Italian Westone

Whilst searching for an old EKO came across this.
Seems they were made by Gherson.
Scroll down to the bottom.
http://www.fetishguitars.com/castelfidardo-recanati/gherson/

I like that alot and judging by the similarities it's the bass version of this little fella still requiring address, apparently made in the late 1970's. Didn't know they were produced by Gherson. I was always under the impression some were made as potential production prototypes ???

http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/showimage.aspx?gid=928357&image=718705661&images=718705661,718705667,718705677,718705685,718705695,718705704,718705715,718705722,718705728,718705737,718705745&formats=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0&format=0

The Gherson "Pro" on that site looks very "Vantage" apart from the Open Book headstock, "Satellite", "Aria pro II" etc...

Not over keen on micro toggle pickup selector's though but might be fun to take it out for a spin

Just out of interest.
This is what I was researching.
Talk about fading, must have been kept in the sun for the sparkle.
EKO bass

Wow, that's some degradation in colour eh?
On the plus side the blue matches that lovely swimming pool.

Barry wrote:Wow, that's some degradation in colour eh?
On the plus side the blue matches that lovely swimming pool.

Over 50 years old.


 The swimming pool is the Italian version of a semi......

Meadows wrote:The Gherson "Pro" on that site looks very "Vantage" apart from the Open Book headstock, "Satellite", "Aria pro II" etc...

A lot of those look a bit Matsumoku.

Wonder who copied whose construction methods?

Barry wrote:Wow, that's some degradation in colour eh?
On the plus side the blue matches that lovely swimming pool.

That indeed IS a huge routing chamber, especially for an Italian guitar from the sixties without all the bells and whistles, the extra knobs and circuitry you'd expect, peculiar in itself. 

(Btw Barry our Introduction Page on unidentified guitars under 'logo clues' still makes no mention of Westone guitars from India still produced today whilst I'm pretty sure they carried that logo, and they still do:  http://bookmyguitar.com/product-tag/westone-guitars/ Why? Sorry for bringing it up. I repeated a picture search for Givson...

Westbone wrote:The swimming pool is the Italian version of a semi......

A lot of those look a bit Matsumoku. Wonder who copied whose construction methods?

Lol. If it's about fifty years old as you say, the Japanese might well have copied that 'sparkling' glitter finish some Westone's were outfitted with thirty years ago, eh?
This discolouration is stunning though, so thanks, I didn't know it was even possible!

By '83 Gherson stopped producing guitars, was pushed out of the market due to the overflow of overall, quality-price wise, decent guitars from Japan as I presume. As we know: "By the early 1970s, Matsumoku had begun using computer numerical controlled (CNC) mills, routers, and lathes, one of the first guitar makers to do so." Epiphones were built by Matsumoku as early as of 1975 (albeit for the domestic market only) and Fujigen Hoshino Ibanez was doing well too in later on producing the much raved about Squire series for Fender. But you are right if judging from the looks, the 'design' or how they 'appear, they can look somewhat 'Matsumoko-ish'. And the fetishguitar website has surely evolved into something more meaningful. Nice find on the Westone Bass!  Btw. Here an EKO, not a bass, from '63 http://www.guitarecollection.com/images/upload/musee/guitare_8325507808.JPG

Check out this listing (not at all cheap) of a book (146 pages) that will be available in less than a week on Amazon dealing with Jap. Guitars from the sixties:
http://www.amazon.com/History-Japanese-Electric-Guitars-Meyers/dp/1574243152 Who's Frank Meyers?

Hey Jim, thanks for the heads up on the Meyers book, be interesting to see if a later edition covers the 70's and 80's as well.

I read this very condensed but poignant comment recently regarding Japanese guitar manufacturing that struck a chord:

, they seem to be branded according to their intended market. This is quite typical of Japanese guitars of that period. A lot of people (in the West) tend to apply western thinking to the Japanese market and think in terms of "brands" (i.e. that's a Fender, Gibson etc.). The economy in Japan was more "factory" based - so the big factories such as Fujigengakki, Matsumoku etc. produced guitars to order, which then received the branding of the distributor. So even a company like Ibanez never actually made guitars themselves, but simply designed them and had them made for them. ("West Tone" ????)

Obvious once you read it but I hadn't thought of it before in terms of Brand vrs Factory based economies.

jim wrote:...(Btw Barry our Introduction Page on unidentified guitars under 'logo clues' still makes no mention of Westone guitars from India still produced today whilst I'm pretty sure they carried that logo, and they still do:  http://bookmyguitar.com/product-tag/westone-guitars/ Why?

First off, I didn't really know about them.
Secondly, after looking at them, it's doubtful anyone could ever seriously equate these awful acoustics with a Mats made instrument.

But if it makes the membership happy, I'll add a note to the website.

jim wrote:

Barry wrote:Wow, that's some degradation in colour eh?
On the plus side the blue matches that lovely swimming pool.

