The Electra Forums

I guess some people can't just leave well enough alone. I am always puzzled why people have to modify so many Electras, if you want a 'standard' setup, go get yourself an overpriced Gibson or one of the other 200 manufacturers out there!

Here we have a X350 that has had the MPC circuit gutted, pickups changed and **Six** pots. Take a look at the Bridge, its in backwards and the saddles look like Helen Keller did the intonation on it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ELECTRA-MPC-LES-PAU ... 7C294%3A50

This is a X270 (fairly rare) that, of course, has had the powered circuit removed:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1980-Electra-X270-P ... 7C294%3A50

Again, these are victims of poor judgement and a brand that for decades was under appreciated. Take your time and find a stock guitar, they're out there. I feel fortunate that all four of mine are straight originals. Keep the faith, Mike.

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

At least with the X270 he knows it has been butchered. The X350 is in better shape than the coprse I am currently trying to resurect. But I agree, why mess up a good guitar to get something you could have off the shelf.

Maybe all the good Electras are out of circulation and are being appreciated by their owners; so now all of the junk and discards are showing up for sale on the 'net ..................

Just an observation.
RCSBlues

_________________
RCSBlues

I'd never go for thae poorly tortured MPC, except out of sheer pity for the seller.
The other one, though, the X-270, is something I'd go for. I can live without the power circuit, useful as it is (was).
I suppose it is possible to repalce, right?

_________________
Addicted to Matsumoku.

The X350 is a pretty guitar, and you could certainly find period correct pickups somewhere, but good luck finding the MPC circuitry! I agree that the X270 would be the better start, and the seller is being up front and savvy admitting the guitars condition, unlike the vague description the music store offered on the heavily modified X350, putting MPC in the title then showing the back cover missing and all the circuitry gutted. The X270 looks pretty straight save for the electronics, unlike the X350.

Ever since I bought the X250 ( Related Forum Topic: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3911 ) I've become interested in details about the X270, and haven't found much yet, waiting for someone to post pictures of the electronics on a stock X270 to see how it is set up. From what I can determine from rear photos, the power circuit isn't mounted to the brass control cover (no screws in center of cover on a X270) so maybe its mounted inside where the fourth control knob on the X250 is..? I'm having a blast with my power eq, able to get anything from crystal clear to swamp mud distortion just by varying the powered output to my tube amps. There is no loss of high frequencies like when you turn down the normal volume. Because of the rarity of those powered eq guitars (X250 and X270) you'd have to be lucky to find a circuit card, and I still haven't determined whether the two guitars used the same board.

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

You know you don't want that X-250. You absolutely hate it.
You should just sell it to me.

I thought that you could buy EQ stuff from other suppliers, never relaized how complicated it actually was.

But using two 9-volts? No wonder some opted out.
Well, depending on how fast it uses batteries...

_________________
Addicted to Matsumoku.

Related to this topic, an Outlaw on CraigsList:

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/msg/981722687.html

Pickguard looks kinda cool, but yet another gutted MPC. I especially liked the part where he says he'll sell it for less without the '72 SG parts (pots and tuners) installed, the 70's being quite possibly the lowest point in Gibsons history.

I'd like to agree with RCS and hope that the share of chopped up Electras being offered is skewed by the number of good guitars people don't want to give up.

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

This one is interesting:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1975-76-Electra-MPC ... 240%3A1318

... with a few more pots and switches!

RCSBlues

_________________
RCSBlues

At the expense of a wonderful MPC, I'd buy that.
But hey, MPC still works!

_________________
Addicted to Matsumoku.

Holy Moly, the 'switchmaster' X930 ended up going for $750..!!! We've seen many a stock Vulcan go for less than that! I guess if you liked the mods... I would have never predicted it would go for that much. The X270 is relisted, and the 'pretty' but heavily modded X330 went for $250, which is a decent deal I think.

Related auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Electra-Futura-and- ... 7C294%3A50

A white Futura that the seller goes into details about finish condition and the relocation of Jack. But $40 starting bid for a working guitar, someone should look into that one, original case too! I think (don't quote me!) that the Futura had the tone pot push/pull switches just like the Endorsers, same pickups... kinda like a weirdly shaped, bolt on Endorser for cheap... kinda?


(pickups and case are worth more than $75, opening bid plus shipping)

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

Wonder if he knows the Futura's body has been (badly) cut-down?

_________________
Addicted to Matsumoku.