- Angaben zum Versand
- 50 euro
For sale is a majestic flagship from the legendary Matsumoku factory - the Westone Thunder II in the top PJ version and Ash Black finish. Production is early 1983; a few months later this combination was renamed Thunder III.
It's evient that the Japanese were heavily inspired by Alembics at this time. Here we have a neck thru body with a distinctive headstock tilt, a neck made of laminated maple and walnut, ash wings and a passive and active circuit (18V) with plenty of switches and possibilities. The guitar is dripping with brass - the bridge, the knobs, the saddle, the plates under the pick-ups and even the covers of all the electronics compartments. Equally solid are the 20:1 ratio keys, which never lose tuning. This specification translates into a substantial weight, over 4.5kg, and incredible sustain.
A separate paragraph can be devoted to the fretboard, which in Ash Black finish is made of beautiful Macassar ebony and decorated with trapezoidal mother-of-pearl markers.
The boutique nature of the ax was evident in the price - going out to the US market, Thunders in this finish cost $640, or $2,000 today.
The bass being sold is working great (tuners, truss rod, etc), but has been played. It has quite a few scratches and two minor chips, the pickup covers are yellowed and there is a crack in the lacquer on the neck near the saddle. This is a fairly typical symptom in old basses with a headstock like this, but - importantly - it is not damage to the wood and has not increased over the years. It is also not perceptible to the touch.
The guitar has masterful ergonomics (access to frets, balance) and is very soft, the action set at 1.6-1.7mm at the 12th fret. The passive mode is as loud as the active mode, a rarity in basses of this era (and indeed, not only). The quality of the fit of the components is a testament to the class of the Matsumoku luthiers.
The guitar can be played in Poznan, Poland. The price includes a solid gig bag. Safe international shipping is possible.
I'm not trading - I'm downsizing my collection (unless you have a Sterling USA or G&L Asat, I'm a weak man...).
Private sale, no warranty etc.