The Electra Forums

New or should I say OLD guitar day!

I just got a really nice lady, no - not my wife but a guitar. I just bought this from a new member and it is everything he said it was. This think is *almost* perfect. It is the completed deal, guitar with a bright red finish that isn't faded, it almost looks new. There are about a half dozen or so pencil-tip sized dings in the finish and light buckle rash on the back (very light). It appears all original. The only thing I question right now is the nut is not graphite, so it might have been changed . I don't know when the graphite nut thing started - was this model supposed to have one?. It is an '83. Original knobs, pickups, bridge, even the bar, all in terrific condition. The case looks almost new, but the little ribbon used to open the middle compartment isn't there and there is what appears to be an old "airborne" sticker on the case. But even better, I have the original receipts from the original owner in it too - one for the guitar and another for the case.

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Thorny

Wow! You did good man. I keep looking, I passed on the Dynasty project. When I see the right one..........

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SlmGuy

Hey, that Dynasty project that popped up on ebay looked really nice, exactly like the one we had at Electra fest. And actually, it had the same problem, the bridge was missing from the project, but the bridge on the Electrafest one was cracked and broken so I replaced it prior to the giveaway at Electrafest. It turned out so nice I was tempted to go for the project on ebay (I am assuming that you are talking about that one). Ebay has a black Mighty Mite replacement bridge that is a darned near perfect replacement for like $30 (actually, it is a little better). So whomever bought that should take advantage of that and have a killer guitar.

This one, hey it popped up on our for sale section, and I contacted the guy and bought it. It was a good deal, and he was a great guy to deal with. Initially I tried a trade, but he threw me out a cash deal low enough I could not pass it up for such a collectors item. No - he didn't give it away. But considering the rarity and condition, this thing was a great deal. He has an online store, so I'd check him out. I am sure if he gets anything electra in he will post it here. I'd not hesitate to buy from him again. I don't think I have seen one of these outside of an electrafest, and actually, I am not sure if anyone had one at the fest? I may have not seen one in person until this one. And I know of Corsair's - which is a metallic finish. I am delighted.

Now my WIFE is NOT (doesn't understand the need for so many guitars). But you all know what that is like...

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Thorny

I think Arthur brought one to Electrafest, I remember playing it..

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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

After reading your post I know I sold it to the right person. Looks good in the picture, at least it is not alone anymore. The nut might be original, the previous owner never really played it much and I only put about 2 hours on it. On another subject do you still have those PUPS you took out of your ES339? I would like to put them in my new Florentine. If you do, how much do you want for them?

Ron,

Thanks for the good words. That nut *may very well be* original. Most of my Matsumoku Electras from this era are a year or more newer and they all had graphite nuts. So I thought I mention it in case someone had a definitive answer. I started collecting from the "copies" and the MPC era guitars moreso than the phoenix and "pointy" guitar era, so a lot of people on the forum have more experience with these models than I do (although I am getting there).

Check out Ron's online business too - he has some good prices. PM him about it. He had a really good deal on what looked to be an early 70s Kingston guitar, and other stuff - including things too that we use all the time such as strings and such. It is good to do business with friends of the forum. I can say I am very happy.

On the pickups, I have them in a Les Paul copy right now and they work very well in it. I was not planning on replacing those. The replacement pickups I put in the Epi 339 Pro were really nice Tonerider Alnico IVs. But in reality, those Epi Probuckers are very similar and were every bit as good (that is saying a lot, the toneriders are fantastic) - They're an Epi version of the Gibson burstbuckers - and they are fantastic. It was not worth changing initially, but changing them back in a 339 pro isn't worth it. The Toneriders are every bit as good (both are really quite similar). Consider a set of those. Also if you can find them, a set of Giovanni Vintage series are also very similar and quite good (they have two sets in the vintage series). And finally I see at least a couple sets of Epi Probuckers on flea-bay right now. They are a GREAT improvement over the standard stock EPI pickups. Those three choices are the best inexpensive bang-for-the-buck Vintage PAF tone out there - fairly closely rivaling the big boys for sure.

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Thorny

Great score on that lady Thorny. I did bring my lady to the electrafest this year and I love mine as well.

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

Yes, I forgot but upon reviewing some pictures I saw yours there. I had forgotten. It was vying for attention with all those other nice ones you brought - so you gave it had tough competition.

Speaking of which, does anyone know of a place where i can easily post some of the video from the fest but control how it is accessed? I have 3 large files I'd like to share with members of the forum (only).

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Thorny

I'm pretty sure you can upload to the likes of Photobucket and then make the album that you've created private and accessible only by use of a password.

Or perhaps Dropbox is an option? Just upload the files to Dropbox and then share them with individual members...

Bear in mind that I'm pretty much a Luddite and my suggestions MUST be taken with the requisite grain of salt!!

Back OT, Ladys are cool and it sure is nice to see another in here!!

C'mon John... let's hear your impressions of playability, sounds etc!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Plays and sounds great. I really need to play it more!

Also - I took your advice and uploaded the Tom Presley videos to drop box and provided links in the members only section. Please try them there and respond to that thread if they work for you or not. I don't have any experience with this but that is what the instructions said for drop box. I tried with photobucket first, but they don't like .MOV file formats and also does not allow file sizes that large. It is HD quality. My recording skills are NOT, so no bad comments please about that. Hey, I wish I recorded more. As you can see, Mike recorded some video too. Also, see Tom's custom guitar! Really neat stuff. Wish you all could be there and happy for the ones that could! Please do not copy or distribute, or proliferate out of respect for Tom. I would hate it if we caused him any grief because we asked sometimes rather candid questions and got candid responses. Please report back if it works for you or not on that thread in the members only section.

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Thorny