A Missing Link? (1969 Dan Armstrong Modified Danelectro Electric Guitar)

Sometimes you take a look at a guitar and the warning bells start ringing: bogus. Like those early “missing links” proposed by inventive amateur anthropologists who put gorilla skulls on anthropoid skeletons. That’s what happened to me the first time a dealer hauled this out and showed it to me. It was a Danelectro alright, but those pickups? Then I looked again. Who would stencil “Dan Armstrong Modified Danelectro” on an aftermarket pickguard? Then there were the pickups. Epoxy potted. Trademark of who, or is it whom? Dan Armstrong. Think his Ampeg see-through guitars. No, on second thought, this had the air of a mystery wrapped in an enigma with a generous dash of authenticity. So it proved to be. And so it came my way and all I had to do was put the links back together again.

Eastwood & Airline Celebrity Sightings

Over the past few months we’ve had many Eastwood and Airline celebrity sightings, so I thought I’d share a few to bring you up to date.

Vintage Guitar Picture Contest

I get a lot of people sending pictures to me. The most interesting ones always fit into two categories: 1) photos of people with their earliest guitars and 2) kids with guitars. It strikes me that they are kind of the same. Us “older” folks reminiscing of our youth, and us “older” folks seeing the young kids today finding the same passion we did so many years ago. So, I want to build a picture collage of all that stuff, right here on the net so all can enjoy it.

Limited Edition Airline ‘59 Custom Electric Guitar in Indigo

While clearing out the warehouse in anticipation of our new shipment, we came across some Airline 3P Limited Edition Guitars – the INDIGO ‘59 Custom – that were never sold. Somehow during the transition to our new website we lost the page to this model, so here is your chance to grab one. Comes with Deluxe Hardshell case and lots of other goodies.

A Plastic Fantastic Dream (1965 Gemelli 195/4/V Electric Guitar)

I’ve always had a bit of a taste for plastic on my guitars. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love flamed and quilted maple, rich ribbon mahogany, Brazilian rosewood, abalone pearl. But there’s something so wonderfully cheesy about the use of plastic on a guitar. I guess that’s one of the reason why I like this otherwise relatively humble Italian-made Gemelli 195/4/V from around 1965.

Better Now or Then? – The Tone Survey Results!!!

As promised, this month we’ll take a look at the results of The Tone Survey. Last month, I published a survey that asked questions about the state of electric guitar tone as it is today vs. what I called the “golden age” of rock and roll.

The New Airline Electric Mandola

Eastwood Guitars began shipping the new Airline Electric Mandola this week. It features a solid Seafoam green alder body in a USA map shape with an 18” scale maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. A single Humbucker pickup with volume and tone controls delivers a deep, dark, mysterious tone that is completely unique sounding – like a baritone mandolin.

Throwback Suburbia on West Coast Tour

Power-pop rockers Throwback Suburbia are gearing up to bring their brand of classic, hook laden music to the masses and Canadian guitar manufacturer Eastwood Guitars has offered up their support.

The New Eastwood Doral Electric Jazz Guitar

Eastwood Guitars has started shipping the new Doral Electric Jazz guitar. This beautiful guitar takes over top position at the high-end of the Eastwood product line. The Eastwood Doral is a full size archtop guitar, featuring a laminated spruce top with curly maple sides and back as well as a three piece rock maple neck.

Better Now or Then? (The Tone Survey!)

Is electric guitar tone better now than it was in rock’s ‘golden age’ in the 60’s and 70’s? A recent article titled “Is It Tougher To Get Good Tone Now Vs. Then?” on Jay Kumar’s fantastic Woody Tone site explores that very question. Quoted from the article, guitarist and producer Dave Cobb, who recently recorded a new album with Black Robot, believes that “Everything was better back then.”

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