King Tut Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 On 19/09/2018 at 23:58, jazzmanb said: Had a Thunder 111a fretless .It was all neck Short top horn makes hard work bottom of the play board Agree with this. Big stretch to the first fret which makes them uncomfortable for me. Otherwise cracking basses. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 On 09/06/2018 at 05:59, deaky said: Hi What’s folks opinions on the 80s Japanese Westone basses? Any good? I have a chance of picking up a Thunder 1A so any feedback on this model would be much appreciated. Thanks Deak I had one for a while, the neck-through model. It was very well made, and sounded great. It also looked a bit different, which was nice. However, I let it go after only a few months. Why? That thing weighed like the Moon, and the neck dive on it was really annoying. I would recommend trying before buying or staying away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wotcher Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Anyone near Derby can grab a gumtree bargain - looks like a dx in need of some tLC. No affiliation... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Henry 'King Thumb' Thomas had a nice one... I think it's a neck-though like the one to which Mcnach refers. Remember Rockschool? I'd be cautious of paying too much for the romantic notion of some hidden gem. They were good in the day but entry-level basses have come so far in recent years that unless you have terminal nostalgia, you'd be better with a modern cheapie... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProjeKtWEREWOLF Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 I just picked what appears to be a Thunder 1A. One P pick up, two to be and one volume control, with 2 switches. The control knobs are black plastic with numbers, not brass though. The serial number puts it at mid 1983. It's a bit tatty cosmetically but the electronics look tidy and the neck is good. Any ideas why the knobs are plastic? Replacement brass ones are really ££££ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 19 minutes ago, ProjeKtWEREWOLF said: I just picked what appears to be a Thunder 1A. One P pick up, two to be and one volume control, with 2 switches. The control knobs are black plastic with numbers, not brass though. The serial number puts it at mid 1983. It's a bit tatty cosmetically but the electronics look tidy and the neck is good. Any ideas why the knobs are plastic? Replacement brass ones are really ££££ You lucky werewolf! Original had knurled brass knobs with a grub screw - yours has most prob had plastic put on when someone knicked the brass ones for another project, or maybe just preferred the look. You know the rules - pics or it didn't happen! Love my Thunder 1A 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProjeKtWEREWOLF Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 (edited) Flickr photo 57 minutes ago, Teebs said: You lucky werewolf! Original had knurled brass knobs with a grub screw - yours has most prob had plastic put on when someone knicked the brass ones for another project, or maybe just preferred the look. You know the rules - pics or it didn't happen! Love my Thunder 1A Nice colour. I will post a pic asap. That's what I reckoned about the knobs; they're pretty pricy. The best thing is that it was FREE!!!!!! 😎 Edited February 5, 2019 by ProjeKtWEREWOLF 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProjeKtWEREWOLF Posted February 5, 2019 Share Posted February 5, 2019 (edited) Westone Thunder 1A bass (1983) by Hywel Cross, on Flickr 1 hour ago, Teebs said: The truss rod cover is the correct shape, but is white and has no logo. Weird. Maybe the previous owner reversed it? I will pull it off when I change the strings. Edited February 5, 2019 by ProjeKtWEREWOLF Photo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted February 6, 2019 Share Posted February 6, 2019 8 hours ago, ProjeKtWEREWOLF said: Westone Thunder 1A bass (1983) by Hywel Cross, on Flickr The truss rod cover is the correct shape, but is white and has no logo. Weird. Maybe the previous owner reversed it? I will pull it off when I change the strings. Nice bass! As you say, it'll be difficult to replace the knobs with something that matches the original - they were brass finish (rather than gold) & quite a broad diameter. If you don't like the look of the plastic ones, you could get something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/VS004-Vintage-Control-Telecaster-Guitars/dp/B01M3S6L3E/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549432720&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Guitar+knobs+brass+flat+top&dpPl=1&dpID=41jIB-3-NFL&ref=plSrch - not too expensive. I'm not sure about the truss rod cover, you might be right about it having been reversed, although mine is solid black. Enjoy your Thunder ⚡ projeKtWEREWOLF! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProjeKtWEREWOLF Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Update. The truss rod cover was reversed for some reason. I will need new screws. Truss rod cover of Westone Thunder 1A bass by Hywel Cross, on Flickr I removed the strings and cleaned up the sticker (scraped it off with the edge of a CD, then used nail varnish remover). Westone Thunder 1A bass starting to be stripped down for deep cleaning. by Hywel Cross, on Flickr I will remove the bridge and give it a good clean. The electronics look to be in good nick. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 29 minutes ago, ProjeKtWEREWOLF said: Update. The truss rod cover was reversed for some reason. I will need new screws. Truss rod cover of Westone Thunder 1A bass by Hywel Cross, on Flickr I removed the strings and cleaned up the sticker (scraped it off with the edge of a CD, then used nail varnish remover). Westone Thunder 1A bass starting to be stripped down for deep cleaning. by Hywel Cross, on Flickr I will remove the bridge and give it a good clean. The electronics look to be in good nick. Looking good! 