This 1989 Westone Dimension WE5400 is about as late-'80s as a guitar can get, with its wild Ultra Violet finish, reverse pointed headstock, sleek Superstrat body and double-locking tremolo setup. Depending on the lighting, the Ultra Violet finish can range from deep magenta to almost hot pink, giving this guitar a killer stage presence that perfectly matches the era it came from.
The WE5400 features a satin maple bolt-on neck with a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard and a fast, shred-friendly feel. The pickup configuration consists of a stacked single-coil-sized neck pickup paired with a bridge humbucker, giving you everything from clearer neck tones to the thick, aggressive bridge sound that these guitars were made for. Controls include master volume and tone, a three-way pickup selector and two mini-toggle switches for additional pickup switching options. This is a guitar that loves gain, whether you're playing '80s hard rock, glam, shred, traditional heavy metal or just want something with a little more attitude than the average Strat-style guitar.
On this particular guitar, the bridge has been replaced with a Licensed by Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo, giving it the familiar fine tuners, locking nut and aggressive pitch control that players expect from a Floyd-style setup.
The guitar shows honest cosmetic wear from age and use, including some oxidation/rust around the pickup hardware and screws along with scratches, marks and other normal surface wear throughout. It still presents incredibly well, and the wear fits the personality of a nearly four-decade-old shred machine rather than taking away from it.
Most importantly, this one is a blast to play. The neck is straight and the truss rod turns properly in both directions. It plays great up and down the neck and has exactly the kind of fast, aggressive feel you want from a vintage Superstrat. Plug it into a cranked amp and this thing immediately makes sense. The bridge humbucker has plenty of bite and power for riffs and leads, while the neck pickup gives you another useful flavor without losing the guitar's unmistakably hot-rodded personality.
If you've been looking for something genuinely different from the endless supply of Strats, Charvels and Ibanezes, this Westone has a ton of character. The reverse headstock, Ultra Violet finish and unmistakable late-'80s styling make it cool before you even plug it in, and once you have it in your hands, it's hard not to start playing riffs. Whoever ends up with this one is going to have a seriously fun vintage shred guitar in their collection. Don't wait too long on it, because finding another WE5400 in this color and configuration isn't something you can count on.
