The Electra Forums

So, I have had this guitar for many years and I'm thinking about gutting out all of the electronics and replacing them.

I would keep the guitar original but the body/paint aren't in good enough condition for resale. Plus it was my first electric guitar so I wouldn't get rid of it anyway.

So if I do, would anyone be interested in them? It would be the pickups, pots, switches, mpc slots (no modules, sorry) everything. Everything still works.

_________________
http://www.myspace.com/sixstringvirtuoso

First off, you'd be making a huge mistake gutting the elctronics, but I won't try to convince you not to because...
I need an MPc electronics circuit for an Outlaw bass I'll be getting soon.
Please let me know your price/shipping cost to Baltimore Maryland.
You can PM me on this site if you wish.
I only need the MPC parts, but the rest would be wonderful for a good custom or vamping up my own first gutiar.

Again, it's too bad you want to do this, but not my choice.

_________________
Addicted to Matsumoku.

There are lots of guitars out there with the standard 2 vol 2 tone setup... it would be a shame to chop up your beautiful MPC, but what else would you expect to hear from the collectors here! While I do agree that a separate Volume for each pickup is useful, tone controls are overrated. (courtesy Van Halen school of tone!) Your five way selector is more versatile than a standard three position switch, although some people find it an awkward control to use. Do as you feel best, but the MPC's seem to be turning a corner in collectability as of late...


P.S. What's up with the MPC switches?

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

One more soap box speaker, My MPC is my second electric guitar that I bought in around 1978. I still have my first electric guitar. A Hondo hollow body made some where around 74. Money wise it's probable not worth much if anything. I had thought about putting in humbuckers and different controls, and repainting but never could bring myself to do it. Today I'm glad I did'nt . I only have 2 Electra's but they are getting harder to find in good shape. I'm not saying hang it up in a glass case, they were built to be played. But once you gut it, it might not be the same and you'll never get the parts back. Before you do this, go back and read the HULK thread on Workingmans new guitar. And now I'll step down.


SLMGUY

_________________
SlmGuy

I'm still trying to decide wheather I want to gut it or leave it alone.

My problem is that it makes too buch noise to play live, if I plug it in to a loud amp it lets out a squeel that will clear out a room. I'd like to keep it original but I want to be able to play it live. I don't even know what the guitar is worth, but if it is worth a lot I might just sell it.

It may be better off with a collector.

_________________
http://www.myspace.com/sixstringvirtuoso

It only has one volume and one tone. the other two knobs control the MPC effects. and the switches, when I got the guitar the switch knobs were missing. What I have on there are two action figure heads, a crash test dummy, and ghost rider.

_________________
http://www.myspace.com/sixstringvirtuoso

I think I read that member RCS Blues had found replacement toggles at a good price. As for the squeel, I've had that too. But I think it just needs potting. Around $30.00 last I heard. This can be done at a repair shop or at home with the right stuff (its hot wax). Or you can get that insulation tape or foil that goes in the body cavity. ( Stewart Mcdonald sells it...) Dont get me wrong, some of these guitars need a little work to bring them up to par. Its no fun to have a guitar you cant play. And like I said before, they were built to be played. We have a great bunch of members here that can give you any info on how to make your guitar a player. I've got an X310 mpc and it has the older pickups in it that could stand to be potted. Does it squeel through an effects board?

_________________
SlmGuy

Yeah, it squeels anytime I have the volume turned up. I think you're right though, it's probably microphonics. As for the constant hum, I'm not sure, I'll have to take it to a tech to find that out.

_________________
http://www.myspace.com/sixstringvirtuoso

The hum sounds like a sheilding problem too. Check out the Stewart Mcdonald web sit and go to pickups, then insulation and sheilding tape. There is a block to the left to click on that shows how all this goes in in and some back ground how a guy set up at a NAMM show under a neon light to show how it works. Also it shows one of Carlos Santana's guitars with sheilding in the body. Check it out, it's pretty cool.

_________________
SlmGuy

If you are cheap (I wouldn't be talking about myself or anything ) you can shield with heavy duty aluminum foil and contact cement. The copper tape from stewmac does make for a neater job though. I usualy use the foil over the big areas and the tape in small areas where working with the foil can be a pain.

Here is a link with info on potting pickups. I plan to try it soon.

Ok here is the link http://www.guitarnuts.com/technical/ele ... /index.php

Try this for your toggle switches, http://www.radioshack.com/product/popup ... Id=2062513
this is the switch that was discussed in another post.
Thanks RCSBlues for the help.

Let us know how it works, and sounds.

_________________
SlmGuy

The MMK pickups generally sound very good but get microphonic. Potting will fix the microphonics (I have had to do it to all of my Electras). That will fix your squeal when you turn it up.

The shielding tape won't help the squeal, but if it hums it may help that some. I don't think it is needed though, generally if it hums badly it is a wiring problem.

*** Freeking tornado warning *** Spring is here ***

TTYL

_________________
Thorny

Thanks everyone. I took it to a tech and he recomended to leave it alone. The noise isn't that bad unless i put high distortion on so I'll just play it clean or with just a little gain.

_________________
http://www.myspace.com/sixstringvirtuoso