LP style "Westone" From 1978(?)

I have this one on my favorites list on the German fleabay Kleinanzeige site.  It is identical to the "Unknown Model #9" on the Westone.info site.  Price is a bit high but negotiable.  I don't have an LP style in my arsenal (tho I had a Gibby LP Recording back sometime in the 60's) and I'd REALLY like to get this one - but I'm broke .

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/e-gitarre-westone-custom-ca-bj-78/1339513724-74-6588

Whuups, identical, NOT quite...

Every guitar player should have a Les Paul style guitar (or two) in his collection.
Like the Strat it's iconic and not much else quite gets that sound.

I'm not particularly wild about these early Westone versions though. I'm sure they're good, they just leave me less than inspired.

I think I'd be more drawn to one of the Aria Pro II models if I wanted to stay with a Mats built traditional LP configuration.
And there is always the Westone Prestige line.

You might find those are 'cave tops' not a solid top.

In other words plywood as a top fixed over supports.

Not in the true spirit of a Les Paul.

I kind of surmised that, which is a reason that I posted it.  I DO have a few Pro II's on my various watch lists but their asking prices are generally over 450 Euros with this one ringing my chimes:

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/aria-pro-2-tree-of-life-e-gitarre-von-matsumoku/1319564774-74-398

It's just SO purrrdy , but way too much for now

Better off with a Harley Benton from Thomann there in Germany

Westbone wrote:Better off with a Harley Benton from Thomann there in Germany

They've been getting some pretty fair reviews internationally... Now if the name was Harley Quinn, I might be interested

ExFender wrote:I kind of surmised that, which is a reason that I posted it.  I DO have a few Pro II's on my various watch lists but their asking prices are generally over 450 Euros with this one ringing my chimes:

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/aria-pro-2-tree-of-life-e-gitarre-von-matsumoku/1319564774-74-398

It's just SO purrrdy , but way too much for now

Now yer talkin'!

Westbone wrote:Better off with a Harley Benton ..

Nice to play. But they don't hold the road worth a damn in the curves!

Barry wrote:

Westbone wrote:Better off with a Harley Benton ..

Nice to play. But they don't hold the road worth a damn in the curves!

Have you tried or seen the new models? You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Gibson ripping off Westone....

Bit of a Prestige rip off

Barry, I have to agree with Westbone to a degree.  The newer upper end HB's are not only good looking, but sound and play VERY nicely.  How LONG they stay that way... only time will tell.

Barry wrote:

ExFender wrote:I kind of surmised that, which is a reason that I posted it.  I DO have a few Pro II's on my various watch lists but their asking prices are generally over 450 Euros with this one ringing my chimes:

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/aria-pro-2-tree-of-life-e-gitarre-von-matsumoku/1319564774-74-398

It's just SO purrrdy , but way too much for now

Now yer talkin'!

Do you mean the guitar or Harley Quinn?

ExFender wrote:Barry, I have to agree with Westbone to a degree.  The newer upper end HB's are not only good looking, but sound and play VERY nicely.  How LONG they stay that way... only time will tell.

Do you own any ??

Not any in my stash, but a couple of close buddies do and are quite happy with them and I tried them. One of them has played my Westone and Arias and has threatened bodily harm if I don't let him use one or all at his next gig .

I have 3 that I've had for a number of years.

Not a problem in sight.

I'm not a 'name' nut and judge every guitar on it's merit.

Here's mine so far.

All with Wilkinson hardware.

TE-80 NT Deluxe.



TE-70RW Deluxe



CST-24HB Tortoise


And winging there way from Germany as I type.
DC-Junior Fat and a SC-Junior VS

So happy days ..along with a glut of Westone's one big happy guitar family...

By the way I've also got the real deals in both Gibson and Fender. Vintage instruments not reissues.

That last one is the one one of my buddies has (a CST-24 Deluxe). Has a great feel and sound thru his Bandmaster (original from 1963 with Jensens). Me likee and I was at one point thinking of getting one (might doit out of spite of myself eve tho I already have 3 semi hollows).  The wrap-around bridge kinda turned me off, but the price is fantastic!  Only 222 Euro.

Another that he has is the TE-90QM - a chambered Telecaster style with Roswell P-90s that also sounds great.

ExFender wrote:  The wrap-around bridge kinda turned me off, but the price is fantastic!  Only 222 Euro.

The bridge works fine.

And now I find THIS!

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/aria-pe-r60-e-gitarre-japan-matsumoku-1981/1349638163-74-3544

Good on yer

ExFender wrote:

What makes you wonder?

Westbone wrote:

Barry wrote:

Westbone wrote:Better off with a Harley Benton ..

Nice to play. But they don't hold the road worth a damn in the curves!

Have you tried or seen the new models? You'll be pleasantly surprised.

I have heard nothing but good things about them. Haven't had the opportunity to see 'em in the flesh though.

Westbone wrote:Gibson ripping off Westone....

Bit of a Prestige rip off

Miserable bastwerds! What cheek!
But of course the quality won't come close.

Westbone wrote:

ExFender wrote:  The wrap-around bridge kinda turned me off, but the price is fantastic!  Only 222 Euro.

The bridge works fine.

If a wraparound bridge is well designed and reasonably adjustable for intonation there should be nothing to fear Peter. It should add considerably to the sustain too.

Absolutely no fear of setting the intonation.
 

ExFender wrote:And now I find THIS!

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/aria-pe-r60-e-gitarre-japan-matsumoku-1981/1349638163-74-3544

I have one of these. It's the one guitar I know I overpaid for because it was exactly what I wanted. I LOVE it except it is heavy.

jorg wrote:

ExFender wrote:And now I find THIS!

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/aria-pe-r60-e-gitarre-japan-matsumoku-1981/1349638163-74-3544

I have one of these. It's the one guitar I know I overpaid for because it was exactly what I wanted. I LOVE it except it is heavy.

I'd call the guy yesterday, but atm I have not even enough to make a dis-respectable offer. BUTIWANIT!
If anything comes of this, I'll move it to the Mats Forum.

I've had a look at those Harley Benton instruments and I have to say they look really good; I'd love to take a Fusion II for a long walk, eh!

APII PE series are epic guitars, just monstrously heavy for a gigging muso... I have an LC440 - one of the cave tops - that is a really nice guitar to play and has tone for Australia; I use it very often!

corsair wrote:I've had a look at those Harley Benton instruments and I have to say they look really good; I'd love to take a Fusion II for a long walk, eh!

Yes they'er turning out some very decent instruments.

Had one turn up a few years back(2015), must have slipped through QC err just a bit....

No problem though they paid for return post and another was here in a few days.

Have a look at this.

Ooops!

I might have attributed the cracks to wannabe quarterbacks in the shipping department (or delivery), but the trim indicates paint/stain errors instead of true binding.  Thomann does have excellent customer service tho.

ExFender wrote:I might have attributed the cracks to wannabe quarterbacks in the shipping department (or delivery), but the trim indicates paint/stain errors instead of true binding.  Thomann does have excellent customer service tho.

That shipment was in 2015, so the guitar was earlier.

They've upped their game a lot since then.

By the way the box(double boxed) it came in was undamaged.

Yeah, you're right about upping their game.  I had based my earlier "aversion" to HB's after one of my best buddies bought one around 2010 "cause it looked good" and couldn't get it to "sound"' right (he was a beginner that got turned on by my Wildcat).  Poorly set up was the cause and lousy pickups.