Westone Bass

I am amazed with the passage of time, how it's possible to uncover more and more details as to the specifications of my Westone Genesis Bass. As I said before, it was made in 1987 as a limited edition celebrating the 60th anniversary of Westone.The body is Canadian Ash with a Walnut stain and a transparent finish.The Neck is Canadian Hard rock maple with a Rosewood finger board.The string nut is Carbon Graphite. All Westone Genesis Series models featured a
carved-away body section under the Neck pickup for easy access and enhanced slapping technique. The two pick-up configuration consist of Magnabass III and Magna Bass IV Pick-ups. The neck has 24 frets, with TRAK WIND Deluxe Machine heads with the "W" trademark on the back, for Westone.The 3 controls are; Master Volume,Tone for Neck pick-up,and Tone for Bridge pick-up and 3 way toggle switch pick-up selector.The Magnacast Brass bridge and their exclusive Genesis shaped body add up to unreal sustain and playing ease.
I continue to this day to get offers for this bass from professional bass players of all genres.They play it and they want it!I can't part ways with the Genesis Bass,after rescuing it from the Salvation Army back in 2002. As I walked in to the store, the hard case caught my eye and I inquired as to the contents.The old man behind the counter said it just came in and was not priced yet.He further told me that the original owner had passed away and his son just brought it in as a donation.I asked if i could take a peek, he said yes and the strings were all rusty,but the thing played so nice ,that i knew it would be a blast to clean her up with some guitar polish, clarinet bore oil for the finger board, and a set of brand new round wounds .105", .085", .065".045"
I WAS NOT MISTAKEN!

My musical style can best be described as jAZZ STANDARDS MEET THE VENTURES.
I run the bass throught a Peavey TNT amp, and set with the tone on full bass, treble cut position.To give it that vintage dark, boomy sound.
As I said before the toggle switch is still noisy after all these years but I continue to spray contact cleaner. Maybe some day I get a new one...

I can find no flaws, and I must add that this is a bolt on neck and not a set neck.At the Matsumoku factory, they did their homework and turned out a finely crafted, one of a kind instrument, with plenty of attention to details like a perfect neck all the way up too fret number 24!DON'T PASS UP ARIA PRO II AND ORIGINAL WESTONE GUITARS AND BASSES!THESE WERE EXTREMELY SKILLED GENUINE MATSUMOKU LUTHURS WITH MANY YEARS OF HIGH QUALITY CRAFTMANSHIP UNDER THEIR BELTS!
THEY ATTAINED THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF GUITAR BUILDING HAND CRAFTED QUALITY! TEN STARS

Coming up on 20 years of wear and tear and it still looks brand new. (1987-2007)
Built like a Rolls Royce, or a Rolex watch!
Attention to details!
Back-up Bass what's that??

The original company went under a long time ago after the factory burned down, but a new company is using the Westone name and they are now making cheap Korean models.
Westone's Glory days are long over.(1978-1987)

I uncovered the original address of the company.

WESTONE
A Division of St. Louis Music
1400 Ferguson Avenue
St.Louis MO 63133

Since i wrote that review , i have discovered many new things.
First of all Westone was made by the Matsumoku Corp in Japan. My Westone Bass is the Genesis 65th Anniversary model,from the Anniversary of St.Louis Music,their importer, 1922-1987.
My bass is dated 1987, from the first # of the serial number.
The westone made in the 80's were the best.
once the factory burnt down they were bought out by fcn music from the UK.Manufactoring has move to Korea, bringing the price and also some of the quality down.

The 24 fret neck is so convenent and pratical. However many Bass players are more used to a 22 fret neck. The clarinet bore oil brought out the beauty in the rose wood neck. It has some noise in the pick-up selector toggle switch, I need to spray some contact cleaner in there. After doing research this bass in way more rare than I thought.

After finding this bass at the Salvation Army, i was amazed how three years later, i still get coments like, do you want to sell it? What is it? and wow that neck sure seems Long.The tuners are opposite each other, 2 to a side. Like the old Gibson bass's.Once the action was lowered I found that it was great for soloing on. If only Jaco had played Westone Bass's they would be more famous!The pick-ups are very 80's,punchy and lots of cut.

Later, when Ibanez rebuilt the burned down Westone Factory, in Japan, Ibanez took off in sales, and Westone sales came to a big halt. Billy Sheenan's Yamaha bass, is very similar to my Westone.
I quess Mr.Big was the shredder heavy metal band of the day. This bass was made for that sound. Never adjusted the truss rod, never needed too. Action perfect

Never sought out any customer support.

