Raiders of the lost Matsumoku

I am somewhat confused.

I have found a nice ad for a westone raider I (will post some pics later). It's a nice bright red. The seller isn't a musician so it's hard obtaining info on the guitar but I'm guessing it has had little play but will need a good setup.

The source of my confusion is the difference between raider I and raider II. Looking at the site, the guitar looks like an exact replica of the raider II with the 22 frets, two knobs and two pickups. But it's a raider I.

I remember Ice saying that the IIs are rarer than the I so this might have an impact on the price I am willing to pay. Also, I didn't plan on buying a new guitar, and the raiders looks so close in shape to the dimension IVs, I might be better off looking for a Thunder or something else. Do these raiders have similar necks to the dim IVs? Looks a lot like the near-flat radius with jumbo frets on mine.

Anyway...

A nice day to all!!

ps: I did something horrible: read the reviews on harmonycentral (hadn't done that before, now I know why). Makes me want to bitchslap some of those ***holes.

These are Matsumoku guitars, Beavis..... "specifications may change at any time with no prior notice" !!

Maddening, eh, and if you're happy with the price, I'd grab it; I have seen 1 other Raider 2 pickup guitar in about 5 years, and 3 or 4 single pickup Raider I. They are most uncommon....

Thanks for the reply John!

I have seen 3 one-pup raiders in the past 6 months . But I must admit they are pretty; love the headstock in particular. The price is fair and I know others on here who wouldn't hesitate.

However, I am not quite sure yet. First of all and mainly, because I have been spending truck loads of cash lately, secundo because I have just spotted a nice Aria pro II RS for 100$ less than the Westone. Matsumoku either way I guess.

Well for what it's worth I have both the Raider I and Raider II models so take a look see and maybe the pics will help.
Raider I link http://s975.photobucket.com/albums/ae233/mortarman120gang11c/Westone%20Raider%201/

Raider II link http://s975.photobucket.com/albums/ae233/mortarman120gang11c/Westone%20Raider%20II%20Guitar/

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beavis wrote:
The source of my confusion is the difference between raider I and raider II. Looking at the site, the guitar looks like an exact replica of the raider II with the 22 frets, two knobs and two pickups. But it's a raider I.

According to westone.info, "By 1984 the specs had changed, the Raider I now had the same spec as the early Raider II, but with:

an additional fret (22frets)
black hardware"

Seems the later Raider IIs had a floating trem but were otherwise the same as the later Raider Is

midhilis wrote:...According to westone.info...

Who?

Thanks for the pics Mortarman!

Here is the link to the ad Link

Indeed, I checked the site and my understanding is that some raider Is can be the exact same guitar as raider IIs, which appears to be the case here.

It sure is one pretty guitar...

Barry wrote:

midhilis wrote:...According to westone.info...

Who?

Old habits die hard. Just a thought - why isn't there a link to the westoneguitars.net site on the forum home page?

midhilis wrote:...Old habits die hard. Just a thought - why isn't there a link to the westoneguitars.net site on the forum home page?

Good question. Paging Neil. Oh, Neil? Neil?

Meantime, the link has been in my signature for the past year.

Every guitar room needs a hamster cage. Or a rabbit cage... or???

That would be my wifes Guinne Pig and it's cage. It was there for it's temp home while it got a new bigger home. Not a bad trade considering that was a week in which most of my egas deleveries including the Raider I and Raider II showed up so I figure that was a good trade.

That is the latest Raider I'd ever seen.

It's got the Birdie logo AND the Switchmaster knobs. Never seen another Raider like that. Has anyone else?

Just buy it. May be years, if ever, you find another.