Plexiglass electric bass

The Dan Armstrong was introduced around 1969. I think Wyman's memory may be playing tricks on him here, and what he actually had was a D.A.

 

He was playing the Mustang in the same period as the Armstrong. The 1969 Stones tour used an all Ampeg backline and both Bill and Keef had Armstrongs. The "Get Yer Ya Yas Out" back cover shows Keef with his Armstrong. It also shows Bill with his Mustang.

I've never seen a plexiglass Fender, but i have seen plexiglass FSOs.

 

He’s most likely thinking of the Dan Armstrong and crossing it up mentally with the Mustang.

 

Pretty sure old Bill means this...

The Story of the Beloved, Delightfully Bizarre 1969 Ampeg Dan Armstrong

He's knocking on a bit so could be forgiven for getting mxied up.

 

The Custom Shop will make them. And I remember Nile Rogers playing a clear Strat with Chic in the 70's, but I don't know who made the body. Me, I'll pass. I'm trying to lose weight on my basses, not add it!

 

How do they smell? Is this the model with the acrid odor?

 

I have a bunch of screw drivers and nut drivers with the same nasty smell.

 

Yeah, I had an Ibanez DA plexi copy 6 stringer (non-bass) in the early 70's and it weighed very heavy on my shoulder! I still regret selling it, though.....

 

Like this?

 

You can Google "acrylic bass" and look thru all of the different designs, but I've not seen any in the Mustang design. Some are somewhat close, but no cigar. Like Jimmy said, Fender's Custom will do them, so maybe they offered to make him one.



This is the closest I could find to the Mustang by Fender.



Edit: Appears Fender refers to them as Lucite.

 

Anyone thinking that these are cool - well, they are cool to look at. Just know that Acrylic is dense stuff - about 2x as dense as the wood they normally use on basses.

 

I have seen the odd picture of a Fender plexiglass guitar. I believe they were meant for salesmen to take around to the dealers in the 60’s to show what was going on under the skin and to possibly display for customers. Then off to the next store. I am not aware of a mustang made that way.

 

Rock stars can get things that mere mortals can only dream of, get over it.

 

I see what you did there...

 

Just to provide a data point, I just weighed my MIJ Dan Armstrong copy. It weighs 9lbs 13oz.

 

I have a full scale bass that's 6.6 pounds. 9 pounds 13 ounces is well beyond what I'd ever play. Yes, there are heavier basses, but that's pretty hefty for a short scale.

I'd guess the body on those is a bit thinner than normal (to keep things somewhat reasonable) - how thick is yours?

 

I played a Dan Armstrong when they were first introduced circa 1969 it was incredibly heavy, the neck was weird. Just not my kind of bass. I know they had removable pickups that you could swap out on the originals.

 

.....the one on the left.....

 

Mine was probably just like the one on the right. It had the same bridge.