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It's an X730 Outlaw! With an original case! This is a project guitar, what you see is what you get.



It's mostly complete, but it is missing tuners, bridge, nut, knobs, and trussrod cover. (I've been told this is a typical Terada style bridge, look for replacements among Terada vintage guitars.) The original Super Magnaflux pickups are in place, as well as the 5-way selector knob.




Most importantly, the wiring harness is all there and unmolested. I haven't tested it, but it looks like a 9v battery and an MPC module will get you in business.




What's the catch? Here's the catch. This one had a broken neck that was repaired (not by me). But to me this looks like a good solid repair that will last. It could use some cosmetic touchup but that's minor- or frankly I'd be inclined to give it a gentle rub with 2000 grit and then some rubbing compound and leave it as is. Like all of us, this one has scars, but that's part of the pride of surviving.





This one needs plenty of TLC to bring it back to life, but it's a good strong candidate. So there's the catch- this one needs to go to a good home only! You have to promise to restore it and return it from neglect. But for somebody this could be a sweet guitar.

You can have a chance to win one of these guitars and projects even if you can't attend ElectraFest! PM ProEndorser to register.

Decisions, decisions...

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

Can I enter my name for this drawing 30 times?
This is even better than the first prize!

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Addicted to Matsumoku.

Yes, yes it is. heh. I had a hunch that ProEndorser would take this one home. And that's an original MPC case, you can tell by the marks in the velvet, though I'm not certain what MPC originally sat in there.

The wiring harness on this one is intact and it's going to sing. I think this will be ProEndorser's first MPC, right? You're in for a trip!

Now it's time to start shopping for modules, they show up on ebay. Everyone agrees that the overdrive module is better after Thorny mods it, so don't settle for less. Myself, I think the flanger and phaser are great, I run both. All theeffect are very useable, max stage value.

And btw, this was a good call on my part. I looked at this guitar and htought of what I'd have when I finished rebuilding it... cool, but not me somehow. SO it seemed right to give someone else the chance, because this will be a labor of love and it'll show when it's done!

So thinka bout the project guitars you have, and what you'd have when you finished them- a guitar you want? MAybe, maybe not.. if not, think about packing it up for ElectraFest 2010!

So, ProEndorser, you had the chance to grab several other guitars you were intereseted in. Why this one?

Where to start? Firstly, thanks to JMM two months ago, my first MPC was that X810 hanging on the wall, I've never played a 335 style with such a thin neck, but that's another thread!

As far as the choice, it's gonna probably take me a week to recover from all the emotional wringing I've put myself through the past 72 hours. The Futura, the Burn Victim, the Outlaw, the 12 string, that near mint Black DX... it's still just sinking in.

At first the work it needs kinda pushed me towards the Futura (I think even I could glue that and put a neck plate on!), but the more I looked at the complete wiring harness, the scoped out heal, the brass ingot inside (make's it easy to find a bridge.. if it fits the ingot, it'll fit the guitar) the matching serialized pickups, and the fact that it had a case, I started thinking this was the one. To give me a final push, my son who was really helpful this weekend, really was smitten with this guitar for reasons unknown to me... he continually poked and prodded me about it, and I figured ok, I can't play it yet, but when its done, it'll be a great addition to my quaint Electra collection, so I took the dive.

I'm curious what the other guys at the 'fest (or you all) think of my choice? Shrewd? Savvy? Stupid? I just hope whomever gets the Futura lets me play it sometime, we shared, a, a, a special moment... (choking up here)

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

I think you made a great choice. It will be a fantastic addition to your collection. I think every serious Electra collecter has to have at least one outlaw. And what a great way to get it. The choices were definately tough to make. I thought that one over a little also, but ever since I purchased my X110 at the tender age of 15, Ive been spoiled. I really have a hard time departing from the X100 line of guitars that I have bonded with so well. So, I guess much like X189 said, its just not for me. Now, I wonder if I could mod a beaten up X100 series guitar with MPC hardware????? Hmmmm. Wheels are turning.