That indeed IS a huge routing chamber, especially for an Italian guitar from the sixties without all the bells and whistles, the extra knobs and circuitry you'd expect, peculiar in itself. 

(Btw Barry our Introduction Page on unidentified guitars under 'logo clues' still makes no mention of Westone guitars from India still produced today whilst I'm pretty sure they carried that logo, and they still do:  http://bookmyguitar.com/product-tag/westone-guitars/ Why? Sorry for bringing it up. I repeated a picture search for Givson...

Westbone wrote:The swimming pool is the Italian version of a semi......

A lot of those look a bit Matsumoku. Wonder who copied whose construction methods?

Lol. If it's about fifty years old as you say, the Japanese might well have copied that 'sparkling' glitter finish some Westone's were outfitted with thirty years ago, eh?
This discolouration is stunning though, so thanks, I didn't know it was even possible!

It's the pigment in the lacquer that fades.

Here's shot of the internals that fill the 'pool'



And a model 1150 bass '62-'64. Also with 'dancing teeth' as you press one selector button the other one pressed will pop up and so on.

Barry wrote:

jim wrote:...(Btw Barry our Introduction Page on unidentified guitars under 'logo clues' still makes no mention of Westone guitars from India still produced today whilst I'm pretty sure they carried that logo, and they still do:  http://bookmyguitar.com/product-tag/westone-guitars/ Why?

First off, I didn't really know about them.

Not true, you even made a 'sticky', never mind, they are acoustic guitars after all mainly, really it's just that westbone triggered something. I should have known better. Forgive me.
All's good as it is.

Thanks for the pictures Arthur!

jim wrote:

Barry wrote:

jim wrote:...(Btw Barry our Introduction Page on unidentified guitars under 'logo clues' still makes no mention of Westone guitars from India still produced today whilst I'm pretty sure they carried that logo, and they still do:  http://bookmyguitar.com/product-tag/westone-guitars/ Why?

First off, I didn't really know about them.

Not true, you even made a 'sticky'..

True enough, but it just isn't top of mind in this forum. Let's not get silly about this Indian cr@p.
In any event, it has a mention on the home page now. Probably more than it deserves.

I have to say that I agree with Barry... I mean look at the masthead banner..


The · W e s t o n e · Forums
Featuring the Instruments of Matsumoku, St. Louis Music, & Sid Poole/Status-Graphite

.... not really any mention in there about contemporary instruments of any ilk.

I suppose we have to include the Asian copy info just in case anyone gets the idea that the Westones that we like have any relationship to this junk.

jim wrote:Thanks for the pictures Arthur!

No problem Arthur!
If you want anymore I'll PM em to ya!

Barry wrote:

jim wrote:...(Btw Barry our Introduction Page on unidentified guitars under 'logo clues' still makes no mention of Westone guitars from India still produced today whilst I'm pretty sure they carried that logo, and they still do:  http://bookmyguitar.com/product-tag/westone-guitars/ Why?

First off, I didn't really know about them.
Secondly, after looking at them, it's doubtful anyone could ever seriously equate these awful acoustics with a Mats made instrument.

But if it makes the membership happy, I'll add a note to the website.

Actually you did know about it, never mind  even though you made it a sticky and transported it to the non westone  topics. never mind you must have been right I agree! It deals with mostly non electric guitars, not that you said so , but for some reason 'topic' it tirggered me nonetheless. Anyway  I'm with you, no need to adjust anything. I'm difficult I know not trying to be reasonable you know . Thanks as always!

Westbone wrote:

jim wrote:Thanks for the pictures Arthur!

No problem Arthur!
If you want anymore I'll PM em to ya!

F**ck You're so nice And I did you wrong twice!
I didn't mean no harm. I like you, really. Not that it matters. fudge the pm's

Your fooking weird kleintjie!!.... that old skunk affecting ya!.. Lost the plot!!

Westbone wrote:

jim wrote:Thanks for the pictures Arthur!

No problem Arthur!
If you want anymore I'll PM em to ya!

Forgot the Dutch don't understand irony eh!  Twat!

Westbone wrote:Your fooking weird kleintjie!!.... that old skunk affecting ya!.. Lost the plot!!

Me too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1960s-Eko-Fretless-Bass-Guitar-Scroll-Headstock-Pearloid-Plastic-Coated-/361231796748?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item541b17ca0c

Yes saw that one. Had it up for £695 OBO.

Sorry Damian and Barry for being so upsetting, english is not my native language and apart from that I often drink too much. I make mistakes, only human. Kleintje?  Don't get it. Blame it on the economy, jobless, been collecting for Amnesty International the whole week, kinda tiresome, also uplifting. frankly I don't always get your jokes or remarks. As I said: 'never mind', jeez it's not competition is it! Gimme a break! Am I that annoying? Twat