The Electra Forums

I am new to the Phoenix models but I do know that my X189RB does have the MK45 humbuckers but not certain on the single coil. I am also not certain if the trem is a Bendmaster type. The wiring, pots, switches etc all seem to be original am unmolested. The only changes I could see sere the 2 control knobs. Any feedback will be appreciated as I endeavor to learn more about these models. Thanks.
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Always give thanks for everyday, It may be your last so Rock On Semper Fi!!

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I was curious as to the numbers I found inside the pickup bay and to what they may refer to. The wiring all seemed original and unmolested but I am new to these models and may be wrong so please help me out with any knowledge you can share. I believe it has the original Bendmaster trem and it all works very well. I am very curious about the layout on the single coil pickup. All the pups have great output and plenty of volume. Thanks again for any knowledge that you can share with me on this one as I get up to speed on the tech side of these mosels. The finishes are all very nice quality and tough.

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

I have the exact same guitar in the exact same color. Yours appears to be all origional other than the odd tone knob.

Paul

Thanks for the info. I thought it looked original but was not certain. Thanks again. Those MK45 pickups have volume to spare but also sound very nice clean and dirty. Thanks again.

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

Those knobs that are wider at the top than the bottom are certainly original knobs for some Phoenixs, although I'm not totally sure when they come into use. They allow the push/pull switches to be activated easier than on a 'regular' knob. If I were a betting man, I'd say that's the stock one, and the other two 'Fender' barrel knobs are replacements... I think...

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

The tapered knobs are the Westone Switchmaster ones are are the very devil to find. I didn't think that Electra used 'em? I have them on my X195, but when I get a chance will be putting the proper notched speed knobs on it... (it came with no knobs so I put my spare Westone set on it!)

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

I stand corrected. Thanks for the clarification, and welcome back 'Mate'.

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

Thanks for the knob info. I like that type(switchmaster) as they allow for easy pull up. Thanks again. I must say that I am impressed with the Phoenix models and that they are very nice player guitars.

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

Yeah, I like mine! I did a few cheap improvements to mine besides setup and intonation:

1) get one of those little strat springs for their trem hole, and cut it in half, and use it in the bend master arms threaded hole to keep the arm tight
2) potted the original pickups - they sound great, and now they are less prone to microphonic feedback if I use a lot of distortion and they are less apt to go bad from corrosion if they are immersed in wax
3) I got the GFS copies of the sperzel locking keys for like $30 - they fit the holes from the gotoh ones perfectly and stay in tune a bit better (higher ratio, and locking). The stock gotohs were good, the locking ones are even better.

It is a fantastic guitar. I get compliments on it all the time. I think the westone style knob is stock on that guitar. Look at the catalogs and it is in there on the pictures. Mine had the knotched speed knobs (replacements I think) that were put on before I got it. We really should make repros of those knobs, and sell them to anyone with a push/pull pot.

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Thorny

Forum admin at Westone.info made some a year or so back and, boy howdy, did they ever fly out the door, so yes, I think it would be a great idea to have some made. The problem as I see it is getting the numbers to make the exercise economical as limited runs are as dear as hell, and I think getting those who want a set to pony up, up front. I'm sorry if this offends people but it is the reason that David at Westone stopped making bits; people said "Hell, yeah!!" when asked but when push came to shove didn't walk the walk and as a result David was out of pocket for a long time until the parts he had made were sold.

That said, I'm in....

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

I can't make them, but I know a guy that is a model maker for the refrigeration industry and he has made knobs before. I found out when he brought in an amp for repair that had clear blue chicken head knobs on it. No one makes those. He made them. I don't know him that well however, and I certainly can't afford a large investment either. My only hope would be that other people would want them too. There aren't ANY good knobs being made for push pulls other than maybe knurled solid knobs, and those are not the best in my opinion either (just a lot better than bell knobs). I don't even have one of the real thing to model off of, so there is that too. We would have to do pretty good on the price just to make the whole ordeal worthwhile too, because I expect the demand to be limited. Another thing, I don't know anyone making HIGH QUALITY push pulls too - something like RS pots, but push pulls. Lots of ideas, but the same thing, how many people will buy them? I thought the same thing about MMK Pickups too. But demand really isn't that great - would people pay the price of other pickups for repro parts? Would they find a market outside of we few die hard fans? Frankly, it seems that demand is limited, and one pops up every know and then on Ebay or here.

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Thorny

Yeah, really limited clientele, really but that shouldn't be an excuse for not at least doing a bit of costing out etc. eh!

The model making idea is one that is well worthy of further research as I had a friend of mine in NZ who is a model railway enthusiast make some fine tuners for me - for a Bendmaster Deluxe - and he put my initials on the top for that classy wee finish...



.... and model engineers tend to be pretty good at fiddly stuff as well.

It's still going to be expensive, though.... quantity is the only way of getting the price down from the stratosphere!!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."