avengers63 Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 I have no idea when I'll really get around to working on this hardcore, what I'll end up needing to do, how far I'll take it, etc, etc, etc. I paid $175 shipped for it. Since Westones are pretty good to begin with, I don't believe I'll have to do any hardware upgrades. The seller said the bridge pup is weak and the wiring is a little wonky. Here's what I know for certain: two of the three knobs are gone one pot has a broken shaft I hate the switch tip the jack plate has been moved leaving exposed holes lots of chips in the paint no locks in the clampy-thing on the headstock the bottom of the headstock has been beat to hell the wiring cavity doesn't look very fun, and has almost no shielding I have the feeling that I'll want to replace the pups, if only out of principle. Since I'll have to do the one pot, and the bridge pup is reportedly bad, I'll probably do a complete re-wire. The original paint/finish is REALLY thick and has a ton of chips, so a re-paint isn't out of the question. I'm pretty sure that the tuners & bridge can just be cleaned up and will still be good to go. For those who have done projects like this before, I'd welcome any tips your experience can provide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Matsumako hand built finery. Awesome score, these are under valued farrrrr too much in my opinion. Do her justice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Why cant we edit posts.... gonna do this again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted August 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Man....... I ain't NEVER doing that again. It looks killer, but it was an enormous pain to do. If I go for a refinish, I'll want to try and emulate the white model with the stripes. Pure 80's cheese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supplebanana Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Hey - I got a chrome bridge like that on the Explorer(ish) guitar I built years ago (currently stripped for a refinish too!). It's a single locking Floyd. IMHO - you've got two choices - relic the sh!t out of it (half way there already) & replace the dodgy electrics or go for the total refinish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maull Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Personally I would just customize the he11 out of it. Why bother with 80's cheese when you can come up with something cool and original for a paint job? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted August 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 Why bother with 80's cheese when you can come up with something cool and original for a paint job? Because I happen to love me some 80's cheese. I love the Dynasty because it was around when I started playing guitar in '87. My shop carried Westone, and had a Dynasty I always liked to mess around with. Now that I finally have one, it's all about nostalgia for me. Trying to recapture that 80's vibe is what a refinish would be all about for me. FWIW: I've had a Rail bass for >20 years. I've wanted to make a guitar version for some time. I'd love to get ahold of a satin lavender Geneses some day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plinky Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 I love the Dynasty because it was around when I started playing guitar in '87. My shop carried Westone, and had a Dynasty I always liked to mess around with. Now that I finally have one, it's all about nostalgia for me. Trying to recapture that 80's vibe is what a refinish would be all about for me. Same here. The cheesier the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 I always wanted one of the high end Pantera in pearl white.... might have to replikator that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 BTW Matsumoku guitars seem to be way over valued these days... they are supposed to be great pawn shop guitars not collectors items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted August 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 BTW Matsumoku guitars seem to be way over valued these days... they are supposed to be great pawn shop guitars not collectors items. That - and what we do here - is why I went for a beater. I've seen these go for $400-$600 on eBay is good shape. Nice Pantera and Genesis models can easily go for more. If I were to spend that much doe a "vintage" ax, I'd look for a Teisco Spectrum with all the knobs and split pups. I guess the market finally realized that Westones better than what we used to think they were. I didn't realize it until a few years ago. The only endorsers I remember them having were Trevor Rabin and Leslie West. They were handled by SLM, which also handled Crate (mid-grade amps), Memphis guitars (low end crap), Alvarez (average-low acoustics), etc. So in my mind, Westone was mediocre-by-association. FWIW: St. Louis Music (SLM) is still in business. One of the bus routes I drove goes right past them. If it weren't for having a stable job with the bus company, I'd apply there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 BTW Matsumoku guitars seem to be way over valued these days... they are supposed to be great pawn shop guitars not collectors items. prices have gone up? O.o Apparently I need to snag some of these local ones haha, they are all dirt cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 BTW Matsumoku guitars seem to be way over