The Electra Forums

Well my new X290 has arrived. Other than a problem with the 3-way (question asked in separate posting in the appropriate place) it is almost like it was untouched. There is no fret wear and the control cover on the back still has the protective paper on it (I don't think it would come off at this point if I wanted it to). Curiously it was set up close to perfectly. Did they do this at the facory? If so gibs*n and fend*r could learn something from that. When I went to buy strings someone was trying out a LP that was so badly setup that it was unplayable, buzz buzz buzz.

Since it came with no strings, I took a look at the pick ups; they are MMK45's. The body appears to be a sandwich of two pieces of mahogany.

I have an APII TS350 with MMK 45's in it. I am suprised at how different they sould. The neck pickup seams hotter on the X290 and the sound in general is some what contradictly mellower. The TS350 has a maple center so that may account for the difference. I think the scale on the TS350 is a bit longer but will have to check.

I think the setup was done by SLM at their shop in Saint Louis. I'm not certain about all the models, but I know many of them were, some still wear original inspection/setup stickers.

You're right about the bad setup. But Actually I like that, because I can walk into a guitar store and say "gee, what's marked down?" and there is inevitably a guitar there with strings so blackened it won't stay in tune, and the truss rod has never been touched and it buzzes- yep, that's the guitar for me, mark it way, way down. YOu can get some screaming deals that way that nobody wants to touch.

Good points X. Personally setup is not something that I pay much attention to because it's a personal thing. One persons killer setup might be anothers nightmare setup. Most companies (and individuals), it seems, get the strings way to close to the frets because so many people love the ultra low action...which often = buzzing. I set up every guitar that I buy myself as nobody knows how I like my guitars setup better than me. And X, I like your style...this guitar plays like junk, can you lower the price? Then take it home and spend the hour or two we always do on a setup. I've done the same meself

As for setups, I actually like the strings a bit higher as I feel you get better tone this way...I do it totally by feel, no measuring for me. Of course there's the EVH method...lower the strings until they buzzz...then raise them a little.

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"Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted." - Groucho Marx

I agree that setup is very individual but the LP was unplayable. Should I send the X man to the Sam Ash if Forest Hills NYC to try and cut a deal on it .

In addition, intonation is part of the setup and should not be considered individual unless you tune to some wierd mirco-tone scale. After hearing the LP I looked at some other high end/high price models they had. None looked like the were properly intonated.

Oh yeah, I love that one!!! The bridge saddles are all out of whack, and "it won't stay in tune!" Yep, piece of junk, I'll give you a piddling amount to haul it of embrrassment range.

I picked up a really nice Korean Fender that way- trouble was, part of the junk included the cheap hardware and pickups- lovely piece of wood though! So at that point I'm redoing the whole thing- a little beyond the point of diminishing returns though...