Happy New Guitar Day! I just picked up an Ampeg Dan Armstrong electric guitar. It's so cool!
Pics to follow.
Posted by diamond johny (Member # 27586) on :
Cool. Post a pic. I'm a Ibanez player myself.
Posted by Toetapper (Member # 6473) on :
Congratulations! I'm not familiar with that guitar model (actually know nothing of Ampeg guitars); what are your impressions of its tone?
A couple of thoughts come to mind:
1) Back in the 70's - I'm thinking '73 - they had an advertisement campaign with the slogan "Ampeg...just slightly softer than your average act of God".
2) I understand your sense of happiness. In 1982, my girlfriend returned her engagement ring to me on - of all days - Valentine's Day. Talk about mixed emotions; yes, I was quite saddened by the unexpected turn of events but in the back of my mind was a celebratory shout: "GUITAR MONEY!!!"
I ordered and purchased a custom made 1982 Hamer Special. If I recall correctly it cost about $800; that's in 1982 dollars. To replace it now would run about $4,000. The guitar remains my favorite with the widest pallet of tones ranging from shimmering brights to the mellowest sound that is indistinguishable from a hollow-body such as the L-4 or ES175. Certainly the finest purchase decision I ever made.
In short, I celebrate your acquisition.
Posted by veteater (Member # 3602) on :
First gig with it went extremely well.
It's a single humbucking pickup that is proprietary to this instrument. It comes out just by removing the thumbscrew holding it in, and slide it out from underneath the strings. For one pickup, it does a lot! Anything from crystal clean and (thanks to Line6 POD) acoustic to really modern rock this guitar can do it without breaking a sweat. The frets are similar to my former '78 Les Paul Custom...low and wide. Overall, she gets a 10/10.
Next on my list, new intercooler for my car.
Posted by oscarthemonkey (Member # 1692) on :
I'd love to see some pics!
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
I'm really wanting to pick up a Gibson SG myself. My Strat is alright, but I want something beefier sounding when I have the Marshall set in overdrive.
Lets see those pictures you said you were going to share!
Posted by diamond johny (Member # 27586) on :
quote:Originally posted by LeDaemon: I'm really wanting to pick up a Gibson SG myself. My Strat is alright, but I want something beefier sounding when I have the Marshall set in overdrive.
Heh. I seem to remember a young EVH saying the same thing. Rout the Strat for a HB.
Posted by Toetapper (Member # 6473) on :
quote:Originally posted by LeDaemon: I'm really wanting to pick up a Gibson SG myself.
I sympathize with you. Strats are a little too thin and reedy for me (plus you have to beat the bejayzus out of the strings to get some sounds).
May I suggest looking around at some other guitars before settling on an SG. I'm certainly not knocking them but, as someone who owns and plays one (since '72), it has one weakness. No matter what you do, EQ, effects, etc., an SG only has one sound; oh, it's a good sound, alright, but my ears need a little variety as well as my performances. When I'm on stage and covering, for example, Santana, an SG just isn't the instrument to do it effectively.
Take a look at some of the mid-priced Hamers - I love their guitars. The current work-horse in my armamentarium is a US Masters Vector. It weighs a ton but with a flip of the 5 position switch (2 Humbuckers) I can move from a very convincing Gibson sound to a dyed-in-the-wool Strat. Additionally, the tone control is set in an unusual range and can produce some of those odd "other-worldly" sounds from the seventies.
Just thought I'd share some thoughts.
Posted by LeDaemon (Member # 198) on :
Johny, I was thinking of having a Seymour Duncan HB wired into it at the bridge position. That may be a near future upgrade.
The main reason for the SG was I play lots of Sabbath and wanted to be able to create Iommi's tone of course. I'm not much of a guitar player thus my choice of player to ape.
I will check out the Hamer guitars next time I make a trip to the music store. I've got an excuse to go there as I need some more strings for the acoustic anyway.
I guess we should form a foot fetishist jam band and tour the country. Free backstage passes for footjobs.
Posted by diamond johny (Member # 27586) on :
quote:Originally posted by LeDaemon: I guess we should form a foot fetishist jam band and tour the country. Free backstage passes for footjobs.
Posted by Toetapper (Member # 6473) on :
Sign me up. My bags are packed.
Posted by veteater (Member # 3602) on :
Alright everyone, been a little busy lately but I snapped a pic of the new toy! I'll also include a pic of my Gibson for you all. Posted by combine_hunter (Member # 39526) on :
Is it just me, or is the neck on the new one really wide?
And is that a Floyd Rose on your LP?
Posted by veteater (Member # 3602) on :
quote:Originally posted by combine_hunter: Is it just me, or is the neck on the new one really wide?
And is that a Floyd Rose on your LP?
In answer to your questions, The nut width on the Armstrong is 1.6 inches or 42mm. The neck profile though is taking a bit of getting used to. It's slightly thinner than a Strat but not like an Ibanez.
And yes, that is a Floyd Rose on my Les Paul. It's called the Axcess. It comes with a Floyd.
Glad to see there are footguys out there that are guitar guys too.
Posted by combine_hunter (Member # 39526) on :
I like the neck on my Ibanez. Of course, it's a 7-string, so it's wider than normal. It's even wider than your new one.
Posted by diamond johny (Member # 27586) on :
quote:Originally posted by combine_hunter: I like the neck on my Ibanez. Of course, it's a 7-string, so it's wider than normal. It's even wider than your new one.
That's what I love about my Ibanez, the Wizard II neck.
Posted by veteater (Member # 3602) on :
Try one with the original WIZARD neck. You may like it.
Posted by combine_hunter (Member # 39526) on :
Those are badass, Bondo.
I especially like the JS1000; the color and design are both awesome.
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