Product: Electra X-340
Price Paid: USD 625
Submitted
05/13/2009
at
08:45am
by
RCSBlues
Email: rcsblues2005<at>yahoo dot com
Features
:
9
Manufactured 1976-77? Purchased 1977 -
Made in Japan by Matsumoku; 22 jumbo frets; LP style set neck, seems to have been slimmed down, has great feel and playability; Satin Jacaranda top; Super Magnaflux 45MMK pickups; 5 way switch controller; volume, tone, MPC pots, MPC switches; active elctronics with 9 volt battery; changed stop tailpiece to TP-6 fune tuner tailpiece; stock Electra 14:1 tuners; use .010 - .046 strings;
http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/x340.php
Sound
:
10
Utilize MPC10 Flanger and MPC12 Compressor; great sounding flanger, although can get kind of space sounding if used on max setting at 10. Use this axe with Peavey Heritage VTX 212 130 watt amp for outside gigs; with Kustom V lead 35 watt amp for small venues; also with Roland GP-8 or new Boss GT-10 guitar processors; great for Ebow use as well.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
Good setup from the factory; minimal intonation required, although the stock bridge has been changed to a brass SLM Vulcan bridge ordered from SLM and replaced early 1980's. Great wood, finish, and feel; frets are showing some wear as this was my main axe for over 30 years. Still use as secondary guitar at gigs (PRS is my main axe these days) and it is still played religiously; not for sale as this was the first really good guitar I had purchased at the time.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Have had this guitar for 32 years; very dependable; great for gigging and practice, although very heavy, great Sustain with brass nut and bridge - which is bolted to brass sustain block; workmanship would rate 8.5 - 10; beautiful wood and inlays; guitar is featured at http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/RCSblues.php.
Customer Support
:
1
SLM no longer supports Electra guitars, although the Crate name is well known. Still have original warranty card, but don't know if this would still be honored as these guitars have not been manufactured for several years.
Overall Rating
:
9
Guitar Player for 45 years; have several other major name guitars; the Electra MPC was and still is a great value; always a conversation piece at gigs or practice, as it looks and plays so well. One of the best musical instrument investments I have ever made; would be hard to replace; also bought and X330 cherry sunburst new in 1979 (although it's a 1977 model); still have it and play it as well. Glad there seems to still be a market and interest in these guitars, to a certain degree; both the X340 and X330 are definitely keepers.
Product: Electra X-340
Price Paid: US $399.00
Submitted
04/16/2002
at
12:18am
by
Mike
Features
:
10
Made in the late 70's by Matsomuko in Japan and Imported by Saint Louis Music. It's a Les Paul Custom copy with gold hardware and a couple of twists. The top is Jacaranda Rosewood and of course this is an MPC model Electra so it has the 2 efeect bays in the back. There's 12 effect "modules" available (if you can find them).
Sound
:
8
With the 5-Way rotary pickup selector and the effect module the sounds are endless. This one is a little more subtle than my Electra X330, the pickups are slightly more subdued (there still more powerful than the average humbucker mind you),
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
The action is a nice as it gets! Fit and finish are top notch.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
25 years later still going strong...you be the judge :-)
Customer Support
:
10
Saint Louis Music is still going strong and very willing to offer advice. For info and support on the full line of Electra guitars, feel free to check out my Electra MPC web page at;
http://www.herons.ca/electra/
Overall Rating
:
10
I love these Electra MPC guitars. Their fit and finish as well as playability blows similar Gibsons of the same era away.
