Very rare Telecaster Westone model

Hello everyone! Recently I have found this rare guitar for sale in Spain. There is a man who is selling it, but he doesn't speak English, so I'm going to help him. Personally I am a Westone lover and I have 3 models, and seriously, this model looks like being in near mint condition and I have never seen a Westone like this... Does anyone have information about this model?

Westone did make a Strat copy in about 1980 and this seems to have the same logo, so it may have been made at the same time. However it's based on the (more expensive) Tele Thinline, and I suspect it will be quite rare. I don't think it has ever shown up before on this forum; we'll see what the others say. Very nice guitar!

Thank you very much for the information. I'll tell the owner about that.

It's a copy of a '72 Tele Thinline.

The main thing about the original 72 thinlines are the pickups(wide range). While these might look similar I very much doubt they are anything like the original fender pickups. In fact I can see from the photo that they're not cunife pole pieces. More than likely just a normal humbucker under those covers.

A nice guitar but nothing rare apart from the westone name on that model. There's loads of good  copies out there.

Here's the original Fender wide range pickup (white) and a Fender modern copy(black). They sound completely different to each other. 








What's the asking price for the guitar?

Matsumoku made several Fender copies under various names, the most common being the Aria Pro II Backaroo; there are one or two of these on eBay now. I haven't seen many with Westone on the headstock but that doesn't mean much, really!!
I'm betting it's a nicely made, good playing instrument but it shouldn't be a terrifically expensive one..

Okay, so it's not that rare, and not particularly good quality, although the Matsumoku origin will mean that it's quite well made. I checked the sister website and there's no mention of a Westone Tele so I thought it might be rare, plus you'd expect to see a copy of a basic Tele rather than the less popular Thinline. Interesting to read what Damien said about the pickups. I'll have to find out more about them.

If I understand the Westone time line correctly, 1980 saw the manufacture of many of the traditional USA designs, just predating the introduction of their own unique models.

David mentioned a Strat version, and we've seen a few Gibson LP copies too. By 1981 they got their collective poop together and started turning out the models that we love.

This Tele looks like a typical beautifully built Mats guitar. And I'd agree it's at least unusual that they would have chosen the Thinline version. I think that speaks to their expertise in hollow body guitar building.

Thanks for that info on the Tele pickups Damian. Learn sumthin' new every day!  

I did a quick check on cunife pole pieces and found this supplier of vintage CuNiFe reissued pups: Telenator  If you're flush with cash you can upgrade yer Thinline!

edit: Here's another very informative site for them wot wants more info: Creamery Pickups

BTW - Its up for sale right here

http://www.milanuncios.com/guitarras-electricas/vendo-pequena-coleccion-de-guitarras-228702206.htm

Barry wrote:

 Telenator  If you're flush with cash you can upgrade yer Thinline!

A little on the expensive side....how about a pair....gulp!!

Thank you to all the information that you shared!!