The Electra Forums

I own a Phoenix but cant identify the year/model.Would like some help please.It is silver,H/S/H,push-pull knobs,Phoenix (bird) logo on each knob,black bolt-on neck,typical 3-way switch on top,original black hard-ware serial number 3100553. It is NOT a WESTONE.IT says ELECTRA PHONEIX on the headstock only.Great guitar,also own a Outlaw MPC bass bought brand new in 1980. Thanks,great web-site...keep it loud..keep it live.

It may be a 1983 model.

Going by the "first number of the serial is the last number of the year" theory
for Mat guitars made between 1978 and 1987.

Could you post a picture or an address where we could see it.
That would make it easier to figure the model.

electra phoenix/model?Thanks for the info.My sister-in law took some pictures for me.Will put them up when she E-Mails me.I think I found my guitars twin except for the bird on the knobs.Also I guess I should call the color graphite.It's twin I found @http://www.geocities.com/jbyear1/Guitars?200614...I believe I have a x-189.I come here every day and will continue to do so.Fixin' to buy LP Electra.Thanks again...

That's an X185. The X189 had a two-post bridge, the X185 has the five-screw 'vintage' style bridge. The same guitars were called 'Electra Phoenix' from 81-83, 'Electra Westone' in 84, and 'Westone Spectrum' in 85-86.

One of the best guitars ever made!

Go easy...this is my first post here....I post at the Guitar Gallery...I own a few Vantage.

Hey that looks like the Electra Westone that's coming to me soon. ....eay #230037346557 . Don't have it yet but it looks pretty decent judging from the clean headstock...it's missing the wammy bar and 1 knob. I have a few knobs laying around. Where can I get the bar?

I pretty much decided it's an X185.

On a lark I bought a Westone Spectrum ST for $91 including shipping from the bay.....(also missing the wammy bar) . I am really enjoying this pretty little white guitar. I like the look, the body style /feel/sound. How much better can the X185 be?

BTW my only Electra is an X250

Cool, good choices!

The ST is very much like the X185 but in general the fit and finish are a little nicer on the X185, as is the hardware. The ST feels a little more mass-produced, the X185 feels a little more like it got more hands-on treatment.

Excellent guitars, you'll love them. Definitely the best-kept secret in excellent guitars for a low price.

I couldn't tell from the auction photos, are the two lower knobs original? Do they have knurled ridges (original) or are they smooth speed knobs? If the knobs are original with knurling, drop me a line, I can probably get you a very close replacement. If they're smooth, then black Allparts Speed knobs will match (don't use Gibson knobs, they have finer splines on the shaft)

The bar as I recall has standard 6mm bolt threads which match many replacement bars with metric threads. Drop me a line though, I may have an extra.

Thanks for the offer.

I dunno know what I'm getting, but I have a good feeling about this guitar. Do the knobs on my Spectrum ST just poull off? I tried it but didn't want to pulll too hard.

Just for comparison I have a pretty good sounding Korea Dearmond M70, that I got when I started playing electric after years of acoustic. It's a Guild Bluesbird knockoff that never made it.

Now that Dearmond is a pretty well made Korean guitar and holds up well against most of the current imports. But it can't stand up to my $91 Westone Spectrum SX which has it beat in all areas including sound/quality , but especially oin looks/attitude. I especially like the way it's sculpted to fit against your body.

Look carefully around the knob to make sure there is no set screw. In 84 the Electra Westones had the same knob with a set screw, in 85 I've seen them both ways. In 86 they were pull-off with no set screw. Your ST could go either way.

If you like your ST, you're going to LOVE your X185 :)