Westone Thunder 1A, MM/P pickups, oiled finish, 3 band pre etc. ... SOLD £245

[hamfist]

SOLD SOLD

I wish I could keep this, but I have 3 basses and I just can't justify keeping them all. Oh, and I really do need a new electro-acoustic 6 string. So, anyway, putting this out there to see if anyone wants to take over ownership of this absolutely cracking bass.
It's a 1982, Matsmoku-made Westone Thunder 1A, which I have seriously upgraded in many departments.

It now has a Wilkinson Musicman Stingray pickup (wired in parallel) right next to the Wilkinson Alnico Precision pickup. If you want a pickup in the MM sweetspot, in a bass with a Precision pickup too, you need to put it right up next to the P pickup. It's a great combination ... very equivalent output from each pickup, and they blend very nicely too.
It also has a brand new 18V Artec 3 band active preamp, which included a parametric mids control installed. The mini-toggle switch is to switch off the battery, so that you can leave it plugged in without using up battery power if you want.
Controls are Vol, Blend, bass, treble, mid frequency and mids level.

The finish on the bass, I have converted to an oil and wax finish and rather nice it looks too. IMO, much nicer than the std clear lacquered finish that Westone used. The grain on most of these Thunders is actually rather nice and the oil and wax brings it out so much better.

The neck is absolutely standard Westone, with it's brass nut (which the earlier ones had). Nut width is 40mm and the neck has a feel to it similar to that of a Yamaha BB424 I'd say in general dimensions. Right inbetween a J and a P shape. Bridge is original and is brass.

The bass plays beautifully and has a great woody and punchy tone. Being the age it is, it has a few dings. The only ones really mentioning are obvious in the photos and are a couple of scratches on the front of the headstock. And also on the body just below the neck socket between the neck and the lower horn (completely invisible in use). There are a few other nicks and scuffs here and there but overall the bass looks pretty classy.

Currently strung with a brand new set of nickel roundwound 105-45's.

Price is £245 posted to you in mainland UK, or £230 collected from me in the Southampton area.

Sorry, no trades unless you happen to have a really nice electro-acoustic guitar.

I don't think whoever buys this will be disappointed.

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Edited January 16, 2014 by hamfist