The Electra Forums

Hello! I just picked up an Electra Westone Dynasty. Very cool guitar I had seen adds for when I was in 8th grade, (1984). I am now just a little overwhelmed trying to figure out all its capabilities. By chance, does anyone have a user's guide or manual to spare? Or even a scanned copy? Thanks!!

Looks like a pretty awesome guitar! Funny how we can remember something from so many years back, but it's also cool to have the chance to satisfy that desire after so many years.

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X260n Blonde Invicta! (1980)
Gibson Les Paul Studio (2007, walnut with black hardware, active EMGs)
Alvarez Yairi (1992)
Art & Lutherie 12 String

You've probably already seen it, but there's a little info here: http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/dynasty.php

Also some youtube demo videos that might help you sort out some of the features.

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X260n Blonde Invicta! (1980)
Gibson Les Paul Studio (2007, walnut with black hardware, active EMGs)
Alvarez Yairi (1992)
Art & Lutherie 12 String

Thanks! I did find a vid on youtube that was helpful. I will be watching this one over and over and over and.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNGzgokNA4o
and this one too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSG8_gUMLfI

The first video is from our forum member Proendorser. His videos have moved the needle for Electras further than most other types of media have in the last 10 years.

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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

If by owners manual you mean an explanation of the controls, I can do that, and try to outline it in the video you referenced:



Assuming that it hasn't been modified (or butchered), it has a pair of MMK45 humbuckers, and a Matsumoku single coil in the center. When all the switches are down, it behaves just like any other dual humbucking guitar with the three way selector switch controlling the bridge and neck humbuckers. The three push pull switches on the pots give these H/S/H guitars a whopping 18 different pickup combinations, all in a simple uncluttered setup:

First Knob, Master Volume, pull to turn humbuckers into single coils, useable in all three positions
Second Knob, Neck Tone, pull to turn on middle single coil, useable in all three positions
Third Knob, Bridge Tone, pull to put Bridge pickup out of phase with other two pickups, only noticeable when another pickup is used with the bridge pickup.

Many of the tonal variations are subtle, and most guitarists find five or six sounds that they like and learn to dial them in quickly, your milage may vary. Post some pictures, and congrats, Mike.

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

Your video did a wonderful job explaining the controls! Fortunately, it looks like previous owners have not altered the electronics. The push/pulls all work and I can hear the differences when they are activated. I believe the pick ups are original as well.

What I need help with now is the tremolo unit looks to be missing the rear half. It holds strings, but does not "rock" forward and back. Seems to be mounted almost flush. And the whammy bar is missing. Fortunately this isn't too major of an issue at the moment. I am only just starting to learn how to play. So a functioning tremolo is far beyond my abilities

I will try to post some photos tonight. But my Dynasty is no where near as nice as the one you use in the video. Mine has had some mileage put on it.

Congrats on the Dynasty! That is my favorite V shaped guitar.

I own two, a red 1984 Electra/Westone and a red 1985 Westone.

Ready for something crazy? I do not so much believe that shape of a guitar will influence its sound... HOWEVER... in my personal experience, the Dynasty's have sounded better than their more conservatively shaped cousins, the Phoenix (or later, Spectrum). It's audible, and others have attested to the fact when they'd heard the comparison in person. I've only had 4 Phoenix/Spectrum's, so I can't speak for all of them, but the Dynasty's have sounded more clear and with more bite in a side by side comparison for some reason. The Phoenix/Spectrums's years ranged from 1980 (which had 1984 MMK45's in it) to 1986, so they had variations of the MMK45 pickups in them, the same as the Dynasty's do. They all had similar trems on them as well. Yet the Dynasty's have more bite. Odd, I know. Instrument construction makes all the difference!

Has anyone else out there experienced the same thing? Maybe I just have two really good Dynasty's?!

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

Thanks! Like I said, I've wanted one since 1984. Finally got one. Now I just have to learn how to play.


Cool! I am a collector as well. But my wife would nix another guitar until I actually learn to play. Another gun? No problem! But she is a shooter as well


I have 10 kids. I am ALWAYS ready for crazy!


I am hoping to end up with one as well. Just don't have much to base a comparison on.

Here she is:



Can you get a rough production date by the markings on the head? Also, the serial is 4060430 and is made in Japan.


Being used, it does come with some cosmetic "flaws". This is the worst... but the wood underneath is undamaged.

Very pretty.
Those '84's had the stronger MMK45's, a better sounding pickup than later versions, in my opinion.

Those chips are quite common, hard to not chip a V!

I don't know if we can tell production dates on these, can we, Men

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

Year of production would be fine. '84 would be great since that is when I saw the add!

Can you tell me if these are normal?

Should the strings be off center of the coils?


Should the single coil be seated so much lower then the humbuckers?

It is a 1984, the first number indicates the year. These came out in '83 proper, with a strat style bridge and rounded center pickup ring. Click here to see it... http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/dynasty.php


Your model is a little later, and in my opinion is better, with the arguably better bridge and nicer looking square cornered center pickup ring.

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

Strings are commonly off the poles, no biggie at all. Some used pickups that were not wide enough to accommodate the wider spacing at the bridge (which is about 53mm, wheres the neck pickup should be about 50 mm.). And some just had the bridge positioned a little off, so that even if the poles were properly spaced, it still wouldn't fit!

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

'84 is good. And I agree, the squared off center pick up ring does look better.

Regarding the string placement... thanks! I know nothing about guitars and was worried I needed to replace the bridge. Doable? yes. But not something I want to jump into.

One repair it does need is the 3-way switch. It is stuck in the middle position. I can move it to either end position and the pick ups will change, but the switch won't stay there.