Westone Spectrum ST

I love my Spectrum. I think I was lucky to get hold of one of Westone's least hair-metal, most 'normal' guitars. Mine was made in '86, and I've owned it since 2005. The original black tough-as-hell polymer finish was getting a little beaten up, so I've recently repainted it in satin black enamel. The body is made from several pieces of maple and shaped like a Strat/SG hybrid. The bridge is a strat-style trem. Tuners are Gotoh TSM (Trem System Approved) and still good after 21 years.

The neck is reasonably fat for a bolt-on, really comfortable to play. 22 Jumbo frets. Maple (I think) with a rosewood fretboard.

Pickups: two splittable 'unbalanced coil' Westone Magnaflux passive humbuckers.
Controls: volume, tone (push-pull to split the coils), 3-way Gibson style toggle switch.

I mess around with a lot of styles - jazz, country, grunge, hardcore, classic rock, post-rock etc. etc.... the Spectrum is just fine for any of these; the only thing it can't really do is metal (kind of ironic given that it looks like a metal axe, and Westone made signature models for Pantera). I'm currently playing through a Peavey Triumph 60w (all tube, but still CRAP), clean channel only, using a tubescreamer for overdrive. The pickups are okay, not great. The neck pickup has a nice, chunky, bassy tone to it, but can be muddy. The bridge pickup is just generally weak and characterless. Probably its best setting is both pickups at once, full humbucking mode - you can get almost thinline tele tones. Split, the pickups are pretty thin and hopeless.

Noise - not too bad, but could be quieter. There's some internal shielding.

I'm planning on replacing the pickups when I can afford to. Not sure what kind of sound I want though.

Well, I bought the guitar after it had suffered 19 years of gigging, and it was set up just fine. I use .11 - .54s. You can get a very low action without buzz, perfect for shredding (if only I could shred). The finish is basic and unadorned - space-age polymer hard-coated body and neck, no binding, no fancy inlays - but very well executed. Every part fits together perfectly, the frets are installed properly. As I always say,the next best thing to an old Japanese Ibanez is another old Japanese guitar.

For a guitar aimed at the lower end of the market, the hardware is very good. Think Mexican or Japanese Fender rather than Chinese Squier. Quality tuners, solid bridge, graphite nut, plating that doesn't flake off like dandruff.

This guitar will withstand, and has withstood, and was made to withstand live playing. It's built like a bunker, as someone said below. Were I actually gigging, I'd use it without a backup if I had to (although even with the best guitar, that would still be stupid). It's three years younger than me and will probably outlive my grandchildren.

Sadly, they're defunct.

I've been playing for around five years and this is the best gat I've owned. I also have a heavily modded squire tele with Sky p-90s which sounds better but is nowhere near as playable. I only wish it was string-thru-body rather than having the sustain-sucking strat style tremolo. Honestly, who ever uses those things?!

I love its versatility, playability and bad-ass looks. If it was stolen or broken I'd cry like an emo kid, and search the net for another.

Actually, probably its best feature is the price. For some reason, people are happy to pay NZ$900 for a new Epiphoney Les Paul, but won't give a guitar like the Westone a second glance. Oh well - all the more old Japanese guitars for me!

A plain, black Spectrum ST doesn't look much, it's a bit dull and boring. Easy on the eyes, but not much more. My father bought my Spectrum in 1987, brand new (5-series), for NOK 1.700 (EUR 205/USD 260 using todays exvhange rate) including original hardcase (MUST have been priced wrong!). After adjusting the neck and bridge, it proved to be a nice beginners instrument for a 12 year old boy. The neck (22 frets) is slim and it's relatively easy to play. I've got an Epiphone EB-3 too, that plays extremely easy, but the Spectrum is better for real rock - a bit more resistance. With it's single pickup and tone control, the possibilites to adjust the sound are not very many. One comment on balacing: The Spectrum is medium in size and weight, but I think the balance is perfect. It hangs straight and good on me while playing.

It sounds better than it looks, and better than what you would expect from a simple, old low-priced Japanese bass! A rich tone that (as others have remarked) works extremely well on overdrive. The sounds isn't as clear and bright as my EB-3 and fretless Fender Jazzbass, but more full and solid. This is my ROCKguiter, e.g. when I'm playing 70's and 80's heavy metal. My EB-3 is for blues and more jazzy stuff, while the fretless j-bass is for the smooth and funky music.

The set up was crappy, but easy to fix. Nothing wrong with the finish - exept from scratches and marks made by me during the years, the finish is still as blank and shiny as almost 20 years ago. As others have said, an instrument must fit the player. This is MY bass, the others are instruments while the Spectrum is more as an integrated part of myself when playing.

Incredible... This bass has survived me and my life since I was 12 years old (19 years now) - without ANY problems. It has moved with me through the entire country of Norway (7 times), and had a lots of falls and bumping into furniture and other things. But still nothing more than a few scratches. This bass is extremely durable!

