Westone Spectrum ST

[munkieNL]

As opposed to my other Westone, a Thunder I, see my other post, this Spectrum ST needed no major surgery. Good fretwork, almost complete, everything works. No trem arm, this one is from an Aria Pro II RS, fits nicely.



It hasn't been sitting in a collection for 25 years, see the belt wear. I'm very much impressed by the way this guitar has survived 25 years of (ab)use.



I had to get used to the headstock...Rock solid maple neck with graphite nut and excellent (Gotoh?) tuners.



The only real flaw: a missing tuner cover. Still works perfectly though.



Matsumoku Japan!

I'm an old dude with 30 years of guitar experience. The only time i have ever played a Strat-like guitar with such a stable non-Floyd vibrato system was 6 months ago when i tested a Cort G series with probably a Wilkinson tremolo and Sperzel tuners. You an even do divebombs with this Spectrum and it will return in tune. I have recently bought an Ibanez with a FR licensed tremolo which took 2 days to set up!

The neck is perfect, very playable, stable, good fretwork. Sonically it's bright, maybe a bit too much for bluesrock or classic rock. Although when playing in a 2 guitar band it could be just right to cut through. Good sustain though. The coiltap sounds a bit thin, OK for clean stuff with a bit of chorus on. The pulled out tone pot knob gets in the way of the vibrato arm. I might try a GFS Power Rails in the bridge position for hardrock/metal.

Again: what a bargain!

[Barry]

...I'm very much impressed by the way this guitar has survived 25 years of (ab)use.
The neck is perfect, very playable, stable, good fretwork. Sonically it's bright, maybe a bit too much for bluesrock or classic rock. Although when playing in a 2 guitar band it could be just right to cut through. Good sustain though. The coiltap sounds a bit thin, OK for clean stuff with a bit of chorus on. The pulled out tone pot knob gets in the way of the vibrato arm. I might try a GFS Power Rails in the bridge position for hardrock/metal.
Again: what a bargain!

Congrats munkie, they don't get much better than Spectrums!
My first is just like this one, and I bought it new in '85. Gigged with it for years, recorded with it, and I still have it! Actually, it was also my first Mats guitar--I now have 6 Westies and 6 Vantages.

Warning! These things are addictive! (Is that GAS I hear?? )

[munkieNL]

I always thought Mat was a hype until I scored an Aria Pro II RS for 5 euro on a flea market. Cleaned her up a bit, new strings, setup, plug in and...whoah!
Alas many Mat guitars have become collectible but sometimes i can pick up a cheap fixer-upper, see my Thunder post here. I have a Vantage VP700 and an Aria YS300 too, all of them excellent quality guitars. Now for that elusive Washburn Falcon/Hawk/Eagle...

[norfolkngood]

If you want to feast your eyes on a good-as-they-get Eagle, have a look at item 190362643323 on (US) ebay.

If money were no object what would it be... Washburn Eagle or Westone Prestige

[Barry]

If you want to feast your eyes on a good-as-they-get Eagle...

Oh Lordy, that's a beauty!
(If I were a rich man...dee da dee da dee da dee da dum!)

[munkieNL]

I think i've seen that one go for under 400$ recently. Snapped up by a dealer of course. I've had the same experence with a Vantage here in Holland recently, the guy snapped the guitar up, posted a look-what-i-found post in a Dutch forum and then put it on for sale. Damn dealers

[munkieNL]

SOUND DEMO: http://www.quickfilepost.com/download.do?get=24190ead5cf82f74ac5c722ad33af299
(click the link and download the MP3)

Just me, myself, my Spectrum, a cheap Chinese jazzbass copy, a line6 POD, a Tascam US122L USB interface and a PC. Remember Billy Cobham's "Spectrum" album?

[Barry]

Great playing monkey-man!!
You can't beat those Spectrums, eh? ('course some talent is nice too! )

[MarkW]

Raaaaaar! Sweet ST, munkie.

Oddly enough my beat up ST is also is missing a tuner cover. I'm sure a small metal disc shouldn't be too hard to locate for it... it won't have the W logo of course

Cool purchase!