An observation

I'm slow on the uptake sometimes, but I just noticed how the Pantera x300 and my GenesisII 1630 look very similar. What is the big difference?

The 300 has a contoured headstock and a black neck.

The Genesis has a routed drop in the face of the body.



Those are the 2 big things

Yep; them's the differences! I've got one of each and will soon be able to compare them back to back!!

imho..the routed face takes away from the guitar..just one guys opinion.
I often see a Genesis or similar on flea bay an think about how i'd fix that...

GtrGeorge

The additional tone capabilities of the Gen II would be another major upgrade in it's favor. The "lower end" Pantera models x275 & x300 are pretty much a dime-a-dozen from a production standpoint compared to either of the Genesis builds as well.

Thanks, Gentlemen.

I believe in one of Tom Presley's post, he mentioned that the reason for the routing of the body on the genisis was "because they could" they were trying to show their ability. I don't think it has any practical purpose, but just a look they were going for and they had the tooling to do it.

I wish all the pointy Westones had the contoured headstock like the 300 and 390, it really makes them stand apart from the rest of the pointy's of the time. Just show a bit more effort and quality of end product. To me, all the rest of the pointy's without that contour look like cheap necks

Personally I think the body routing is a great idea, sure it doesn't look the prettiest, but it certainly stops plectrum haze, the x850 Quantum was the first westone to feature it. Brilliant!

Somewhere in past literature I've seen online the idea that it is of benefit to those who utilize sweep picking techniques was touted.

Purely a gimmick drummed up by the sales department of the day I'm thinking, but it does remove the need for a pickguard somewhat I suppose.

Regardless of the desirability or not of this unique feature still a very well designed build.