Is it Japanese or Korean?

Ok Westone historians, what do i have here? With the information I've gathered here and with the newly re-opened .info, I am left to believe the Matsumoku company in Japan closed in February 1987. It also looks like most of the Corsair models are in fact Korean.
With this I am here to ask, is it Japanese, or Korean using left over Japanese parts?

Front side

AFAIK, the Anniversary guitars were MIJ...

http://www.westone.info/xa1420.html

http://www.westone.info/cats/ltded/p5.html

... and with that s/n indicating an '87 manufacture date and an MIJ neckplate, I'm reasonably sure of that!!

Thanks for the info, Corsair. It was when I saw this I got a little confused http://www.westone.info/indexcorsair.html

So then is there any agreed upon timeframe, either by model or serial #, etc. that one can use to know or reasonably assume that a particular instrument is totally Korean? Or a MIJ but AIK? (Assembled in Korea)

I now know (thanks to posts on this forum) that Panteras were further "adjusted" at SLM which I had assumed meant final setup and tweaking of action, trem and so forth. Or was there additional work done at SLM that could qualify some instruments as MIJ/AIJ/AIUSA, if you follow me? Did other models also get similar treatment here in the states (or on the continent, for that matter)?

Such intrigue and mystery at times about these axes. Wonderful stuff !!

Oh, yeah..... sweet piece of lumber you have there PDS.

Your Corsair was made at Matsumoku. We never listed ANY model as a MIJ or played any games as assemble hear produced there. When we moved the parts from Matsumoku to Saehan we listed the guitars as Made in Korea. The only exception to the rule was when we actually produced the one-offs. These were listed without a production location but were assembled largely in the US. Some were done with bodies cut in the US, necks from the Matsumoku pool, hardware from US/Japan/Korea/Germany and only God knows where the pickups came from. Some were Japanese UBC, some were Duncans, some were Armstrongs and some were FTBs (By the way those listed as FTBs stand for From Tom's Basement.)

Thanks Tom, always great to see you post here! I was always curious about whether MIK Westies had Matsumoku leftovers myself, i'm glad you clarified it.

tpresley wrote:.... and some were FTBs (By the way those listed as FTBs stand for From Tom's Basement.)

As stated; always nice to see you in here, Tom!!

tpresley wrote:Your Corsair was made at Matsumoku. We never listed ANY model as a MIJ or played any games as assemble hear produced there. When we moved the parts from Matsumoku to Saehan we listed the guitars as Made in Korea. The only exception to the rule was when we actually produced the one-offs. These were listed without a production location but were assembled largely in the US. Some were done with bodies cut in the US, necks from the Matsumoku pool, hardware from US/Japan/Korea/Germany and only God knows where the pickups came from. Some were Japanese UBC, some were Duncans, some were Armstrongs and some were FTBs (By the way those listed as FTBs stand for From Tom's Basement.)

Mr. Presley,
I have a couple of questions about production...

Do MIK models say MIK anywhere?

What was behind the decision to start making 24-fret guitars?

I have a Corsair, no neckplate (beveled heel) with 24 frets and a reverse headstock. I can't find a 24-fret guitar w/ a reverse headstock in any of the catalogs. Can I assume that a reverse headstock was an option on most or some guitars? It is otherwise identical to a 1988 Spectrum Series II (UK catalog) SP5112BK...and thus MIK, correct?

norse_ninja wrote:...when I saw this I got a little confused http://www.westone.info/indexcorsair.html

Quick addendum and notice:
Except for the wiring diagrams, I have finished translating the original Guitar and Bass info from the "old" info site to our new site at Westone Guitars. Along with easier readability, one of the big benefits of the new site is a Search function which will kick out all relevant information on a given guitar. You'll find the Search box in the footer of every page as well as an on-the-fly Translation option for those who would prefer to read the content in their native tongue.

The plan is to amend or add new material as it's available (like Tom's new clarification post above for example) and Search makes it a snap to find, like this:
Search Results

Wow!

Great news Barry, well done

You are doing great work :albino:

Easy to find info is always great and handy for bying a guitar.

Je vais etre capable de lire tout les informations en Francais! super!

Merci,

P.

PS: I need a wirering diagram for a prestige if you might have one.....

Just tried out both the search and translation function. They work great

P.

Frenchy wrote:Just tried out both the search and translation function. They work great

P.

... translating English to Canadian?! Yeah... huge wraps to our Barry, working away diligently; thank you, man!!

.. translating English to Canadian?! Laughing

French Canadian Mate!

Thanks boyz, 'preciate it!
Désolé Pierre, je n'ai pas un diagramme pour le Prestige...pas encore!