The Electra Forums

I've found an ad on craigslist for what I believe to be a x280 for $250. Is this a reasonable price for this guitar? Also the ad says 1979 but the listing on this site says it was made from 1981-84, I'm not sure where he got his date from. Were these still made in Japan? Sorry for all the questions, if I buy it I'll take pics for you guys!

edit: it also has "Zebra pickups from a PRS guitar." Are these good?

Definitely Japanese-made.
All electras until the crate/electra models era were Japanese. Crate/electras were probably Chinese (not certain, I don't follow those) - and the new electras from 2013 until now are Korean or hand-made in the US if a custom shop model.

Price depends a lot on condition. It was one of the lower cost models with that general body style, and it has a bolt neck. But they can be really nice guitars. Everyone I had in my hands were rather heavy, but made very well. If it is really nice and has an original case it might be worth that. I think these generally go a little cheaper if in "typical" condition - but they only go so low. You'll have to judge it on it's own merits. If it is beat to heck then definitely should be lower. Most have the electra logo, but if it has a Phoenix logo on it that means it is one of the last ones - don't see as many of those because that would be the last year only.

Play it, if it feels and plays nice, and you like it, a guitar like that is worth $250 any day. If not, then offer less for it. These are not expensive, but like I said, a really nice playing Japanese guitar only goes so low. They are not uncommon because they sold a good number of them. That doesn't mean they are not good, but the upper ended versions had set necks and MPC versions and they cost more too.


Edit: Now that I see the picture, that is a low dollar one. Looks liked it has been hacked up a bit, maybe refinned, has had a pickguard put on (and why?). PRS SE pickups can be good, may not be good, all over the place. I have a set that is nice, but some are meh. Lot's of changes. Not worth much to a collector, but still if it was setup right it could possibly be a good player again. I wouldn't give much for it - maybe $100 if I liked it. Too messed with.

_________________
Thorny

It looks to me like an X290 that was stripped. All of the X280's had fairly well matched wood with a two piece body while this one does not. When I look at the inside of my X280 it is a butcher block like this one. Mine is a very nice playing guitar and not overly heavy. PRS pickups have a good reputation but they may or may not be well matched to the guitar.

These are good players and gig guitars and are simple but quality construction. This one has had the pick guard added and control knobs are non original as well and the finish does not look original. These were the working mans guitars and are well suited for just that. They play well and have no fancy frills to worry about being damaged. The PRS pick ups I would want to try out and see how I like the sound of them. These bodies have a good resonance and tone so if the pickups are OK then will make a great guitar. As for price wise this is in my opinion a bit high but still not bad. Good Luck

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

Thanks for the replies guys. I went to check it out and it was in worse shape than the pic shows. There's not even a logo on the headstock, or on the metal plate at the base of the neck on the back, and no serial number. The finish was really rough, like the paint had been stripped like workingman said but they never sanded it smooth. The pickups were not put in very well, they just kind of sat there and stuck out really far from the body. I declined to get it. I'm actually disappointed, I have an electra bass and I was excited about having an electra guitar too

BTW, mortarman, I see that you're in Tifton. I'm in Kennesaw, small world!

Very nice area up there. Stop in if you ever get down to South Ga and try out some Electras.

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

Responding to the original post, currently there are two X290s and an X260 on ebay that appear to be in good to excellent condition. These don't appear to be stripped and had a poor refin, and pieced together, at least nothing like that one you pictured. They are currently much less than $250. No telling where they may end up, but certainly more worth your time and at or less than that range.

Good luck.

_________________
Thorny