WESTONE X695BK SPECTRUM LX Bass 1986 Black. BY MATSUMOKU. TWO NECKS. Fretted & Fretless. RARE.

WESTONE

Spectrum LX Bass Guitar

MODEL X695BK

June, 1986

COMPLETE

BY MATSUMOKU

MIJ

SN: 6062448

EXCELLENT CONDITON.

HISTORY OF THE MATSUMOKU GUITAR COMPANY FROM THEIR WEBSITE: Matsumoku Industrial was a Japanese manufacturing company from c. 1900 - 1987. Established around 1900 as a woodworking manufacturer of various items but is best known as a manufacturer of high quality guitars and bass guitars including some Epiphone and Aria guitars.

By the mid 1950s, Matsumoku began to look into other woodworking markets and, as it had on its staff several skilled luthiers, ventured into guitar and violin production. Modest classical guitars, small steel stringed acoustic guitars, and violins were built and marketed. However, as other Japanese companies were producing similar instruments, Matsumoku set out to distinguish itself by producing high quality acoustic and electric archtop guitars. Several of Matsumoku's early archtop guitars survive, most owing their basic designs to Hofner, Framus, andGibson. By the early 1960s, Matsumoku had acquired new mills, lathes and specialized presses and began to increase musical instrument production. Combined with its staff of skilled craftsmen, Matsumoku was able to mass produce guitars of high quality.

However, because it mainly manufactured guitars under contract, the role of Matsumoku was largely unknown outside of Japan's guitar making circles until its name began appearing on neck bolt plates, headstocks, and sound hole labels in the late 1970s.

Matsumoku produced guitars, or parts of guitars, for Vox, Guyatone, FujiGen Gakki, Kanda Shokai (Greco),Hoshino Gakki (Ibanez), Nippon Gakki (Yamaha), Aria and Norlin (parent company of Gibson). American owned Unicord contracted Matsumoku to build most of its Univox and Westbury guitars. St. Louis Music Company imported Matsumoku built Electra_Guitars. J. C. Penney sold Matsumoku built Skylark guitars through its catalog division. Matsumoku built many early Greco guitars as well as Memphis, Vantage, Westbury, Westminster, Cutler, Lyle and Fell. Washburn Guitars contracted Matusmoku to build most of its electric guitars from 1979 through 1985. Though the names above reflect Matsumoku's involvement, many of the names were later sold to other companies, which made completely different guitars in quality and sound.

In 1979, Matsumoku began to market its own guitars under the Westone name.

By the early 1970s, Matsumoku had begun using computer numerical controlled (CNC) mills, routers, and lathes, one of the first guitar makers to do so. Even so, 60% of the guitar making process was still done by hand including planing, fretting, joining, and assembly. This machine cut, yet hand worked process yielded high quality instruments with unique character.

 

 

ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT:

Certainly, as most guitar collectors, I have some great MIJ guitars in my collection and quite a number of them were made by MATSUMOKU.  Their quality is unmistakable.  They truly feel like custom hand built instruments.

And this one is no exception-EXCEPT-IT IS TOTALLY UNIQUE featuring INTERCHANGEABLE NECKS-FRETTED & UNFRETTED.  I have seen any instruments with this feature but compared to this one, they are mere gimmicks.  This one is a professional instrument and this feature is truly useful.

From catalog information:

Westone Spectrum LX bass (X695)

Unusually this model came with two necks, a fretted and a fretless. It was also available with just the fretted neck (22 fret, 34" scale).  The fretless neck had position dots along the top side , white in all the normal positions (3, 5, 7, 12 etc) and red for the rest.
Two Westone Magnaflux unbalanced coil pickups (One Magnabass II, one Magnabass IV), active tone controls, coil tap and phase switches. Thanks to the unbalanced coil pickups, switching on coil tap doesn't result in any significant  loss of volume.
Maple body, Canadian Hard Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, graphite nut. 