Not existing, but who needs customer support when the bass never experiences any problems?

The Westone Spectrum ST is a simple and anonymous bass, with few possibilities for adjusting sound. It plays relatively easy, but is perfect for rock! The sound is not too bright and crispy, but full and rich - sounds good on overdrive! I love it, it's sooo solid and durable, and has become a part of me.

well the serial numer starts with the number 3, so I think it's build in '83, one volume, one tone knob and you can use the toneknob by pulling him...for humb. ore single coil...nice....Colour white...2 humb./single coil...strings through body...and a tremelo arm. Dont know what kind of wood...but you can also use it in war...protecting against any nuclear threat...hum. Neck feels good...sticky...my other elekt. guitar has a oilled neck..it feels good

I have played Fender Strat, Gibson Victory, Ibanez Proline (still does..), but does stupid guitar sings, cry's preciously how I want it..The neck Humb. sounds great..warm...Al Dimeola at his best...and clean...warm and jazzy..and again...the importance thing..It feels good...a guitar..must be a part of you....a kind of telepatic relation..he knows what you wanna do!! And the stupid Westone does!!

i've bought the Westone second hands and the action was more than bad, the D-snare have I much heavyer action than the others (does somebody following me..?) Frets are good, i have to bring it to a store who can tune the bastard...but on the other way...it's my guitar and fits my well....you know what I mean? (oke Neill)

This guitar is a German bunker (what the hell is the English word for a heavy sollid kind of grey dull building made only for war..?)I think you can use the guitar for nearly evything...so long as it means something with protection!! I think when people discover our world...they find a lot of old buildings, which you hardly recognize als a building..and a Westone Spectrum ST...and than they ask....what the hell is this?

Duhhhh, the matsomuka fact. does not excist any more...damned....

Since I am the owner of a Westone..I wanna collect every kind of Westone....give me Hope!!
By the way (bij de weg..) does anyone understand what i mean?

I bought a 2nd hand 80`s Japanese Westone Spectrum ST off a colleague several years a go and it was the 2nd guitar I ever bought. Its a pretty plain looking guitar, with a shape somewhere between a Strat and an SG, 22 frets, 2 humbucker pickups, tone, volume and 3-way pickup selector.

Ive had a selection of cheap guitars and I would say the Westone was the best sounding of them all. Most low price guitars tend to have very weedy pickups with a thin nasal tone, but the Westone has quite a nice sound to it especially when overdriven. After owning this guitar for a couple of years I bought a Jackson Performer, which should have been a superior guitar. While the Jackson had a louder/fuller output than the Westone, the quality of the Westone`s overdriven sound was much clearer - more growl and less fuzz.

When first playing this guitar I thought the neck was a bit on the fat side. Ive gotten used to it now. The frets are quite chunky and have lasted really well. The action is average but it still somehow plays better at the 12th fret than any of my other guitars. The string alignment is good with both the 1st and 6th strings being equal and reasonable distance from the edge of the fretboard. It just doesnt feel like most of the cheap tacky guitars you see around.

This is the guitars strongest point. Ive treated this guitar really badly over the last few years. Ive dropped it many times, messed around with the neck, drilled holes in it - even butchered a chunk out of the body to fit a 3rd centre humbucker. Ive made a mess of this guitar cosmetically - but it still holds together ROCK SOLID. The tuners are the best Ive ever seen on a budget guitar and would put many mid-priced models to shame. The neck`s solid, the hardware is really good quality.

Doesnt look like much but when its got it where it counts.

Made in Japan at the Matsumoku factory in the early eighties, Strat-style body with slighty sharper horns and wider lower bout, nice, high quality gloss black finish, solid wood body (mahagony?) with nice heft, neck (mahagony) and headstock coated wirh graphite black finish (great feel on neck,) mini-Schaller-style tuners, floating adjustable bridge, Fender-style tremolo, two passive Fender-style humbuckers with pull-up tone switch coil tap, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, 22 frets clear, medium frets, sort of a Telecaster on steriods, like a tele Thinline.

This versatile guitar is useful to me for a broad range of styles from jazz to crunch rock, all residing in the general territory of Fenderland. I use a Musicman HD 130 2X12, and this guitar sounds great through it. I tend to roll a bit of treble off of any bridge pickup, and when I do on this guitar, I get a tone that would make James Burton smile. Overdriven, it thickens up and absolutely howls. Neck pickup is rich and dynamic, great for clean, jazzy playing and overdriven, it has a fat, bluesy honk that sounds great. I don't use the split-coil sound much, but those settings are distinct and pleasing.

