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Pre Owned 1969 Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear Lucite Guitar - John Waite Collection

Pre Owned 1969 Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear Lucite Guitar - John Waite Collection

SKU 80AMP000
by Ampeg
Sold out
$ 5,999.99 - $ 5,999.99
$ 5,999.99
$ 5,999.99 - $ 5,999.99
$ 5,999.99

Used and Vintage Electric Guitars

   Truetone Music is proud to be partnered with the legendary musician and songwriter John Waite in offering instruments out of his collection.   Each comes with a signed certificate verifying the authenticity of this instrument; assuring that it has been used on tour, in studio or personally by him.  During his years with The Babys, Bad English, and his own acclaimed solo career, various instruments were used and very few have become available, until now. 


One of the most interesting pieces from his collection is this vintage 1969 Ampeg Dan Armstrong Clear Lucite guitar.  This model is one of the most unique guitars of that era, instantly recognizable. 


The guitar features a clear body made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a substance that had been around since the 1930s and offered commercially as Lucite (as well as Plexiglass and other names).  Decidedly modernistic for its day, the guitar was the product of a collaboration between New York City musician and guitar repairman Dan Armstrong with Ampeg.  Armstrong brought in guitar dealer and repairman Matt Umanov to assist with the guitar’s design, and Bill Lawrence, who shared space in Armstrong’s workshop, made the pickups. Offered in both guitar and bass versions starting in 1969, the instrument had so little in common with Ampeg’s offerings that it has almost always been known simply as the Dan Armstrong “Plexi” or “Lucite” guitar, or the “see-through” guitar.  

In addition, it features a pickguard and headstock overlay of Formica.  Its faux wood-grain finish was itself possibly a nod to the emerging use of wood paneling in home decor, which would dominate in the early 1970s.  One of the guitar’s more notable features is its removable pickup, which slides into and out of a channel routed in the body at the bridge position. The unit clips directly into the rest of the electronics and is secured in place with a thumb screw on the guitar’s back.  The guitar has a three-way toggle switch in addition to its tone and volume controls, despite being a single-pickup instrument - this is used for tone changes and muting, rather than for pickup selection.    The guitar has a maple neck with a 24-fret rosewood fretboard and a 24.75-inch scale length. 

Not only is the guitar special in general, but this one in particular holds special pedigree.  John Waite has owned and used it for many years, and just recently decided to part with it.  It's in excellent condition - much, much better than most of these that you see out there.  All of the parts are original, and there is an extra original pickup included.  It comes with the original hardshell case.  The signed Certificate of Authenticity will be included.

This instrument has been vetted and worked on by Truetone Music. Rest assured that you are receiving not only a fine instrument, but also a rare piece of musical history. 

 

 

Serial # A439D