The Electra Forums

Found this pic of him playing his Leslie West Electra MPC with this -

"From 1977 to 1982, he used a signature on-board effects MPC model guitar, created by the Japanese company Electra."



Does any member of the Forum own one of these, or has anyone ever seen one?

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

Interesting that he's playing a Vulcan instead of his 'signature' X120..? Maybe this was taken before his was designed and marketed. Not sure which guitar you are asking about in your post. I've never played a Leslie West model, but they do appear for sale from time to time, reoccurring theme seems to be that they're heavy and have huge necks, and there is a Urban Legend that they have a indicator LED for the MPC circuit, which I've never been able to see, personally, I don't think they have an indicator light.

He is playing the 'Dicky Betts' Vulcan, which is basically a X930 with a dot neck, and again, personally I think these look better, never was a big fan of huge gaudy chunks of inlay. Dave_G maintains that these are 'undocumented' or rare guitars, but this is the exact guitar in the Dicky Betts Electra ad, and we've seen a number of them on eBay and CraigsList. They differ from the traditional Vulcan in that they have the simple Dot fret markers, have a three way switch (instead of the 5 way rotary) and use the distinct X960 Ultima brushed control covers on the back and smaller toggle switches. I'm wondering if Matsumoko was using up extra Ultima parts, basically this guitar is a fusion of a Ultima parts and a X930 Vulcan.

My question is: Leslie, where do you get your leather pants made?

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Electra Guitar Videos ===> http://www.youtube.com/user/mjm33mjm?feature=watch

OK - a long time ago I saw an add with a close up picture of a Leslie West model - with the MPC red light as pictured below;

This picture of an X120, though blurry, appears to have the light offset to the left of the right MPC switch, between the first and second pot dials, closer to the bottom of the guitar:



And also at almost the same location in this Electra ad:



In the picture from my previous post, even though it's a Vulcan model, just below Leslie's middle fingers - there appears to be a light - or a micro switch - in front of the MPC switches.

Something else - is this a Vulcan model with a tremolo that Leslie is pictured with?



Sure would be a great find if an X120 could be located and photographed in better detail.

Thanks,
RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

Check out pics update to above post in this regard:

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

There's a 'Dicky Betts' Vulcan on eBay right now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Electra-LES ... 737wt_1003

This model has three mini swiches (just like the Ultima) instead of the big batwing switches usually associated with the MPC's. Look at the back of the guitar, those brushed aluminum covers are only found on the Ultima's (and these Vulcan variants). Again, I have to wonder if Matsumoko was using up Ultima parts on these.

I've never seen a X120 (Leslie West) with that indicator lamp until you posted that picture, and I still can't see it in the advertisement picture! I guess they do exist though, I stand corrected, but it seems like not all of them had it.

That vulcan in the last pic does seem to have a vibrato on it, there are a couple of companies that made tailpieces that would mount to the stop tailpiece studs, can't see it clearly enough. Have a feeling Leslie did that on his own.

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Electra Guitar Videos ===> http://www.youtube.com/user/mjm33mjm?feature=watch

On the ad above it appears to be in the middle, right between the two MPC control pots.

Wait - There might be two? Each indicator light in front of the MPC switch .......

Or maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me.

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

Growlyman sent me this pic and link of Chris Squire playing a (heavily) modified Outlaw bass, uber cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78BivgombIE (1980's..? can hear the phaser on the bass in video)

More recently:

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Electra Guitar Videos ===> http://www.youtube.com/user/mjm33mjm?feature=watch

Electra MPC X310 sighted on last nights PBS - Austin City Limits - performance rebroadcast -

Performers Lyle Lovett first 30 minutes - and the Bob Schneider (Austin songwriter);

Bob Scheider's lead player is playing what appears to be a black Electra MPC X310 - wave headstock - starting @ 38:59 -

http://video.pbs.org/video/1769474605/

I actually watched this on Saturday night to see Lyle Lovett and His Large Band -

I watched a few minutes of the Bob Schneider music and then channel surfed elesewhere - so I initially missed it -

Last night there wasn't much else on so I watched all of it - and then I saw the Electra being played.

I wish he would have cranked it up - but then again they were playing a ballad ............

I don't know if he was using the on board effect or something else - or what the effect was for that matter;

Any ideas?

Enjoy.

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

Great eyes. That is indeed an X310 he is playing. Good to see they get some airtime. They are great guitars and I suspect there are many more around in various studios being used.

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Always give thanks for everyday, It may be your last so Rock On Semper Fi!!

Christian band Damascus Road is playing several Electras -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BHLz_ih7ok

Looks like a 2236 Flying Wedge, X410, X310 MPC;

I only watched a few of the videos.

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues