Westbury Univox Matsumoku Guitars

JAPAXES · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1

I'd like to offer up a bit of my knowledge and opinions on Westbury guitars.

If someone has comments, corrections or more info, I would love to here from you.

Univox produced Westbury guitars from 1978 to 1982 (there was a prototype Westbury Perfomer model produced 1976-1977). They are very high quality guitars, built post "lawsuit" by the legendary Matsumoku factory. I believe that these are some of the most overlooked, thus undervalued vintage guitars out there. Many enthusiasts, myself included, consider these to be superior to the American Fenders and Gibsons of the era. Extremely high quality craftsmanship, advanced designs (no longer just copies) and superior materials (including killer Dimarzio USA pickups) make these guitars.

I consider Westbury guitars to be equal to the Ibanez Artists, Ibanez Musicians, Yamaha SG and SBG, built during Japan's Golden Era (1977-1986). I have several Westbury's, along with many other Matsumoku built guitars, and consider each to be a masterful work of art. These guitars, in good condition, are rare, and becoming scarcer. There is not a whole lot of info on the net, but check out univox.org and therathole.org. Especially rare are the TN2000, the Deluxe A, the Custom S, and the SA260 models. I can email pictures of the following Westbury models from my collection: Standard Deluxe Custom Series 200 Acoustic W180D Track IV Bass TN2000 SA260 (335 style)

gtrtec · Joined: 01 Dec 2009 Posts: 1

I am fortunate to own two of these beauties. Got the first one new around '78 - second, used from We Buy Guitars on 48th St in Manhattan (long gone - what a shame - hundreds if not thousands of guitars in one showroom).

Haven't seen any quite like these two. The one I bought new is chrome hardware / black knobs on a brownburst (walnut?); other is gold / gold same finish. The 6-position switch is on the treble bout (all I've seen elsewhere, it's by the other controls.) The one I bought new was my main guitar for several years (after being a Strat Cat) - plays and sounds amazing - I've had people at studios tell me to name my price - NO SALE! lol

The other one has some cosmetic flaws, and I think some electronic mods. I'm thinking about rewiring it a couple diff ways as a project - don't have the same emotional attachment to that one. Chrome will remain stock forever!

Willing to swap pics and ideas if you email me. gtrtec@charter.net

Peace.

glw · Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 4:21 pm Post subject:

Have any of you heard of a Japanese manufacturer, supposedly now defunct, called Harayama?

Apparently they supplied guitar bodies and necks to DiMarzio - who used to sell a whole catalogue of parts, not just pickups - in the late 70s/early 80s.

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