Say hello...

Hey Jake... my first guitar was a Lotus Les Paul copy too.  Black... lost it in the same fire that "the Phoenix" survived.  Loved that guitar... that is until I got my Westone.  Then I definitely started seeing it (the Lotus) for the cheap piece of crap it was!  

~Brian

Thanks ya'll for replies and info.  Catalyst, I will post some pics soon so the group can check out the 250.  Brain I totally agree buddy, sorry to hear about your loss in a fire.  The neck fell off my Lotus, I drilled out the holes and worked down 4 pieces of hard red oak and then re-drilled and tapped the holes also raised the degree of the neck so it kicked back more, some grover tuners, and fret work, its playable and stays in tune.  The electronics in the Lotus ain't nothing to write home about.  I haven't posted any of my gear on e-bay, or other similar sites, just a few friends on facebook.  I am trying to get some cash together for a down payment on a house.  I have a few amps and vinyl albums that I just don't have room for.  Also, a guitar that I cannot find much info on, may be someone on the forum has some knowledge on it, it's a Fender Hellcat acoustic from mid 60s.  They have them in reproduction, but other than an old Fender advertisement I haven't found out anything else on it.  Please let me know if anyone has some info on the guitar.  Thanks again, and wish you all a Happy New Year-Jake

Hey Brian, good post, thanks for your input. Dynasty said that!

Hi All,

I'm just taking the time to say hello to everyone as I've recently joined the forum. I got my first Westie, a Thunder Jet Bass from 1984, in December of 2014 and am enjoying it very much. I'd been curious to see if I could get hold of one for a few months prior to doing so. I had recently rediscovered on youtube lots of old videos of Stuart Morrow in New Model Army putting in some awesome performances on a Westone Thunder Jet bass and thought I just had to have one of my own.

Best wishes,
Bruno

Hi Bruno and welcome! 
If you haven't already discovered it, you'll find some information about your bass on our website HERE Scroll down to the Number 7 listing.

If you do a search you'll also see some catalog scans and reviews.

Looking forward to pix of your baby when you're able to post (7 day wait for new members).

Hi Barry, thanks for the welcome.

The information section is good. One thing missing though is cases, I'm after an original Westone case for the thunder jet but I'm thinking the 'wanted' forum is the best place to continue that thread.

I'll post a picture or two after the waiting period, the instrument is in exceptional condition.

Cheers,
Bruno

Welcome Bruno! 
The jet bass is a cracking no nonsense machine, love me a bit of NMA I do!,  I think I posted a vid here somewhere of Stewart  morrow.

BrunoOnBass wrote:...I'm after an original Westone case for the thunder jet but I'm thinking the 'wanted' forum is the best place to continue that thread...

Yup.

New to forum...
47 yrs old but devoted to never actually growing up...
Current guitars:
1983 Thunder 1A...old faithfull...had for past 20 yrs and still totally original.
Jackson Randy Rhoads...for manic moments.
Fender Dg60Ce...for that semi-acoustic vibe.
Samick Lb5 custom...to remind me of my prog days.
Currently enjoying the life of a student again as I'm back at University doing a Masters in Law and practice. At least this time round i can be the well funded student who turns up on a Custom Harley every day.

Cool to hear that you still have your Thunder 1A, you'll probably always have it.  They are powerful.

Hello guys, my name is Demetrius. I'm a 22 year student and budding guitar enthusiast from Toledo, Ohio. I was lucky enough to have received my first guitar, a Dimension IV, years ago, though I've only recently started playing. Naturally, I found this forum while in search of repair parts for my guitar. Any information from you guys would be extremely helpful in my pursuit to trying my Westone to playability. Thanks in advanced guys

Hey Demetrius.  What parts do you need?

The Chad wrote:Hey Demetrius.  What parts do you need?

As of right now I believe I only need a saddle, a pickup selector switch, and a volume knob. I just ordered a possible replacement saddle last night from guitar fetish.

Any selector switch will do, a three way.  Knobs are hard to come by, they don't make them anymore.  Consider replacing them all with black metal dome knobs.

Thanks for the suggestions Chad I appreciate it.

G'day all, Russ from down under !! 
I've had my Concorde 1 since new, 1983. It was my main workhorse for 20 odd years, I really loved the maple neck, plus it was a bit of a talking point cos it was so different to the usual p-bass/jazz/stingray basses that were so common. Still gets played but not that often now, it's usually tuned D-G-C-F. 
Other guitars/basses: Fender Jazz, Squire Precision, unknown brand Beatle bass, Gretsch 6121 Jet, parts-built Strat, parts-built Jazzmaster, Nashville steel. 
Cheers.

Hi Russ,

Welcome to the forums.

