The Electra Forums

Did it show up yet Ultra? Very curious if this turns out to be a diamond in the rough...

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

Got it yesterday and took a few minutes with it last night after my studio session.

It's very rough.

The crack in the bass cut away extends in an arc below the neck joint around to the treble cut away. At least it does now, not sure if it did before shipping. Seller surmised that the guitar had fallen sharply on it's face, as there is also damage to the finish around the pickup selector and MPC switches. Aside from that, there is the expected wear and tear all around. Both MPC switches are bent and/or broken.

About half the MPC wiring is gone, the other half had been SOLDERED DIRECTLY TO the Power Overdrive module! But none of that is working because a direct wire goes from the volume knob to the output jack-- tone control and both MPC slots are bypassed.

Slight pitting on the tail piece and bridge, but not too bad. The only non-original parts seem to be the pickups, selector switch ring, and a few random screws here and there.

All that being said, it plays really well. The last overdub of my session used my '64 Silvertone 1484 head through an open back 1 x 12 with Vintage 30. So I just plugged the X120 into that rig and WOW!!! It just killed me straight away. Sounds fantastic, really. I couldn't be happier with the tone.

Non-original hard case is pretty tatty and loose. The Power Overdrive module, after being desoldered and cleaned up kinda works. There was also a bonus Phase Shifter module in the case that works and sounds very good.

I can easily fix the wiring, replace switches, and generally refurbish that part of the picture. Obviously, the big issue is the crack. I'll talk to my luthier to see what he says. At the very least it needs to be stabilized. I don't expect, or care, about the eventual cosmetic result, as long as the guitar can be stable and playable.

While I'd love to have a nice, clean, unmolested X120 they're pretty hard to find. So I'm glad I was able to secure this one, and I consider it somewhat of a rescue. I'll start a thread in Repair & Restoration to post pictures and document the process.

Can't wait to see the progress. ya know the rougher they start out, the sweeter the reward when it's done. I'm sorta fond of my X120, beat up pretty bad and it still plays well. I didn't repair anything on this one, just removed the bumper stickers and cleaned it up a little. I kind of like the low profile MPC switches, although they are stiff little buggers:




Here is a super rare photo, the only one I've ever seen with Leslie West holding a X120, uber bonus is Steve Marriott holding a neck through X960 prototype, I guarantee it's a one-off. Would love to see that pop up on eBay! Would also love to get a look at the article. I think SLM bought the cover that month:

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

I wish I still had photos of my X330 from the day it arrived. It was an ebay purchase with stickers all over, totally wrong knobs and pickup switch, etc. Very funky, but it came around pretty well.

I'm sure the X120 will achieve player status eventually. Considering the condition it's in now, I don't mind it ending up a bit of a resto-mod. I've already started collecting parts and ideas.

Man,how cool is that cover! Still haven't had the time to get these in shape,hopefully soon-here's a teaser,they are not as clean as they appear,but both are bad to the bone

Ultra,I had sent you a PM when Pro told me you had been looking-never heard back. If yours doesn't work out,let me know.
Joe

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"If it ain't been in the pawnshop,it can't play the blues" R.L.Burnside

A pair together!!! That's a first man, thanks for sharing Joe, very cool! Do either of you guys find this finish particularly brittle? Mine has a bunch of huge chips on it. Dings that I think would ordinarily just dent the wood and leave most of the paint, seem to sheer off big chunks of finish on these X120s. I think the recipe had a flaw. Raising a glass to all the Leslie West owners out there... old and new. Cheers, Mike.

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

Joe - which one of those two is the Craigs List from Tulsa x120?

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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

The one in front,with the tele looking plate under the toggles-bad cracks under plate. Still trying to decide if I want to try a veneer for that area and try to match or just make a better plate. Has a set of bullseye grovers on it,alone worth the purchase price.

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"If it ain't been in the pawnshop,it can't play the blues" R.L.Burnside

I never got the PM. We should talk...

Well for what it's worth here is the X120 I have. Would be great to have a pair of these as they play great.

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

Wow Arthur,that might be the cleanest I've seen-my absolute favorite finish,love the faint burst and and slightly reddish tint on the mahogany. I've been trying to get that tint right for some repairs on mine,close but no cigar.....yet. You now have motivated me to keep at it(and caused me to drool on my keyboard):D
Joe

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"If it ain't been in the pawnshop,it can't play the blues" R.L.Burnside

Well, once again Arthur trumps the thread! Man, that's a great example of an X120. Beautiful! Where do you find this stuff man?

I am lucky enough to have a great wife. This was an unexpected gift from my wife. I had found it on ebay but before I could score it it was gone. Man was I surprised when I opened this one up. It is indeed a beauty and a joy to play. Neck takes a little getting used to but once you do you will love it.

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

Here's mine. The finish does seem different and a little less durable than other Electra's and the pickups are 6 digit s/n's.

Love that top grain and supercharged to boot. Nice for certain

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