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It's going to be a Merry Christmas in Michigan friends. Here are the newest additions to my Electra family: 2238wc Electra Telecaster that the former owner went all Buck Owens on, an incredible X130NA that I snagged from the original owner on Craigs List, and one of the rarer MPC's, an X120 Leslie West that has seen better days. Also scattered about you'll see an Electra Flanger Stomp box, some MPC modules and an Electra canvas cable bag, cool stuff:



First up the heavily modded 2238wc, about the only thing stock is the wood, bridge plate and pickguard, but check out the diagonal flame on the fretboard:



Paid $65 plus shipping for it as a project, and it has some issues, was thinking about donating it to ElectraFest 2010 but this baby has a great little neck that my son has taken to, so I may have to hold on to it! This is one of the earlier 2238's with the pearl fret markers only to the 17th fret, the curved bridge plate looks original and the output jack on the control plate instead of the side of the guitar help to authenticate it even if the logo has been painted over on the headstock. Next up the very clean single owner X130NA:



I've been keeping an eye peeled ever since ElectraFest for a clean ash bodied Phoenix, Yeah it's got a bit of belt buckle rash on the back and a number of dings, but it's obvious this was taken good care of. Perfect pickguard, hot spanky MMK45 pickups and original case made me drop everything and pay (possibly more than..) fair value to get this Indiana gentleman to part with a gem he bought new in 1981.



Lastly here is quite possibly the hardest played X120 out there, and there aren't that many:





Pictures don't show all the gashes, you'll have to take my word that this stallion has been rode hard and put up wet. This is one of the more rare Original body styles, probably no more than 300 or 400 of these made, which is totally impossible to substantiate, but I can't believe that they made that many of them. Has the fattest neck of any Electra I've played and the 'slab' mahogany body has that LP Special feel to it. Missing a knob and all three switches are busted on top, but it came with a phase shifter module and all the electronics work still! Not a bad grab for $250 plus shipping. A little bit of everything here, a spanky telecaster with a comfortable tiny neck, a shiny Closet Classic natural Phoenix and a uncommon MPC with a fat neck. Here's wishing a very Electra Christmas to all, Mike.

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

very cool. I kinda like the Buck Owens effect
nice grab on the x-120. the toggles are pretty easy to replace....

Electra Christmas!

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My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

Very sweet and nice collection of Electras you have there. You were lucky to score the Leslie as they are indeed very scarce. Nice mixture of the Electra Brands also and I like the natural finish, she is indeed a looker and a head turner. Santa was good to you I see. Congrats and Have a Merry Xmas.

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

Well, once again you have snagged up some great finds. I'll be watching for the audio clip on these three. Never heard a West model before, and I always thought Buck Owens was pretty cool. Sofa is pretty full!

Have a Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
(maybe Santa will bring you a big sectional sofa)

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SlmGuy

ooooh that x130 is sexy! Very nice proendorser!

That Electra accessory pouch is mightily cool as well...

Very Sweet! yer makin me jelous.

Wise purchases; what a Christmas!

Do you intend to restore the Leslie West model?

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

A happy Holidays from the Dranow Collection!



Hope everyone has a great New Year!

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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

Firstly, I hope I didn't offend anyone by mentioning Christmas, which frankly to me is more of a recirculation of funds than a religious thing, just saying.

The Buck Owens special is a fixture in the living room now, I love the tiny neck and despite someone putting incorrectly spaced saddles and nut on it (strings are almost hanging off the side of the fretboard) its comfortable to play and has a solid feel to it. Still can't decide whether to put money into this or give it away at ElectraFest 2010, I have a feeling the longer I have it, the less likely I'll want to let go of it...

The X130NA pickups sound great, and it has one of the best 'both pickup' blends I've come across, especially in single coil mode. It is refreshing to pick up one of these older guitars and not have to wrestle with a flakey switch or output jack, just a great little guitar.



If by restoring you mean get it fully functional, surely. The selector switch still works, although there is little more than a nub there currently, which makes it tough to change positions. The MPC swiches are bent and missing the batwing top, but work fine, and don't stick up too far, so I'll probably just keep those as is. Went down to a dead battery the other day, so it looks like the battery is being drained even when not plugged in, so there's something up with the wiring. I could just unplug the battery when not in use, but the jack is noisy, so I should probably replace that anyway.

As far as the finish, I am neither a condition or a originality snob. In other words I wouldn't keep the original finish for investment or resale reasons, and I don't mind a couple chips here or there (although this one has like a dozen one inch chips!) so I'll probably just keep it as is. The finish actually looks pretty good from the front or back, the sides are terrible though, another Electra with Character I guess (although that describes most of my collection doesn't it).

The X120's are one of the few MPC's that have a three way toggle instead of the Tone Spectrum rotary switch (the others being the X960 Ultima and X930 Dot Neck Vulcan). The five way rotary does give you more tone possibilities, but can be awkward to use. This example isn't as heavy as I was expecting it to be, which is what I've 'heard' about the Leslie West's. Maybe all those gashes have allowed the wood to dry out a bit? I don't know, in any event, I think I'll be holding onto this weathered rarity. Enjoy, Mike.





Holy Mackerel Dude! Tell me you don't have to get a fork lift out every time you want to play one of those way up there on that wall!! And I know that is only a portion of your Electras! Mike.

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

Each of you definitely has a room with a view ...............

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

...

Nice wall!

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My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

Hey, thanks guys for the nice comments on my "Wall of Shame".

Yeah, I'm real fortunate that my wife let's me buy (and unfortunately
play) guitars like a drunken sailor

Yes, a fork lift or a 24' ladder (not kidding)

I'm trying to get my other wall of shame together, heh, heh, heh

Of course I'll post it unabashedly.

Happy New Year and may your houses ring with Electras!

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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