Most Matsumoku Westones can be dated by the serial number, usually found on the back of the headstock.

• 7 digit serials are the most common  - the first digit gives the year it was made eg a serial number beginning with 2 indicates a guitar made in 1982. It is possible that the second and third digits give the month
• 5 digit serials appear on some models and it seems that the first two digits give the year (The 5 digit serial on my Quantum bass begins with 84 - made in 1984. I have seen a Quantum with a 6 digit serial)
• 8 digit serial numbers seem to have come in around 1987, in the format NN NN NNNN (eg 87 10 0001), it seems the first two digits give the year and the second two the month
  
• Later models (1987 onwards) have no obvious serial number  (May have originally been on a sticker on the guitar)
  
• In all cases, this is only a rough guide based on observation and a lack of any contradictory evidence. The serial numbers do seem to follow these patterns, but there is no documentation to confirm any of this. It should be noted that it is not known at what point in the manufacturing process the serial number was added to the guitar  For models with the serial number on the back of the headstock, it would appear to have been added after the neck was finished but before the paint finish was applied, but there is no way of telling how long it took after that to actually  complete the guitar and ship it to a dealer.

As far as I know there is no way to date the SLM guitars from the serial number.

This is the single most frequently asked question, and one I personally wish people wouldn't ask,  as there's no real answer apart from -

If you are selling - try selling it. When someone buys it, you'll know how much it was worth.
If you are buying, or looking to buy - how much are you prepared to pay?

There are too many variables for anyone to be able to give any sort of figure.  The value depends on the desirability of the model (don't expect as much for a low-end Spectrum as a Prestige), how many are available second hand, the condition of the guitar, whether or not it has been modified or has parts missing, what country  the seller is in etc.

A rough idea can be obtained by searching completed listings on Ebay, which is probably more accurate than prices in shops, which are the price the shop is trying to sell the guitar for - Ebay prices are what people are prepared to actually pay. I've seen several Ebay listings that say 'I saw a shop selling a Concord I for £450'. Even if it's true, the shop wasn't selling it for £450, they were displaying it with a £450 price tag. At that price, they'd never sell it.

Even ebay prices will only give you a very rough idea. Below are some minimum/maximum prices, all based on sales on ebay.co.uk (Prices in pounds sterling) from 2005/2006 -

Prestige 250 - min £150, max £500
Rail bass - min £175, max £365
Thunder IA - min £82, max £191
Rainbow I - min £150, max £282

As you can see, there is no way to predict a price for any model (So please don't ask!)

Ebay is probably the best place to look. Alternatively, please ask on the 'Wanted' board in the forums.

The list on the main index page isn't exhaustive, the models listed are the ones I know about -  there may be models I've never heard of, so if you know of a model that isn't listed here please tell me about it. There are some exceptions - this site only deals with the Westones made between 1981-1991, primarily by Matsumoku in Japan, so the Westones (Corsair and Cutlass) made in the UK in the late 1990s and the Westones currently being made in Korea (Which seem to be cheap copies of other makers designs - Strat, SG, Les Paul copies etc) will not be featured here. I also have no plans to include the Electra-Westone models as they seem to have been just a rebranding to introduce the Westone name to the US market, and there is already a site covering those models (See the links page for details).

Yes. Please see the spares section for a full list of available spares. The range of parts is expected to grow over time.When I do have guitars for sale I list them on Ebay. If you can't find the part you need there, please ask on the 'Wanted' board in the forums-  other readers may have (And be willing to part with) what you're looking for.

No.

I will be adding wiring/circuit diagrams , but obviously I will only be able to include them for the guitars I currently own. If anyone else has any wiring diagrams, please send them in and I'll include them on the site.

The email addresses given on the Contact page are for specific purposes -

• webmaster - only for reporting site problems (eg missing pictures, broken links)
• forumadmin - only for forum problems (Registration/usage questions)
• contributions - only for submitting info and pictures

Any other questions sent to these addresses will not receive replies, all other questions that aren't covered by the FAQ must be posted publicly in the forums (Please do not send the forum admin private messages to ask questions that belong in the public forums) so everyone can see the question and the answer(s)

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