The Electra Forums

Hey All,
I'm really glad to find this forum, I'm a recent enthusiast. I am a player, buyer sellerand builder/repairman for many years.Like many here, I like finding good quality instruments sans hype and inflated price.I have found Electras. Recently, I found an X-??? P bass style leaning up against the wall in a pawn shop.Out the door for $50. It was pink, had no strings, and half of the pickup was dead. I decided to strip the pink, found the ash underneath, brass bridge and nut, refinned, fixed the pickup, strung it up, did a set up and wow ! What a bass ! It really doesn't have to take second seat to any of my basses, and I have had all the "names". The neck is like an early 50's slab p and it has terrific tone. I just found a Phoenix in lipstick red, the die cast trem was broken, I walked with it for $60.I brought it home dropped in a trem I had lying around, strung it up and I am impressed. It is only functioning as two humbuckers with the coil tap, can't get phase or middle pickup, I suspect the push pulls need replacing.I have to say though, I am impressed with what it plays and sounds like as is. I have yet to pull out my meter and trouble shoot it, but I expect a great guitar when it is fully repaired. I recently bought and sold a Westone dimension IV, and was totally blown away by it, and I suspect the wiring is just the same on this one. Anyway, am I glad to find out about these great instruments. Best $110 I ever spent. Looking out for more ! Great forum and Thanks !

dogface

Heh, I think I just bought your Dimension IV :)

The Phoenix is a great instrument! I bought my first one new in 84, and as you say, it has never had to take a back seat to any name brand guitar!

The phase reverse should switch phase on the bridge pickup, so you'd only hear it when the selector is on neck + bridge, or when the center single coil is on. if there is a proble with the center coil (or the center knob switch) that might make it hard to find the phase reverse happening.

We want to see pictures!

Paul
(aka paulcl3py3)

Thanks Paul,
Well I'll be, the name sure fits.BTW just got your M.O, the DimIV flies today. I really had to fight myself to sell that little gem.Being primarily a bass player, it really is not the most practical guitar for me, I don't have
but a couple anyway.The Phoenix will have the same versatility. I played both of these thru my Laney amp that would make an electric frying pan sound good, and they both sounded incredible,not to take anything away from the instruments themselves.It just brings out the best in anything you plug into it. The Phoenix looks just like the one in your Avatar, I'll put up a pic of it and the bass next time I take some auction pics.

dogface

w00t w00t! looking forward to it! I'll post pics of the Dim IV when it arrives. and more Phoenix photos are posted here:
http://www.therathole.org/guitars/visitors_axes/x189player/x189player.html

I know what you mean- there are a bunch of great Electra and Westone (etc etc) basses that show up and they tempt the heck out of me, but I'm not really a bass player- my Quantum bass is plenty for me and even makes me sound good and feel like I know what I'm doing :)

btw, the Dimension IV we're talking about is here (pardon me for nicking your pic):

I really like the unusual body shapes, I find that not only do they look good, but the long spiky shapes serve to stabilize the guitar for playing slide, which I really like.

I'll have to check out that amp. I recently picked up a Tech 21 Dimension 10 amp at the suggestion of another forum member, and it's been really great.

Cheers,
Paul

have you seen the Dimension IV bass?

It's a beauty. I would grab one if I had the opportunity and money, but I can't play shorthorn basses very handily live.I have really short arms and sometimes even a bass that grabs the strap up near the twefth fret gets to be a stretch in the first position by the last set.

Dawg

well yes... that's a bass that you'd have one of your staff of offstage technicians to hand you from your hermetically sealed tour case on cue for solo moments... a superstar bass, yeah that's it :)

more pics posted on this new thread:

http://www.therathole.org/guitars/ggboard/viewtopic.php?p=6576#6576