Dan Armstrong: The Lucite Legend

Dan Kent Armstrong (1934–2004) was an American luthier, guitarist, and innovator whose impact—and perhaps flamboyant vision—left a lasting mark on the guitar world. His most famous contribution is undoubtedly the “See-Through” (or Lucite / Plexiglas) guitars and basses made for Ampeg around 1969–1971. These instruments broke from tradition: bodies machined from solid acrylic, unusual sliding/interchangeable pickups designed with Bill Lawrence, and the visual shock of transparency combined with considerable weight.  

Armstrong’s designs were never about subtlety. He pushed boundaries—not just of materials, but of form and function. The See-Through line was short-lived, commercially limited (production ended when Armstrong left Ampeg in ’71), but instantly memorable. Signature users like Keith Richards, Joe Perry, Tom Verlaine, Ronnie Wood and many others elevated them from curiosities to cult classics.  

Beyond the Lucite designs, Armstrong went on to craft effects boxes (“Sound Modifiers”), amplifiers, and more electric and bass guitars under the “Dan Armstrong London” name, as well as designing pickups—some of which continue to be made by his son, Kent Armstrong.  

Today, Dan Armstrong instruments are prized for their bold aesthetics, their sheer originality, and their surprisingly good tones—with Lucite bodies that offer long sustain and a look that no one else was doing. Whether you come for the transparency, the tone, or the history, Armstrong remains one of the more fascinating voices in guitar lore.

More info from the Web:

Dan Armstrong - The Man and his Guitars