The Electra Forums

In about 1983 I was in high school and I just wanted to buy an electric guitar. I knew nothing about electric guitars and had been playing acoustics for just a few years. I responded to an ad in the paper for a used electric guitar. I had not idea what I was going to look at... but it looked good and sounded good so I bought my X-120, serial number 13794, for $125, including a Fender Sidekick amp. I still have both the amp and guitar, but still play mostly acoustic. A few years ago I put new tuners on it but I rarely play it.

recently I decided I was getting old, and if I'm ever going to be in a band, it's now or never. so I found a few friends who play instruments and dusted off the X-120. Still has a nice sound to it. The volume control had some dust on the potentiometer and was really scratchy. So I took it to the local Guitar Center today. The repair guy's eyes bugged out when he saw my guitar. He had never heard of Electra, but when he saw the MPC slots he was drooling over it and thought it was really cool. He offered to buy it off me as soon as he saw it. I told him it wasn't for sale. He fixed my scratchy pot and re-soldered the 9V battery connector, and only charged me $1.

I got home and did a search on ebay and found my guitar for sale, for over $1000. Wow I had no idea.

My band has our 2nd gig this friday. I still feel like I'm learning how to play the electric guitar, a completely different instrument than acoustic.

I'm not looking to sell my guitar but I thought I'd just share the story.

Here's a picture of it now:


I'd love to pick up some more MPC modules but it looks like they're really hard to find and very expensive.

Cheers,
gary in vermont

Nice story and congrats that you held on and keep it in good shape but the one on ebay is Not sold, he is asking 800 or 1000 BIN.

You still have the original tuners?

no i think the original tuners are long gone. if I happen to find them I'll let you know.

Welcome to the site. Great guitar. You'll find other members here with the same guitar who will have tips on care and the functions of your guitar. Sometimes you can even find modules for sale here first.The Electra line has also been brought back to life. You have one of the rare guitars that are often sought out, so I'll bet you got your moneys worth back in 83'. Check in often, somethings always happening.

Again welcome to the site and good luck with your band. Check out threads from Electra Fest 09 to present.

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SlmGuy

Welcome to the forums and congrats on keeping your Leslie West X120 MPC. It looks good and I am certain the tech was drooling over it. The X120 is one of the harder ones to find and was a total original design unlike the other MPC LP style models. The X-120 is a great player and the MPC makes it even better. Keep it and enjoy it. The MPC modules are out there and around here as well. Most of the MPC guitars came standard with the Power Overdrive and Phase shifter MPC modules. There are 12 MPC modules that were made. Several are very hard to find and expensive (ie the compressor tube sound, and a few others. If I can help with any questions just ask. Welcome to the forums and enjoy. Arthur aka mortarman120gang11c aka that electra dude.

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

You can get replacement knobs at japaneseguitarparts.com ,regular or notched (which ever ones you have) speed knobs-metric ,so they match the pot spline.

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SlmGuy

Great story and glad you kept it. I really like mine, but I haven't had it since 1983! It is a fine guitar, mine is light weight but still well-balanced. It is very comfortable to play and sounds great. Good tech at GC to fix it up for you for almost nothing. A lot of bad techs would tell you that you need new pots, and charge you to replace a bunch of stuff. That is a desirable model, especially in relatively good condition. Back then I had either a Japanese Epiphone and a Memphis LP copy, neither were as nice as that (and cost more). Later I got an Elvin Bishop - that was my first. I wish I kept that one. I recently got another one. Glad you kept the original one and are playing it more now. We have several guys on the board with their original ones from back then, but a lot of us are looking back and finding the ones like we used to have to remind us of that time. Welcome.

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Thorny

Wow! A story with a happy ending! Without question it is one of the most unique Electra's made. Along with the Outlaw models and some pointy ones, it's an instantly recognizable "Electra only" shape. You really need to hunt down a phase shifter module for that guitar. FWIW the original Grover bullseye tuners would sell today for upwards of $150. I've had/have a few sets of those and they are rock solid. You should try and hunt them down too and re-install them. Let me know if you have trouble finding a knob - I may have one floating around.

After all that, I do believe I'll let mine run on ebay for another week or two - but as some of you may have noticed, each time I relist - the price magically goes up just a little more. Not very deep down I know I want to keep it.

Great story. Good luck with the band too.

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Free Your Mind and Your A$$ Will Follow......