The Electra Forums

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Electra-MPC-X950-Electric-Guitar-w-2-Modules-/170751817557?pt=Guitar&hash=item27c199f755

It definitely looks like it has some rash and plenty of scratches but I can't imagine there's a sweeter solidbody model Electra than the x950!

An Endorser with an MPC (a little weight relief in the least) and all the inlay fanciness. That price is so far out of my range it's dizzying but maybe they'll take a reasonable offer....I'm too afraid they might accept or I'd test it out myself. For anywhere near that cash I'd probably need a mint one to sleep at all that month though.

I'm pretty sure it's not a model you see every day though, might be worth quite a bit to a collector with money to spend. Either way it makes me want to go somewhere private and reflect on it's beauty.

Maybe it's the pictures but I find that top to be one of the least inspiring Electra's I've seen - there just doesn't seem to be the knockout grain we're used to. Having said that - I'd take it in a heartbeat anyway.

Overall least inspiring Electra kinda seems a bit harsh considering the early goldtops and such....but I see what you mean about the grain.
Really I am drooling because it's my favorite model (Endorser) with everything I'd want in an loaded Endorser except an ebony fretboard. Plus I like seeing the something other than blackburst (my favorite finish period atm) or cherry sunburst (which I love but not my style).
I'm pretty new to these guitars and this model I hadn't seen come up for sale yet. I will admit that I wouldn't pay $875 for it unless Jimi himself appeared to me and commanded me to buy it.
All that being said, lackluster wood grain top or not it's gotta be one hell of an instrument! If I could get it for $4-500 I'd need to change my underwear. Of course I'd like it better in blackburst with fret-edge bound ebony and a quilted maple cap (and back)....but I think that possibly could be too much of a good thing!

j/k it wouldn't be.

anyway now I'm wondering if there are x950s with better tops too? That would be a pretty formidable Matz right there!

sorry to rant, I just find these 80s Electras so darn fascinating.

That's a Vulcan and EVERY one I've seen blows this one away. They are still fantastically solid and versatile guitars. This particular one would have to vacuum and wash windows for me to consider it at this price.

lol, I knew it was a Vulcan... I was just explaining why I like it (because it reminds me of my endorser). That's why I called it Endorser-type. Plus I hate the name Vulcan because it makes me picture Mr. Spock playing a Les Paul.

Look:

http://www.maidenwine.com/07_photo%20gallery/essayphotos/05/LN_Guitar.jpg

Now do you see what I mean? J/K


I think it's plain looking grain but I don't see many wood flaws from the pics. I see the ones with the gorgeous caps as a bonus more than a standard, but I've only been researching these for a few months so I'm admittedly ignorant. It is very plain wood grain with a very unsymmetrical look to it. Certainly not impressive...

I guess to me it's the combination of features and the fact that in 2 months of constant searching, I've only found this one for sale. To me, with a beautiful flamed top or Birds-eye, there wouldn't be any competition with other models,lol. Plus I am mainly collecting Matz's, (Electra and Aria thus far) so I'm smitten when I see one of the flagship Matz's floating around! The setneck Matz electras seem to be considerably more rare than comparable Kasuga models.

Plus I'm ideally picturing getting one of those for $4-500 and gigging with it. At the price I'd be offering I think it'd be a steal, and I doubt anyone would criticize the grain at a show anyway, lol (we play mostly in dark places).

Please post a pic or two if you can find any of the nicer-topped x950's, because if that plain looking top is that poor compared to others, I really look forward to seeing some of the nice ones! In the meantime I'm gonna keep looking to get a decent condition one on the cheap.

Btw, I don't mean to be argumentative, I'm just figuring you're judging that guitar at $875 where as I'm looking at it only from the hypothetical perspective of $450 ish. That top sucks at anywhere near $900 but I think it rocks at $400 !! Admittedly you guys are much more genuine collectors than myself who is more of a project producer/rhythm guitar player on a budget than a real collector.

