Westone Thunder 1A Fretless Bass

1980s, date unknown. Has a bridge capable of being strung from the back, or top loaded for speed.

Has a single humbuker with tone and volume for passive and pull coil tap, plus additional tone control for use when the active circuit is engaged. Active circuit is 18v.

The back of the neck is painted, which might be a bit of a problem if you have sweaty hands.

The fingerboard is rosewood, but impregnated in some way to make it rock hard

The sound, despite having one pickup, is quite versatile when the active circuit is engaged, via the second tone control (some sort of tone matrix) from deep bass to nasal jazz sounds, in combination with the main tone control. It isn't as versatile as a two pickup bass, but isn't far short of it.

The tone is pleasing, more modern with the active circuit engaged. Passive it has pleasing warmth with clarity.

Very well made, very tight neck joint.

Looks bullet proof. The only weak point might possibly be due to a scarfed neck joint common to angled headstock instruments.

N/A

I did lower the nut a little.

I am currently trying to find the best strings - trying to decide between Thom Jazz rounds and Rotosound pressure wounds.

It took a hell of a lot of searching on internet etc. but finally found enough info for myself, as used in this review. One handy thing is to know that this is a 1982 bass (serial no. is 2040275, it seems the first digit references the year made), made by Japanese company Matsumoku, who were also initially responsible for Aria, Epiphone and Electra to name but a few (see http://www.therathole.org/guitars/ for the best, if only, Matsumoku info around).

It is fretless but with marked frets, with the equivalent of only 20, which is my only qualm. Body is solid (it weighs a ton!) maple, with gorgeous laminated ash, maple and walnut finish. The neck is maple 3-ply, with a rosewood fingerboard - looks like the fret markers are light wood of some kind too but unsure.

It's a VERY active bass, 18V (i.e. 2x 9V batteries); according to the couple of sources I found, only the 'A' guitars (i.e. I-A, II-A) are active. One volume knob, one master tone, one EQ tone (active). usually 2 switches on these but this one has 3 - one "two-tone selector" I think it's something to do with phase on the single "split" pickup; one to switch from active to passive EQ and one 3-way pickup selector as, at some point, someone has added a humbucker (unknown make) next to the bridge (and very well too, I thought it was original til I found the guitar specs on the internet!).

Tuning stock is chrome, while the rest of the hardware (nut, bridge and control knobs) are good solid brass. I've given it 9/10 just because of the 20-fret scale.

OK, in nice simple terms, THIS BASS IS AMAZING. Sorry if it sounds big-headed or anything, but it truly is gorgeous! With the 18V EQ (as well as the added pickup) it's got an incredible tonal range that I have never heard anywhere else, and no one I know has ever heard a match. Even when switched to passive the bass sounds great, although my favourite setting (unless I want to really shake the foundations with full bass on active) is with the flat (passive) EQ but with both pickups selected. Works a treat to make the "fretlessness" subtle, but clear enough occasionally to notice.

As it was bought second hand, it did require a little tweaking - although when I bought it I was really only around beginner stage so didn't know a lot about intonation etc. Strings were also round-wound and a little rusty but I didn't know a lot about changing strings either :) so the poor fretboard is a little work in places from the gritty strings (since last September I've been on round-wound Rotosound 'Jazz 77' strings).

It's a natural finish, so difficult to spot any flaws; there are a couple of dings here and there I suppose, but you'd never notice them. I certainly wouldn't complain for a bass that's older than me! Similarly the brass knobs and bridge are tarnished in places, but hey, there's nothing actually wrong with the bass.

I should add here that the 'new' humbucker that was added after original building was VERY professionally installed. It is black, matching the split coil, and the hole cut for it means the edges are flush with the body all the way round. The 3-way switch is directly in-line with the original two switches, although it is chrome-coloured so doesn't match especially well. This is only noticeable close-up though.

This is an incredibly solid bass; it has to be the heaviest I've tried, it has taken the odd bang occasionally, but then I prefer not to pamper it as others might - this is a rugged bass that'll live through anything. Gotta love the brass hardware too, it's certainly not going anywhere!

The company doesn't exist any more! According to most sources I've seen (and there aren't many, I have to say) Matsumoku went into liquidation in 1989 when (don't quote me) their factory burnt down. I've been searching on and off for info for the past 2 years but for ages could only come up with harmony central (which didn't have much detailed info) and a site dedicated to Westones (http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Lights/6961/westone/) which hasn't been updated since 2000 or so.

