NBD - Westone ‘the rail’ Bass

[CyberBass]

Just pulled trigger in purchasing this Bass. I’ve always fancied one but never got round to it. Having given up a few months ago due to fretting hand not working due to spine operation, I’m getting a little movement back, so treated myself to this as part of my recovery 😊

im sure this will be a marmite bass to many, but personally I love the look.

 

Edited September 29, 2019 by CyberBass
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[4000]

Always fancied one myself. 

I once had a Quantum, which was essentially almost the same but with twin pickups & without the sliding pickup. One of my favourite basses I ever owned, and beat many of my boutiques hands down.

 

[AndyTravis]

So unfashionable it’s awesome 😎 

[ahpook]

1 minute ago, AndyTravis said:

So unfashionable it’s awesome 😎 

Absolutely !

It looks like a spaceship !

Edited September 29, 2019 by ahpook

[CyberBass]

5 minutes ago, 4000 said:

Always fancied one myself. 

I once had a Quantum, which was essentially almost the same but with twin pickups & without the sliding pickup. One of my favourite basses I ever owned, and beat many of my boutiques hands down.

 

I must admit a quantum is on my bucket list as well 😊

[4000]

Just now, CyberBass said:

I must admit a quantum is on my bucket list as well 😊

It played fantastically and was tremendous for recording, possibly even the best “plug in and done” recording bass I’ve ever owned.

[Conrad]

Wow haven't seen one of these for years I remember playing one in reidys Blackburn 84ish couldn't afford it I was only 14 but it left an impression I think your right though bit of an 80s marmite bass

[CyberBass]

There are clips on YouTube, but recording quality by the hosts not great. Once it arrives I’ll try and upload some sound clips.

Edited September 29, 2019 by CyberBass
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[Defo]

OMG I was fascinated by this bass when I was a kid - it seemed like the perfect design. Is it as versatile as you might think?

[CyberBass]

22 minutes ago, Defo said:

OMG I was fascinated by this bass when I was a kid - it seemed like the perfect design. Is it as versatile as you might think?

Large array tone wise. Sliding the pick up on the rail alters the tone. Looks like a gimmic but surprisingly effective 

[uk_lefty]

80's marmite stuff is what I love!! It looks like the Terminators calf. Well done. 

[yorks5stringer]

On 29/09/2019 at 19:09, CyberBass said:

I must admit a quantum is on my bucket list as well 😊

Wouldn't that be a bit of a leap?

[grayn]

Certainly has a cool, industrial look.

Westone knocked out some very decent stuff, back in the day.

Congrats.

[Pea Turgh]

8 hours ago, yorks5stringer said:

Wouldn't that be a bit of a leap?

Oh boy!

[AngelDeVille]

As soon as a get a backup Hohner Jack, a Westone Rail is next on the list of odd ball bases!

[alyctes]

I've got one.  It's very nice and I really like the range of tones.  I don't play it much - I'm mostly fretless - but it's light and compact and versatile.

I also really like the fact that it's perfectly balanced for carrying using one rail if you shove the pickup down to the bridge end

[CyberBass]

9 hours ago, yorks5stringer said:

Wouldn't that be a bit of a leap?

A bit of a leap would be a Yamaha bx-1 but I’ve already got one lol

[LeftyJ]

Supercool! That fingerboard hasn't seen oil for quite some time it seems. Could probably use some TLC 🙂

[CyberBass]

8 hours ago, LeftyJ said:

Supercool! That fingerboard hasn't seen oil for quite some time it seems. Could probably use some TLC 🙂

Agreed, when it arrives will lemon oil fretboard, give it good service , new strings and set up 👍😊

[Bassman Sam]

Very cool. I've always wanted one too. @Happy Jack has one, I need to pester him to sell it to me. Enjoy.

[Happy Jack]

After all the mods & upgrades I've had done, you could be a long time a-waiting ...

[Happy Jack]

Incidentally, I've had two of these and both of them had really weak original pickups and dodgy pots. I sold the first one (in maroon red) because of that - it looked great and the sliding pickup system is astonishingly effective, but the tone was so weedy that I couldn't imagine gigging it.

A few years later I stumbled across, of all things, a single Dark Star pickup. I bought it on spec, and then went looking for another The Rail. I found one (in black) and then had Andy Gibson in Denmark Street do a real number on it. He loves working on those things because Dave Swift is an admirer of them too (Andy works on all Dave's basses AFAIK).

We ditched the original pickup, pots and wiring, he prepped a piece of ebony to add on to the sliding base so that it was 'squarer', and then mounted the Dark Star on the newly-enlarged slidey bit and did a complete re-wire. The bass now sounds absolutely awesome and lives right here alongside me in my tiny study on the landing ... it's my go-to 4-string bass when I'm learning or practising. On the other side is my go-to 5-string bass and that's a Status Streamline. 

Judge a bass by the company it keeps ...

 

 

[Grahambythesea]

Definitely MARMITE and I’m afraid I don’t like it. Wanted a Jack back in the day but never one of these.

[Alan Rider]

@CyberBass  You sold this to me!  I have it now and love it.  That Dark Star mod that @Happy Jack mentions sounds tempting but I'm sticking with the original pickup for now.

[Happy Jack]

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