Help Dating MIJ Westone?

Hi all, first, this is my first post on this forum and I'm happy to be here
Now, today I acquired a MIJ Westone. I'm not sure the model, and I can't find much. I think it's the Raider I, but I'm not sure. I've been looking around and can't find one in this black sparkle. Anyways, it has a bolt on neck with 21 frets on a gloss Rosewood fretboard, one pickup (looks to be a DiMarzio clone), one volume, and a non-original Fender style trem. No serial number or ID except the backplate says Made In Japan. Not even a headstock logo. I will post pics in the next post down.
I'd appreciate any info.
Thanks, RG

They were only available in 1983 & 1984; mine has the later style bridge and neckplate, so I'm guessing yours is a 1983.

http://www.westoneguitars.net/guitars/raider-i-ii/

http://i0.wp.com/www.westoneguitars.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/p10.jpg

That's not the correct bridge. Thin E is hanging off the fingeboard!!
Is it attached to the trem block? Can see a bit of trem block peeping out. Looks like a botch job.
Also had a respray by the look of it.

Westbone wrote:That's not the correct bridge. Thin E is hanging off the fingeboard!!
Is it attached to the trem block? Can see a bit of trem block peeping out. Looks like a botch job.

Yeah, the tech at the store said he was going to fix it up, but had other projects. Told me the last owner before the shop replaced the original trem with a fixed bridge bolted to the trem block! I haven't really played it yet, but I have played a few quick scales just to see where the frets were at. (I had to do some work). Thinking of putting in a top mount Floyd if I decide to keep it.

And you should have seen the backplate covering the control cavity. Literally a cut up lid from a chocolate milk can in a rough shape then bolted on. It was horrendous! Needless to say it had to go. It did come with the original trem cover, I just left it off for the pics. I had to do about 2 hours of work just to get it where it is now

Needs some work, eh!! However, these do tidy up very nicely, to whit....

http://www.westoneguitars.net/fixme/restorations-modifications/1984-raider-ii-resto-2-tone-repaint/

RLG167 wrote:Hi all, first, this is my first post on this forum and I'm happy to be here
Now, today I acquired a MIJ Westone. I'm not sure the model, and I can't find much. I think it's the Raider I, but I'm not sure. I've been looking around and can't find one in this black sparkle. Anyways, it has a bolt on neck with 21 frets on a gloss Rosewood fretboard, one pickup (looks to be a DiMarzio clone), one volume, and a non-original Fender style trem. No serial number or ID except the backplate says Made In Japan. Not even a headstock logo. I will post pics in the next post down.
I'd appreciate any info.
Thanks, RG

Well it certainly is an early one. Truss rod adjuster at the body end. 21 frets.
That style neckplate is around '82. Could/looks to be one of the very first runs.

The only problem with fitting a floyd style bridge will be the locking nut and the trem block(not deep enough)

A Strat style bridge will go straight on.
Thats a nice fat trem block.

So you guys think this is an earlier one? Thats cool. I like it, I just don't know if I'll have the time to fix it up, so I may just end up selling it as a project. The pickup an volume pot work though

What's on the pickup bottom?

Single thin wire, probably 2 conductor, and something stamped on it that I can't quite make out. Looks like 3 letters...

MMK?

That's it. Why? What's MMK? I thought it was a DiMarzio knockoff

RLG167 wrote: I thought it was a DiMarzio knockoff

It is.

I think I'm going to put it up on Reverb.com. Between work and gigs, I don't think I'll have time to fix it up. Thanks for all your help!

Should be a cheapy for someone....
Nothing special

Yeah, I posted it for pretty cheap.

Just curious...is that white speckle finish original? Kind of odd, in a Roxatone* kinda way.

*Ask your grandad about that

Yeah, it has a sparkle silver coat under the black that seems to be what shows through.