The Electra Forums

My 1982s both have the clear top speed knobs.

IMO someone turned the neck plate around to make the Electra logo look more like a peace sign;

Gary - what a collection!

I know who I am going to contact if I ever need is information on any of the Electra models line-up;

Some of us started with the Electra Aquisition Syndrome (EAS) years ago -

myself included from 1976 on - but I still only have 3!

I would have 4 but I traded in my first Electra Rock Strad on my X340 MPC in 1977.

Also sold my 1967 Chevelle SS396 about the same time - but that's another story ...........

Thanks for sharing all of them.

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

I believe it was Mike that suggested I get my grubby hands on a Omega.

Being a dutiful (can make a pun here) forum member, I grabbed me a
Omega X220 and here she be, in all here paint 'n glory, Arrgh! (we need us a Pirate smilie!)

Though she's seen some action in her day she has come through it with
pride 'n joy

From a far piece away she looks stunning, almost untouched by the many
hands we know has caressed her, those greasy, stubby hands. Won't
need to worry 'bout that no more that she's home now



Front and most attractive rear, a few buckle worms but nothing through the finished



The electronics all there and works keenly



And the Nape of her Neck


Smooooth

Stock tuners with Electra seals



And the action is like silk



Oh and she weighs in at 8 pounds 13 ounces.

And... another one down another down another one bites the dust, HEY!

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

Okay, now I'm a real fan of the X1XXs! I'll have pics up in a bit
on my newest arrival (yes, definitely an extreme case of E.A.S.)
and yes, my wife is starting to question my sanity with more than
one coming in each day.

Got my brown sparkle X160 Phoenix with active electronics (Push Pull)

Tuned her up and lit up my 67 Vibrolux. Put her in the second jack
on the Vibro channel and ran the amp at 4. I proceeded to spend
the next 2 hours playing different stuff repeating each lick with
different pot configurations. I didn't take notes, but from what I
can remember, the main volume worked like an EQ making it
more mid to treble range. The second knob, below the main volume
definitely pushed the mid-range and added a bit of overdrive. The
third knob, top rear really punched up the output and pushed the
amp into some great overtones with punchy distortion.

The neck was really, really good. 24 or more frets with bending
all the way up clean as can be. What a fabulous guitar, in every aspect.

She is a bit heave at 9 pounds 3 ounces but is very well balanced, unlike
my Dan Armstrong which is very bottom heavy.

Pics on the way, will post them right in here. Will be back in a bit.

Okay, she's got dust from the case lining, I know, I should have polished
her before shooting these - oh well...


Cool rectangular case

Front in a little sun


I guess I need to start opening these compartment









In the pics the finish just doesn't come out (again, need to take these outdoors). This has a brown metal flake finish with the black polyU neck.

Thar she is, for the world to see

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

You don't see the X160's that often, I think the picture in the index section is from the Catalog. They are stand outs in the already cool Phoenix lineup. The X160 and set neck X199 would supplant the Laminated X150 as the top dog in the Phoenix line. Inside the control cover should look a lot like the X150, although it looks like the board is mounted in a different spot on the cover. Never played one, but as I understand it, the push pulls should be for Coilcut, Phase and Active EQ, and I assumed it was your basic 2vol/2tone setup but from your description, maybe not.

It's heavy because it's Maple, I think X189 says it's Canadian Rock Maple. Notice the tiny fret markers, just like on the Endorsers and Custom Pros (and others), marking a distinct period for Electra. Serial number indicates November 1983 build. Kind of rare logo with Electra BIRD Phoenix, within weeks in would change to Electra BIRD Westone and by mid/late '84 would be strictly Westone. Another conversation piece man. You need to space these out a little, we can only take so much. Trying not to let myself get Jealous (and not being successful), Mike.

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

referring to my X145

I will get up close ups front and back as soon as I get the guitar
in (I think tomorrow, Monday latest).

As for leaving a few for the rest of you (j/k I know),,, I'm definitely winding
down as we are going to take the Coach down to Saint George to get it out
of the snow so I can't take deliveries for a about a month. The problem has
been every time I think I'm done something else cool comes up. But yeah,
I think 30 is enough (for crying out loud says my mostly understanding wife).

The X1XXs caught me off guard, I didn't realize until I got my first one in how
terribly cool they are as players, not just collectibles (yes, I consider Electras
Collectibles unlike Ibanez who are still around and pumping out guitars like
nobody's business)

I think it was my X130 that started this latest buying spree.

And, I am dedicated to find that elusive 2254 Gold Top. Sooner or later one is
going to pop up and then I will call it quits.

I'm starting to see vintage '55 - '61 Strats relaxing a little bit here, there was a bit
of a surge in seller's valuations in the last 3 months and the only other solid
body I'm going after are really mint '68 Les Paul '57 RI Gold Tops (can't have too many
of those in my opinion) but prices are too stiff, again in the last 3 months particularly.

So the Electra binge has been a very relaxing diversion from the gut wrenching
transactions one has with 5 to 6 digit guitar prices as well as all the fakes hitting the
market (especially Fender). At $300 -$600 there just isn't that much at stake
to get all hyper about seller's descriptions and the little things that are misrepresented.
Usually it is their own ignorance of what they've got, not intentional stuff. It really
hasn't been too bad. I've been pleasantly surprised with the majority of them, more
being nicer than I expected, especially for the earlier ones.

And remember, I'm a player first, a collector second. Everyone of these Electras
will get played and I've got a few, already, that I prefer to most of my American
players (and yes, I have a vault full guitars that will never see the light of day - that's
bad, I know)

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

I have the same guitar (well just like it) mine has 2238 stamped on the neck bolt plate.

Gary, Your in Park City? D'ya know Dan Weldon in Ogden? I was there visiting 2 or 3 months back and met him for some good food at the Iguana downtown. I have Dan's old Les Paul and he has a River City AC-30 clone I built for him. He is a great blues player and is fairly well known in the area. I mentioned Electras but I think it didn't stick. I guess that means more of them for YOU.

I visited park city too - there were a few warm days when I went. Probably haven't had a warm day since! Anyhow, I still had a good time just walking around town (being a River Bottom flat-lander it was fun). I guess we are getting our snow tomorrow.

Anyhow -
NICE GUITARS. I love that carved top LP - and you have the one with the set neck (seen that one both ways). You need a maple pro too.

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Thorny