Need help

Hello neighbors, can’t find my serial number anywhere! Help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,

Forgot to include, 052980

Hello EPIII and welcome.

First things first, what guitar or bass do you have?
Second, it is not clear from your posts what it is you want.

You said you couldn't find the serial number then you posted what looks like one.

Hey Barry, this is the serial number of my guitar.
6 string, similar shape as a strat! Can’t find any reference material online! Any help would be appreciated, sincerely

You haven't told us what guitar you have.
Is it a Westone? I don't know what you mean by "similar shape as a stray" Did you mean "Strat"?

A serial number does not identify the model, only the date of manufacture, so pictures would really be helpful here.
However, new members are restricted from posting hyperlinks for 7 days so you would need to wait just a little bit longer to do that.

If the 6-digit serial number you quoted is accurate, and your guitar is a Westone, it would normally be interpreted as:
First digit = the year, the next 2 digits = the month.

That should be a 1980 build but "52" does not make sense. Are you sure you have the correct serial number?

I'm trying to help but your information is confusing and seems incomplete.

The guitar is a Westone, in a Strat style, and the serial number is:052980. Will supply pictures asap.
Thanks again for your help.
Was hoping there would be a repository, or catalog of some sort to tell me about my guitar. Thanks, EpIII

We do have a website which has a wealth of information on it (see link above on the menu bar)

Unfortunately the current owner of the site is experiencing some technical problems which have prevented the pictures from displaying so it's not much help right now when we need it!

However, there is a much older archived version of the site located at HERE
It is not as up to date as our main site but it does show the basic model line.

If your Westone is a Strat style I suggest you look at the SPECTRUM or the THUNDER lines. One of these is likely what you have. But that serial number still looks a little weird.

These are pictures of my Westone WE6411BK, I think! The only thing I can’t get to match, is the logo on the headstock.
I have been told previously, by a tech who did some setup for me, that it was out of the Westone custom shop. Sorry about the dusty conditions!
Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks again, EPIII

The W all by itself is the logo I’m referring to.
My guitar seems to match later models, but the logo seems to match the earlier design! Hence the confusion for me!
Am I thinking correctly?
Happy and safe Halloween

You may be correct, sort of.

There is a Dan Armstrong signature on the bridge pickup cover which hints that it may be a DA015 'Rock Monster' but the rest of the guitar does not strike me as a "custom" build order or a WE6411BK. I could be wrong.

It does have a nice Kahler trem but it is definitely not a Matsumoku made guitar. Given the absence of the "Westone" name on the head stock and the scarf joint at the neck it would indicate sometime in the 90's, either Korean or Chinese.

"Real" Mats-made Armstrong Signature models were 2 pickup designs with a 3+3 tuner layout, not an inline "pointy" . It would also have had his name prominently displayed.

Hey, if it plays well and sounds good that's all that matters eh?

That's all I got.

Our current website is still experiencing problems but you can still access my old site via the Internet Archive. It appears as though all the images are still intact there.

Here's the page for the Japanese made Dan Armstrong Signature model (have patience, it may take a little while to load): LINK

Thanks so much for the insights. I’m glad I have an idea of its origin.
Sincerely, EPIII

Def a neat axe!  One thing that got me thinking that it has been modded is the mini switch... It is awfully close to the volume knob .

I've also been seeing a bunch of oddball Westones, Aria's, Vantages over here advertised as Mats guitars until a photo showing the ser. nr. is accidentally (blurry) shown.  Seems that some sellers are capitalizing (or trying to).

I’m definitely not trying to pass anything off, just trying to soak up information from those more knowledgeable…
Barry, are you saying that my guitar is a Chinese fake?
Thanks in advance for all the info. EPIII

As I said, it's not a Matsumoku made Westone.
So by that measure it is not a "real" Westone.

But it could very well be a made in Korea unit from the early '90's.
Because it has a premium Kahler trem and what appears to be a genuine Dan Armstrong humbucker I kind of suspect that it is not Chinese.

I suggest that you examine the pickup to see if it's genuine. I think that would rule out a Chinese build.

Barry wrote:As I said, it's not a Matsumoku made Westone.
So by that measure it is not a "real" Westone.

sorry but i have to disagree with not a 'real' Westone. not Matsumoku, but clearly a real Westone.
are you saying a Tom Presley guitar is not a real Westone because it was made in Korea?
SLM guitar = Westone guitar
by the time this guitar was made SLM was in control of the Westone trademark in the USA and were in complete control of the design of the Westone branded guitars sold in the US. that is why they phased out the earlier models in the US. they wanted to sell SLM designed guitars. and they wanted exclusivity, only SLM sold these guitars.

the guitar necks that had only just a 'W' on the headstock were produced only one year, and not on all models. i think it was the year after the SLM anniversary models were made. also, don't see that many maple fretboards on these guitars out in the wild. so that is kinda cool.

it does appear to be modified with the mini switch. other models from that time had a single mini switch, but not in that location. pics inside the control cavity may give clues if it is a modification.
everything else looks to be typical stock set-up for a Westone guitar from this time period.

and as always, "specifications subject to change without notice." the later years seemed to be continuous evolution.

Mike, I wrote "real" in quotes to acknowledge that the Westone brand achieved its quality and innovation reputation during the Matsumoku years.

Yes, the instruments built during the MIK/SLM period are still technically Westones and are well built. I don't think I said anything to the contrary.

The main point of the response was to eliminate that it was a Chinese build which I think was done. We agree that EPIII needs to look under the hood for further clues.

Thanks you guys, I will do that and repost….

EPIII, please don't "re-post", just continue in this thread for continuity eh?