The Electra Forums

The definitive Westone story is now online - 4 pages from Music UKs 1984 guitar special, with details on the origins,manufacture and marketing of Westone guitars together with comments from Matsumoku reps and pictures of guitars being assembled. Enjoy!

that was a nice read!!!

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That rocks! It has answered several nagging questions I've had for a very long time now. One being whether Matsumoku made their own pickups or they were outsourced. There's not been a definitive answer until you provided that article.

Thanks!

Hope you don't mind, I saved it locally to read later. I'll try to clean up the text some if possible and pop it in PDF if you like.

A PDF would be great - I can zip up the raw (300 dpi) scans for you if you want. The same mag also has a 6 page article on Aria amd their UK imposters (Gigsville) - want it? (I'm not sure how well it will scan though, 2 of the pages are quite hard to read - dark grey print on a blue/grey nackground)

Wow!!!

Thanks! Great stuff.

Love to read the stuff about Gigsville as well.

Very cool... I'd love to read the article about Aria.

This thing with US patent just reminded me, that the original PE bridge was a locking bridge already... long before TonePro.

I'd sure be interested in that Aria article as well. To possibly save time, is This the article you have? If so, SalemB has the raw scans on his site which I used here.

You bet I want the Hi-res scans! I can grab them when I toss you that ton and a half of Westone stuff I have your way. I'll set the transfer for late night.

Thanks again!

No, it's a different article - I'll try and scan it tomorrow.

Nice website stracalaf keep up the good work, Great article about Matsumoku and great catalogue scans.

I just noticed you don't have Thunder Jet Guitar/Bass listed on your website.

The Thunder Jets will be added sometime, but they're a low priority at the minute (As far as I can tell, they're just black Thunder Is with a different name - I've never actually seen any details on them)

Thanks to Neal (AriaProII) I have a lot of stuff to add to the site which I'm hoping to get done in the next couple of weeks, time permitting

I have in my possesion the 1984? flyer for Thunder jets & details in the same layout as the 83 catalogue on this sit. It also includes details on the ?early spectrums, prestige 117 & 227 plus others.

I have to confess to being totally unreliable in getting scans of these further than my computer desk. 1 because I use dial up and download time is too long and 2 even though someone kindly supplied me with an address I never sent the CD.

Anyone in the UK prepared to give me another chance send me a PM.

Nice to see the 1982/83 Westone catalogue up there as well, excellent stuff Stracalaf, I own a 1982 Thunder I Bass and it is nice see the original specifications, the early ones have a few differences to the westy's after this period, although it would be interesting to see toxbass's 1983 catalogue as well, I say again keep up the good work.

1982 WTI model differences:
Brass Nut
Ornate Neck Plate
Gold Logo
Different position for the front strap button
Slightly longer Headstock

My woody Westy always had extra MOJO, although it is in bits at the moment waiting for a full service.

A few more details form the 84 flyer now I've got it in front of me.
Thunder jets main differences are soilid alder body, graphite nut, pull-push coil tap and all black hardware.
ConcordIII specs.
Concord H-11 and H-111 replaced by spectrum II & III +specs.
Specs for prestige 117 & 227 (black, white, red & blue colours shown)
Specs for raider I & II 6 string and bass.
I picked this flyer up sometime in the last 6 months of 1984 as an addendum to the 83 catalogue. I know this because the price list is dated August 1984.
I'm in touch with stracalaf so will get scans off ASAP.

Nice one! Toxbass and Stracalaf keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing the scans.