The Electra Forums

I've been looking for a strat type guitar, but just don't like Strats!

How do the X140 and X145 sound? Strat like? I'd like to hear what you all have to say. And be HONEST, like you'd want someone to be with you, don't fluff anything up.

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

Ash body on both - string through on x140. I have an X140S now and have had an X140N previously. Both were very resonant guitar unplugged and I think thats a pretty good indicator of how well a guitar will sustain when plugged in. The fat switch effectively acts as a standard 5 way switch but I find it easier to deal with. I don't know what kind of pickups were used - but I like them. They seem to be strong mid range pickups and I have to really try to get them to sound ice-picky. I've never been much for diming tone controls though. My feeling is you can get a wider range of tones out of the stock Electra pickups than you can in most Fenders. FWIW when I had my first X140 I also owned an '87 Corona Fender and an early MIJ Squier with vintage noiseless pickups - both very nice guitars BUT - I sold them both in favor of the X140.

In a nutshell, I think they play really well and sound as good or better than a Fender. The fat switch will give you a little extra punch when switching between rhythym and leads which a 5 way switch can't do. The pickups can get you into strat territory but I don't find them to be as thin sounding as most strats. You can pick up an X140 pretty cheap and I'd recommend getting one and see what YOU think.

You're the man Jead!

What are the switching options on this thing? Are there options for Neck + Middle position or Bridge + Middle position?

What does the fat switch do? I assume it adds the neck pickup to a position?

_________________
"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

It's standard 3 way strat/tele type switch - neck, middle and bridge. The fat switch turns the middle pickup on and off when the 3 way is in bridge or neck position. So it's a very straightforward design with just 2 knobs and a switches. Although it's simple, it's not dumbed-down. The X140 is my one and only all single coil guitar. I get really good Keith Richards sounds with it even though it's not a 'bucker equipped tele - or maybe I just like to think I get good Keef