First appears in the 1985 UK catalogue, only available in black with a dull black graphics stripe. The catalogue lists an option of 'fretless neck and case available' - the 1986 catalogue gives the option as 'only fretted instrument available', so in 1985 you could buy the bass with an optional fretless neck and case, in 1986 that was the default.
Listed in the Jan and April 1985 US pricelists at $659.50 with case, rising to $679.50 in Sept 1985, $899 in August 1986 with a 2 neck case, dropping to $749 in Sept 1987. The LX bass does not appear in the Jan 1988 pricelist.

Specs

• Maple body
• Canadian Hard Maple neck
• rosewood fingerboard
• graphite nut
• Two Westone Magnaflux unbalanced coil pickups (One Magnabass II, one Magnabass IV)
• active tone controls
• coil tap and phase switches
• Thanks to the unbalanced coil pickups, switching on coil tap doesn’t result in any significant  loss of volume.

The functional condition of this one is EXCELLENT.  Cosmetically, it has been played and I would rate it as VERY GOOD having the usual scrapes, scars, dings, etc. that come from playing.  It has been used but not abused.

Comes with original OHSC in good condition.

It is rare to find the SPECTRUM LX X695BK complete with both necks and the case.  A great addition to any collection.

GUARANTEE:

BUYER HAS 48 HOURS TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENT INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL GUITAR REPAIR PERSON OR LUTHIER.  IF ANY DEFECTS ARE FOUND IN THE MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL CONDITION OF THE INSTRUMENT (NOT DISCLOSED IN THE AUCTION AD), BUYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT BACK TO US BY EXPRESS SHIPMENT USING THE ORIGINAL PACKING MATERIALS AND ANY ADDITIONAL PACKAGING TO INSURE ITS SAFE RETURN.  IT MUST BE FULLY INSURED.  BUYER PAYS ALL COST TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT BACK TO US.   WE WILL REPAIR THE INSTRUMENT WITHIN TEN DAYS OF RETURN RECEIPT AND SHIP IT BACK TO THE BUYER AT OUR EXPENSE.  THIS ASSURANCE DOES NOT APPLY TO KNOBS, STRINGS, HARDWARE DISCOLORATION, STRAPS. CASES, OR ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR AFTER RECEIPT BY BUYER.  ALL INSTRUMENTS ARE FULLY PHOTOGRAPHED PRIOR TO SHIPMENT.  IT IS THE BUYER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY SELLER IMMEDIATELY IF THE INSTRUMENT HAS INCURRED ANY DAMAGE DURING SHIPMENT.  IN THE EVENT OF SUCH DAMAGE, PLEASE RETAIN ALL SHIPPING MATERIALS FOR INSPECTION.

FULL DETAILS INCLUDED IN AD. BUYER HAS 48 HOURS TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENT INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL GUITAR REPAIR PERSON OR LUTHIER.  IF ANY DEFECTS ARE FOUND IN THE MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL CONDITION OF THE INSTRUMENT (NOT DISCLOSED IN THE AUCTION AD), BUYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT BACK TO US BY EXPRESS SHIPMENT USING THE ORIGINAL PACKING MATERIALS AND ANY ADDITIONAL PACKAGING TO INSURE ITS SAFE RETURN

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU BID.

SHIPPING CHARGES.  The charges listed in this ad are for the continental US only.  Shipment outside that area is at actual cost and Buyer must pay all tariffs, duties, and other charges that may be levied on the item when it is imported into its final destination.  And for foreign buyers, please request a quote for shipping cost before you bid.  No surprises are always good.  And please do not ask that we use a lower value for an export shipment.  NOTE:  NO THIRD PARTY SHIPMENTS-WE ONLY SHIP TO THE BUYER WHO PAYS FOR IT. 

If you have any questions about the condition of a guitar that we are advertising for sale, please ask us before you bid and we will provide you with whatever information you require to make your decision about bidding on an item.  BUT THE ULTIMATE GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL GIVE YOU ON ANY ITEM IS “YOU ARE BIDDING ON WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PICTURES AS TO COSMETIC CONDITION” AND WHAT IS LISTED IN THE AD AS TO ELECTRONIC CONDITION. 

TRADES WELCOMED.