No dealer involved; company is gone. Guitar came well-set-up by somebody. Electronics are completely quiet. Control cavity appears to have been shielded with paint, and even the inside of the lid had shielding tape on it. Neck joint squeaky tight, killer neck with some meat on it, but great ease of playing, all the way to the top fret on all six strings, actually one of the most surprisingly comfortable and addictive necks I've ever felt. Some of the best fret dressing and neck radiusing I've come across. Very firm, tight guitar. Tremolo works great for the mild sort of use I give it, and I plan to take it in and have it adjusted so it works a bit smoother. The only minor gripe I have is is that the nut appears to be graphite and is a bit soft.

Seems well-built enough in every respect to be used anywhere anytime.

NA

I've been playing for decades, and I've owned a wide variety of Gibsons, Fenders and other major label axes. These guitars are described as budget-priced axes with pro components, and that exactly describes this instrument. There is nothing "budget" about it; it's a full-on gigging axe that wouldn't embarrass me. Given the origianl low prices of these guitars and the small sums they sell for nowadays, I'd have to say that compared to recent Koream imports and even a lot of American Fenders, this guitar stands out. This guitar is the best deal I've ever gotten on a electric guitar. How did they cram so much quality into such an inexpensive guitar? I plan to buy more Westones. I'd be really unhappy if this guitar was stolen, and I'd begin looking for another right away. I can't put the damned thing down. More Japanese Westones!

Lovely guitar to play, basic body shape and no scratch plate. 2 humbuckers with a cool additional switch to single coil sound. absolutely no idea how old or origin of this guitar.

A very versatile and colourful sound You can get almost any sound you like out of it. I use it for blues and southern rock.

Although already good I did manage to make the action a little better without losing the tone.

This guitar would be a great choice for any guitarist (bedroom, jamming or live) I've knocked it several times, and panicked, but when inspected it's been absolutely fine.
I would certainly feel confident depending on this guitar any time.

Bought 2nd hand

Eventually I want to get a (Jimmy Page) Les Paul, But I wouldn't part with this guitar until I've got one, and even then only if I need to sell it on, I've had this guitar now For 6 years and did most of my learning on it. Generally a perfect guitar for anyone, any style, in any situation.

I'm not sure the year or the location made.
It has 22 frets with a solid top. It has the standard volume knob and three way switch, plus a dual purpose tone knob.
It has one humbucker and two singles.

My style is mostly clean rock. It suits it really well. I use it on a Roland KC100 keyboard amp ( I haven't bought a guitar amp yet ) and a Boss DS-1 distortion stompbox.

It is never noisy, almost perfect.
You can make it play almost anything, from a muddy, bassy sound to a clean sound, to a earsplitting high for leads.

I love the pickup combos.

I don't know just how many owners this thing has gone through, but for how it's setup, I like it.

Everything is perfect!

This guitar will DEFINATELY withstand live playing. The strap buttons get a little loose sometimes though. The finish is TOUGH. I'd depend on it, and yes, I'd use it without a backup.

Never dealt with the company.

I've been playing for about a year and a half now. I own a Roland XP-10. If this was stolen or lost, I'd get a Fender Strat. Definetly my dream guitar.

Excellent guitar with two humbuckers that are really good distorted or clean. Pulling out the tone knob will change from humbuckers to single-coil. 22 fret neck, floating bridge and metal whammy. Plays like a dream.

Suits all music styles. Excellent sound for anything. because of the single coil/ humbucker feature were you can change, the guitar can have almost any sound. (obviously excluding hollow bodied instruments)

Great action, fairly low for speed but still dosen't rattle or anything. Can't really think of anything wrong with it.

Solid and comfortable. WOnt fail on you.

Sorry got it second hand.

Excellent overall.

The spectrum ST has a very harsh thrashie sound, it is very comfortable to play and is great to play stuff like metallica or pantera. I was given mined by an old friend who whilst pissed up vertually distroyed it. It only cost #20 to repaire my self and this was the first project of this type I have performed. I think that this modle has an advantage over the SX as it doesnt have a floyed rose bridge and trhe pickups sound a lot better.

You must Get one of these guitars#1

A nice feature not mentioned above is that the pickups can be cut from double coil to single by lifting the tone knob, switching from a somewhat Gibson sound to a Fender sound. Also in the middle position of the toggle switch the instrument sounds almost acoustic when played single coil.

Guitar has a very clean sound when played with minimum effects but can really sing when overdriven. On the negative side, it has a somewhat warbley sound on the very high notes.

Very good finish which seems to be very deep. Guitar has a very comfortable fit.

Bought this about 12 years ago used. Have used it a ton of times and although I now gig with a Strat Plus Deluxe and also play a 70's Epiphone EA-250 I can't part with this instrument. Put it on consignment once when I felt that I had too many guitars. It didn't sell in three months and I went in and played it. I had to bring it back home. Very dependable guitar.

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With the band I play the Fender but in the informal jams I am constantly getting in I tend to go for the Westone or the Epiphone hollow body. Running it through an RP6 you can hardly tell one from another. I've gotten a good many excellent recodings using it and it has definitely become a keeper for me.