The Electra Forums

I picked up this gem recently off CraigsList, in Silverstone I believe although I can't remember seeing this color in person before. It looks like a pale shade of Shorline Gold to me with a subtle metallic flake. Clearcoat may have greened over time, just wondering if anyone else can chime in on the finish. It's in remarkable shape with just a handful of flea bites:




It's one of those hard to photograph colors, here are the back covers off under my bench lamp, giving it a much richer gold tone than it really has:


Almost no corrosion on the Bridge, which is rare as most owners can attest, doesn't look like it was played much at all:


The action was high and uncomfortable when I got it, maybe why it wasn't played that often! All the adjustments moved freely though, and after some quick truss rod and saddle adjustments it's playing much better. I'll wait for the neck to settle and see if I can get it a little lower still. I didn't need another Phoenix here, but to get a 9.5 of 10 example for $150… I'm pretty happy! It's tough to find one of these that hasn't been modified or beat to death. So, is it a rare Silverstone or a really nice refin? Cheers, Mike.

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

I saw that locally Mike, glad you were the one to grab it. Looks sweet!

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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

Mike, that thing rules.

Didn't the Silverstone color come in 2 shades? I remember someone mentioning that. It may have been Jack Baruth?

Seems I remember someone saying the Silverstone's were either in a gold and in a slightly champagne shade. Can anyone confirm?

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

I know Jack Baruth mentioned 2 different shades of the Champagne Gold that was used on the Anniversary X135's. One was more golden and the other was more orange.

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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

Here is a picture from Jacks Website (hope he doesn't mind me linking it here…), he says he has three X185ss (yikes) and all of them are in nice shape, so there may be something to the theory that this color didn't attract the abusive players out there. The serial number on that receipt is the same month as the one I just picked up, which makes me wonder how seldom they sprayed this color?




His photo looks a lot closer to the hue than I captured, it goes without saying that Jacks camera is more expensive than mine! I have been calling my Graphite X190 'silverstone', almost using the terms interchangeably, my mistake, they are two distinct metallic finishes, and much less seen than the other solid finishes offered. Here's my X190 in Graphite for comparison, and to my eyes this seems more 'olive green' than my photo represents:



This new X185ss is one of those that I almost don't want to play it's so clean… anyone want to rescue it from my callus hands? Cheers, Mike.

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

Look... if you just send these guitars to me and let me work out what's going on here. Should only take a year or two...

I do love me a Spectrum/Phoenix, and both these shades are just superb!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Funny to hear you say that Mike, I passed on one of these exact models about 9 months ago. From NY, they wanted $200 for it. That one was also mint!

I didn't buy it for the same reason that you just stated, I didn't want to play it because it was mint! To collect, sure. To play, no way!

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

I lined up all three of my uncommon color Phoenix's here, left to right X190gr (Graphite) X185ss (Silverstone) and X185bb (Blueburst) for your enjoyment, first with natural lighting, then with the flash:




The new '83 Silverstone weighs in at a hefty 9.5lbs, both of the other guitars ('84s) are in the 7.7lb range. I got the Blueburst at ElectraFest last summer, and after a fretboard oiling, intonation and pickup setup I'll be passing this baby along at the next 'fest as a Giveaway!(is it too early to talk EF15?) It's weathered and worn, but the pickups are set for maximum blendage and she's ready to Rock. Cheers, Mike.

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

Oh man I love to see line ups like that!

What is the wood was used between 83 and 84 to cause the weight diff?

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"GREAT Googiley moogilie Jack...jumpin jehosephat, hot dang and all".
- jdwhealton

Yeah, me too!!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

You're free to use the image... providing you sell me the guitar

OH MAN, now that there is 80s Guitar Porn. Wowsers, that's just my style, fast and curvy. Nice group. Congrats.