The Electra Forums

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I don't own any Westone's, but I've been watching them for a couple years, and they look every bit as nice as Electras to me. There are (I believe) a couple different 'Westone' lines though. It was a Mat brand before SLM got (exclusive?) rights to it in 1984, with a real 'Mod' logo, some really nice instruments, my fave the Thunder 1A (Active), which is so much like a Laminated X150 it's eerie:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 506wt_1118

Then there's the Prestige 250, which is VERY similar to a X935cs Endorser in Cherry:

http://www.westone.info/prestige250.html

They look to be top quality original stuff in this era (early 80's) then in 1984 the SLM designs started wearing the Westone Badge, Mostly Phoenix 'stratlyke' guitars and the Original Pointy models. I would expect these and the earlier original guitars to be very Electra like and uber playable. What models do you like? I also like the early Washburn Wings ('78-'82) which have Matsumoku written all over them.

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I have five Westone basses. Considering they're all Matsumoku made like the Electras before them, I wouldn't think they're much different. The main differences between my Phoenix bass and Spectrum bass are split coils on the Phoenix vs humbuckers on the Spectrum, maple fretboard vs rosewood, and the Spectrum body is rounded on all edges.

As for there being two different Westone lines, this is very true, Westone was Matsumoku originals in the beginning, with the Thunder and Strat-like Concord being the main models from 1980 to 83. The Phoenix was originally sold as a Concord before quickly being renamed the Spectrum, so no Concords were made after 83 because the Phoenix replaced that line. The Thunder remained in production until Matsumoku went under. In 85 the Pantera was introduced and was really the only other model that had any staying power (they also had MMK75 pickups, which to my knowledge are much hotter than the 45s). Most of the other models were short lived. The Prestige models were around from 82 til the end, but they seem like a top of the line Thunder to me. Aside from that, most of the other models were pointy 80s guitars that only lasted for a year or two, and a few headless basses (most notably the Rail).

Basically, since Westone was 100% Matsumoku from the prototypes of 1979 until Matsumoku closed in 1987, you may as well consider them to be SLM Electras. The main difference to me is the move from single and split coil pickups on the Electra basses to nothing but humbuckers on the Westones (with the exception of pre-SLM Westones).

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Who needs a Fender Jazz when you can get a perfectly good Spectrum bass for $50?

I had a Spectrum FX that I sent to Paul. that one was nice...
I've had couple basses. The Raider was nice. felt like most other good quality japanese basses.
I had one of the pointy V basses as well (based of he Electra pointy body), an I lved the Magna Bass pickup in it... one of those just recently sold on eBay too....

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The newer non Mat Westones are definately sub par in comparison to the Electra models, based on the ones Ive played. But the ones made in Japan are very much the same as Electra and are top notch.

I encountered a couple of Westones in a music store in Indiana. They were $80- each. They looked nice, but after playing I passed on both of them. They just seemed cheap. I believe they were Korean made, but I cant really remeber.

But, I also recieved a Westone at Electrafest 2009! Its a black floyd trem model. After a couple of hours a night for 3-4 nights, I managed to figure out what I was doing as far as a good setup and intonation. WHat a sweet guitar. The Floyd does rob some tone, but its definately a Phoenix with a Westone logo on the headstock.

Paul

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There are at least three Westones with scooped out heals, the Prestige (four different models!), the Thunder 3 is a Neck Through Laminate with Active circuit (I've never seen one offered):

http://www.westone.info/thunder3v1.html

and the Pantera X390:

http://www.westone.info/panterax390.html

Another original design is the Paduak model. The neck through Washburns had scooped out heals also, Matsumoku at its coolest.

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I'm a Spectrum/Phoenix nut from way back and have 11 Westones simply becasue they were available down here and the Electras were only available in the US/canada. As the lads have stated, the 79 - 86 matt made ones are second to none in build quality but the later model MIK instruments are built down to a price, although I have 2 87 Clippers - super-teles - that are very high build quality indeed but these just may have been made in Japan; no-one really knows. There were some very high end UK made Westones in the early 90s made by an English luthier called Sid Poole, and these are very highly regarded as well.

I have but one Electra; my beloved X195 and whilst I love it to bits, it has a slightly lower build quality than the Spectrums I own but that is only in the finish - the metal work and woodwork are spot on.

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