1 rating, although the above two sources have certainly been helpful anyway.

Only in recent weeks have I found a relatively new site (http://www.therathole.org/guitars/) dedicated to Matsumoku - hence, it doesn't have a great load on Westone but it DOES have original catalogue prices and spec scans from 1983; this is where I got most of the info used here.

I'm not an especially experienced bassist; been playing for 3-4 years now I suppose, but initially with a longer history of drumming (9 years now). This was just my second bass, and I got it just through my curiousity and ensuing persistence -- I had to have a fretless bass!

My first, and only other, bass is an Epiphone (of the Gibson era, not Matsumoku). It is fairly standard, blak, and a little too classic-rock-looking for my liking with its pointy headstock and all. Also, rather annoyingly, it also only has 20 frets (when will I ever reach that fabled High E!!?) but aside from that it has 1 split and 1 single pickup and always gets a good, no-nonsense sound. I was only playing for 1-2 years when I eventually found someone that was getting rid of a second-hand fretless, and I baought it for all the money I had at the time, which was a whopping #95, which I've only recently been realising was quite incredible.

Aside from that, I have a Pearl Export drum kit and not a lot else musically; I use a Trace Elliot Boxer 30 (30W) practice amp, and thus "someone else's amp" whenever I happen to be doing a gig.

If this bass was stolen I would be forever heartbroken. Yes, I've only been playing 4 years and yes it's only my second bass, but it is unique with its pickup setup, and even without that the original bass itself is really very rare, at least in terms of buying another. I will definitely buy Westone again in the future; it is impossible value for a one-in-a-million guitar; I'd also love to buy a Westone as my first 'guitar' guitar, since I'm starting to learn that as an aside, but it looks like there are already a few people 'in the know' that are watching ebay for them! ;)

In the last week though I did get hold of an original 80's Westone hard case, made specifically for the thunder series, for #31 (plus p&p) which I was quite chuffed about, now my Thunder I-A can travel in style!

I know I've written a lot about this, but for anyone that has trawled through the above data from start to finish, I hope I've left the lasting impression that a Westone guitar is a good guitar, and more specifically the Thunder I-A is an extremely good guitar. I love mine to bits and wouldn't trade it for the world. To get another, I'd happily pay 100s of pounds, although I'd probably expect to pay only up to #150-#200 because they aren't f*nd*r or other well-known makes.

As I mentioned before, my omly real problem with this bass is its lack of fretboard above the 20th fret, but it's no big deal really, I'll not need it in every song and I will end up buying other basses. In fact, from what I've seen, most (all?) '84-onwards Thunders seem to have 21 or 22 fret scales anyway.

As a final point, here is a link to the catalogue scan for the 1983 Thunder I and I-A bass guitars on the Matsumoku web site (see above if you haven't read through yet) - this is where I got most of my information, although my bass is from the previous year. The pic is pretty much exactly what mine looks like, except with the new 'W' logo on the headstock, a load of fret wire, no cool hard case and no added humbucker :)
Enjoy.

I have two thunder 1a bassas; one fretless bought 10 years ago for #160 which has been used continuously since then and a fretted version
bought recently for #112. they are both around 1984 vintage I think. the fretted is still completely original but the fretless has new active circuitry and a 1970 fender precision pickup which gives a lovely crunching deep sound for heavy metal.they are both ash, maple and mahogany the fretted is natural and the fretless is black.

teh sound of both guitars is amazing with a very rich bassy tone with lots of top on demand they are used for heavy rock with a marshall VBA400 and VBC810 setup I have no dislikes at all for both of them and they can do whatever I ask of them unlike precisions,rickys or gibsons

I always set up my own guitars to suit the very heavy guage strings I use. the finish is very good and has stood the test of time and heavy gigging

This is a very tough guitar and stays in tune all night in fact drifting only very slightly in weeks. I use both guitars to gig so I donty need a backup and never have.

I have been playing for 40 years and have never met the match of these instruments. This may seem over the top but its true. If I ever lost them I would replace them with the same if I could. I love everything about them and hate nothing.

Made in 1984, Japanese origin. 4 strings, fretless with a gorgeous neck, profile somwhere between precision and jazz. Body and neck are maple, fingerboard rosewood, all solid wood, lacquered black. Looks very cool, especially with the black nylon wound Picato strings I use. Controls are voume passive tone & active tone, with in/out of phase and single coil/humbucker switches. Body style is individual, retro (not surprising as it's 17 years old!).Bridge style is Fender with individual saddles, with gotoh tuners. Score is for quality and features.

I play this bass mainly in jazz settings, though occasionally I use it with 50's style rock & roll. The strings I use are perfect for that fretless sound and applications. I play it clean, just using the actives occasionally. My amp is a Peavey TKO 115S. No control or pickup noise at all, and a great range of sounds. Responds to both attack and gentle playing perfectly. I have gigged and recorded with it, ideally suited to both. Recordings have been with the amp miked up and DI'd, both fine.

As I bought this (very) second hand I had it set up with a fingerboard skim. The action is so light it's amazing, with no chocking when played aggressively! Pickups are fine. I replaced the original brass control knobs and bridge with chrome to get everything matching and anyway the brass was tarnishing through age. Now it looks great! Despite its age I score it very highly for playability and longevity.

Played live regularly and frequently, it has never let me down. Once I had settled on the strings I wanted to use, it has never needed readjustment. I have replaced the brass hardware, but the gotoh tuners are good chrome. I take my 1A fretted as a backup, but only for a quick change if I break a string. Indeed, rock solid & reliable!

Doesn't apply, as Matsumoko don't make Westones any more.

I've been playing for a long time and now I use Westone basses exclusively. If I lost it I'd find another if I could, but I haven't seen another fretless ever! This is a genuine, original bass which is great value because it doesn't have a "desirable" name, and as such I'm very proud of it. Forget new copies - find one of these.

A mystery bass in that I can't really be sure about its age. Serial no. is 4080928. This is a Japanese made bass, early 80's, with an entry on p. 173 of Tony Bacon's "Ultimate Guitar Book". It has active electronics, with the usual volume & tone (treble cut) controls, but with circuitry that boosts treble / bass very effectively. Body is maple, as is neck, and fingerboard is rosewood. Colour is solid black with gold hardware. Tuners are Westone's own, with a headstock reminiscent of an Aria with a Westone logo and sylised "W". Pickups are fender Precision style, with a neck slightly thinner than a P bass but not as thin as a Jazz at the nut.

Playing a wide variety of Jazz (from Dixie, through mainstream to funky type stuff, there is a setting for everything. Attack is immediately translated into an aggressive sound, yet you can make it sound like a double bass plucked. Fretless gives it another dimension. With neutral settings it sounds like a Fender Jazz (which I also play) but that's just a starting point - a host of other sounds are available, from a treble growl to a deep, booming bass. I play through a small, portable Peavey Basic 110 because that suits the size of venue and combos I play with, and there's more than enough dynamic and tonal range available. There's no discernable noise whatever the settings. Body size is well proportioned and weight not excessive. Appearance is super cool!

This guitar has been "pre - owned" as they say, so the factory setup can't be commented on. With no frets, the setup is mainly concerned with a good action and string height, which are excellent. String response is even, suggesting that it has been set up properly. All in all, the only flaws I can pick out are due to patina!

This guitar is already some 11-18 years old and looks good. I would imagine it's been gigged before I owned it, and I've certainly gigged it with success - in fact it's replaced my Fender Jazz bass which has stayed in its case since I bought the Westone! The hardware has lost some of its sparkle and laquer in places, but its already an old lady! Strap buttons are super solid and I believe it's a very reliable guitar, so much so that i haven't felt the need to put the Fender in the car as a backup!

Here's the problem - how do I contact Westone? No web site, and production moved twice, I think, since this bass was made. It's simple enough for a good guitar maker / repairer to maintain it. But a complete absence of information. A means of dating it would be welcome, if anyone knows.

I play guitar and bass, all in Jazz / dance band contexts. Strictly no rock! I've played for 35 years!! I own a Gibson 335 dot reissue and an '83 Strat (the 2 control model) which has been rewired to give some wonderful sounds, both of which I play through a Fender Deluxe 112+. Also a Fender Jazz Bass and my Westone. If it were stolen I would have real difficulty replacing it - I've NEVER seen another (I wonder how many were made?). It's strength is its versatility and reliability, and, of course, the "I've never seen one like that before" pose value!