Westone Thunder IIA
There are at least 3 versions of this model. As with the Thunder IA,
the earliest version has variable gain for the active circuit, later
versions replace that with separate active and passive tone controls
Version 1 (1981-82)
As shown in the 1981 catalogue -
Body - Canadian Ash, Maple and Walnut
Neck - 5 piece laminate of Ash, Maple and Walnut, Rosewood fingerboard,
brass nut. 22 frets 24.75 inch scale
(Set neck resembling the joint used on the
Rainbow, not the heelless set neck of later models)
Steel tailpiece and bridge with brass saddles
2 Magnet-F530 pickups, 3 way switch, phase, coil tap and active on/off
switches. Master volume, tone and equalizer volume (Active gain)
controls
Available in Navy Blue or Sunset Red with a Light Oak centre stripe
Script logo on the headstock
The serial number of
the guitar below dates it to 1981. Thanks to Ronnie for the pictures.
(The single coil pickup and extra switch are not original.)
Version 2 (1982-3)
There are technical specs of the Thunder IIA in the 1982/3 catalogue, but
no
pictures of it
Ash and Maple body, 3-ply Maple heelless set neck, Rosewood
fingerboard, brass nut, 24.75 inch scale, 22 frets
2 HF530C humbuckers, 3 way switch
Controls - master volume and tone, equaliser (Active) tone, switches
for active on/off, coil tap and phase
Swiftlok tailpiece, 'long travel' steel bridge
Available in Midnight Blue and Pearl White (Must also have been
available in Red, the one below has not been refinished)
Script logo on headstock
It is possible that the specs in
the 1982/3 catalogue are wrong. The guitar below dates from early
1983, but has the earlier version of the active circuit. (Volume, tone,
active gain controls)
Version 3 (1983-?)
As shown in the 1983 catalogue
Solid Maple body, 3 ply Maple heelless set neck, Rosewood fingerboard,
24.75 inch scale 22 frets. Bone nut.
2 Super Twin I pickups, 3 way switch, coil tap, phase and active on/off
switches
Master volume, tone, equalizer tone controls
Swiftlok tailpiece, long travel steel bridge
Available in Pearl White or Midnight Blue
'Bird' W logo on headstock