Cheers,
Bruno

Hi everyone,

My name is Jon, I'm 22 and I own a Westone Rainbow I from 1987 (I believe). Seriously amazing guitar, I call her my 'melody maker'. I have used it in E-standard tuning but currently have it in C-standard. It holds tuning and plays like no guitar I've ever owned. I love her so much I want another!
I decided to join this forum cuz this seems like the right place to find another guitar as beautiful and playable as mine. I also like looking at all the other beautiful guitars you all have! Glad to be around!

Glad to have you here Jon, welcome.
I've always wanted a Rainbow, but sadly, they are almost never seen this side of the Atlantic.

We'd love some pix when you can. We're perverted that way!

hello forumpeople, here a dutchie.
Played westone since they were for sale over here in the eighties.
Currently owning a Westone Pantera Deluxe X350MA model. The serial number is 6063780
Together with my trusted Ibanez UE300 effects it sound great.

dutchie350 wrote:hello forumpeople, here a dutchie.
Played westone since they were for sale over here in the eighties.
Currently owning a Westone Pantera Deluxe X350MA model. The serial number is 6063780
Together with my trusted Ibanez UE300 effects it sound great.

even though there were so few made, lots of variations in the setup of that model, would like to hear about yours
post some pics too, please

and, welcome to the forums! 

gittarasaurus wrote:

dutchie350 wrote:hello forumpeople, here a dutchie.
Played westone since they were for sale over here in the eighties.
Currently owning a Westone Pantera Deluxe X350MA model. The serial number is 6063780
Together with my trusted Ibanez UE300 effects it sound great.

even though there were so few made, lots of variations in the setup of that model, would like to hear about yours
post some pics too, please

and, welcome to the forums! 

hey gittarasaurus

to keep things clean i posted the guitar in http://forum.westoneguitars.net/t5526-as-requested-the-dutch-pantera

Hi there, my first guitar was a Westone Spectrum, I still have it and love it.

I recently fitted new pickups and made a bit of an arse of the wiring, to be honest I joined to try and find some info on Westone Hss wiring.

Hi, um, hyster, and welcome here.

I assume you have an SX model. (You didn't say. )
In any event, have a look HERE for an SX HSS schematic.

And let's see some pix when yer done eh?

Hi Barry,

Sorry   Westone Spectrum SX.

Cheer for the link, but mine is HSS with 1xvol 1xtone(coil tap) and a five way switch.

Right.
Use this SD diagram as a guide and the first one to get the colours right. (Red=hot)
Should do it unless I'm missing something.

Thank you Barry, I think I had a humbucker wire in the wrong place, not had a chance to fully test it but seems to make sense now.

Very much appreciate your help Sir.

Hey, yer welcome. You might also find THIS method of testing your output useful.

Hello to all !
My name is Gilles, i am 48 years old and i lived in France. I had my first bass (Quantum) in 1986 or 87. I kept him a few years, then regrettably, i separated from it.
I have just acquired this bass again a few days ago and it is fabulous the jump in the time which i make with her !


This bass is fabulous for its sound also!

Hi from Spain,

I'm the owner of a rare (maybe) Westone bass I want to share with you. It was my first bass and i bought it in 1985. I played it for for 10 years and then I bought my actual bass (Tobias Growler). The Westone has been in their case most of time, and I played it rarely since 1995. 
Some days ago I found this page by hazard and I checked the info about my bass. Well, I'm a bit confused about i found.

I'm going to open a thread to ask you what model could be.

Hi Adelscott and welcome to the forums.
As you've already discovered in your thread, your bass is not rare, just a name change.

The Spectrum model line was originally called Concord, and then that name was subsequently used on a completely different guitar design series.

Thank you Barry!.

Anyway, it's nice to find such a community around a brand that, as my first bass, I have so much affection!!

Hi all,

I'm Nigel from Folkestone, UK.

I'm new to Westone's but having picked up a neglected Spectrum GT bass, as a restoration project, I thought I'd better do my homework.

I'm a bass player (very much still learning, but aren't we all lol), and wanted to get into reconditioning/upgrading/restoring basses to give me something to do when I'm not playing. 

When I get to grips with inserting a picture I'll post some pics of what I'm starting of with, along with some progress pics (although it's current condition may make you weep, I'll do it proud and she will grace a stage again).

I want to get some details of this particular bass, and having no joy searching via serial number (6061464), is anyone able to assist at all? All I've been able to get really is that it dates back to the mid-eighties...