I have been learning and performing music for a long time now.
In 1966,I got piano lessons,1970 all boys choir,1972 Eb Alto saxophone,1974 Eb Baritone Saxophone,1975 Drums,1976 Guitar,1978 Flute,1980 Clarinet,1981 Bb Tenor Saxophone,1996 I got my first electric bass an early 60's Klira,(jag shaped bass from Germany.) I also own an early 60's Audition Beatle Bass, mid 60's Guyatone Guitar, 1968 Kay Guitar, and A nice old 1977 Yamaha FG-122 Acoustic

It's a Westone "Thunder 1-A"
I believe it's Japanese or something but don't know
Fretted, 4 string
Active pickups
Natural Wood finish

Sounds really nice - good range of tone from warm mellow sound to fat funky bass tone with lots of bite
I don't really use the Active Pickups much - but that's more of a style thing than anything - I prefer its tone without them, but if you really want to boost the low end or the top for funk or something, it's cool

Action is a bit high - I should probably lower it, but it doesn't really bother me. Other than that I've never had any problems with the hardware

I've gigged with this bass many times, and it's great.
The finish is a bit the worse for wear - but that's entirely cosmetic - the sound is still fantastic

Ahh... Old second hand - have no idea where to look for customer support!

I've been playing guitar for about 10 years, and bass for about 7.
Its the only bass I own - I learned on it, and played it for years, though I'm in the process of getting a fretless at the moment.
I've played it through a few amps - right now I have a peavey - can't remember the model.
I love the tone of it - it's really rich and warm...
Honestly I chose it cos I didn't know better and I thought it looked nice -- however I've since played more expensive basses that don't really play any better. The action could be improved.. I should really get it set up, but I've got used to it how it is!

I'd say this is a great bass to learn on, and play live. If you're a many year veteran bassist - try it out and see what you think - I think it's great value and well worth it for an inexpensive, nice playable instrument with good sound!

I got this Bass at the salvation Army, for $125.00.it looks like it was made in the late 70's.on the back it says made in japan.it is a four string with two pickup solid body . It looks like the body is made from ash and then given a dark finish yet you can still see the grain.The bridge has the strings going through itself and the tuners are like new. They have the w trademark on them.

it sounds funky and fat. I love this Bass!!

When i bought the bass, the action was way too high. The strings were dead and rusty. so i took it all apart and cleaned up the body and oiled the fret board with clarinet bore oil. After a quick restrung the quitar looks and sounds brand new!

I bought this bass used and have never heard of Westone before, so I couldn't tell you what type of wood it is or what brand (if other than Westone) the hardware is or what year it is (although I would guess mid '80s from the look. It isn't particurarly cheesey or anything, It just kinda looks a little '80s to me). Anyways, I can tell you that there are 2 pickups that look like the kind they put on 5 and 6 string basses, even though this is a 4 string. The body is finished in candy apple red and there is a 24 fret maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard bolted on. All the hardware looks very sturdy.
I can't rate on features, it just isn't right.

I am primarily a guitarist, I bought this as a cheap entry into the world of electric bass. I use it with a Crate BX-15 which isn't all that great. It gives the bass a slightly congested, nasal sound. However, I have plugged into other amps before and this bass is worth way more than the $175 I payed for it! The bridge pickup is very funky sounding and makes my slapping sound very cool. The neck pickup is smooth and big sounding. Putting the switch in the middle reveals a vintagey type sound. I don't know why it would sound vintagey, but it does. It sounds fairly powerfull and is never muddy (when into a good amp). Whith these 3 sounds, what more could you ask for in a bass? Well, I'll give it an 8 since I suppose you could blow $3000 on a bass and get a slightly better sound. That idea doesn't interest me.

I can't comment since I got it used.

It has withstood live playing, but I didn't do anything crazy. I bought it used and everything has held together fine.

Customer support? HA! Warrant? HA! I've never heard of Westone before, have you? I didn't even know it was a Westone. It was sold to me as a "westbury". The only identification mark on it is a "W" that is kinda shaped like an eagle on the headstock. The other day, I was in Barnes and Noble (the book store), and there was a book about electric bass and right there on the front was a bass with that exact same eagle/"W" logo and the name Westone. Cool.

I have been playing guitar for 3 years and bass for 2. I don't own any other bass gear (besides the amp), but my guitar stuff includes '82 Fender Squier Strat, '92 Gibson SG standard, Seagull S6+ acoustic, Crate hybrid amp, and a bunch of wacky pedals to make noise. I also own a 4-track recorder. This bass is great for me. Factoring in cost, it is undoubtedly a 10.