The Electra Forums

Here's a list of the effects and technical stuff in the guitar:

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electri ... ngine.aspx

Interesting that Gibson, not Fender, is doing all the innovating right now. As a multiple Godin owner, I think that Godin has some great stuff (the "tri-voice" piezo/Seymour Duncan/Roland synth, the High Definition Revoicer) but Gibson is bringing a monster amount of technology into these guitars.

I have a first-gen Gibson Robot Les Paul and it works more or less as advertised. The Dark Fire and Dusk Tiger are even more interesting. The Firebird X is on another plane entirely.

Now, with all that said... What makes Gibson think its standardized connector, multiple-plugin-effects tech is unique or new? I'm looking at some guitars that have the same features... from 1975!

The last thing I know I want is a guitar with "app" software that requires upgrade patches like a smart phone or iPad...what's next, free tremelo or octave doubler with a 2 year contract and activation fee.

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Electra 2236 Flying Wedge
Electra X330 MPC

All nice and well but I figure I will stick with the original and best Electra electronics. If it works don't fix it is my belief and the MPC stuff works great in my opinion. Nice axe but no thanks.

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

I love Gibson Firebirds! I have a '77 or '78 RD Artist with the Moog electronics (I'm 2nd owner), and it's a great guitar.

The problem I have with technology in general is that it's great at helping us do stuff, and we rely more on it every day. When it doesn't work though, it's the pits, as we all rely on it!

It's also pretty fugly.

Yeah, its kind esthetically challenged! My favorite quote from the webpages " internal battery lasts for well over two hours "... yikes, a whole two hours? Also didn't like the two wireless pedals, just more stuff to break or get stolen (imho). I guess I'm a caveman, just give me a tube amp and I'm all set, Mike.

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

Gibson is great at ruining guitars. The Robot Les Paul (if you need a self tuning guitar, you need a good smack), the Dusk Tiger (ugly in repose), the Zoot Suit SG ($2000 plywood!?), Holy Explorer (new employee got overzealous with the router), and the Firebird X (we'll make a good design absolutely terrible, that'll sell!).

There's a fine line between innnovation and sheer stupidity.

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Addicted to Matsumoku.

Hey... I play a Robot Les Paul! Not so much to keep it in tune, but to swap back and forth in a hurry between tunings. It's nice to be able to swap back and forth in a hurry between standard tune, drop D, half-step down (Guns N' Roses and a few others), "Delta Blues" (for a couple of Zep songs) and so on.

I don't know if I would rely on it in a live situation but it's yet to fail on me.

That I can live with, I mean that makes perfct sense. But so many people seem to think of it as a tool to combat sheer laziness as opposed to being an asset on stage. I still wouldn't ever buy one, as it's both a Gibson AND a Les Paul.

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Addicted to Matsumoku.

The only problem I have with the "Big Guys" is the price you have to pay to get a decent instrument, and then do you really want to take a big ticket item on tour and onstage??!!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Well, the same holds true with the nicer Electras, for a different reason.

I have three top-condition LP-style sunbursts:

* an 9.5 of 10 X330, for which I paid $700ish;
* a 7 of 10 1992 Heritage H150, for which I paid $900ish;
* this Gibby, for which I paid wayyyy too much.

I can't afford to replace the Gibby if I drop it, but I don't know if I could find an X330 like the one I have if I dropped it. So I'll use the Heritage, which I know to be absolutely replaceable.

Earlier this year, I bought an ES-339 Figured Top at the Gibson Memphis shop. Couldn't wait to play out with it. Then I watched it tumble down the steps to my little stage at the restauruant where I was playing. Amazingly, no damage but I really, seriously thought about never taking another set-neck out of the house from then on.

I'll bet!! I'm more than happy playing out with my Westones becasue they're bullet-proof, have great sounds and - this s the big one!! - are quite replaceable for reasonable money.... at the moment!

Mind you, it also must be said that I used, at the last, Spectrums and a Phoenix, as opposed to Panteras or Session IIs, or in fact my neck-thru Vantage VA900 which I "retired" after 30 years of playing out! Not becasue it was fragile or anything, but because I had an epiphany where I realised that when - not 'if'; I've been lucky for 30 years, how much longer??? - it fell and snapped the headstock, I would be absolutely inconsolable and bereft....

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."