Westone Prestige 250, antique Cremona finish, made in Japan 1984. Westone was originally a German based brand, launched in in the early 1970s. In 1975, the iconic Matsumoku factory acquired the rights to the name, and started making LP copies and other USA-style guitars with a Westone headstock. It got interesting around 1981, when Matsumoku redesinged the entire product line with a whole bunch of original shapes and models. Some of them look pretty wild. The Prestige 250, alongside the semi-hollow Rainbow and jazzbox style Session models, were their top-of-the-line offerings, with hefty price tags at the time. This example is from the second generation, so it got the cool eagle logo on the headstock and the 'Cremona' finish, named for the town in northern Italy. It's built with ridiculous skill and precision: the 'heelless' set neck, bookmatched flame top, six ply binding, engraved gold tuners and cool inlays are all amazing details, and it feels amazing in the hands. It presents and plays similarly to a high end PRS, the flame top is amazing. The pickups use an alnico II magnet, so they're clear and breathy with a wide, complex midrange and excellent string separation and clarity. The tone knobs use a clever 'PEQ' passive equalizer system, so they have a little notch in the centre. Below the notch, they're a regular treble roll off, but above the notch, they gradually split the pickup to a single coil type sound, adding treble and attack, all without the need for a battery. This is a pretty good example of just how good the more niche end of Japan Vintage can be.

Model: Prestige 250
Made: Japan, 1984, Matsumoku factory
Serial: 4025035
Finish: antique cremona, flame top, walnut stain back, sides and neck
Body: mahogany, tiger flame maple top
Neck: 3-piece mahogany, ebony fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, set neck 'heelless' joint, slim C shape
Weight: 3.935kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Super Twin II alnico 2 humbucker x2
Accessories: original hard case

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has scuffs and small chips on the end and dimples on both edges and the back. The is clean and smooth in the hands, dimples and scuffs on the back only. The back has rub wear along the belly carve, dimples and scuffs on the horns and elbow area, dimples around the control cavity and scuffs along the back edge. The sides have dimples on the horns and dimples and scuffs in the elbow area, back edge and near the jack. The front has scuffs in the elbow area, dimples around the knobs and tailpiece and some play wear on the horns.
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 10/52 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only