Hello all , my name is Eddie and I am a 54 year old newbie to this site. I got my first bass in 77 [hagstrom swede]traded it in 79 for a fender pbass then discovered I was a better darts thrower then a bass player so after roughly30 years off I  decided to make some noise again. I cant remember what my first uncle matty was [think a spectrum gt] but I knew I liked the sound and the quality of the build was pretty good .Then I purchased a thunder 1 and after that and its been all uphill { down hill if you ask the ole lady!} the westies are the backbone of my little collection and will continue to be just that. Talk about timing, the postman just dropped off a 86 pantera in [artic] white in near mint condition unfortunitly the unoriginal case it was in let it slide so you know what happened to the headstock point , It was hanging on by the paint. no matter its already glued and taped, but im just fine with that.Besides matsumoku I also have collected Fuji-gen gakki,hishino-gakki, kawai ,morris, tiesco,hagstrom, ovation and probably some other gakkis I don't even know about. If it don't play/feel right after I set it up and adjust everything then I  move it out and free up some capital for the next one. Okay enough for the first post THANK YOU for this great website [been observing for a few years] I hope this post went to the right place, I am partly  computer illiterate. Any help on posting some pics would be great.Can I show the whole collection or just the westies ,electras ?? thanx again,  eddie"""

Well - a long time ago I had a weston thunder IIIa. I think I originally saw the bass played by Henry Thomas on BBC Rockschool, back in the mid 80's and I think one made an appearance on Heaven 17's "-And that's no lie".

Anyway here we are in the 21st century, looking at close up's of Pluto - and I thought:
"I would like my old westone again"....only to discover they are not that common any more - and especially in Australia!

So - joining this forum basically to be part of it and maybe be one step closer to a Westone bass - even  though it will probably have to be sent to my sister in the UK then over here.
Of course - feel free to message me whilst I lurk here looking at Westone pictures - specially regarding thunder basses!

Thanks 
T.

Welcome aboard togril, we have a few Aussies on the forum so I'm sure you'll be reunited with a Westone bass soon enough.

Sgt. Vimes wrote:Welcome aboard togril, we have a few Aussies on the forum so I'm sure you'll be reunited with a Westone bass soon enough.

Thanks buddy. Yes - I hope to get a thunder series - I live in Australia, but have family in the UK, so we'll see how it goes. Hope to be able to post a pic of one soon.

3mmo wrote:Hi all,

I'm Nigel from Folkestone, UK.
...having no joy searching via serial number (6061464), is anyone able to assist at all?...

Hi Nigel, and welcome. Sorry for leaving you hanging. 'Thought somebody would have responded to you by now.
Have a look at our WEBSITE for dating information.

gray haze bass wrote:Hello all , my name is Eddie ...the westies are the backbone of my little collection and will continue to be just that....THANK YOU for this great website...Any help on posting some pics would be great. Can I show the whole collection or just the westies ,electras ??

Hi Eddie, and welcome to you too. Glad to have you on board.
Have a look HERE for info on posting pix. Most of us are guitar nuts, but our main love is Westone/Matsumoku so let's start with those first.

Two posts?!?!? That is all I have on this forum? It took me four hours to figure out who I was on here. Oh yeah "You need to come up with some intricate way of masking your identity, a combination of numbers, letters..."

B and capital S.....as if someone wants to steal my name, rank and serial number. But I am here in the Westone Village and people keep trying to buy my Westone. But that would make me an ex Westone owner. I don't know if I can live with that! I need to be different. Anyone can own a Jackson Soloist, but you gotta mean it when you have a Westone Pantera with a bendmaster.....

obsoleteman wrote:.... Anyone can own a Jackson Soloist, but you gotta mean it when you have a Westone Pantera with a bendmaster.....

Yes. Yes you do.
Not sure what the first part of your post was about, but welcome to the forums!

Hello,

I've just joined the forum, having only very recently encountered the Westone brand of guitars.  I'm interested in Westone and other Japanese/Matsumoku guitars of late 1970s to 1980s era.

Here's info about me:

Location - 
England


Age - 
not so young any more, but not middle-aged.

My Westone guitar(s) - 
None yet, but I'm interested in buying one.

My first guitar - 
Hohner SE35 (ES-335 knock-off, made in Korea) bought new in about 1991.


My other electric guitars -
- Di Pinto Galaxie 4
- Italia Rimini
- Fender Marauder (Modern Player series, made in Asia)
- Eastwood Bighorn (gold-foil p/ups)
- Squier Jagmaster (c. 2003)
- a cheap Telecaster knock-off
Oh, I'm converting a cheap teardrop-shaped electric into a sitar-guitar.
And I have of couple of other guitars incoming, including a Danelectro.

I tend to like slightly quirky guitars.  I'm a big fan of an offset body shape.

My other guitar gear -

- I have a couple of Vox amps.  I prefer Vox and Fender type amps.

- lots of effects pedals.  I'm rather geeky about stompboxes.

