The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

... we await with bated breath!!

It made it to Houston today which means I should have it tomorrow...

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

I got it yesterday and it looks very good. There are a few nicks in the head where it looks like it may have done some time in a wall hanger but the overall finish is in very good shape. The first problem I see is the tremolo block is loose.
How does THAT happen?
I got it home and already know I have to completely disassemble the trem to fix it but I plugged it in anyway. It certainly takes a LOT of gain to get it where you want it but when it gets there, it cooks!
I had about an hour before I had to leave but I got through all the controls. I found I really like the front pickup through my Strymon Sunset. It will do a strat better than any strat I've ever owned.
Its very responsive to my touch. With the volume cranked, it will do clean or dirty depending how I attack. I can't say I've noticed that nearly as much with any other guitar I own.
I took it apart this morning and fixed the trem. Luckily, the only things missing are the arm and the allen wrenches. All the screws and washers are there. It was missing the rubber "springs" on the front pickup but I just happen to have lots of little things like that. I got it cleaned up, reassembled and restrung but I had to go to work. Hopefully tonight or tomorrow I'll get the intonation set and get some pics up.
I think she's a keeper.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Oh yeah baby, yeah!
Welcome to the Wonderful World o' Westone!

Of course we now expect to see a full accounting on the Westone Forums too, eh?
Congrats Chris!

_________________
Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com

Excellent!! I'm pleased you're pleased, and yes; it does take a little more gain than one is perhaps used to to get something worthwhile going on - Barry and I have both commented on that in the past!

You'll find, too, that it is easy on the shoulder and that the neck is a thing of consummate beauty - have at it!!

I wasn't able to spend much time with it this weekend as I was on call. Normally, that doesn't mean much of anything but since I got a new toy, I was pretty busy.
I was able to set intonation but I blocked the trem. I do a lot of palm muting so I'm not a big fan of floaters.
The neck is nice but the finish on it seems to have sunk into mine. Its really odd. It doesn't bother me but its almost like it slipped by Quality Control.
One of the guitars I built has similar characteristics with gain. I haven't compared them side by side yet but hope to this week.
I really like the weight and feel of this Westone. It is a pleasure to play.
I'll get some pics up this week and formally introduce myself on the Westone forums.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Not sure what you mean about the finish having "sunk". Do you mean disappeared into the wood?

Looking forward to seeing her!

_________________
Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com

Looking at it closer, the finish on the neck is very thin. There just wasn't enough clear to fill in the grain of the rosewood and around the heel, there is a bit of orange peel. Very odd.
The body is virtually ding free. The 2 or 3 marks I can see do not show in pictures.
I'm gonna take it to work tomorrow and get some pics. I can't seem to get anything that does it justice here.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Man, I dig that finish, so kewl.

Your neck description doesn't sound too encouraging. Orange peeling is usually a result of shoddy spraying technique. The finish on mine is what you'd expect, solid and a bit glossy.

Hard to believe Mats would have done this, especially on such a beautiful model. Sounds more like someone might have been attempting to de-gloss or remove the finish and botched it on the respray?

It's restorable but it's a PITA nonetheless.

_________________
Guitars: https://legend.barryeames.com
Music/Pix/Videos: https://getback.barryeames.com

It is odd but doesn't appear to be a respray. It doesn't really take away from the guitar, you can hardly feel it.
I'm hoping to use it this weekend. Got practice tomorrow.
More pics. The first 4, I was trying to show the clear on the neck.
Pic 5, The allen wrenches are long gone but at least the screws are still there.
Pic 6, that is by FAR the largest blemish.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday