The Electra Forums

Saw three Phoenix's on CL, this first one looks like it could be 'The Burn Victims' long lost brother:

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/msg/1352184677.html

I tell ya, after ElectraFest these bolt on hotrods really changed my mind about the Phoenix line, anyone in California? Not sure if the green is original, but X189 says its a super rare color if authentic.

Then there's this one:

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/msg/1351412119.html

Which seller says is a X140na, but I get the models confused myself. Anyway the NICE hardshell rectangular case is worth a good chunk of the $150 he wants... anyone in Massachusetts?

Also a third X185 (weird purple color?) in Cleveland:

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/msg/1349764062.html

Looks pretty clean, for only $160!!!


Man, they're giving them away, if I hadn't just blown my wad on 'Ray', I'd be on the phone right now to one of these three sellers... go crazy guys!

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

That second guitar is very close in serial to BeatenPhoenix's! 19 apart!

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Who needs a Fender Jazz when you can get a perfectly good Spectrum bass for $50?

I really like contestant number 3!

Yep; I concur; my Westone Spectrum in this configuration is so very versatile...

These are so darn cheap!!

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."

These are all sweet deals. I like the burn victums couisin but the natural is a close second.

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

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I know, if it was the same price asm ine i'd be all over it!

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Addicted to Matsumoku.

That second one is a x140NA. 3 single coils.

Someone hsould nab that X140NA, the first month of production are all exceptional guitars.

I tried, but I just got an email saying that he sold it locally.

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On the newer CL listing:
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/msg/1374291405.html
he has a couple of (semi) closeups, and the Green finish looks transparent, you can see the wood through it. If I were a betting man, I'd say it's a natural that's been refin'd. X189, what say you? The one in the Index part of the website looks opaque and I think there are even some 'sparkles' or metal flake in the (lighter green) paint.

As far as the bridge/tuners go, that looks like the stock brass hard tail that was on the 'Burn Victim', a real hunk of anchored heavy metal there! The tuners on the 'Burn Victim' were nicely worn nickel, which I'm starting to prefer to chrome personally. I think those are nickel also. Lots of Electras had curious combinations of hardware finishes. I think it's stock except for the finish, unless someone else has seen non burst transparent finishes before. Cheesy case, but I bet it's a nice axe...

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

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So what on god's green earth is the difference between the X130 and the X135..? I could understand if one had a vibrato and one a hardtail, but the only difference I see are the finishes... Rickenbacker used to do that, 620 was a standard, and the 625 was the vibrato version.

Still sounds like a cool story if your buddy is 'authorized' to pick it up! Tell him to snap some close ups. Good luck man!

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

The X135 (and X145) had maple bodies, very heavy and solid compared to the light ash of the X130 and X140. That was why they were painted - the grain of rock maple is nothing to get excited about (sounds great though). Also the pickguard is 2-ply black/white instead of solid black, and the tuners are the better quality sealed units which became standard in the Phoenixes.

They were supposed to be high-end versions, and basically they set the standard for all the Phoenixes to follow. The same number got used again in 83 for a slightly different model with natural wood/clear finish, no pickguard so the body rout is different - essentially like the X165 and X185 etc. with flush-mounted pickups and rings.