Westone Thunder 1A Bass - 1986 - Red

[bowenjaybee]

Thunder 1A Bass 1986 version

I think I struck gold with this beauty. I didn't have to do much with it, looks like it's spent most of it's life in a case. There is barely a mark on it

I just gave the frets a good going over because they had turned green!!

I can't decide on the colour??? Candy Apple red, Fire Red, Purple Red???? I just don't know, It seems to change colour in different light

[Barry]

Oh baby! That's just outstanding, what beautiful condition!
And she's got a properly designed bridge too. No bent and twisted string ends. Yay!

[PaulS]

Oh my goodness that is NICE. Red Delicious? I ate one at lunchtime that was about that colour. But... just imagine if it were black...

What are the improvements in the later 1A models - I see no split pup, anything else going on?

[bowenjaybee]

what beautiful condition!

I wanted a second Westone Bass to play in a band so I wouldn't beat my '82 Thunder 1 Bass up, but this turns out to be in better condition, what bloody bad luck eh!

[Barry]

Poor sod. Life is cruel.

[bowenjaybee]

What are the improvements in the later 1A models - I see no split pup, anything else going on?

I’m not sure about improvements but as the pics show the later 1A Basses certainly had a few changes, Magnabass pickup, Magnacast bridge and the Switchmaster knobs. The dual tone switch has been replaced by a pull - push on the volume pot and it has 2 extra frets.

This version is mentioned on the Westone site in the Thunder 1A Bass models list but I can’t see it in any of the catalogues.

It’s the first time I’ve come across the Magnabass pickup and been the curious person I am when I was cleaning the bass I just had to take it out for a look but the pickup was sealed in the plastic cover with a few blobs of glue... so I quickly put it back and resisted the temptation to dismantle it any further.

Jay

[Warrn]

I quite like the Magnabass pickups on my Spectrum and Dimension basses, how does the Magnabass Thunder compare to the split pup Thunder soundwise?

[bowenjaybee]

I haven't tried it through a bass amp yet cos I don't have one at home, but through my little vox guitar amp the magnabass pickup does sound a lot livelier and brighter than my '82 Thunder 1 bass but it could be the Red basses strings or the maple body! hard to compare really