bartelby Posted August 24, 2023 Share Posted August 24, 2023 I picked up a lovely old 1984 Westone Thunder Jet yesterday. It's in need of some tlc as it looks like it's had quite a life. None standard knobs or bridge. New, more accurate, bridge is on the way. I've got some brass Thunder I style knobs on the way, but I am watching an auction for original ones. The pots are in dire need of a clean, or replacing. The logo has gone, I'll get one made, and the truss rod cover is worn, so I'll sort that too. I'll need to investigate why one machine head is wonky, and they're quite tight to turn. Fortunately they're not branded so replacements are easy to find. I've been after a Thunder Jet for a while now and I wanted a little project to keep my occupied while some work being done to the house means my music room is out of action. Through a preamp pedal and headphones this bass sounds amazing, the pickup has a lot of output. Westone were right to name them Hard Puncher. I might give the body a light refinishing, just enough to return it to a more flat finish it came with, but not enough to look new. If anyone out there has a Thunder Jet can you tell me if the logo is white or that flat gold colour Westone used. Cheers 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwillett Posted August 24, 2023 Share Posted August 24, 2023 (edited) This one looks similar to yours (for some value of similar) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325784004555?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=fiyFn5zpR12&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=70h8JO93TH6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY The knob look like the ones I have on my 6 string so guessing this is fairly original. I'm no expert though so take this with a pinch of salt. Rob Edited August 24, 2023 by rwillett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted August 24, 2023 Share Posted August 24, 2023 I had two of these, fabulous things. An extra fret and lighter in weight compared to the 1A. And the stealth look is cool as anything. Logo was flat gold. Knobs were black, like the rest of the hardware. Page here about them. http://www.westone.info/thunderjetbass.html 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted August 24, 2023 Share Posted August 24, 2023 (edited) Edit for extra. Checking my old pictures I had three of these! This one had one of the original knobs, looked like black cupcakes that sloped slightly inwards at the base. Edited August 24, 2023 by Paul S 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted August 24, 2023 Author Share Posted August 24, 2023 37 minutes ago, Paul S said: Edit for extra. Checking my old pictures I had three of these! This one had one of the original knobs, looked like black cupcakes that sloped slightly inwards at the base. Yep, those are the kind I’m watching. But for now I’ll spray the brass ones, that are coming, matt black. cheers for the confirmation of the logo too 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted August 24, 2023 Share Posted August 24, 2023 I seem to recall that a similarly shaped knob was used on a radio of some sort - there is or was a Westone forum and people used to talk of it. Might be worth a search. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted August 24, 2023 Share Posted August 24, 2023 Great score bartelby 👍 - as for the TRC I guess you can carefully touch up the logo; if not, these guys will make one for you: https://reproguitarparts.com/#!/Electra-Westone/c/1385115 They custom made a creme version of the TRC for my Thunder II, which is now also part of their catalogue. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted August 24, 2023 Share Posted August 24, 2023 (edited) Westone Thunders are hugely underrated. I had a mint Thunder 1A, fantastic bass, one I miss selling. I think the "Hard Puncher" name for the pups are a referrence to the Tokai Hard Puncher - same pup. Sound great. Edited August 28, 2023 by hooky_lowdown 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted August 24, 2023 Share Posted August 24, 2023 (edited) Just noticed it looks like that site I mentioned for the TRC does the knobs you’re after as well: https://reproguitarparts.com/#!/Electra-Westone-Volume-and-Tone-Knob/p/199597582/category=1391098 edit: also just noticed they’re sold out, but if you contact them I bet they could source some more Edited August 24, 2023 by Shaggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted August 24, 2023 Author Share Posted August 24, 2023 New bridge arrived. Action is now lower, intonation spot on and no hand shredding bridge screws sticking up. @Shaggy I’ve email them to see if they’re getting any more in stock. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterMute Posted August 25, 2023 Share Posted August 25, 2023 I had a Thunder 1a Fretless in black, my first fretless bass, very underrated basses at the time, i think they get the recognition these days. I P/ex'd it against a Wal Pro 1 fretless, which was a better built bass but didn't play as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted August 26, 2023 Author Share Posted August 26, 2023 The brass knobs turned up earlier. Was rather surprised to find that at some point, someone glued the current knobs on. I got the tone one off ok, but the volume one snapped the shaft. I'll replace the pot and spray the knobs matt black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmckee Posted August 27, 2023 Share Posted August 27, 2023 Nice! My first ‘proper’ bass was a Thunder Jet, bought for £100 from pawn shop in Glasgow in the mid 80s. Very fond memories. I heard a 1A getting played at Belladrum this year (by someone younger than the bass!) and it sounded great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted August 28, 2023 Author Share Posted August 28, 2023 I was sat playing the bass earlier and noticed there was a tiny bit of logo colour on the headstock. Wondering if it had just been painted over I grabbed a couple of alcohol wipes and bingo!! The truss rod cover was painted too!! 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted August 28, 2023 Share Posted August 28, 2023 Result!! Clearly a past owner was ashamed of the brand but liked the bass. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman666 Posted September 3, 2023 Share Posted September 3, 2023 On 25/08/2023 at 15:43, WinterMute said: I had a Thunder 1a Fretless in black, my first fretless bass, very underrated basses at the time, i think they get the recognition these days. I P/ex'd it against a Wal Pro 1 fretless, which was a better built bass but didn't play as well. i pxed my thunder iii for a wal pro 1 fretless... long time ago but i did remember the thunder had serious neck dive issues ...the wal was way better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterMute Posted September 4, 2023 Share Posted September 4, 2023 18 hours ago, Musicman666 said: i pxed my thunder iii for a wal pro 1 fretless... long time ago but i did remember the thunder had serious neck dive issues ...the wal was way better. I don't remember if the Westone had neck-dive problems, it was the bolt on, not the through neck, so I wonder its that made a difference. The Wal sounded great, but I didn't like its dimensions as much. I p/ex'd it against a Thumb 5 string in 1988, kept that for 25 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted November 4, 2023 Share Posted November 4, 2023 On 24/08/2023 at 08:49, bartelby said: Yep, those are the kind I’m watching. But for now I’ll spray the brass ones, that are coming, matt black. cheers for the confirmation of the logo too 😊 If you're still looking, I have some original knobs available... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted November 5, 2023 Share Posted November 5, 2023 One of the few basses I regret selling, a Thunder 1A. Great score @bartelby, enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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