Newbie post about my Thunder III guitar

Hello, new here, so excuse me if I dinnae understand protocols!  

Anyways, I am the proud owner of a Thunder III guitar, which I DON'T want to sell, but I would like to know what version it is that I have. I think it is a very early v1.

The serial number on the back of the neck is: 108018

Red, thru neck, louder than a bomb. And a pleasure to play. Can emulate all kinds of other guitars, the scale and the thru neck make it very playable indeed.

Interesting story as to how I purchased it from a shop, but as I say, interested to know what year this is from and what the version is. And yes, I know from a website that a 6 digit serial is not the norm. Or perhaps it is. Hayelp!

Hi Stevo and welcome to the house of nuts.
You didn't say if it was our website you were referencing but in case you missed it, there is a listing HERE.

We reference serial number interpretation on the Home page but there is no mention of a 6 digit scheme. Assuming that you haven't made an error, or left out a letter prefix, your number doesn't fit anything that I am aware of for Westone production. Other Mats made guitars did carry 6 digits so perhaps this is a carry over system from that scheme before they changed. If that's the case the first digit would likely place the production year as 1981.

We're still discovering new things about our beloved Westones though, so pictures would be most helpful here once you are able to post.

Cheers Barry. "House of nuts" made me chuckle.

It's definitely only the 6 digits. I'll try and get some photos done tomorrow. Strangely, reading the various reviews etc. I've finally sussed out what control does what explicitly now. What a difference that makes, LOL. I bought it about 14 years ago, and have only ever used it in the studio. Looking at it tonight, I've realised that not only is it in absolutely pristeen condition (bar 1 or 2 tiny chips of lacquer), but all of the hardware is original. Even the felt under the strap buttons. I'm a really clumsy live player and the instruments do get battered, but not this. It's one of the flame red models and it does play excellently.

The scale is pretty long and the tonal varieties for recording are amazing. I've always used it for interesting rhythm parts, mainly because I couldn't suss out the exact nature of the three switches and the two tone knobs.

What I *did* know, was that with minimal tinkering it could suddenly do a pretty amazing copy of a Rickenbacker 330, to my ears anyway.

I'm suddenly very interested in this guitar now, because with just the 6 digits, I'm starting to wonder if I actually have one of the very first ever built. There's absolutely no mark to the left or right of the serial number, as the pics tomorrow should show.

Would there be a second serial inside?

Until tomorrow.

StevoHytho wrote:...I couldn't suss out the exact nature of the three switches and the two tone knobs.

Perhaps this will be helpful CLICK HERE

Would there be a second serial inside?

No.

OK. Interesting to see that my post seems to have smoked out a number of other 6-digit serial people!

Here it is anyway:














Absolutely mint condition, and now I understand what the multiplicity of controls do, something that may get used a whole bunch more too!

She's absolutely gorgeous! And that 6 digit number is unusual on a Westie, but as I said above, not unprecedented.

Over at the Matsumoku forum, our pal Johann, has documented an ongoing history of the Vantage label:

1979/1980 (until 4/80): 6 digit serial numbers: 0xxxxx
.......1980 (April) - 1984 (June?): 7 digit serial numbers, first digit = year of production (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984)
..................................................................digits 2 + 3 = month of production
........................................6 digit serial numbers for VP795 models
.......1980/81: VA900 series: 6 digits: first digit (0 or 1) = year, 2+3 digits = month
...................................7 digit # for late '81 models

(The VA900 series is a top end model and approximately on the same level of build quality as yours) As you can see, 6 digits were common up until about '81. I expect that they started out using the same format for some early Westones.
If that's the case, your instrument was built in August of 1981.

There's lots more info on Vantage and Aria Pro II dating at Matsumoku.org if you have nothing else to do.

Ooh that is nice.