The Electra Forums

Har, haven't been on the forum in a while. I've been jamming on my only Electra here lately. I am a Telecaster fan, user and just wanted to say I'm getting what I think is a very authentic tele tone from the bridge and neck PU with the vol pot pulled for single coil operation. The Bridge single coil tap measures about 5.40k(10.75K full bucker) and the neck 5.48K(10.87 full bucker) Ohms resistance. This is the MK 45 with the Allen adjustable poles on both coils. So I think it's pretty cool to be able to get that tone without the normal tele setup with pickup in bridge plate and strings through body. This is the only guitar I have out of my collection that can approach tele tone----and I guess when I pull the middle single coil switch, I have Nashville tele tone:>) Platefire

BTW-the middle single coil is 5.47K Ohms

I had a real bonding experience with my Electra this weekend. Playing through an Allen Accomplice and my pedal-board. It's a shame I've had it this long but haven't really put it up front and gave it much a chance instead playing all my other guitars. I started jamming with it recently at home just basic practice and got to sensing things very nice not only in versatility in tones available but the way the pickups respond, the feel of the neck and outstanding action allowing me to go a little bit beyond my norm. So I took this rig I have been jamming on at home with me to play with my group this weekend and that special thing I have been experiencing at home translated even more powerful in my live band situation. Mostly played in straight single coil mode and humbucker mode. Didn't try any out of phase tones. Was great with my pedals. The exiting thing was I was able to do all I normally do plus over the top a bit!

Naw it's not all honey and roses. I did experience some slight tuning issues but I was laying into the whammy a little. This might could be corrected by lubricating the nut some. I thought a Graphite nut didn't need that but I might try that to see if it helps. Also the guitar is heavy! The weight on your shoulder does ever remind you it is present. However the great musical experience tends to offset any weight discomfort.

The Electra just moved up a bunch of notches on my reach for axes. I will be using it for my main guitar for a while for opportunity to get even more acclimated to it--for maybe even more improved results. Platefire

What style music you playing? Does the bridge float or is it flat?
I was playing a MPC 310, Electra 2255 slim line with 2 humbuckers (MPC 310 and tele didnt come with super mag pick ups) and X175 with single coils thru a Digitech RP-1 till the caps went out and let me tell you, it opened up a lot of doors for any sound and the Electras sounded way better than the other guitars I have.
Now I'm using a Joe Satcriani distortion and delay, Boss fender 59 bass man, Fullton wah and Steve Via volume pedal with a Markley tuner. Fender front man 212 handles the reverb with other distortion options. Not a pro set up by any means but it keeps me going.
Using the 310 with a phase module, satc delay and distortion I got a really wicked and close sounding Led Zeppellin No Quarter. I know its supposed to be a key board but you can do it with the phase, delay and gain using the wah where needed clicking the delay off. I'm sure it sounds better with magna flux pick ups and the options you have with a 189 would be even wider in scope.

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SlmGuy

I play Christian music that includes modern Contemporary Praise and Worship and also traditional gospel music with a contemporary slant. I share duties with another praise and worship leader to lead a portion of the service myself where I use a Takamine Acoustic and when the other guy(bass player) leads Worship I play lead lead guitar behind him. So yeah, the praise and worship band at church is my band.

I have a lot of axes but only one Electra/Westone, the Spectrum X189PB(pearl Burst) Pictured that I've has about a year now. The year 1984 was the first time the two pivot point trem was introduced, I think? So it set up floating. Has the MK45 Pickups with even half/50% coil taps. I usually have to set up a guitar for my taste when I get it but the action, neck, intonation and trem operation was so good when I got it, I just left it as is. I did alter the PU height. The guitar is so different than any guitar I've owned I haven't really used it with my my main music function because it does take some acclimation(getting use to) to get up to speed but lately I decided to take the bull by the horns and let it if fly, crash and burn or do what it's gonna do. I judge my guitars by great(or bad) live playing experiences under the belt. After so many experiences, you start to form an opinion. Even with a great guitar you can have some bad experiences(human factor), so you have to factor that in. Last weekend was a very good run with it and the ax gained some respect from me. Looking forward to using it for this coming weekend services.

