A local guy is selling this bass for a couple hundred. Looks pretty neat. Anyone have any information on this brand?
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Electra bass information
- Thread starter Thebrownarrow
- Start date
Happy to help.
The Electra bass you found is a 1981 or 1982 Phoenix. I believe the actual model number is X630N. In 1983 they stopped adding the pickguard so yours has to have been made in the two preceding years.
Electra also made the same bass with dual pickups and an active EQ, as well. You may find that Westone offered the same exact bass as they came from the same factory (Matsumoku) in Nagano, Japan. The factory made instruments for several brands. It closed in 1987. If I remember right St. Louis Music Co. were the owners/distributors for Electra, Westone, and a host of other notable brands in the late 70s/early 80s.
The original list price for your bass in 1981 was $329.50. It didn’t matter which finish was applied to the bass (natural ash, stained ash, black, or white), the price was the same.
Back in the day Electra boasted a number of high profile endorsements such as Peter Frampton, The Doobie Brothers, Leslie West, Elvin Bishop, Skunk Baxter, and many others.
You can see pics of your bass and other Electra instruments in this price guide from 1981…
Link Removed
A few bassists on the TB site play or have owned a Phoenix. You can read their thread here…
Electra Phoenix Basses
If you opt to purchase the bass please share a review. It is a unique, but fun bass!
The Electra bass you found is a 1981 or 1982 Phoenix. I believe the actual model number is X630N. In 1983 they stopped adding the pickguard so yours has to have been made in the two preceding years.
Electra also made the same bass with dual pickups and an active EQ, as well. You may find that Westone offered the same exact bass as they came from the same factory (Matsumoku) in Nagano, Japan. The factory made instruments for several brands. It closed in 1987. If I remember right St. Louis Music Co. were the owners/distributors for Electra, Westone, and a host of other notable brands in the late 70s/early 80s.
The original list price for your bass in 1981 was $329.50. It didn’t matter which finish was applied to the bass (natural ash, stained ash, black, or white), the price was the same.
Back in the day Electra boasted a number of high profile endorsements such as Peter Frampton, The Doobie Brothers, Leslie West, Elvin Bishop, Skunk Baxter, and many others.
You can see pics of your bass and other Electra instruments in this price guide from 1981…
Link Removed
A few bassists on the TB site play or have owned a Phoenix. You can read their thread here…
Electra Phoenix Basses
If you opt to purchase the bass please share a review. It is a unique, but fun bass!
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One of the few benefits of getting old is the ability to share information gathered over the years. I’m glad it is of some use to others.
Our store sold a lot of St. Louis Music (SLM) gear- Electra (later renamed Westone, many instruments simply got a slightly different headstock with the Westone decal instead of Electra). Really well made consistently and I thought the competed well against higher priced guitars (l'm looking at you, Kramer).
JTE is right. In fact, in 1984 Electra and Westone shared names on the headstock of the instrument. In 1985 Electra was dropped altogether and Westone carried on.
One additional note to share…
Electra has risen from the ashes and is now a brand unto its own. Two previous employees of Dean guitars bought the Electra trademark and are producing instruments out of Tampa, Florida.
A cool side note is that the new company is using the original upside down Electra “Peace Sign” logo!
Electra Guitars
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I owned a Phoenix exactly like the one you've pictured. In fact, it was my first "real" bass. That was a long time ago, but I still think about getting another. I sold mine in 1995 and got a new American Standard Precision Bass. I don't regret it, but the Electra was a fine bass.
Yep, and true to its namesake the Phoenix bass has indeed risen from the ashes and morphed into a really great, unique bass. These basses are real sleepers, virtually unknown and kinda hard to find. I stumbled into a minty used ash one on ebay a few years ago, bought it on a whim. What a great find, color me impressed....twin custom spec'd reversed EMG P pickups, 2-band EMG preamp. Five-position rotary knob to combine various pickup and coil combos. Hipshot ultralite tuners, Babicz bridge. Typical excellent Korean build. Available in either ash body natural finish w/maple board and black block inlays, or black finished alder body w/ ebony board and pearl block inlays. I liked the ash one so much that when a used black one popped up I bought that one too (will be selling the black one some day, don't really need two of 'em). Bang/buck ratio is very high IMO. Shameless plug and pic show off!
Love this bass!
For those of us who are less observant, the Electra logo is actually an E and an A facing one another. It looks much like an upside down peace sign, but the E in the logo is the same shape/font as that found in the word Electra.
You can see it clearly in the pics of Templar’s excellent Phoenix.
You can see it clearly in the pics of Templar’s excellent Phoenix.
Okay I see the E, but I don’t see how the other shape could be an A. I could see a lower case g or even a capital G if looking at it upside down. Sideways either way it looks like a diagram from trigonometry class. Where is the A?
That headstock/neck is a beautiful piece of wood - I'd be tempted to buy this one for that alone!
My mistake. I meant to say the Electra logo is an E and a G.
You’d think as a bassist I’d know the difference between an A and a G.
Sorry for the confusion.
1) Looks cool
2) Made in Japan By Matsumoko during the golden age of Japanese guitar manufacturing.
3) Has all the cool attributes of a P-bass, but with a more unique look.
4) $200 or so is a great price.
Get it!
2) Made in Japan By Matsumoko during the golden age of Japanese guitar manufacturing.
3) Has all the cool attributes of a P-bass, but with a more unique look.
4) $200 or so is a great price.
Get it!
As I see it, the logo is just a mirrored "e", making a pleasant symmetrical shape reminiscent of the "peace sign", albeit upside down.
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I completely agree, the logo looks like a mirrored image of the E.
However, the new owner of Electra, Ben Chafin, feels that the logo is an E and a G. Below is a link with info from Ben that I referenced.
Electra Guitars
However, the new owner of Electra, Ben Chafin, feels that the logo is an E and a G. Below is a link with info from Ben that I referenced.
Electra Guitars
