D1356A
Here's a really cool bass, which someone has modified with star inlays in the fingerboard in place of the original dot markers. The stars look great and are accompanied by half-moon markers at the 12th and 24th frets. Otherwise, the bass seems pretty original, including the typical wear to the top of the pickup. Here's what the seller had to say in August 2014 when this one came on the market...
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"Those of us who were truly fortunate to have been of a good age to enjoy the historical and magical musical decades of the 1960’s and 1970’s know this guitar very well mostly because of Keith Richards playing it with THE STONES. He referred to it as his “zipper guitar” because he can to keep his zipper zipped while playing this see through guitars. And no I have not seen those “secret” photos of him playing this guitar unzipped and have absolutely no inclination nor intent to do so."
"Dan Armstrong is an icon. Ampeg guitars and amps are icons. And together they created this icon. Please take time to read the enclosed excerpt from AMPEG’s public website telling the history of this guitar. It is very interesting." "I own several of these “zipper” guitars and basses and have decided to sell a few of them. This is the first, most likely, the rarest of the lot. The SN is D1356A placing it in the year 1970 for its build." "Its rarity is seen on the fretboard. All other Ampeg “DA’s” (guitars and basses) have dot inlays. But not this one. It has stars and moons. These were installed by the owner. There is speculation as to who that owner was. At least two people have said that they saw this bass guitar being played by Lee Dorman while with IRON BUTTERFLY. I have no way to prove that but could be. Back to the fretboard, this guitar has one of the most beautiful ROSEWOOD fingerboards that I have ever seen on a guitar. Beautiful." "This guitar is in EXCELLENT condition. The pickup is not original to this guitar because this guitar came to me with a Peavey bass pickup installed. Not an unusual modification to a DA. But to me, I still like the thump of the original DA pickup. The DA pickup is really a double pickup stacked. One is high and one is low and they are blended by the Tone control. This is extremely innovative at the time this guitar was built. And that is the reason most DA bass pickups have their brown plastic covering worn away on top. The double pickup is so thick that there was little room left for the covering. Does not affect the performance of the pup at all." "Neck is made of Maple and is a bolt on from the front. The body begins at the 24th fret. And I do agree with the claim that the Acrylic body mass is so dense that it makes the guitar sustain forever. It does." "This guitar comes in Original Hard Shell Case. Sorry, painting stays. It was the only way to show the “nothingness” of this guitar. How do you take a photo of “clear”? |