The Electra Forums

I happened to be in Lansing, Michigan today and checked out the Elderly Website before coming up and found this:

http://elderly.com/vintage/items/30U-16805.htm

For $350? Well, I had to check it out, so I went there and didn't see it on the showroom floor, so I asked a salesperson who went 'upstairs' and grabbed it for me. He told me that it needs a setup and that's why it wasn't on the floor (listing also says this). I played it for about 20 minutes, and the action is excellent, nice and low. The intonation is just a hair off, and a couple of the saddles will need to be turned around to get that extra mm of travel, but frankly most players wouldn't have noticed it, and it plays very nicely.

The guitar itself is in great shape with just a couple of dings, actually cleaner than my Blackburst, which is only 12 serial numbers away from this one, probably made the same week. The case is a little rough, but not a deal breaker. It has a feature sticker on the back with Rene Lopez's initials on it dated 7/83, two months after it was built, so Rene did the original setup on it, which is pretty cool. The only detraction I would say is the 'upgraded' pickups, which were fairly lackluster, and whomever put them in wired it for coilcuts only (one for each pickup) and no Phase Reverse. I did not end up buying it, but did want to point it out to anyone who was in the market for an Endorser, you don't see them that often, and at $350 this one is a steal. That being said, since I have three already I passed on it, but I paid more than that for all three of my Endorsers.

But, I didn't leave empty handed! I picked up this road worn Bassman head for $400, with vintage Sylvania 6L6 power tubes, and vintage RCA/GE preamps tubes (schwing!!!!):

http://elderly.com/vintage/items/130U-9484.htm

I need another tube amp like a hole in the head, but I'm a sucker for these 50 watt 6L6 amps, Cheers, Mike.

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

That is a great buy on an Endorser. I'm savin my change for a gorgeous cherryburst like yours. Doubt I'll ever find one as well figured though, but I'll sure keep lookin......

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JD's Electras

I love Elderly! It was about 30 years ago that I picked up my Corsair bass from their old basement store in East Lansing for $165.00 with original case. I was tempted to check out this Endorser but my EGAS will have to wait.

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"This is the way that pop ends, Not with a BANG but with a box set whose fourth disc you never get around to playing” - Simon Reynolds

"My guitar wants to kill your Mama" - Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

That is one good looking guitar - and at a great price.

It would definitely be a player for someone;

I was at Elderly about 10 years ago;

I remember they had a lot of different instruments, band stuff, sheet music etc. -

like an old school house inside and very narrow aisles.

I was doing some contract work in Lansing; took a quick trip over there on my lunch hour one day just to see the store.

RCSBlues

That's a pretty good price for a '60's Fender amp. Send it to me and I'll make it sound great for guitar! A few simple, reversible mods is all it takes...

I hope this thing lasts a few more weeks. I've got a mtn. bike on consignment I need to sell first. This and some transformers for a 5e3 deluxe are depending on it.

Well I'm picking up my check today for my bike and noticed this guitar was gone. Hopefully someone here bought it and will treat it right. I'm really interested in picking either one of these endorsers or one of the x260s. I'm definitely interested in that body style and neck joint.

There are a couple of differences in these guitars despite both having the one and a half cutaway body style. Basically, you can equate the Endorsers with a Les Paul Standard with a Maple Cap, Mahogany Body, fancy binding, etc... and the Invictas are more like a Les Paul Special with a slab (flat) body and no cap. The Endorsers are obviously more dressy looking, and have the push/pull tone pots which is a nice option.

The X260 was in production for a couple of years, and the body lamination/wood used varies. The early ones tend to be Mahogany body with a super thin maple flame veneer on the top, some seem to also have Mahogany necks. Later X260's would be made out of the Maple/Ash planks with a 5 piece Maple neck.

The Endorsers were made in 1982 and 1983. The first made seem to be the Blackbursts with the Peacesign logo (no belly cut) then in December of 1982 until October of 1983 both Cherry Sunburst and Blackburst models would be made. I could talk your ear off, but I hope this helps, Mike.

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

As always, thanks for the information. Can you tell me what the major differences between the x250 and x270 are? This I couldn't find on the index of models.

Even with the differences mentioned above, I've read that both the Pro Endorser and the x260 are fine players. I also understand that the Endorser sells for considerably more usually. Thanks for the tips on the x260, I've seen some examples of the flamed ones and wondered at the reason for them.

Now you're just baiting me. I bought my X250 two years ago and it has been my go to live axe ever since. I didn't know the differences between the two models then and have since pieced things together, here is a pretty in depth thread: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3911

I picked up a X270 last Winter, and here is the thread about that:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5212

What confused me was the price difference ($170 on the price list) even though they are very similar, after researching and owning both, I'd say the X250 was the better value. The differences in a nutshell:

Bridge: X250-chrome X270-Brass
Body: X250- Ash/Maple Laminated top to bottom, Matte 'oiled' finish (around 7.5 lbs)
X270- Ash/Maple Laminated front to back, thick Poly finish (usually a little dressier 8+ lbs)
Logo: X250- Stenciled X270- mop Inlay
Active: X250- Both Bass and Treble boost/cut X270- Single knob, above 5 Treble Boost, below 5 Bass Boost
Control Indicators: X250- none X270- Tiny Ivory dots (like X260 and X960)
Name: X250- Powered Invicta X270- Powered EQ (this is curious because the Invicta only had three knobs like the X270)


So, even though the X250 had more controls, it was significantly less expensive, go figure. I would say that the X270 is a little fancier, but not sure I would have spent an extra $170 in 1980 for a brass bridge, pearl inlay and indicator dots! I like the lighter body on the X250, and the extra Bass control can be handy (can clean up the neck pickup, or add some umph to the bridge pickup). The active circuit is an acquired taste, some people love it like I do, others don't see much use in it. I basically keep it on all the time and can go from clean to dirty just by using it to overdrive my tubes amps. Hope this kind of helps discern the two models! Cheers, Mike.

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

Thanks again for the explanation, this helps a lot. I wasn't baiting you but figured you knew the differences.

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My Electra Pages
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I love the boost on the X270. It's a great feature and useful - not gimmicky at all or cheesy sounding like some Strats I've heard with mid-boost boards. I wish more Electra's had the boost - I imagine some pretty interesting sounds could be had with a boosted MPC guitar.