Thunder with strange control layout...

I've come across this one on eBay UK a couple of times now & can't work out what's going on with the body - the control layout is bizarre to put it mildly & unlike anything I've seen before. I'd say it's a 'bitsa' in any case, as the neck seems to be from an '84 Thunder Jet, but if the control layout isn't original, then someone's gone to a lot of trouble to make it look like it is...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-Red-Jet-Guitar-/253199190250?hash=item3af3d908ea:g:l-wAAOSwXXxZV9vK

Not seen one with that control laylout before. It would be a lot of work to do that as a customising job, so I guess that is how it came from the factory.

Control cavity cover looks a bit "home made", so guitar may have had a few bit missing when he got it...

Yeah, I noticed the cover is a bit 'ragged round the edges'.

I wonder if the body is Korean, maybe? Although having said that, the other Korean Thunders I've seen have the more usual layout for the controls.

Bit of a mystery - to me the control layout really does look 'home-made', but I can't see the join...

Seems to be an '84 from serial number, so should be mats.

That ain't factory, chaps... that would be someones idea of how things should be! No huge problem in extending the rout a little and plugging a hole or two if you're going to refinish the instrument, eh!

Yeah. I agree all do-able, but a lot of effort for someone to just make it look a bit different - why would they bother?

Adey wrote:Yeah. I agree all do-able, but a lot of effort for someone to just make it look a bit different - why would they bother?

.., and that, my friend, is a question for the ages!! 

I would guess because someone thought that that was a cool and useful configuration?? I'd certainly like to have a peek into the control cavity....

The seller did explain why it is like that but he's taken the text off the ad.

Watch his vid. he tells or slurs all...

Cheers Damian, I hadn't noticed the YouTube link. He seems to be enjoying himself, if nothing else - kind of reminded me of when my daughter brought a recorder back from school for the first time, though...

It all makes sense (-ish!) now, although I can't say I'd have gone to all that trouble myself (I've not really come across the control cavity breaking off a guitar before though...).

I wonder if he always strums that far up the neck, or if it's only since he's realised that the controls now get in the way (I imagine palm muting might be awkward...)