I'm a tube amp builder, so I've also got some nice tube amps. Also somehow have ended up with three pedal-boards. No real high end pedals, just average stuff. The amp I happen to be using right now it the Allen accomplice set to dead clean, no raw(0), MV full up, bright switch off, light reverb. The pedal board I'm currently using first to last is: Route 66 comp/OD, Dyna Comp, Route 808 OD, Boss DS-1, Dano FAB 600mS Delay and Dano Cool Cat Tremolo. Don't care much about modulation effects.

Again back to the main subject, I'm a big tele fan and the single coil taps especially in the bridge position has that tele tone pretty well nailed. To me the humbucker coil taps and the middle single coil sound more tele-ish than strat-ish. So properly played this gives me a broad scope of sounds available to work in. Need to lubricate that nut and string trees before then. Platefire

These are a real sleeper, I reckon; the whole Spectrum/Phoenix range caters for everyone and every sound! I have a couple of H/S/H Spectrums and rate them very highly indeed but my only Phoenix is a S/H/S, so most sounds are available if you go looking for them!!

They play nicely even if badly adjusted, but when they're properly set up, they're just lovely and have consistently better-than-good necks with generally nice woods used in their construction and quality electronics; what's not to like!?

The nut slots on yours look a little deep, but that may just be the perspective I'm seeing it from.... otherwise it looks real purty!!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

That's a keeper for certain. Thanks for the photos and congratulations on a nice one.

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

Your Welcome and Thanks! I read somewhere that they painted them at some point with auto paint?
Not sure about mine but one thing that always struck me was the body looks like it was cut out of a slab or marble. I like that look. Cut outs are kind of a cross between a strat and SG. I do now have a Black Floyd Rose type trem bar instead of the chrome strat type bar that looks more natural for the guitar. With the weight of the body, no problems with it being neck heavy or neck dives.

I agree about the neck. Once I get warmed up, something about the neck and action seems to allow me to play and bit faster and more notes than normal if I want to. It seems to push you in that direction. Being that I'm kind of a slow hand anyway, that helps.

Well I said lubricate the string trees but it does have roller type string trees, so I'm not sure rather oiling the shaft on the rollers would help or not--wouldn't hurt I guess. Maybe a touch of fine graphite in the nut grooves. The big E and A seemed to be the ones not returning exactly to 440. I'll have to check those strings again to see if they are grabbing on the edge of the slots--may need to widen the slots a hair. Platefire

BTW-Last Sunday at Church a Black Friend/Brother ask me "Another new One?", I had to say "Man that thing is over 30 years old

Used the Spectrum Sunday morning and it worked great. Sunday night I decided to switch over to my back up guitar, a Epi Les Paul Studio for some reason. My amp and effects were tweaked to the Spectrum and right away I could tell it was a mistake, the LP was too different from the Spectrum to work on the same settings. I toughed it out for the rest of the service but predetermined I wasn't going to re-tweak everything for the LP but just slide back on the spectrum next service---can't get my beloved tele sound out of the LP. Platefire

Cool axe there, I have the later Westone version...



Love that pearl, so nice. Your Electra version will sound better than mine, however. Seems that earlier MMK45 pickups sounded stronger than the later MMK45's. Although Electra and Westone were almost the same, to a very small degree your guitar may also have slightly better fit and finish than mine does (seems quality was better on the earlier Electra, possibly due to smaller production numbers or something). Another difference, your guitar may be heavier than mine. So I guess be glad that you have the earlier version.

I too play in my church (not as much as I used to, we have a baby now which commands a lot of my time).

Congrats on the sweet guitar bro!

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

Hi Chad

Thanks! Well your Pearl Burst looks just like mine. I think mine is the heaviest guitar I own. A good wide strap helps to distribute the weight burden. When the music is good I don't even notice the weight. I had a little trouble with it going out of tune this weekend but I was getting kind of radical with it. Was using a 90's RAT2 pedal I just picked up with it and got kind of carried away with the string bending and whammy.

Your Cherry Burst is a nice looking ax too. Thanks for showing me your Electras. Platefire