- plus I have a cheap bass guitar (Fender Jazz bass knock-off)


My musical tastes -

Genres cover: Indie, Alternative, Shoegaze, Psychedelic Rock, Space Rock, Art Rock, British Invasion, 60s Garage.


Fave bands:
Spacemen 3, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Smiths, Loop, My Bloody Valentine, Spectrum, Mazzy Star, Opal, The Sundays, The Pixies, The Breeders, The Primitives, The Wedding Present,  Joy Division, New Order, Durutti Column,  ;
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Warlocks, 7% Solution, Morning After Girls, Dead Meadow, ...;
The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, 13th Floor Elevators, The Sonics, Link Wray, ...

Hi people


My real name is Steve, I have had an on/off relationship with guitars over the years but have really got back into playing over the last couple. I am largely here out of curiosity, I really dig my Westone and want to know more about the other models of guitars they made, trying to figure out if I need another to add to my small collection!


Location - 
England


Age - 
Forty this year - gulp!

My Westone guitar(s) - 
I have a Thunder 1A I picked up off ebay two years ago, it more than anything really helped get me back into playing. Just such a nice playable guitar and easy to get a good bluesy sound out of it.

First guitar - 
A cheap acoustic out of a catalogue


My other electric guitars -
Ibanex EX series circa 1992/3 (problem child with dodgy electrics)
Sheketer Omen extreme 7 string (I just need an amp that goes up to 11 to pair it with) 
And soon to be getting a brand new Gibson SG Special... Bit excited about that!

My other guitar gear -
Not much of note, I have a Jim Dunlop wah pedal to try and cover my mistakes with!


My musical tastes -
I like some blues, some rock, heavy metal, a little prog and a tiny bit of Jazz.

Welcome aboard Steve! 
Funny quote there.... trying to figure out if I need another "   you have one, it won't be long before that one is seven,  and before you know it that seven will be nine! 

You have been warned.!   

Oh and I wouldn't shout about that Ibanez round these parts,  some folk have issues here

Thanks  for the welcome, don't worry the Ibanez doesn't come out to play very often!

We have no problem with Ibanez; we just ignore them!! Nice to see new faces and gear in here; most in here have more than just Westone, eh!!
Whilst mucking around with Westone, do remember that Westone was just one of the house brands for Matsumoku and that there are others just as good, if not better, in Aria Pro II, Vantage, Electra and selected Univox, Epiphone and Skylark brands from the same manufacturer!!
I suppose the ultimate Westone - if you're interested - would be the Pantera 350, then the 390 which are set neck superstrat shaped but there are plenty to hunt for; I personally quite like the Spectrum series simply because they are working guitars with that legendary build quality and still at reasonable prices!! Thunders are excellent, and the Pantera X300/Genesis are lovely players instruments.
Weird ones include the Raiders, Dimension 4, Dynasty and Monark and the Rainbow and Session II appeal to the semi acoustic/hollowbody crowd. So. Plenty for everyone!!

Steve,  look here at some of the Westone guitars. 
http://www.westoneguitars.net/guitars/

Hello, Im abel .


I play bass in a punk/blues band.
I bought a westone spectrum v5
I love it.
Then the bridge pickup wentout.
I never find spectrum v5s on here .
Anybody else share a love for these ? More importantly does anybody have parts?

Hi, i`m Danny from Germany 38yo, got a 2 yeared son and we are getting 2 more children in dec   i play Bass since nearly 10 Years, learned well with my uncle who studied Bass & Jazz Music until he dies 3 years before. Also i got some cool stuff to learn through "Rocksmith" on PS3. I now play in my 3rd Band (Mianus...yes, we do "ASSMETAL" )
I own a ESP LTD F155DX in Purple , i love this 5 String, , had a few before but THIS is THE Metal Bass for me   .
I was bored at work and was looking on ebaysmallanouncements  and what i saw after hours of looking took my breath away: A totally fudge up Dynasty , over and over full with stickers and decals. Hamburg.... This Bass is a Player the owner said, he (a british guy) , used it since 11 years on tour, metal, punk. hardcore. And so this Bass looked like a poor piece of poop i thougt, i have to rescue him!! Contact with this guy was cool, simple, i payed, he sent (with original Case, he said its fudge up, but it really was ok!) It came to me today, i was so -...... aaaawgh ) I took the fudge up ugly Dynasty out of the case and just did a few movements with the strings...Wow! It was perfectly in Tune, sounded awesome, Yesyesyes:)) I thought to get into this forum  2 weeks ago...now its time:) Some poop to do, paintjob and stuff Someone have original westone dyasty stickers/decals? headstock is very damaged ;(

Hello  Abel and Hello Danny, I am rather new here but nobody else appears to be around to welcome you two! 

I have to ask errr Assmetal?! Is this a German thing?