The Electra Forums

Hello all,

Long-time lurker here. Thought I'd share with you a few pics of my Invicta.
I believe the serial dates it as manufactured in Oct. of 1981.

I bought it off the 'bay about 10 years ago, having heard about the brand and model from a dear old friend who's got one of the very early Invictas in brown. He'd always raved about that guitar, even though he's a lefty and the guitar ain't, so I figured I'd give one a shot when I was in the market for an electric. The short scale and dual humbucker arrangement took a little getting used to (first guitars were Fenders, a MIK acoustic and a '78 Strat), but the pickups have always sounded great and the coil tap gets me close enough.

Only mods are what you see: pickup rings and covers, and of course the Bigsby.

I should probably add that my main motivation for posting is as a warm-up: I'm currently working on a restoration project of an old LP MPC guitar. Just about done with the refin, and about to start sorting out the electrics. Watch for a new thread in the Repair & Restoration subforum -- I'd love to hear what y'all think, and since I'm such a n00b at all things electric, I'm sure I'll need all the help I can get in terms of wiring etc.

Anyway, here's the blonde:

Welcome to the forums. Interesting guitar. I have never seen this model with a Bigsby installed. How does it sound with the Bigsby? I know the stock model I have sounds great and bright from that awesome Canadian Ash body. Thanks for the photos and Welcome.

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

Thanks! She rings like a bell with the Bigsby -- great woody tone. This may be partly to my having .012s on it, but even before I (recently) went with the heavier strings, there was no perceptible tone-sucking after installing the vibrato unit. Having once heard that might be a concern, I was delighted to find that it wasn't the case. Also heard once that adding springs to a guitar makes it _more_ resonant. And having the Bigsby on there is certainly preferable to the way I used to achieve the effect, namely right hand pushing on the upper horn and left hand pushing the in opposite direction on the back of the headstock

To me the Bigsby adds that classic vibrato tone as there is no need to dive bomb a Bigsby as they say just a little touch will do you...Nice Axe.

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

Grussfuss, what guitar is the picture from your profile from? Is that a lefty? The wave is backwards like a left handed model, but another member has a RH model that is cut like a LH model that was an accident from the factory. It also looks like darker stain than I remember seeing.

I like your Invicta, and we are glad you found our site. Welcome!

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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

Welcome Aboard Gruss. The X260n is one of six slab bodies that Electra offered in the early 80's, I used to own all of them:



The early stained X260's, like your friend has, have Mahogany bodies and necks, they are lightweight and are the closest things to a SG that I've found in the Electra line. The coil cut switch makes them more versatile too as you point out. Here are both models side by side:



Yours is pretty unique and reminds me of something that a modern-day Cowboy might sling, flashy in all the right places, congrats. I think there are quite of few of these out there production wise, but they don't seem to come up too often for auction, so owners seem to hold on to them. Looking forward to your resto thread. Cheers, Mike.

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

Thanks all!

@yyzrondo: The image in the avatar is the same guitar; I suppose I might have chosen a background with better contrast than the ricemat flooring. As to the darker appearance, that might just be down to heavy playwear and/or UV exposure. Also, a couple pieces in the slab body have some pretty extravagant figuring, so the grain seems to stand out from the pieces that have straighter grain, especially when viewed at an angle. Mike's pictures above of his blonde show a much more regular and straight grain pattern, and yes, his does look a bit lighter in appearance.

@proendorser: Yep, my friend's early Invicta looks just like yours with the cap and mahogany body. He's now got a lefty in the brown finish as well, and if it weren't for the differences between the early and later ones, they would be perfect mirror images of each other.

I really enjoy seeing pictures of the slab-body Invictas/powered EQ/etc models, and would have no objections to having this thread become a celebration of that great design! How about it? Keep those pictures rolling in!

My bad eyes needed a closer look to see that it was a RH cut. Never mind, these aren't the 'droids you're looking for. Move along.

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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