Thunder IA Restoration parts

Hi all, I'm new to the site as I just acquired my first Westone. It is mostly sanded back and this needs finishing so any tips as for the best oil or lacquer to finish it in natural wood with a nice shine appreciated. What I really need though is some hardware. Mine came without a nut, an active  circuit, pots and toggle switches and jack. Also the control cavity cover is missing. If anyone has these parts or knows where I can get them I'd be a happy man. Thanks in advance, and I'll post pics as she comes along.

Welcome Shumer.
Some of the boyz may be along shortly to offer some parts assistance. Not too likely you'll find an active circuit board though.

Meantime there have been many Thunder resto's documented here. I suggest you do a search and read up on some approaches folks have taken. The search facility is a bit flaky however, so I also recommend you READ THIS to get the best information out of the Forum.

There is also wiring and knob information on our web site. Click on the Westone link in the main menu at top of this page.

Hi Barry, thanks for the info, especially on the searches as I already found it to be flaky! Is there a circuit diagram available for the active board? I can build my own if so. I've already been looking through the restorations and I'm impressed. Its what inspired me. Can't wait to make it a beautiful tone monster once again.

I've all the parts you need. Not pennies though!
Send me a PM.

There ya go.
You can always rely on Damian to scrounge up the obscure bits!

Some Circuit Info here.

Pix when ya can eh Shumer?

This one I have Barry is the active gain circuit...

Noice.
I love my Thunder I-A's.
It's about time I took one out and scared hell out of the cats again!

Thanks for the help and sorting me out so quickly! I only picked the guitar up yesterday, so I haven't started the restorations yet. I'll be starting her shortly and will be posting the pics as I go. Great service gents.

Barry wrote:Noice.
I love my Thunder I-A's.
It's about time I took one out and scared hell out of the cats again!

That's a beautiful Thunder I-A on your site. That's how I hope mines going to turn out. What finish do you have on the body. Is it oil or lacquer?

Thanks. I'm lucky enough to have 2 but the natural one still has the original finish which had a buffing with a fine rubbing compound to cut the haze and reduce minor scuffing, followed by a little liquid Turtle wax and a jolly good polishing!

I'll be doing another thunder 1 refinish very soon, won't be another blue one though, that's a one-of-a-kind! 
We can compare notes shumer  
I do rerecommend tru-oil though, so so easy to use and hard to f*ck up.

Sgt. Vimes wrote:I'll be doing another thunder 1 refinish very soon, won't be another blue one though, that's a one-of-a-kind! 
We can compare notes shumer  
I do rerecommend tru-oil though, so so easy to use and hard to f*ck up.

That blue one was a nice job. They seem built like tanks so I'm looking forward to restoring and playing mine. I have to get a few more comments up before I can post photos. I'm loving this site though, I've only owned my Westone 2 days and I've already sorted all the parts I need and now I have a resto buddy! Thanks for the tip on the tru-oil, I'm leaning toward it. It was either that or a wipe on poly. Cheers

No worries, as well as the 10 comments needed, you also have to wait a week I think it is.

You have to bare in mind that an oil finish won't help protect the wood from bumps and dents like a poly finish will,  but if you like the feel of wood in your hands ..... .....then oil is the way to go.

Can always go the whole hog.
http://forum.westoneguitars.net/t2448-thunder-i-rebuild

Wow, now that's commitment. Great job though