The Electra Forums

I bought this new in 1985. I believe it is a X198 made in either 84 or 85.
The finish is unbelievable and it plays and sounds fantastic. There is some fret wear on the first fret on the g string of all places. If I didn't point out the blemishes you probably wouldn't notice. There is nick on the headstock and a small scratch on the body. I never took off the scratch protection on the back so even though it is almost entirely worn off it shows you how well I have treated this baby.

I am asking $400 as I have seen similar guitars on ebay and the condition of this one blows the others away.
Verification on the year and model would be appreciated!
https://post.craigslist.org/imageprevie ... 00x450.jpg
https://post.craigslist.org/imageprevie ... 00x450.jpg
https://post.craigslist.org/imageprevie ... 00x450.jpg

Very nice example. I also have one of these and they are great players with a nice neck and lots of tone. Best of luck with the sale but if it were mine I would keep her.

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

Thanks! You know I just found a video of a guy demonstrating a similar model on youtube. If I only could play as well as he does!
I may have to reconsider selling this.

Remember if you play it ........you will keep it.......Electra rules....so I vote keep it.

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

I have one JUST LIKE IT - well, mine looks like it was drug behind a pickup truck for a while, but otherwise it looks just like that. It is a GREAT guitar. I paid $350 a year ago for the westone LX version too in candy apple red but it also was not in as good of condition as that (although not bad). I think your price is about right. That is one of the nicest ones I have seen.

_________________
Thorny

Thanks Thorny. Great guitars. Did I get the model right? I just haven't seen one out here exactly like mine. (close but the volume/tone controls are different).

It was built in 1984. That was the only year that they were branded Electra/Westone on the headstock. If you can tell us the first numbers on the serial number, the first digit is the year (4=1984) and the next two digits are the month (01= Jan, 12=Dec.). Does the picture in the index of models http://www.rivercityamps.com/electrapag ... 123-113045 look just like yours?

_________________
"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

Your headstock has both the Electra and Westone names on it, so it was most likely made in 1984, serial number starts with a '4', next two digits indicate the month. If it has a glued set neck, it would be a X199, but with that color scheme I think it is a X189 (bolt neck), or more specifically a X189rb (red burst). Check the index for more trivia:

http://www.rivercityamps.com/electrapag ... _of_models

By 1985 the Electra name is lost and the Westones have a slightly different model/naming system. Basically the same guitars though. Market is more than a little weak right now, I have a couple of axes that I'm asking below market for, and still haven't been able to move them. Holding onto them is never a bad choice if you have the room, Mike.

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

Yeah I think it is an X189rb the knobs are different however. Maybe the example pictured was modified.
It is a great sounding guitar and looks very slick!

The black knobs that are on yours are called Switch Master knobs. This model might have had different types of knobs from the factory. Somewhere on our site or the Westone site I read something that Tom Presley mentioned about how that inverted cone design was a mistake. The first batch came from the factory backwards with the cone inverted, rather than the other way around. It was too late for ordering new ones before the introduction show, so they used what they received. It turned out the backwards design actually helped the use of the push pull switches.

_________________
"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

Thanks!
This is a great Forum by the way!

You got the model right.

I thought Tom said that the first knobs were wooden for some NAMM show guitars and he was "loaded" or something to that effect and drilled them out backwards! I hope I am not slandering him, but if I recall correctly he said there wasn't time to make new ones, so he put them on and that is how it happened. Tom if i have it wrong, correct me and I'll change it.

Oh well, either way, it was a great idea. Mine has the older style knobs, but mine (I was told) were changed and I was told they should have been the switchmaster ones. Some people didn't like them because they looked different I suppose, but a lot of guitars wind up missing those knobs.

Like I said before, probably the nicest version on that model and color I have seen! Way better than mine condition wise. These are fantastic guitars.

_________________
Thorny

Very possibly the finest pickup combination ever made available on a non-elite guitar, I reckon and yep; that's the Switchmaster knob story, Thorny!

I have a metallic black Westone Spectrum LX and a blueburst Spectrum GT which I rate very highly indeed in terms of versatlity, playability, value for money and sheer grunt!!

The redburst is as attractive as the blueburst, if not a little classier; nice and thanks for sharing!

_________________
"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."

That must be what I remember about the knobs being backwards and no time for new ones before NAMM show. Good memory!

_________________
"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