The Electra Forums

Here are some pics of the Pantera that's been discussed in the Westone forum... an Electra Westone Pantera. I'm going to post this in both the Electra and Westone forums. I'm certainly no expert on these brands so I'm looking to y'all for some help in figuring out what this is. Because there is so much variance from production models, I'm thinking it might be a prototype, or some other kind of in-house project. This is the Craigslist ad pic that got hings rolling:



A little more clearly here:



Starting at the top, it has a great playing rosewood on maple neck. Unpainted headstock and a "bullet" adjuster on the truss rod. I can't remember seeing this feature on an "Electra Westone" neck. I'm aware of their use on older models. Interestingly, only the back of the neck has been fully buffed out. No markings on the tuners. The neck is marked "59-3" at the base. The scale is 25.5".

Here's a side by side comparison with a Pantera X350MA:



Five piece body, with a front arm bevel and rear belly cut ala Stratocaster. Pantera style with no front or rear arch, and a front mounted input jack. Lipstick Red in what may be a single stage paint (no clear coat)... I haven't yet checked it to be sure. Bendmaster bridge and the usual springs and claw. There are markings in the neck pocket but I can't decipher them. The neck plate is marked "Made in Japan."



The pickups both have the "MMK" stamp in the backplates, but no other markings or stamps. Regular pots, no push-pull on either one. The neck pickup cavity is marked "G 59-3" and apparently they cut things a little close between the neck pocket and the pickup cavity. The wall between the two is quite thin and some small pieces have come off it.



Aside from the neck pickup location, the configuration is quite similar this Spectrum DX. No locknut but the same tuners.



Everything is original and is obviously a factory effort. It's like the missing link between Spectrums and Panteras. Oh yeah, it plays and sounds great. There are more pics at:

http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/METES ... t=3&page=1

Thanks in advance for any input received...

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"... can't seem to hit that Bb right."

That one is a head-scratcher for sure. It must have been something they messed around with at the factory before the Panteras came out. The knob locations are much different than the stock one. Does this knob set-up match up with any other model configuration? Is there any serial number on the headstock? I think McBrat better add this one to the model database that he is working on.

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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

I've gone round and back attempting to figure this one out over at Westone... I really don't know what to think on this one.

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