valued these days... they are supposed to be great pawn shop guitars not collectors items. prices have gone up? O.o Apparently I need to snag some of these local ones haha, they are all dirt cheap. A clean Matsumoku whatever goes for 400-500 on eBay. There are no local ones here. I am a big fan of the crazy shaped Aria and Westones but can't bother to invest that kind of money for crap guitars. Not when I can get a vintage Ibanez Destroyer II or RG for same money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 jumped from 20th to 5th in the last couple of days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 whoops - wrong thread i better add something on topic. Westone thunders can be had in the UK usually for less than £150, which is about $240. I had one a couple of years ago for a while and really liked it, couldnt believe the quality of some of the woodwork for such a cheap 80's guitar. the pre-amp was a bit noisy but that is all i could really fault about it Is the dynasty a matsumoku guitar? - they moved production from japan in the later 80's. cant remember if this model predates that or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted August 2, 2012 Report Share Posted August 2, 2012 Westone thunders can be had in the UK usually for less than £150, which is about $240. I had one a couple of years ago for a while and really liked it, couldnt believe the quality of some of the woodwork for such a cheap 80's guitar. the pre-amp was a bit noisy but that is all i could really fault about it Is the dynasty a matsumoku guitar? - they moved production from japan in the later 80's. cant remember if this model predates that or not. Yes. Matsumoku/SLM years 1981-1991 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted August 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2012 I bolted the neck back on and put on a low E string so I could check out the electronics. Overall, the wiring is really solid, with the exception of the bridge pup. There is some weird stuff going on in there when you mess with the coil tap. Sometimes the signal gets really weak when tapped, then sometimes it's OK. Sometimes the whole pup is weak, sometimes not. The other two pups are OK, so I'll only need to replace the bridge. I'm thinking about getting a used a DiMarzio Super Distortion on eBay. It's a shame that the post on the neck pot is broken. I hate the idea of replacing it (and re-doing the wiring) when it works perfectly right now. But whaddya gonna do, right? I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go for a re-finish. I'll be stripping the back of the neck to bare wood and leaving the headstock face black. I prefer the feel of wood over finish on a neck. Maybe some touch-ups on the headstock paint and re-lacquer & polish, but not much if I can get away with it. I don't want to destroy the original Westone graphics if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Workingman Posted August 4, 2012 Report Share Posted August 4, 2012 I know people who would be happy to get their hands on the original pups. If you plan on selling them, let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2013 I finally took it out to sand off the body paint. DANG that crap is uber thick! And it smells a little like burning plastic. Does anyone have any experinece with making replacement decals? The chips around the edge of the headstock have a serious ledge and would likely look like ass if I didn't completely re-do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted September 24, 2013 Report Share Posted September 24, 2013 No. I am now using black and gold water slide decals which virtually melt under lacquer in the tests I have done. Suitable topical given that I am refurbing some Matsumoku-era Aria instruments also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 Those goofy Japs used an eight piece body. Eight pieces. We all know how much flack we'd all catch frmo each other if we made an eight piece body. :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted September 26, 2013 Report Share Posted September 26, 2013 Given the shape, it makes more sense than wasting huge chunks of wood by making it a two or three-piece. Nothing wrong with laminating pieces together as long as you observe correct alternation and rotation of growth rings. Body looks a bit thick. I would be tempted to add a taper left and right beyond the sides of the pickup rings and pop on a thin cap of Maple or something. Those bevels aren't complex to re-create. It would look so much sleeker. PS. "Japs" is an unpleasant racial diminutive. Please stop that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HCRoadie Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 My first electric was a Westone Electra with a Crate amp. I Soooo wanted one of those Dynasty as a kid. That brings back some memories. I should get that axe back from my uncle. I think vintage 80's cheese is awesome. Maybe do a "modern" interpretation of the white with the red stripes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 I bought some good white paint and some automotive pinstriping today. We'll just have to see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted October 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2013 A Dremel works extraordinarily well for getting paint out of tremelo and control cavity cover recesses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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