I second your motion on the Futura! I really want to see that restored and on display at a future Electra Fest. At first glance that one looks to be a major project, but it really would be a reasonably simple straight forward repair I think. I tossed that one around a bit as well. Along with the bodies and necks and the X135 and and and,,,,,, But, the Burn Victim would have been my first choice. Im very glad redeye took it home. It just looked right at home in his capable hands. All it needs to make it complete and perfect is the coffee cup ring stain that we chated about LOL.

Blessings, Paul

I think it was a great choice. everyone needs an Outlaw model to enjoy. I was able to score a 1978 near mint X730 for my son and he loves it and is also now a Electra fan. That will be a real beauty with just a little work and TLC to bring it back to life again. Congratulations to you and all the Winners.

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Always give thanks for everyday, It may be your last so Rock On Semper Fi!!

You did good Pro. An Out Law is a cool choice. Having an MPC X310 model Electra myself, you will have a lot of fun with an MPC. The #1 and #5 position on the switch mix well with a lot of effects and have a great tone and sound by themselves. And great job on the fest. You guys made it happen and it worked.

Have fun with the Out Law,

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SlmGuy

I think you made the right choice. Like you told me - sometimes the guitar picks the player!

You're going to love the Outlaw. A bridge should be easy to find, in fact Here's a thread where Thorny discusses a bridge he has used in the past. It was for an x960, but I know he replaced the one on my x310, which should have the same bridge as your x730.

I love my x720. Pick yourself up a modded overdrive, and slap that phaser in next to it. Sweet, sweet sounds my friend.

**Update**

I smoothed out the neck repair a bit and I've ordered all items needed to make the Outlaw playable. First hurdle was the bridge, if going for originality, it should be chrome, but I saw a brass one on the bay and took a leap of faith that it would have the right spacing and post threads... Goal!!! The Brass aftermarket one was a match, although the posts were a little long because the 'ingot' they bolt into isn't very deep, so I had those cut down a bit to work.

Got some grover 'Compatibles', from 3 feet away they look identical, and use the same mounting holes, etc. While scouring the web found that the vintage 'bullseye' grovers are going for upwards of $200 a set... no wonder they were missing!

Got a set of four black speed knobs for cheap (was thinking about Amber, but went traditional), and a brass nut that was supposed to be slotted, but basically they just score the spacing on there. So I'm sending it off to my tech to cut and glue the nut, adjust the neck (hasn't had any string tension since at least '05) and he's gonna make me a back control cover plate.

So it won't be a museum peice or anything, in fact I like how beat and scared it is, gives it some street cred. I've got about $90 into parts and maybe another $50 labor and we'll see how it goes. Have tested the pickups and both MPC sockets (after cleaning the bajesus out of the output jack) and it's all functional, just have to wait until it's back from the shop now. I'll post pics when she gets back, Mike.

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

Cool.

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SlmGuy

Sounds like a work in progress;

Would like to see the finished product and give us your review.

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

Nice, Mike! Let us know how she plays when you get 'er all set up. I'm curious as to what you think of that phaser in a solid body as well...

It's Alive!!! Outlaw is back and ready to rock. All the electronics work, and here's a link to a topic with a audio clip using this guitar, explaining all the different pickups used:

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4298

Direct link to clip:

http://www.box.net/shared/y01dr91hg8

It cleaned up pretty nicely considering what it's been through:


Purists will recognize that the Brass Bridge is not original and should be chrome, but I like how it looks:


Wiring Harness was intact, and fully functional, shown here with my only two modules (phase and power overdrive) still waiting on a control cover:


Headstock still shows scars, I wasn't too concerned with covering it up:


Grover Clones, but they look decent, use the same mounting hole, and seem to work ok for me. My tech offered to paint and cover up the sanding blemishes, I said "NO WAY!":


As you can hear from the audio clip, I'm having a blast with this one! Not saying it's going to replace the X250 when performing, but its a fine addition to the family, thanks everyone, especially Sir Paul, this has been fun!

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

Mate, that is SO cool!! I just love the mojo that it exudes....

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