Westone Thunder 1A

Hello!

This afternoon, I've rediscovered my Thunder 1-A. I bought it from the Bass Centre when they were based in Wapping High Street, probably around 1985/6.

It's been sat in my (heated) cellar for the last 5 years untouched, and was probably unplayed for at least 10 years prior to that. Amazingly, it's pretty much in tune - at least without an amp:shock: 

The plan is to get my playing a little less rusty, and then have the odd jam session with a couple of relatives that live locally (guitarist and drummer!).

So I started to do some research into what I actually have.

First job - serial number. Unfortunately, it's not engraved in the neck plate, and not stamped into the head. Any ideas? 

On the Westone.Info site, it looks like the v2 in the picture, but with a single pickup (it looks like a single pickup on the v3 picture lower down the page, but it's difficult to see as it's a black pickup on a black bass on the picture!).

Unfortunately, the cables that I found are all beyond salvageable, and so I've ordered a cheap one just to make sure it's all working. Here's hoping my similarly well cared for Marshall Bass 20 fires into life:affraid: 

Cheers

Ben

The serial number should be on the back of the head at the top. The V2 in the picture does have a single pickup and V3 seems irrevelant.

Thanks Grogg

There's definitely no serial number on the back of the head. Bit of an anonymous one then! I'll try to sort out some pics somewhere and link to them as I assume I can't post any on here yet...

All that mattered to me was that it sounded great when I bought it, and continued to sound better than anything else I played. I'm hoping it'll be as good as I remember when I finally get it plugged in again!

Cheers

Ben

Good luck on you Ben, enjoy your rediscovery.

If its single pickup are you sure that its not a nick nack - PADUAK


Does the top look like the perfect place for a seventies fondue party, with flared cavalry twills and long flowing psychedelic robes, with the women having too much poorly applied makeup and the men sporting Zappata moustaches.

If all of this is true then it is a Paduak.

Oh - and of course the stereogram is playing a K-Tel hits of the seventies album (not by original artists), probably purchased using Kensitas coupons.

If none of the above is true then I haven't a f***** clue what you have found!!

Hoax

Does it have Thunder I-A stamped on the truss rod cover?
Doesn't sound like a production model, it would have had 2 pups.
If there is no serial you might, just might, have a prototype of some sort. 

so nobody spotting the 2 hints that suggest it isnt a 6 string? therefore NOT a paduak.......noobs

Yes, it does have the stamping on the truss rod cover, and no it's not a 6 string (what were the hints? I didn't realise I'd made any...)

I've uploaded some photos to dropbox, but I've got to wait 7 days before I can post the link. Noobs  

I'm sure they'll be worth waiting for - I'll be back...

Ben

Oh - Then its not a guitar? Its one of those coarse Elephant gut strung, sonnamabeach , inversatile, plodding, low register, thumping, nonesense machines?

By the way Sarge,did you see the Westbury Bass on Gumtree (Edinburgh) for £25

Hoax

Sorry, off my meds.  

well at least Mike is on the ball........sheesh you guys!

hoax wrote:

By the way Sarge,did you see the Westbury Bass on Gumtree (Edinburgh) for £25

Hoax

NO! damnit where? I can't find it.......did you get it for me???  I bet you did huh.......

Sgt. Vimes wrote:

hoax wrote:

By the way Sarge,did you see the Westbury Bass on Gumtree (Edinburgh) for £25

Hoax

NO! damnit where? I can't find it.......did you get it for me???  I bet you did huh.......

It must be gone. I didn't get you it cause I'm in Glesca and it was in Embra. Love you man, but not as much as I hate a journey that takes three days on a camel.

PS. If you saw a Westbury Custom for sale on Gumtree it is now gone cause I nabbed it. It was a mere one day camel ride from my encampment.

Hoax

Thats a bummer...not you loving me...thats a different kind of bummer altogether..
I have the damned inlaws in Embra...if only I'd have known.

cheers for the heads up

dromedary or bactrian?....either way you gonna get piles mate.

So, I've waited my 7 days, and (hopefully) here's a link to some photos...

Ben's Westone Thunder 1-A

Any thoughts on what it might be?

Thanks

Ben

Version 3

http://www.westoneguitars.net/basses/thunder/

Thanks  

What confused me was the fact that I don't have a serial number, and that it's got 2 switches rather than the 1 on the version 3.

Happy with whatever it is, as it still sounds as good as it used to when I bought it. 

Cheers

Ben

Think it's a crossover model "subject to change without notice"

Version 3 had pull/push switches also.

Strange it has no serial no. No made in Japan on neck plate.

Could be an early Korean one made with Japanese stock parts???

Dunno, nice bass though....