The Electra Forums

Here are scans for SLM Westones of 84-87:

January 1, 1985 Westone pricelist
red ink on glossy white paper

The Dimension IV appears for the first time, as do the Quantum and Rail basses. New models what was once called Electra Phoenix appear under the name Westone Spectrum. Note that although the Spectrums are very much siblings of the Phoenixes, most in 1985 were new models, with the exception of the ST, which was a continuation of the X135 which first appeared in 82, and the FX, which first appeared in 84 as the X199.





larger scans:
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist1.gif
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist2.gif

April 15, 1985 Westone pricelist
red ink on off-white non-glossy paper

An updated pricelist three months later added two bass models, the Dimension IV bass and the Super Headless bass. (somebody with patience can look and see if any prices changed- i bet not)





Larger scans:
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist1.jpg
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist2.jpg

September 1, 1985 Westone pricelist
black, red, and blue ink on glossy paper

This pricelist is guaranteed to make your eyes hurt. But here for the first time is the elusive Monark!





Larger scans:
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist1.gif
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist2.gif


January 1986 Westone pricelist
black, red, and yellow ink on glossy paper

New for 86 is the Spectrum DX, which is essentially an economy H-H like the ST but with a bridge upgraded to a bendmaster and locking nut, for dive bombing on a budget. In other words, premium hardware with economical electronics- a midrange combination that offered 'bang for the buck' at a time when every player needed to think he could play like Van Halen. (note also that the X140 DX bears no connection to the X140 Phoenix, an S-S-S guitar with a pickguard- apparently a numbering oversight.

Also new for 86 was the Pantera, an all-new body style that was destined to replace the Spectrum body style, with the premium combination of electronics and hardware perfected in the Spectrums.

We also get a good look at Westone product endorsers... yuck! And some really neat documentation on why these guitars are so well made. Check out the detailed explanation of Unbalanced Coil Pickups!!!





Larger scans:
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elistA.gif
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elistB.gif

April 15, 1986 Westone pricelist
black ink on white non-glossy paper

A tax-time update was becoming a habit with these westones, and this one continued in the effort to pitch the technology, this one with better graphics to explain the Bendmaster DLX bridge (which is actually the mid-range one).

Three new model levels of the Pantera appeared, showing that it was doing well in the market. And three previously non-SLM Westones appear for the first time on an SLM pricelist: the Prestige, Rainbow and Session jazz guitars.

Two new super-econo Spectrums appear, the X120 and X125, both single-humbuckers stripped down for speed. I think the difference must be in the neck- painted black (Imron) or maple? I'm not certain I've ever seen an X120, but the copy on the front mentions a maple neck finish, and I'm pretty sure none of the other models offered that.





Larger Scans:
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist1.gif
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist2.gif

September 1, 1987 Westone pricelist
black ink on white non-glossy paper

This pricelist appeared 17 months after the last one, and it's likely that at least one and as many as three others may have appeared that we don't know about.

Most notable is the appearance of the new Spectrum series, which featured an all-new body style (the so-called 'flat strat'), and the Genesis. Of the old Spectrum series, only a handful remain. The radical Dynasty, Dimension IV, and Monark are gone.

This would be the last pricelist to include guitars based on the original Electra Phoenix body style. In fact, I've never seen one with an 87 build date, which makes me think they appeared in the catalog only as old remaining stock was being sold off. (are there 87 old Spectrums in teh UK?)





Larger scans:
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist1.gif
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist2.gif

January 1, 1988 Westone pricelist
black and brown ink on white glossy paper

The new catalog for 88 suddenly had a much better graphic treatment, although as usual the Westone endorsement lineup seemed almost guaranteed that no matter who you were, you'd find at least one of them laugable, for hairstyle if nothing else.

More New Spectrum models appear, along with the new Corsair series. The Pantera remains the same. And look, there's still a remnant of the old Phoenix lineage in the ST and GT basses.





Larger scans:
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist1.gif
http://www.nwlink.com/~paulcl/guitars/c ... elist2.gif

Holy Cow, just look at all that info. Excellent stuff.
I dig those diagrams that show in some detail the construction
of the Neck and UBC pickups etc. Good find.

Great work again X189Player