The Electra Forums

Hey guys, what is your input on this one. Its been knocking around at Ebay since I started building my collection

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Electra-Pho ... 286.c0.m14

_________________
If you don't know the blues you got a hole in your soul -Freddy King
Gary Dranow and the Manic Emotions, circa 1994

Well, it does have a brass nut and hardware and if the EQ is working it sounds like a fair deal If the price dont get to high.

I like the stripes, reminds me of Kenny Waynes strat for some reason.

_________________
SlmGuy

yes, yes, yes..... very, very pretty and I'll bet it roars!! It look similar to my Vantage VA900 in hardware terms; those pre-amps are a piece of work, eh!! (in a good way!!)
If it doesn't get too much higher in price, it'd be a steal, I reckon!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

This one has indeed been around the bay a little. It is a very nice model and as stated if the Active EQ works they have a killer sound. The price however is the killer on this listing. That is a nice model but I would only go around $150-$180 range for my Max( in my opinion) so I think that is the only reason for it not selling. Good Luck

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

Couple things about the X150, firstly it IS generally considered to be the top of the line Phoenix as the seller claims, evidenced by the price list scan, and I believe it is the only Phoenix with a Rosewood fingerboard. I think the X149 (non active EQ version) is actually rarer, I've only seen two in as many years, also has a rosewood board.

Early X150's (with peacesign logo) have top loader brass bridges, later X150's (with Phoenix Bird logo) have the string through body design with another hardtail brass bridge. Not sure if the pickups changed over the years.

This one has been on for awhile, has been slowly coming down in price. I'm waiting on the string through version to come up, but I do like the look of the peace sign logo on a Phoenix!

***Scratch that Rosewood claim, it looks like many of the later Phoenix and Westone Phoenix's had Rosewood boards... X150 X149's may have been some of the first, anyway, I don't want to spread false information***

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

...

Westone used rosewood for just about everything they made, with the exception of a few early maple fretboards, and one or two ebony ones later on. And they called the Phoenix "Spectrum".

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

...or did Electra call the Spectrum, the Phoenix?!?!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

While I do prefer the string through bridge (and someday will find one!) I bit the bullet and took this one off the market, so you guys don't have to be bothered by it's listing on eBay anymore. (wink wink) So, it will probably show up next week sometime, look for yet another Electra Pictorial coming to a forum near you.

(is that five guitars in a year Mike..?) Yeah, there are some deals to be had out there. Even at $350 with shipping, this is still $50 less than the guitar listed for new in 1982:



As you can see from the price list, all of the bolt-on 'stratlyke' guitars are referred to as Phoenix's. Before the X160 and the set neck X199's were available, the X150 was the 'top of the line', and listed for more than the set neck Invicta or even the X250 which also had the active EQ boost built in (go figure?). I had been on the hunt for one of these for a while, just never pulled the trigger. Another phoenix I've looked for is the X155 (with coiltap and phase push/pulls) and those X130's (think of the Burn Victim) are awesome little sleepers. I've owned a ton of vibrato guitars over the years, but find myself leaning towards hardtails currently. Cheers, Mike.

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

Great score, Its a good looking guitar.
You have a few EQ models now dont you? When you get time, tell us how they compare with each other.

_________________
SlmGuy

The X150 is a keeper!


Haven't had a lot of time with it yet (just arrived two days ago), but the active is very similar to the X250. Both are 18volt circuits with boards mounted to the control cover. Only has one tone control which has a center detent. With the active on, anything below the detent is pretty muddy (bass boost...) and above the detent it is very sensitive, going from clean to shimmery to outright biting (but this is really useful on the normally woofy neck pickup!). I'm very happy with it, I really did want to wait for the later version with the string through body, but this one sustains great as is. I may have paid a bit more than I wanted to, but these don't come up that often, and it's totally stock except for the selector switch cap and strap buttons, which is becoming rare for a 28 year old guitar it would seem.

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

Typical. As soon as I take the plunge, another one comes up for $100 less...:

http://elmira.craigslist.org/msg/1426001467.html

I don't know if this guy is interested in shipping, but he's got a X150 for $190 on Craigs List. Looks cleaner than the one I just picked up, although he says he's changed the bridge out from what is shown in the pictures. If anyone has been made interested by my newest acquisition, give this guy a call! Ask him if he still has the original bridge and knobs (says he changed out). These guitars are nice, I've been playing with the EQ ever since it came in the door, Mike.

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

I'll save ya 'all some time, his name is Steve and he will not ship it

_________________
If you don't know the blues you got a hole in your soul -Freddy King
Gary Dranow and the Manic Emotions, circa 1994