Help with westone Thunder a1 fretless

[Nord]

Hi looking to purchase a 80s fretless westone A1 bass today but just wanted to check to see if anyone had any experience and maybe give me a indication on the current value, as I've seen them all over the place on the net.

Thanks

Edited March 26, 2016 by Nord

[Paul S]

I'd say between £120-180 depending upon condition. An exceptional one might top £200 but not worth any more.

Nice basses - I reckon they are the best value fretless out there if you like unlined boards.

[Nord]

It's going for £250 and its shall we say a used condition.. Thanks for your help

[Paul S]

A bit steep, I think. If you hang on another will surely come along at a better price, they aren't rare.

[Grangur]

I've been watching Westone Thunder basses for a while recently. The prices seem to have gone up a bit of late. Paul might be a bit oug of date. If the bass you're looking at is in good condition £250 isn't so very high, especially if it's local and you don't have to pay shipping on top. All these things need to be considered.

[Bassassin]

Recent completed listings from Ebay. Prices are variable but there is broadly an immense gulf between what some sellers want, and what people are actually prepared to pay:

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=westone%20thunder%20bass&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=p2045573.m1684[/url]

I wouldn't pay much more than £150. Which is pretty much what they've always been.

Jon.

[Krysbass]

About £150 sounds right to me too.

I have a mint 1984 Thunder III fretted that I love but rarely play. A key reason I keep it is that it wouldn't fetch more than £300 - £350, so I'd only end up hating myself for letting it go.

Westones are a contradiction; they are much higher quality in materials and build than their prices suggest.

[matski]

I would go for an active Thunder 2 or 3 if I were you.

I had a fretless Thunder 2A back in the day and it was great, a few years after I sold it I bought a Thunder 1 and it was awful - really cheap and nasty.

[pineweasel]

[quote name='matski' timestamp='1459248740' post='3014688']
I would go for an active Thunder 2 or 3 if I were you.

I had a fretless Thunder 2A back in the day and it was great, a few years after I sold it I bought a Thunder 1 and it was awful - really cheap and nasty.
[/quote]

The Thunder I cheap and nasty? Compared to the 2 & 3 has a bolt on neck, lighter bridge, and just one pickup, but it's still a great bass and miles better than most of the genuinely cheap and nasty alternatives available at the time.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='pineweasel' timestamp='1459255671' post='3014785']
The Thunder I cheap and nasty? Compared to the 2 & 3 has a bolt on neck, lighter bridge, and just one pickup, but it's still a great bass and miles better than most of the genuinely cheap and nasty alternatives available at the time.
[/quote]

There were some Korean-made Thunders (a bolt-neck MIK T2 came up on Ebay a few months back) and I'd doubt they were built to the same standard as the Matsumoku originals. Maybe Matski's was one of those.

J.

[Grangur]

I recently bought a cheap Westone Jet on Ebay. I actually bought it thinking, "that's too good, I'll sell that for more". I put the low price down to the poor pictures.

It's arrived and stuck here. Instead its a Fender I'm moving on as I prefer the Westone. The feel is pure magic compared to the Fender. Beauty is in the eye of the musician.

[matski]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1459258166' post='3014823']
There were some Korean-made Thunders (a bolt-neck MIK T2 came up on Ebay a few months back) and I'd doubt they were built to the same standard as the Matsumoku originals. Maybe Matski's was one of those.

J.
[/quote]

Possibly.... as it was awful.

[Bassassin]

Thunders (MIJ ones, anyway) are great. And this is still here:

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/279698-westone-thunder-jet-dropped-to-l60"]http://basschat.co.u...-dropped-to-l60[/url]

Sixty quid. SIXTY QUID???

J.