The Electra Forums

Hello ,
I recently aquired a used Electra MPC x340 Guitar , the guitar itself is in great shape , considering it was made in 1976 , the pickups look great , but were loose and who ever owned it before looked like they put torn up winter boot liners in to support the pick ups , because the adjustment screws were stripped ..( I repaired all this already ..The guitar is all original , with the exception , of a missing pickgaurd , and a few extra holes drilled where it looks like there may have been a bigsby type tremolo system ..Wish I could find the same one ..My question would be about the value , which I would love to know , it does have 2 modules with it and they look like they should work ,I will be testing them as soon as I am done restoring it ..
My true question , is , the Tuning Machines are missing their protective covers ...Does anyone know where I can find the covers for these or possibly a replacement set of tuners .As I really want to keep it original ..My only idea thus far is to custom make the covers using 44mag. Bullet casings ..
Thank you

There is a set of Electra tuners on e-bay right now. Just search under Electra. If by tuner covers you mean the round plate on the back with the Electra logo, I doubt you would ever find them.

Value is more difficult. The modules themselves run anywhere from about $40 on up to around $125 depending on which ones you have,who is bidding, the day of the sale, phase of the moon, etc. Collectors prefer un-modified guitars or ones that can be easly returned to original condition. This could take you out of the upper end for the MPC models. You could do an e-bay search to see what they are running. With all those provisos (my wife is a lawyer ) I would think yours is worth at least $350 if otherwise in good shape. if others say different, listen to them not me.

My Guitar has the phase shifter Module and Also The Distortion Module , I did look up Electra on ebay and found the tuners , unfortunately those are the wrong ones ..This X340 I have if you are familiar with them is the les paul style , with set neck , 4 inline control knobs , the 5 way selector switch , which actually allows in and out of phaze modes for single or double coil sounds , and the 2 control switches for the on board MPC modules ..
I have search everywhere and I have not found another one of these for sale yet ..Apparently they are very rare to find ..Anyway thanks for the help ..
I am considering replacing the stock tuners with kluson or gibson deluxe tuners ..

A X340 in totally original and unmolested condition with two modules and case would probably go for $500, maybe $600 if someone was really Jonesing for that model from their past. $350 is probably not far off the mark from the description you've given (too bad about that bigsby experiment).

That model was in production for at least five years, so they're not that rare, and they do come up from time to time. The lack of them on the market speaks to the attachment that players get to any nicely crafted and appointed instrument. I liked your idea of the modified bullet casings for the back of the tuners, it would have to be cheaper than replacing them, and you could still say that they were the original tuners. Post some photos if you get the chance, and welcome to the club.

P.S. This X350 went for $350, completely straight original, with case, did have some road rash:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Early-80s-Electra-M ... 286.c0.m14

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

I have finished with redoing to protective covers on the tuning Machines ..It was a bit of a pain , but they look pretty cool ..The Guitar has smooth action , and a real narrow thin neck ..For me and my playing I prefer a somewhat wider neck on a less paul style .
I tested it through my computer speakers , and got everything to work on it including the distortion and the phaze shifter ..Although the phazing seems to be rather quick . Being that I have completely the wrong chord for a guitar , I think I will take it to a music store tomorrow and test it thoroughly ..The X340 is all orignal , save for 4 tiny little holes where a bigsby type tremolo may have been installed .. So small they really wont affect value ..
I will post pictures tomorrow ..

Just saw your auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Electra-MPC-X340-El ... 240%3A1318

Nice job on the tuner backs, looks good. I don't think the stop tailpiece is original, but I like the micro adjusters! I think those little holes may be from a snyth pickup or something, not a Bigsby. They don't look bad. I don't see any mention of a case in the auction text. Good luck.

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

Nice axe!

Wish I had the money, although I just had another instrument acquisition in Oct 2008, so it would be hard to justify;

Guess I'll have to sit back and watch the auction progress.

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

Ok the electra didnt sell , I am still hopeful , that it sells , I put a lot of effort into redoing this ..I lowered the buy it now price on ebay , should any one be interested ,I even though it seems tacky I listed the real reason I am selling it .
I really wish I could keep this axe , because I really got attached to it while working on it ..It took me 2 days alone to make the tuning machines covers out of bullet casings ..
Sadly I have to sell it because my wife and I are both disabled , and are seriously over drawn at our bank ..If for some reason we are unable to fix this , before the first of the month , the trickle down effect will be awful ..We may end up evicted and homeless at Christ mas time ..So I hope my hard work pays out ..If not I guess I will figure things out ..
For now I keep my sanity , by playing on my computer ..
Thank you all for the compliments..