Perhaps I'm just cutting that specimen too much slack because few would ever notice the grain on my guitar while I'm using it.
I suspect I'm not the only one who'd jump on that one for $450 ish though, lol.

So I'm really asking you would it be a killer guitar at $4-500 range just because it's slightly rarer model (x950) in decent shape? Maybe they're less rare than I'm thinking they are? Lastly, what do you particularly find so offensive about the top (is it just the lack of pizazz or more the unsymmetrical lack of grain on the left)?

THANKS for humoring me Jead, I appreciate the discussion. I'm learning a lot about these instruments from all you folks! Anyway no offense meant, just trying to learn so that I know in the future and subsequently don't make any bad purchases in regards to resale when I'm done with them. Basically the ones I can't use for recording/live purposes I'll eventually sell. Making a few bucks on the ones that go would be an added perk!

A: If money was no object, I'd buy it, wait for a better one, and then sell it. This one is notable to me because it just doesn't seem to have the usual mesmerizing 3D kind of top and that just seems unusual based on nearly all of the MPC's that I see. It's still quite pretty - just different. I don't have any pictures to compare to but EVERY Antique Sunburst model I've seen is usually a real interesting top.

Thanks Jead for the info, I now understand what you're saying more clearly. I'm going to keep on the lookout for one of these beauties with a more Electra-par cap on it! I've got a better idea what standard to expect on those higher-end tops now. I didn't realize they typically looked more like the x330 finish (which I think is quite impressive).

BTW, predictably my $450 offer was auto-rejected as well, lol. Back to the hunt, and thanks for the patient explanation; I was a bit confused for a second.

Apparently the lack of action on ebay is not getting the point home to him. Lookie what I found on Craigslist --

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/msg/2764723315.html

Oh well, give it time I suppose...

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I keep looking at this guitar and I now have a feeling that it's a refinished natural X940. Those pictures of the finish coming off the back seem to really show another finish AND I've never seen an Electra factory finish peel away quite like that. I honestly don't know what to think about this guitar but something tells me there's some kind of weirdness going on with it. Sheesh - for that price he could at least fix the batwings. No case - non-original but color coordinated knobs? That looks like an Ash top to me.

I would also pass on this one as I picked up a minty all original with case for far less.Keep searching and your efforts will be rewarded.

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I think Jead may be dead on with the refinish theory.

I couldn't wrap my head around that finish flaking around the primer before I read that but it makes sense now. I've seen photos of possibly hundreds of Electras online lately and none of them showed any kinds of flaking/chipping with that pattern that I recall.

All the ones I see in pics will have either that sanded down kind of rash or chips that seem to stay contained (not spreading in flake pattern). Also that appears to be a primer coat showing all over the place and I don't remember seeing any Electras or APii's with that condition either.

I wonder if that is ash? If it is the x940 looks cooler original from the index photo we have here.

The guy removed the MPC modules to list separately and lowered the starting bid to $475. Now that I know it's quite possibly a refin I'm not too keen on that price anymore, lol. It seems sketchier the more we all look at it....and without the modules now as well. At least he's coming down to earth a bit though.

Thanks for helping me scrutinize this auction, I am glad to have input like this! Definitely helps put this guitar in perspective.

Still kind of expensive considering the issues and lack of case - I still don't know what to make of it except that when I have doubts like the ones I have, I stay away. After further review - the headstock does give more credence to it being an X350. The X340 would also have been natural so I have to go back to X350 and odd peeling finish.

I don't have any insight into this particular guitar, but I've seen several Electra's with finish chipping off. An x350 I owned previously had that issue, and it seems to me that I've seen a handful of other x350s with the same issue over the years.

I always assumed that chipping like this was a problem typically associated with the 'antique sunburst' finish.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dl ... 0756080496

Andddddd relisted for $475....

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And relisted AGAIN.... now down to $325 for the opening bid.

Why exactly are we staying away from this one again??

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...throw me a frickin' bone here, people...