Incoming Pantera X350

Hello all,

I figured i would register and share with you my good news. I routinely scour Guitar Center's used site for guitars. As of about 2 years ago i found out about the Pantera X350 and fell in love with the looks and styling of the guitar. 

Sure enough the other day i saw one pop up on guitar center's used site. Now, it wasn't cheap ($660 with shipping and tax) but i bit the bullet knowing if i didnt snag it i would most likely never have the chance again.

Attaching a few crappy guitar center pictures.

that's a really good price (for a buyer, not so much for the seller). congrats!
well done!  

Wowzer!
Very nice catch!!
Is the trem original too??
If so... I'm very jealous!
 
Wonder how many of THOSE were made?

Don't they look the goods, though?! Nice one!
Now you'll be looking for a Bendmaster Deluxe string lock, eh?   I think a modern Kahler behind-the-nut stringlock should work OK because finding a genuine Bendmaster one could be a little.... frustrating!

Wonder how many of THOSE were made?

Not very many, IIRC... we do have some sort of number but I cannot find it at the moment!

The 350's never get old do they?
Beautiful.

You got a good deal.  CONGRATS!

Thank you all for the kind words. The guitar should be here Friday, i will try and post some better pictures then.

Well, i received the guitar today and my joy was short lived. As i opened the case i noticed some of the extra parts had come out of the compartment in the case (were probably bumping against the guitar).

The guitar seems to have a bit of a crack in the upper part of the neck/near headstock. I wish that would have been mentioned in the ad. The neck feels GREAT but it's not the condition i was expecting. 

Is it maybe just a crack in the finish and not in the actual wood?

In your first picture (below the head stock) I think you find that that is a scarf joint, not a crack. I'm surprised to see it on a Westone, but there it is. Nothing to worry about.

The last 2 pictures look to be stress cracks. You see them at points of flex because the finish is quite brittle on the Mats guitars. It moves independently of the wood and will either crack or craze. Where the neck meets the body is a common point for it to happen.

No structural issues, just cosmetic.

A scarf joint on an X350??

I'd need to see more detailed pictures of that area before coming to terms with that assessment.  Both of the Pantera Deluxe models were built identically AFAIK, and mine ain't got that type of join at the headstock.  These x350's do have some small reputation for minor issues (usually cosmetic) with their upper neck/headstock areas IIRC.

Mine had an issue with a fairly significant fingerboard separation at the nut which was not mentioned by the seller, but he was very quick to make reparations with a generous refund back to me when I brought it up after receiving it.  The fix made by my luthier went well and today you nearly could not see there ever was a problem.

Excellent find michaelc... good to see they are holding a decent value yet today. 

Oh, and 48 total is the magic number that is historically quoted as far as the build run goes.

Iceman wrote:A scarf joint on an X350??...

Makes yer head spin a little bit don't it?

There shouldn't be one but sure looks like a very mechanical curve, and there appears to be a change in the wood grain to my eyes. If it's a scratch then it's an amazingly well scribed one.

The camera can lie for sure, a few more pix would be helpful.

I would be very surprised indeed if there was a scarf joint on an X350! A scratch, or a trick of the light perhaps? A crack in the gloss coat?


And "Hi there"! Steve!! Nice to see your input, mate!

No scarf joints on any x350, trick of the light..

That's no scarf joint, though it may look a bit like it.  The wood grain shows the truth!  

It's not so bad, really!  Looks like it was stressed at that point, doesn't so much look like a wood crack, however.  Like it flexed but not cracked?  Hard to say, need to see it in person.  So bring it over...  

How do you like its performance?

WOW. Even with all the debates about cracks , scratches, etc... it is an awesome sight to see another 350 find...especially with a bendmaster which is rare in itself. Congratulations on you find. Nice finish. I wish I could be as lucky..............still looking for one.