Westone The Rail

[Alan Rider]

This is a real marmite bass. I definitely love it and always wanted to get my hands on one. I held onto that desire for over 30 years and finally I have one. Its in pretty good nick apart from some wear on the pickup paint (easily fixed). A lot of people are very snobby about these but it's very playable, sounds just fine through a decent pedal and amp and it's light weight and uniquely cool 80s look is a bonus in my book. My only bugbear is that the fret markers are dark red on rosewood so impossible to see them under stage lighting, so I needed to add stickers on the neck for that. Anyone have one of these?

Edited February 13, 2021 by Alan Rider
Formatting

[bigthumb]

Love a bit of Marmite! Westone made some pretty decent stuff. My first bass was a Thunder Jet and I remember a bass playing friend years ago owning a Pantera. It sounded superb but was well out of my price range at the time. I don't think I've ever seen one since. 

I think the Rail looks great, nothing, as far as I know like it. Wouldn't mind a go on one TBH! 

[M@23]

I like it too! Also, marmite on toast is top notch. I’ve got an ‘83 Westone Rainbow 2 guitar that is incredible. I’ve had it 20 years and it’s seen off a 335 and 339. They made some really good stuff. 

[Piers_Williamson]

Looks like it's crying out for some LEDs

 

[PaulThePlug]

Looks like it's crying out for some LSD...

[Hellzero]

I had a red one bought brand new as a demo bass in a shop in Trier. I was my office bass back in the day. Good bass, but poor pickup.

@Happy Jack still owns one.

[Happy Jack]

Readallaboutit ...

 

[Paul S]

11 hours ago, bigthumb said:

Love a bit of Marmite! Westone made some pretty decent stuff. My first bass was a Thunder Jet and I remember a bass playing friend years ago owning a Pantera. It sounded superb but was well out of my price range at the time. I don't think I've ever seen one since. 

I think the Rail looks great, nothing, as far as I know like it. Wouldn't mind a go on one TBH! 

I had a Pantera X790 Deluxe for a while.  I think this was Westone's top end of the range then.  Beautifully made instrument.  I read about it somewhere, fell in love, waited a few years before one came up for sale in the Netherlands - I collected it from there!  @Andyjr1515 did a headstock renovation on it as the paint had chipped off from around one of the tuners.  But having GASed for so long I didn't bond with it when I actually got it plus it was too heavy.  Boy did I take a hit when I moved it on!  Say lar vee.   

[PlungerModerno]

Cool bass. The red position markers are a nice touch matching the logo.

Definitely a more interesting alternative to the typical paddle bass!

[Alan Rider]

As @Happy Jack shared. There is another post about this same bass from the very person I bought it off. Small world. I am assured they made more than one of these 😁

[Bassassin]

One of those basses I always liked the look of but never got around to picking one up. Now I really wish I had - before MIJ/80s stuff became sought after these were going for under £100, like most other headless types.

I think Westone was, initially at least, a Matsumoku house-brand, so good quality was pretty much guaranteed. One day I'd still like a Rail, Super Headless, Thunder II/III, Quantum...

[FlatEric]

On 15/02/2021 at 17:06, Bassassin said:

One of those basses I always liked the look of but never got around to picking one up. Now I really wish I had - before MIJ/80s stuff became sought after these were going for under £100, like most other headless types.

I think Westone was, initially at least, a Matsumoku house-brand, so good quality was pretty much guaranteed. One day I'd still like a Rail, Super Headless, Thunder II/III, Quantum...

Jon. . . . .  you should have said something years ago. . . . both now gone back into circulation. 🤔

http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-rails.html

Stay safe mate.

Cheers. 😎

[DarkHeart]

If anyone wanted to try and make a `Rail` I`ve got a Quantum body sat doing nothing.