The Electra Forums

Looking to buy a Trans Black Endorser in good, playable condition.

I purchased one recently, but the intonation was off and the fretboard was peeling back from the nut and needed to be reseated, so it was returned. Now I have a fever for another one...

I did know someone that had a nice one for sale, but I think he sold it already. I will check and get back if he still has it.

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Thorny

Let me know if he still has it, and many thanks!

I checked and he did sell it ... Sorry, and it was a nice one too ... I sold it to him so I know and he took impeccable care of his stuff.

Don't see those too often, but keep looking, you will find one. I think the sunburst ones are more common (at least I have seen those more often for sale). Good luck!

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Thorny

Thanks for checking! The hunt is always at least 40% of the fun...

If anything there were more Blackbursts than Cherry Sunburst models made. The Blackbursts were in production longer and there were two different versions. The Cherry Sunbursts start being made at the end of 1982 for the '83 production year, and the latest serial number I've noted was from September 1983. TP estimated the production of Cherry Sunbursts around 300 last summer at EF2014.

The early Blackbursts have the anniversary plates on the headstock with low serial numbers, and no stenciled Serial Number, so monthly production is unknown, but we can guess that they started making them in spring of 1982. Other differences are that these early versions had no belly cut on the back, sport the peacesign logo and large fret dots. Later Blackbursts would have a belly cut, Bird logo and tiny dot markers.

One of my favorite models, Thorny I hope you're getting some good use out of the Bookmatched example you own. The Endorsers can pull just about any tone out of the hat, and they're more comfy than any LP I've played. While a typical modern manufacturers 'Limited Edition' model run may be as many as 1500 units, total production for both Blackburst and CS Endorsers was probably less than a thousand instruments. They are nicely put together and feel polished, dare I say elegant! More useless trivia available upon request, Cheers, Mike.

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

Here's my X935 from May of 1983, a nice specimen that I rarely play:



I have a hard time parting with it because it shares consecutive serial numbers with the Endorser that does get a lot of playtime here:



Here it is next to the Bookmatched CS I sold Thorny:



It's real purrty:

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

Beautiful guitar! I learned about these when the guitarists in two bands I like--Red Fang and The Sword--started playing Electras. I assume they use custom US-made versions of the new line, but when I saw an anniversary x935 on eBay, I bought it.

Unfortunately someone had replaced the brass nut with a graphite one, and in the process must have weakened the fretboard set, because the fretboard was peeling back from the neck. The intonation was off by varying degrees from string to string, chords weren't really chords, etc. The diagnosis I got from a local guitar tech was not good, so I returned that one.



Absolutely fell in love it, though, and haaaaaated mailing it back to the seller...

I confess, I based my assumption on the lower number of black X935s solely on the fact I seem to see them less often for sale. It might just be the rash of cherry burst Endorsers I have seen lately on ebay. But I have not seen very many of the black bursts.

I love my (your) cherry burst Endorser. In fact, it is why I sold the black one I had. I bought it when it came available and then yours came available. I am very thankful you agreed to sell it to me. I have coveted it since I have seen it (thoughts from Lord of the Rings and the words "precious" come to mind). So I have to do trade offs sometimes to keep the family peace around here, so I sold the black one. Both were fantastic! The black one was in a little bit better condition, and was a anniversary model with the plate on it. But I love these endorsers. The ONLY thing I kinda don't understand is that they are so understated in some ways. With the top on this one (simply PHENOMENAL) and even the back flamed - this does not have an inlaid headstock with a very visible logo - and it only has simple DOT inlays. This thing is better than a lot of PRS 10 tops and even approaches their Artist series. It has to be one of the most beautiful tops I have seen. I would sell my Les Paul (and I have a pretty nice one too - a really nice standard with a premium plus top, and hand selected pickups, and vintage style upgrades) before I'd sell this. It might be the last guitar they'd have to pry out of my hands. Although I am pretty partial to a couple lower models I have had longer - I really like my X310 - my electra that I bought and "restored" from a pawn shop in Indy. I really like that RAN OVER leslie west model too, even though it is all glued together and about half replacement parts - it is a FANTASTIC playing guitar. I like my Elvin Bishop too a lot. Electra just made a LOT of great guitars. I need to stop before I hijack this thread. But these guys know their endorsers better than I do for certain.

I probably would have tried to negotiate a discount and kept that endorser and if so, try to fix it. A deal like that is fixable. Just it is a lot of work usually.

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Thorny

The seller was an estate sale sort of place, and I don't think they actually checked the guitar before packing it for sale. He was extremely apologetic when I reached out to him, and offered a full refund. I asked if I could get a quote for the repair instead, then we could negotiate a partial refund to cover the cost. He agreed, and I took it to my usual repair guy, plus Guitar Center, so the seller could have a quote from a name he recognized. Both guys said the same thing, unfortunately, and the prices they quoted me for the work were too close to the sale price of the guitar for a partial refund to be feasible.

I told the seller to relist it as a project guitar, since someone might want a wallhanger or a chance to work on it themselves. I would have taken a crack at it myself, but the sound the fretboard made when the first repair guy gently turned the truss rod was too terrifying for me.

It's too bad, because not only did it look amazing, the variety of tones really surprised me. Deep, rich humbucker stuff, then the coil-tapping and phasing that almost gave me a Telecaster tone. Just a great sounding guitar. If I only played slide or something, it might have worked out...

Just a thought.... what pickups are in this? If they're MMK45s, then a Westone/Aria Pro II/Vantage H/H may do it for you??

That translucent blckburst is enough to make one run around drooling whilst clutching ones' genitals.... very, very nice!! I fancy a Vulcan in the same colourway, if I'm honest....

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

I'm pretty sure it had Dimarzios, but I didn't open it for a peek. If nothing else, this experience has made me very interested in these vintage Japanese instruments, so I'll definitely check out the ones you mentioned.

I think I have my heart set on an Endorser, though. I went to a local guitar store today, and they had a used Gibson Les Paul Custom in my price range. I had them take it off the wall, and played it a bit, but I didn't want it. I'm not saying the Endorser is the equal of a LP Custom, but I really WANT the Endorser, you know? Everyone has a Custom...