The Electra Forums

I have this guitar and know very little about it and would like to learn more about its value and origin because I'd like to sell it.
It's an Electra Phoenix. says made in Japan and has the number 3020676 stamped on the back. Can anyone tell me anything about it? I would appreciate any info! Thanks in advance.
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What you have there is pretty surely an 83 Electra Phoenix X165PW (pearl white). the different model numbers correspond to different pickup & wiring configurations, yours being a pair of humbuckers.

The good news is this is a superb guitar. The bad news (to someone selling) is that these are some of the most under-valued guitars out there. I see the various Electra Phoenix models selling on ebay for between $100 and $200. Ironic considering how good they are. If you're selling it locally, the chance to see the guitar in person and play it is easily worth another 50$ to the price.

(as a comparison point, the highest-valued Electra Phoenixes include those with set necks rather than bolted necks, and those with natural wood finish, and they will go for $200 to $400 usually- still not very high)

83 was a great year, 83's have lots of good feel. Maple body, Maple neck, rosewood fingerboard. MMK45 pickups with 'Gibson-style' controls (i.e. seperate volume & tone for each pickup) with a 3-way selector switch.

Also, if you'll notice, you can pull out the two lower tone knobs to activate coil tap and phase reverse wiring effects (coil tap disconnects one coil of each pickup, resulting in a thinner, brighter sound; phase reverse wires the two pickups out of phase with each other resulting in a 'quacky' tone (think old Fleetwood Mac)... phase reverse only works when both pickups are selected together.)

All that for such a low price! Ironic indeed. The real value would be to keep it and play it... but that's about where it stands.

I'd suggest you not take my word for it- do an advanced ebay search for 'Electra Phoenix' and 'Electra Westone' and 'Westone Spectrum ST' (names used 84 and 85-6) and make sure to look for completed items to see what people actually paid.