👍 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalDeep Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 Just picked one up and thought Id explore the thread for more info. Amazing that the going rate a year ago was £150, theyre all like £300-450 now!! I got mine for £200 and consider it a bargain as its in great nick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 On 26/07/2019 at 19:49, CalDeep said: Just picked one up and thought Id explore the thread for more info. Amazing that the going rate a year ago was £150, theyre all like £300-450 now!! I got mine for £200 and consider it a bargain as its in great nick. A recent rush of nostalgia I think. They used to be almost given away. Shame because the really nice ones, the two pickup genuine neck through models, go for a heck of a lot!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 19 minutes ago, uk_lefty said: A recent rush of nostalgia I think. They used to be almost given away. Shame because the really nice ones, the two pickup genuine neck through models, go for a heck of a lot!! That's a Thunder iii - the Thunder i is nothing like as nice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 3 hours ago, uk_lefty said: A recent rush of nostalgia I think. They used to be almost given away. Shame because the really nice ones, the two pickup genuine neck through models, go for a heck of a lot!! I had the neckthrough one, active. Very very nice, but it was as heavy as a small planet. Sold it to a Dutch guy who came over for a weekend in Edinburgh to pick it up and was over the moon with it. They didn't go for as much money back then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 When a Thunder 1 came up on here, I grabbed it. Back in the 80s it was the bass you got if you couldn't afford a precision and the rumour was they were better made (it may well have been true). The one I got came up really nice, sounds fantastic ... and weighs a ton. My brother had a 1A back in the day and now has a lefty Spectrum DX. But who can say teh Thunder 1 isn't pretty? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 9 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: My brother had a 1A back in the day and now has a lefty Spectrum DX. I was tempted to get one of those that came up recently but looked like it needed sinking it cillit bang for a month so i decided against enraging the wife for unknown upside. Do they sound any good? I like the look with the black and red colour combo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 3 hours ago, uk_lefty said: I was tempted to get one of those that came up recently but looked like it needed sinking it cillit bang for a month so i decided against enraging the wife for unknown upside. Do they sound any good? I like the look with the black and red colour combo He likes it! I haven't really had much of a go with it, I struggle to get anything out of a lefty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defo Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 They were great beginner instruments in the 80s, rated over Squiers. Seems to me though all you have to do is add the word "Matsumoku" to anything and it doubles its value. I love 80s basses and have a few hanging on my wall - buy but don't get ripped off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prowla Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 I've got a Thunder Mk 1 and it is a really good sounding bass; I bought it last year for £140. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigthumb Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 A Westone ThunderJet was my first bass. I've not played one for 30 years but I'd like to hear one through a good modern amp just to see how they really sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysbass Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 As a long-time Thunder III owner still hooked on the looks of these basses, I found a couple of solutions to the neck-dive issue. The main one that served me well for many years is 4" wide suede-backed strap. The other more recent one is replacing the stock tuners with Gotoh lightweight ones. I now find the bass comfortable enough to play for a couple of hours without a break. ps - I've added a couple of photos of my Thunder III to my original post on page 1 of this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrDaveTheBass Posted August 6, 2019 Share Posted August 6, 2019 I've got a couple of Thunder 1As - one fretted, the other fretless. The fretted one was my first bass, and now lives in my daughter's guitar rack. If you're into Westones, you might find this forum useful: http://westone.forumotion.com/ There's a lot of information here too: http://www.westoneguitars.net/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlBer Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 On 05/10/2018 at 14:20, King Tut said: Agree with this. Big stretch to the first fret which makes them uncomfortable for me. Otherwise cracking basses. Totally agree -- that's the main drawback. Great basses otherwise. As for the weight, nothing abnormal IMO considering they are ash basses with active electronics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarlscharisma Posted October 31, 2020 Share Posted October 31, 2020 On 31/07/2019 at 07:14, bigthumb said: A Westone ThunderJet was my first bass. I've not played one for 30 years but I'd like to hear one through a good modern amp just to see how they really sound. Me too, served me well. A similar topic going on in that other bass forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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