Identification

Can anyone please help identify my westone bass?
    Any information would be much appreciated.

edit: duplicate images removed --Barry

Serial number 007006

Hi Scotty.
We don't have a definite identification on this model but our best guess is that it appears to be a Thunder prototype and your serial number would indicate a 1980 build.
You can read a bit more about it on our web site: LINK

Thank you Barry.
     That is a brilliant but of information. I guess my next question is what is it worth?
      It needs to be moved on with a few other guitars I have collected over the years.
Scotty

As we said on the home page of our website, it will be worth whatever someone is willing to pay!

This would be of interest primarily to a Westone collector and would not likely generate too much excitement by others.

I wold promote it first on sites devoted to Westone and Matsumoku instruments to see what interest there is. If you have a figure in mind you could always try an eBay auction listing and use that number as your "firm" asking price, "or best offer".

Good luck.

Very nice bass! That looks like it has the same pickup/controls as my 90s-era Burny, which IIRC is based on a BC Rich system.

Hi Scotty,

This is definately NOT a prototype.

A prototype is a one-off instument build for testing and as you can see in the "unknown section" of the Westone page there are at least two other basses just like yours but with different serial numbers.
One of these is basses in my possession.

In 1980, before the first Westone catalogue came out a run of at least 3 different guitars and one bass were produced.
These guitars and the bass look like an evolution step between are Aria Thor Sound and Westone Thunder.
So the final design for the thunders probabely still was on the drawing table.

Numbers were probabely small because these guitars are very rare.
It would be logical to assume that this run of instruments was sent to dealers to probe the market before the full launch of the Westone brand kicked off.

At least when talking about my bass: It is a very high quality instrument, comparable to the Aria SB basses and the Westone Thunder II and III basses: low action, loads of sustain, good pickups. Just very very well build and suitable for professionals. 

As far as the value I agree with what is said before: A Westone collector would love it. Others would not look at it twice. Because the bass seems to be in very good condition I would guess somewhere between €550 and €750 depending on the mood of the buyers.

Where are you living? Europe, UK, USA?
I know someone who is looking for this bass and I am certainly not selling mine!

Matsumoku Westone guitars and basses, especially the higher end neck through models are very underrated and therefore way too cheap. Great if you want a high-end instrument for a small amount, a bummer if you want to cash in.

Beautiful bass. I would keep it!

Regards,
Bas Becu

A question: would you be so kind to post a close up picture of the bridge saddles? I got 2 different sets of saddles with my bass and wonder which set is original.
:-)m

Found an OK quality picture of my pre-cataloge Westone on the computer.