Westone The Rail Bass Red 1985
Westone The Rail, red, made in Japan 1985. I feel like this instrument needs no introduction in some ways, but here we go anyway. The eighties was a wild time, not least in Japan's guitar industry. The famous Matsomoku guitar factory was producing some pretty innovative items before their unfortunate close in 1987, and amongst the wildest ideas was this: The Rail Bass. It's similar to a Steinberger, with the headless style build and hardware, but with one notable twist: you can move where the pickup is by sliding the section of body along a pair of steel rails. It's dark and jazzy near the neck, or growly and snarly down near the bridge. It's also lightweight, with a comfy 24-fret neck and hardware sturdy enough to hold tune nicely, so it's really a pretty practical thing in a weird way. Are you ready to Rail against the machine?
Model: Westone The Rail
Made: Japan, 1985, Matsumoku factory
Serial: 510346
Finish: red, gloss poly
Body: maple plus steel rails
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 820mm/32.25" scale, 38mm nut, slim C
Weight: 2.940kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Magnaflux RB humbucker
Accessories: original gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The 'headstock' has chips on the end corners and scuffs on the end. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, scuffs on the back only. The back has minor surface scratches and scuffs around the whole body. The sides have minor scuffs all over and some dimples up from the bridge. The front has a scratch up from the bridge and some scuffs around the whole body.
Overall: very good condition (8/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 45/105 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 8/10, minor wear only