Westone Exhibit / Museum Suggestions?

I currently curate a small museum in Canaan, Connecticut,  2 hours north of New York city.  It's open to anyone if you call ahead for an appointment to:

I wanted to get your feedback and suggestions for a small Westone exhibit in one section of that museum.

So far we have 3 Westone guitars, and the amazing Westone paper archives (catalogs, brochures, information articles, etc) from David in the UK (Thorn) to display.  But I need more ideas as to what Westone-related artifacts would make this Museum really special? 

If you feel so generous as to donate any Westone-related artifacts, I'd be happy to pay postage & reimburse your costs you incurred acquiring the item. We will proudly put up for diplay any items you send with your name if you so desire.  We're open to temporarily displaying items on loan from you that remain yours.

Thanks sincerely for your help!
Bryant Jones

Good luck...

You have undertaken an ambitious task Bryant!

There are so many aspects to the Westone history and saga that seems to me it would be difficult to focus on any one aspect in a meaningful way.

As much as we love our Westies, we are a very small niche user base. So I think it is the link to Matsumoku which might resonate with more guitar players out there.

Mats have a legendary quality and innovation reputation and were associated with just about every label you can name. Which was good, but it buried their existence from the general public. Creating their own house brand, Westone, helped raise the profile.

I don't think you can talk about Westone without including Matsumoku which opens up a huge can of worms! Have a look at the Matsumoku forum for a glimpse of what I mean!
LINK

Gathering a comprehensive display of Westone instruments is a wonderful idea, but there are a great number of models, and some difficult or impossible to find. (Of course, you could maybe buy out gittarasaurus's collection!)  

I think most of the content you seek, except the physical guitars, is found on the website and here in these forums. That's probably the place to start and use it as an outline to curate your presentation vision.

It's an enormous undertaking, so, as Westbone has said, Good luck!"

Barry wrote:It's an enormous undertaking, so, as Westbone has said, Good luck!"  

Thank you Barry!  I'm particularly interested in your opinion & appreciate your feedback.  

If anyone comes across Westone Collectors that may someday let us display the trio of x390s, please let me know. That would be incredible.  

I've picked up a few posters like the one below that shows a Westone endorsed artist's guitar.  

Your idea of connecting Westone with another Matsumoku brand is a good idea.  Which would be the most natural combination for Westone, Electra, Vantage or another cousin?   Thus we could use a play on words something like The "Westone ad-Vantage Exhibit."

Barry wrote:As much as we love our Westies, we are a very small niche user base. 

Yes but the positive thing is that the 2 Westone Facebook groups seem to be growing & are relatively active with new posts everyday. The larger just surpassed 1,000 members & the smaller has 750 members. 

As someone that runs an old-school forum like this one (HostBoards.com)  I much prefer old-school forums because Facebook can't delete your channel or someday go out of business like MySpace.  It will happen oneday & all that info will be lost.  Facebook has literally deleted my entire Forum/channel (they claim it was a mistak but can't restore it) & it could happen to anyone.

Nevertheless, people aren't always logical & the majority of Westone fans are turning to Facebook to form a community.  

I've seen quite a few Westone guitars I've sold on 'Westone facebook'

Recently a X350MA sold to Gabriel. See he wanted to sell it on.

I'm afraid that none of these below will be winging their way on loan to the USA but wish you all the best in your pursuit.

I'm loving those beauties @Westbone

other than the guitars and basses produced, and the paper archives, what other sort of artifacts are there?

gittarasaurus wrote:other than the guitars and basses produced, and the paper archives, what other sort of artifacts are there?

1) First we have an advantage because we're not boring like the New England Accordion Connection & Museum which is located directly across the street:
 http://newenglandaccordionconnectionandmuseumcompany.com/

People will come from seeing the accordions across the street and feel refreshed to be with EXCITING, COOL GUITARS!

2) Second, if we follow Barry's suggestion, then we represent Matsumoku displaying guitars from at least the big three, Westone, Vantage, & Electra.

3) Third, if we can setup stations showing the inside of guitars and how they work.

4) Then we include stations showing how guitars are made.

5) Have the walls covered with Matsumoku era posters & allow enthusiasts to browse Thorn's Paper Archives.

6) We have a large flat-screen already on the premises to feature Guitar performances on video of Matsumoku artists.  

Unrealistic But Good Ideas:
-------------------------------------------
5) Barry is on hand to serenade the crowds on his Spectrum.


6) Explore the 5000-year-old history of the guitar’s evolution.


7) Experience the rush of the guitar through the powerful lens of science.


8. Discover how the selection of different materials and strings, fused with electromagnetism and amplification, create the instrument that revolutionized music.


9) Features video of stunning x-ray images of guitars' inner workings.

. . .we represent Matsumoku displaying guitars from at least the big three, Westone, Vantage, & Electra.

I don't know, Electra, OK is historically connected, but Vantage which is a great label and I have several, I think may be a tad obscure with even less exposure than Westone overall.

To highlight Matsumoku quality I think the Aria Pro II line might be better recognized. It sold very well and had a tremendous line of superb guitars and basses.

Barry is on hand to serenade the crowds on his Spectrum

  That would send the little children screaming into the street!

Barry wrote:

To highlight Matsumoku quality I think the Aria Pro II line might be better recognized. It sold very well and had a tremendous line of superb guitars and basses.

Were you aware that Aria is still producing guitars today?  AriaguitarsGlobal.com

The complication with calling it a "Matsumoku Exhibit" is that for myself & a few others, my favorite Westones are post-Matsumoku.

I believe that some of the Korean models were also high quality and the Westones I most desire were not made at Matsumoku:
1) Dana models
2) The Korean Rainbow Crackel Spectrum 
3) The Korean Snakeskin Spectrum 
4) Trevor Rabin Signature 
5) Villain Graphite (have it now)
6) The new design Korean Spectrums which are far more beautiful to me than the "devil-horned" old model. No disrespect for those who prefer the original, taste is subjective.
5) The post-Matsumoku Panteras

I like the Westone brand itself, but of course I have great respect for Matsumoku & hope to display as many Matsumokus as I can aquire cheaply.

Westone wrote:Were you aware that Aria is still producing guitars today?  AriaguitarsGlobal.com

Yes, of course I am. They were around both pre and post Mats.
What I referenced was the Aria Pro II label which was produced at the Matsumoku factory.

The complication with calling it a "Matsumoku Exhibit"...

Who's calling it that? I thought you wanted a Westone exhibit?

I simply offered that you cannot discuss Westone with out referencing Matsumoku, it was their brand after all!
And for those not familiar with Mats you could mention Aria Prro II as an example of another brand which might be more familiar.

...my favorite Westones are post-Matsumoku.

Nothing wrong with that. The MIK instruments were well made for the most part.
Our focus is on the MIJ instruments but it's hard to ignore some of the continuing post-Mats production in Korea.

It comes back to opening that "can of worms" I mentioned, something we've struggled with a little bit here from time to time in our Forums.

I like the Westone brand itself, but of course I have great respect for Matsumoku & hope to display as many Matsumokus as I can aquire cheaply.

That's something we all aspire to and why I also have a bunch of Vantage and Aria Pro II's in my herd!