saddle, dual strapholders on body bottom, rectangular "Ess & Ess" brand black case with blue or black interior and "Presto" latches, literature.
1969 Dan Armstrong serial numbers were located on the neck butt or on the neck butt's side panel. They ranged from D101A to about D1200A, although there are many overlapping exceptions. The first 100 made were experimental models. Serial numbers ending in R (reject) were "seconds" and cost less.