The Electra Forums

During my adventures today, I ran into a few more Westone resources.

This site is devoted to Westone guitars and basses made by Matsumoku of Japan. Thank you Roisin
http://www.whirligigworld.co.uk/westone/index.html

This one complements of rhynster
http://www.geocities.com/rhynster/Westone_guitars.html

Westone catalog scans plus some Aria and Washburn stuff. Thanks to SalemB.
http://www.bossarea.com/aria/

This is the one that is linked from the Guitar Gallery's home page. Thanks AP2
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Lights/6 ... index.html

That should be thank you David - Roisin is my one year old daughter, possibly the worlds youngest Westone fan (Her favourite toy is my Quantum bass)

Duly noted.

Hmmm. Hopefully this site has not disappointed you. Had not intended to cover all the Westones here. Hopefully we don't fall into the "wildy inaccurate" category.

Not at all - superb site, even if my 1988 Westone catalogue hasn't been added yet

I use this site to confirm information, and when I get around to adding a useful sites/links page this site will be top of the list.

On some sites though you have to be a bit sceptical about what they say, the info sometimes contradicts what's obvious from pictures on the same page. I can think of a couple of sites where over half the guitars featured have basic errors/inaccuracies in the description. That's why I'm trying to base my site as much as I can on catalogues, magazine reviews and guitars I own/have owned. Unfortunately that limits the scope quite a bit - shame since I've got 2Gb of webspace to play with.

Hello and welcome David
So you are the guy that runs that Westone site.
I looked hi and lo trying to find a name or email so I could thank you.
Looking at it today I see a guestbook I could have used.

Roisin was the only name I could find so I figured that was who ran the site.
That has got to be one of the youngest contributors besides being one of the cutest
babies I have ever seen.

You say one of her toys is the Quantum so she may well end up running it someday.

I don't know many folks who own 3 guitars from the same manufacturer but you have
18 Westones. You get the prize for being a true blue, dyed in the wool, Westone fan.

I am a newly inducted Westone fanatic with a x189 and Spectrum FX.
They are the most played in my arsenal. The others are collecting dust.

Has anyone played through those blade pole Magnaflux IV and VI p/ups found
on the 86 and up models? What is the low down on these (See link below).

Do you know anything about the Westone "bayonet" neck design?
Have you ever seen a neck join like the one in this picture from the 86 catalog?
1986 Westone FX Catalog Slick

I am trying to find out if bayonet is what we know as a standard set neck that
had the join sanded smooth as someone here mentioned could be the case.

Therefore there should be a seam which is not visible in the pics.
If anyone has a guitar with this design, could you please clarify.

You say you have the 88 catalog and 2GB of empty space on your server?
Come on man, you're killing me here. I would love to see that catalog.

Please let us know if and when you post it.

Thanks again for generously sharing on these cool guitars.

Hi David,

I'm relieved! I know there is a lot that has accumulated that I really should add, but I am still working out how the new layout will work and how best to provide the information as there is a lot in limbo right now. Wouldn't it figure that as soon as I take on a new huge personal project paying work comes in and the personal stuff goes on the back burner. Oh well, it has been 4 years so a little patience likely won't hurt a thing.

I'm in the same boat as you now. I have as much disk space as I want and all the mods installed that are useful so I can do pretty much whatever I want. Now, where to go with it?

Have you sent the 1988 catalog to us here? Not until recently did I sort out how to receive contributions and I think I have it down pat now. Before they were getting lost in the flood of e-mail I receive here. No, it was not mostly spam, but questions sent via the wrong avenue. In any case, until I have the new format and domain ironed out additions will be slim but I promise forthcoming.

Do you think Roisin would be willing to lay out some bass tracks for me to practice with?

JB,

I am not sure, and Tom is a hard man to get ahold of, but I suspect the "bayonet" fixed neck is much like the "set through" necks of the PE series. The neck runs deeper into the body, but not all the way through. The heels on the smooth heel PEs have no visible lines where neck meets body. With that Spectrum's opaque finish it would be impossible to see the joint. Consider this: On all the models with 3-piece laminated necks, unless age has really taken a toll (finish shrinkage, joint seperation) there is really no way to tell it is 3-piece unless the finish is transparent.

That 88 catalog is Here.

I just sent an email to say the catalogue was available and where to find it - I've just put up a zip file of the html and images which should be easier for you to copy than all the individual images. 1988 catalogue zip file

My scanners not too good so if you want I can snailmail the original catalogue.

Roisin says dadadadadadada - I think it means she'd love to do some bass tracks for you,but I wouldn't recommend it. She hasn't got beyond open strings yet, although she does have an interesting and extremely, er, percussive slap technique. Also known as beating up a Quantum .(While eating a sock - this kid is such an originator!)

That pic is fantastic!

Open strings works for me! I stick mainly in A or E anyway.

Let me know if you need any of the cats I have. I can send the raw hi-res scans if I have them which clean up nicely when reduced.

Thanks,that would be fantastic - the more Westone info I can get on the site,the better

Hey, love your Westone site! Lots of great info!

Thanks for the info guys.
That is what I suspected about the bayonet necks.
That they are so finely sanded and finished that the seam disappears.

Looking at the price list of the 88 catalog it says:
"All models marked with an asterisk now feature 24 fret necks and beveled heel"
Beveled heel is what they started calling that design found on the better models.

One can see the evolution of this idea going back to the Cardinal's deep socket bolt-on.
It has a tongue that reaches into the body about 2 inches that is then bolted down.
That gives it a little more stability than a standard bolt neck. A nice touch from uncle Mat.

I almost ruined a CS-350 trying to pull and yank the neck out until I noticed it was
slightly dovetailed. It lifts straight up and away from the top. I was trying to slide it out.

The kid picture cracks me up. Pounding the bass, a keyboard at the ready, a wind instrument,
and some percussion instruments that look like toys. That is a virtuoso.

She is definitely a bassist. Note the long muscular fingers. Looks like she is having a ball.
Just look at that face and that big ol' smile. That is so dog gone funny.

Thanks - there's more to come when I can dig the scanner out from under Roisins toys - some adverts and a few reviews from Guitarist magazine