Paul S Posted May 24, 2015 Posted May 24, 2015 (edited) I bought this incredible bass 2 years ago after a long search and much patience. They are very rare and don't come up very often - I actually picked this up in Holland. However, I have probably only used it a dozen times in that period - finding myself moving towards passive basses and the precision bass tone. So - a Westone Pantera Deluxe X790. These were made in 1986/7 and were the top-of-the-range, flagship model for Westone basses made, as we all know, in the renowned Matsumoku factory. Here is a link to the catalogue of the day: [url="http://www.westone.info/cats/86pantera/06.html"]http://www.westone.i...pantera/06.html[/url] and here is a link to a page about them in the Westone Guitars website: [url="http://www.westone.info/x790.html"]http://www.westone.info/x790.html[/url] In 1986 these cost £595. A lot of money! The build quality is stupendous - a work of art! The body is carved, the neck is bayonet mounted (a posh set neck), tuners and bridge are inset. Fretboard is ebony, 34" scale, 24 frets, 40mm at the nut (which is graphite). Weight is around 9lbs. 2 x magnabass pickups with toggle selector, vol knob, active eq requiring 2x 9v batteries with 2 controls - bass boost/cut, treble boost/cut. It is very black with a mother-0f-pearl Westone inlay in the headstock and Pantera stencil in white on the body. Mine has had a small red LED fitted into the control cluster that illuminates when it is plugged in - this was done a long while back and looks pretty cool. It comes with the original, Westone logo fitted hardcase which is still perfectly functional albeit with a few dinks. When I acquired it the headstock had some of the laquer lifting. I had Andy Rogers (Andyjr1515) refnish the headstock for me and he made a cracking job of it. Diary thread here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/243975-westone-pantera-x790-headstock-refurb/page__p__2539813__hl__x790__fromsearch__1#entry2539813"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry2539813[/url] Andy said at the end of this '...[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]one of the nicest basses I've held in my sticky mitts'. [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Sound-wise it is very powerful and modern-sounding. Very aggressive.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Condition-wise I'd say it is a 9/10 - should be in a guitar museum, really.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I am asking[s] £500 for this including the hard case (itself a valuable thing - I've seen one go for £100 on eBay) collected from SS7 in the North Thames Delta. This is what I paid for it and doesn't take into account going to Holland to collect it or the work Andy carried out to bring it up to almost perfect condition.[/s] Price drop to £400 Insured overnight courier would be £30. Could deliver or meet within reasonable distance for fuel.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Pictures are pre-headstock renovation, but the thread I linked to has plenty. I will take some more soon if needs be but have these already.[/font][/color] [attachment=192704:pantera1.jpg][attachment=192705:pantera1.jpg][attachment=192706:pantera2.jpg][attachment=192707:pantera3.jpg][attachment=192708:pantera7.jpg][attachment=192709:pantera5.jpg][attachment=192710:pantera6.jpg] Edited September 18, 2015 by Paul S
Paul S Posted May 26, 2015 Author Posted May 26, 2015 Thanks! is is certainly eye-catching. Drop box folder with better recent pics here [url="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y7kms6v5r3708j5/AAB5fK84o4-lWffSQP_1leEKa?dl=0"]https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y7kms6v5r3708j5/AAB5fK84o4-lWffSQP_1leEKa?dl=0[/url]
Paul S Posted May 28, 2015 Author Posted May 28, 2015 Bump before weekend away. Be the only person in your street to own one! Unless someone else does, of course.
Paul S Posted June 2, 2015 Author Posted June 2, 2015 Bump before another weekend away, just so nobody forgets this is here.
Paul S Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 And a 'going away again, back after 19th June' bump
Delius Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Lovely instrument and I would be well up for it if it wasn't for that 80s-chic transfer on the front. Which presumably is completely non-removable?
Thunderbird Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 [quote name='Delius' timestamp='1433936480' post='2795193'] Lovely instrument and I would be well up for it if it wasn't for that 80s-chic transfer on the front. Which presumably is completely non-removable? [/quote] Go and stand on the naughty step for even thinking about removing that transfer lol
Paul S Posted June 20, 2015 Author Posted June 20, 2015 Back from Hols bump. If you bought it you could do what you wanted to the Pantera logo...
Thunderbird Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 This really should of sold by now Paul , just shows how little money most people have spare
Paul S Posted July 3, 2015 Author Posted July 3, 2015 Appreciate the sentiments, Paul, and yes - although I think it is also rather a 'marmite' thing. But I can't imagine another bass of this quality for this kind of dosh. This really was one of the very finest bass models money could buy from one of the top guitar manufacturers at the time.
Paul S Posted July 13, 2015 Author Posted July 13, 2015 (edited) Interested in a trade for an Orange Terror Bass 1000 and a little cash or a GK MB Fusion 800. Edited July 13, 2015 by Paul S
Paul S Posted July 23, 2015 Author Posted July 23, 2015 Trade for a Barefaced Supercompact? Or an Orange TB 1000 or GK MB Fushion 800 Or nice pair of LED bars on stands. all with cash adjustments if necessary ... Funny old world. A Fender Precision of this vintage would fetch double this, yet they were a similar price when new and, IMO, this is better built
Paul S Posted August 24, 2015 Author Posted August 24, 2015 We do seem to have similar taste in gear, that's for sure
Rich Posted August 24, 2015 Posted August 24, 2015 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1432470684' post='2781735'] In 1986 these cost £595. A lot of money! [/quote] You can say that again... it's £260 more than I paid for my (admittedly secondhand) Wal at the time! That sir is a thing of beauty. BOLWTS.
Paul S Posted August 26, 2015 Author Posted August 26, 2015 It certainly is a thing of beauty, Rich. Oozes quality with all those little craftsmanship details. A piece of mid 80s bass history, too - all for the price of a new Squier.
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