Westone Prestige 227

Made in Japan, 1984, this is quite a rare model. It has the Prestige outline that's somewhere between Strat and Les Paul. Well-carved arch top solid body, multiple top binding, glued-in neck with a "heelless" joint that lets you get right up the 22 fret rosewood board. I think the body is maple from what I can see through the paint chips. It's heavy - approaching Les Paul sort of weight. Graphite nut. Frets are original medium ovals and a bit low for my taste but it does play well. All black hardware includes the standard Westone trem (not fabulous and beware of missing arms 'cos they're an odd size), a pair of MMK75 humbuckers, 3 way toggle, 2 volumes and 2 tones. The tone controls are push/pull to split the humbucker coils for a twangier sound. The worst feature is the stupid tension bar that is screwed to the headstock face beghind the nut and does nothing other than wreck the tuning when the trem's in use. Fortunately, it can be removed in about 2 minutes and then the guitar plays well. Mine is finished in a strangely pleasing metallic blue that fades lightly in the centre. I've also seen a similar redburst. Overall, it's very much like a PRS product in terms of design, flexibility and quality, the major difference being value for money and sheer useability (the Westone's better on both counts).

It sounds good, lots of sustain and very crisp. The humbuckers have power, definition and decent tone. In split mode they still have a fair output so you don't feel cheated when switching.

I got it secondhand and somewhat abused. The original workmanship was clearly of very high quality and the guitar was easy to set up into a fine instrument.

It's obviously tough and durable, excellent quality finish and components. Take off the tension bar and it's a useful live tool that stays in tune and cuts through a band mix..

The original Westone company stopped trading in 1987.

I've been playing 30 years and have owned innumerable guitars from junk cheapies to Gibson, PRS, etc. I collect Westones and value the Prestige series highly. This version didn't disappoint and I count myself lucky to have found it.