Westminster Competition Colors

Offsets seem to be in fashion at the moment - Fender Mustangs are getting very expensive; a Mustang makes a stronger statement today than I expect Fender expected. This white, now creamy yellow 'Competition Colors' Westminster is a very unusual guitar to be seen in UK - Westminster was a mid-range brand offered mostly to the Australian and NZ market by Kanda Shokai (who owned Greco, Aria Pro II etc). Westminster Strats, Teles and other familiar styles of guitar and bass were in the same bracket as Kimbara and Pearl, but their Mustangs and  Rick 4001 were of similar standard to Greco - definitely a level above the rest of the range from a materials and quality standpoint.

The two original Maxon pick-ups are typically low output, and beg for a decent valve amp and/or a good overdrive pedal. Listen to the demo - they are grown up proper pick-ups - these can either whisper at you or scream at the top of their voice. This has the classic Mustang switching and the reverse phase setting is bordering on insane. Shouldn't work but does. Especially with that overdrive pedal notched up a bit. I'd buy this guitar just for that sound. I did actually.

Short scale, this will feel familiar to proper Mustang players, and at 3.7kg (8lbs 2 and bit oz), has a "this is not a toy" feel to it. Those familiar with a Ben Gibbard model, may like this one - the substantial C neck is a dream. As with most Matsumoku models until the 1980's, necks remained substantial - not the skinny types.

This plays as well as it looks good - timeless style and absolutely stage ready.