The Electra Forums

I think these guitars have one of the coolest body shapes around, but i'm not crazy about the headstock, that little upward curve is...

anyways, my concord was a freebie, and suffered some damage from its former life as a garage shelf. Heat had caused the pickgaurd to distort, its warped and i added some screws to hold it down and make it playable.

stuff had been stored ontop of the guitar, denting the 11 th and 12 th frets pretty deeply. Most of that has been removed by wear from playing it since i got it.

I would like to get a new pickgaurd (the original is damaged), and install a pair of humbuckers and a gibson switch inplace of the three single coils. My concord II has 3 s.c. pups and a five way switch, with 1 vol and 2 tones, like a strat. THis is diffent then shown in the site catalog pictures.

I would also like to replace the neck, which is rose wood, for a maple fingerboard, and a more non descript headstock. I like the clean lines of a tele style. I think I would also like binding, but that might look out of place on this guitar.

THe guitar does play great, has good intonation etc, but I favour the gibson type sound more then a Fender, and don't want to buy a different guitar (I play bass). Would it be sacraladge to replace the neck and have the body routed for HB pup's?

Sacrilege? I'm not sure... but it might be way cheaper and easier to buy an Uncle Matt guitar that's more to your liking, rather than trying to convert the one you have. For one thing, any Uncle Matt guitar with MMK pickups will sound better than jsut about any aftermarket pickup, especially for the price. Plus that will give you Phase and Coil tap options already installed.

There aren't that many Concord's around, I'd be inclined to leave it the way it is. There are a bunch of H-H Westones, and don't forget Electras, the Electra Phoenix is much the same guitar.

I hear what your saying, but I like the shape of the body, its kind of like a cross between an SG and a strat to me. And having a bastardized guitar apeals to me. There doesn't seem to be anything particularly special about the pick ups installed in this guitar sound wise, and the warping of the pickgaurd prevents them from being adjusted properly.

One thing i have noticed while searching for info on the Westone Concord is that the pickgaurd on mine is a different style then any of the photos I have come accross.

Mine is strat like above the strings, following the contour of the body, while all other examples I have seen have an oval shape blending back to the bridge.

Maybe its an older example then the ones I have seen photos of?

I'll post a picture if anyones interested.

Hey Ted, just reading your column.....

I own and will soon be selling a Concorde 2. Very cool guitar, but I am a humbucker guy all the way.

I suggest that you go for a Westone Thunder Series Guitar. It is the same exact body. The only difference is that a Concorde will give you a 25 1/2 inch scale length. (fender) The Thunder will give you a 24 3/4 scale (Gibson). Thunders can be had in bolt, set, or rarely neck thru versions. They do come up occasionally on ebray......

If you have an interest in my Concorde 2 give me a shout and perhaps we can come to an agreement...

MikeC

If any other parties have an interest in a Concorde 2 let me know...

Hey Mike, thanks for the tips.

I went looking on ebay and won a beat up but cool Electra x 120 (i think)

Its a little beat but I'm happy with the price, and it had what i wanted to do to the concord all ready done to it stock, 2 humbeckers, gibson type switch, and maple neck, and in black on black, so its even cooler then my blue concord.

Looking foward to getting this cool guitar.

There was also an auction for a sweet set neck mahogany vantage with two humbuckers, kind of wish I held off to see what happened with it, hopefully one of you guys will snatch it up cheap.

Ah... an 81 Electra Phoenix. The year with the sweet maple neck. (sigh).

You'll like this guitar. A lot. great deal!