Paul S Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I am currently watching with interest a Westbury Track 2 on eBay. There is something about those vaguely SG shaped, double cutaway basses I find appealing. I've done a search of the forums here and discovered they are good quality, Matsumoku built, prone to head dive, a lot of peoples' first bass that they wish they'd never sold etc etc But what I can't find reference to anywhere are some specific things. Does anyone have one that could measure a/ the weight b/ the width of the neck at the nut? and c/ is there any routing under the scratchplate or could it be removed? Failing that, any comparisons? - I have read 'lighter than a Washburn Scavenger' but, then again, so is my car. ta! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatEric Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 I nearly bought one, a couple of years ago - nothing wrong with the bass, he just wanted too much and wouldn't budge! From memory, it was a bit head heavy - punchy sound, neck more P than J - Sort of Gibson ish, if that makes any sense. I'm almost certain it was long scale, although it looks like it should be medium scale. I don't remember it being heavy but as I play various T-40's, it would have felt light, anyway!! Don't know about the routing. I think Jon (Bassassin) had one of these and liked it. Don't think they fetch huge money - apart from the one I was trying to buy! Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelk27 Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1346319852' post='1787766'][D]one a search of the forums here and discovered they are good quality[/quote] I'd have to disagree about that assessment. Definitely at the bottom of the scale, quality-wise, for production from Matsumoku. Certainly built to a price point, which shows. Usual b*llsh*t about all these coming with DiMarzio pickups, etc, etc. Matsumoku's own, in-house pickups, or stuff sourced sourced from Maxon. Personally, at anything more that £50, I wouldn't waste your money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted August 30, 2012 Author Share Posted August 30, 2012 Ah, ok, thanks. Although I do think I set my sights rather lower than you do, Noel. Just out of curiosity, how would you rate one of these compared to, say, Ario Pro II Cardinal series? Or one of the JapCrap/Epiphone SG shapes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickster Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 (edited) Hi Paul I have a Track 4 - which is the same body / neck as the Track 2 but with double split P pups. Weight is a tad under 11lbs - it actually feels heavier because the (walnut?) body is quite small and all that weight is packed into a small, thick body. It doesn't neck dive and is actually pretty comfy played standing, but the location of the cutaways does makes it dive when played sitting down. The neck is 1 & 5/8" at the nut, so very close to a current P bass neck. Its also very thick front-to-back - even more so than a current USA P. Personally, I always really liked the neck, even though I have quite small hands. Haven't had the guard off in ages - from memory I think it was fairly clean under there. Bass is definitely long scale. Will try and post a couple of pics on here in the next day or two. You've prbly already found this but in case not: http://www.bgra.net/2004/review.php?id=2047&type=bass HTH, Mark Edited August 30, 2012 by mickster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 Mark, many thanks. That is just the info I was looking for - don't worry about pics, you have told me all I need to know - too heavy, neck too big! I have reasonably big hands but favour slim necks and my back won't let me wear heavy basses for long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Hey Paul, Don't suppose you could throw me the link if you're not interested could you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregBass Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I assume it's this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-WESTBURY-JAPANESE-BASS-GUITAR-/160874162056?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2574d8e788 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 [quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1346330334' post='1787925'] I'd have to disagree about that assessment. Definitely at the bottom of the scale, quality-wise, for production from Matsumoku. Certainly built to a price point, which shows. [b]Usual b*llsh*t about all these coming with DiMarzio pickups[/b], etc, etc. Matsumoku's own, in-house pickups, or stuff sourced sourced from Maxon. Personally, at anything more that £50, I wouldn't waste your money. [/quote] Are you sure about that? They were definitely advertised as coming with DiMarzios, even using the DiMarzio logo IIRC. That's not to say that perhaps earlier/later models weren't fitted with something else though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickster Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 [quote name='Musky' timestamp='1346447424' post='1789485'] Are you sure about that? They were definitely advertised as coming with DiMarzios, even using the DiMarzio logo IIRC. That's not to say that perhaps earlier/later models weren't fitted with something else though. [/quote] Yeah, I was always under impression they were real DiMarzios too. Will maybe pull one to have a look for any ID marks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Could be that one. I looked at it before, but the bridge has been changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 Yes, that was the one. Apparently the bridge is a real weak point - a couple of the threads on here going back mention this. Saved you the bother of putting a new one on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Ive had two over the years- never had issue with the bridge. I would still much rather have the original bridge though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentbob Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 I've had two of these, both were fitted with genuine DiMarzio pups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudewheresmybass Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 I'll check mine too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive shakedown Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Mine has dimarzios too, and very very well made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Missed this thread at the time, but some interesting assertions/opinions being expressed! I have two Westburys - a Track Two and a Westy Standard guitar. Normally I'd say Noelk27 is the man to listen to in terms of this era of MIJ instruments, but his view here doesn't concur with my experience. Pickups are DiMarzio, as several respondents have already said - afaik they were across the range. While build quality isn't as stellar as, say SB series Aria Pros or the high-end Washburns, they are far from being tat - bodies are solid timber, mahogany according to the catalogue, iirc, hardware is mostly decent - apart from that 3-point bridge which bends & cracks after a few decades' string tension. The Track 2 & Track IV are, despite being aesthetically similar, entirely different basses. The 2 is a simple, bolt-neck, slab body design while the IV has a carved arch top and set-neck construction. I'd assume (having never played one) that the IV is somewhat heavier, and as that extra weight's in the body, maybe a little less prone to neck-dive. Anyway, for good measure, here's my Westbury Synchro Pair: [sharedmedia=core:attachments:64632] Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMG456 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 It's been a long time but back in the late 70's/ early 80's I took a jigsaw to a track two bass and the equivalent 6 string guitar to form a demountable twin neck ala mike Rutherford's demountable Sheregold. I seem to remember that the body core was indeed mahogany but there was a thin layer of ply on the front and back. This was similar construction to an Antoria precision that I still have. DiMarzio pickups for sure and they were decent, workhorse type instruments. Cheers Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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