The Electra Forums

I was wondering what you all thought was the most important or desirable traits that Electras exhibit? I found myself thinking about four categories off the top of my head, and maybe not in the correct order but here goes:

Price vs. Performance: These would have been considered mid level priced instruments back in the day, and now they are (except for a few models which have gained attention) very inexpensive, in some instances a step above the throw-away strat copy prices. Yet the typical quality (or performance) of an Electra is way up there. I believe that this ratio is almost untouchable in the used guitar arena.


Innovations: As many American manufacturers rested on their laurels during the 70's, the Electra brand was listening to players and making changes to already established designs. Can't list them all, but a few of my favorites are the unbalanced coils on the MMK pickups, coil cut and phase switches, scooped out heals, belly cuts on the back of the body, brass hardware, HSH options, preamp/EQ circuit and yes, the MPC circuit.


Original Designs: You can probably tell from my collection that I really like the original designs, I mean LPs are kind of like John Deere tractors... every bodies got one! While many people mistake the one and a half cutaway for a Paul, it is a little distinction that makes a big difference to me, plus it allows for a much more elegant heal. I'm still a little slow to get on the pointy guitar bandwagon, but even they have a place in Electralore.


Quality of Products: Related to the Price vs. Performance topic, I think we've all been pleasantly surprised at how well these guitars have aged and proven themselves. Above average materials and excellent production/design staff made these guitars for the ages.

I suppose a fifth category would be 'Looks', Electra was not afraid to take bold steps as illustrated with the laminate bodies, tree of life (and other) inlays, Flamey tops, interesting paint like the metalic green Phoenix's, and clear pickguards to show off that flamboyant wood grain.

OK, now that I think about it, another trait of the Electra line is the shear volume of models... frankly I wish there were a few less models as its so tough to keep track, and virtually impossible to collect all of them! But, none the less, a very Electra trait, why make one model, when you can market 16 different color/pickup/bridge models?

I digress, which order would you put these qualities in? Enjoy, Mike.

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

I have always been a fan of the great quality, sound and value of the entire electra line. Just like most musicians I have no sponsor to give me great deals on the top brand names etc and I have to earn a living also. That is why I was attracted to the Electra brand initially due to the price. The looks also helped as well as the great durability and tonal ranges of the models. I must admit that the Electra models were also very innovative as they developed. It is sad to see that an american manufacturer can't produce the same quality instruments at an affordable price. I admire the fact that it takes talent and years of hands on experience to build a quality guitar but I also think that a triple % markup or more just because you can does not get it with me. I think that the Japanese made guitars were a wake up call for the american manufacturers but they just chose to blow it off and up their prices. So much for my rants. There are other great mid range guitars out there(greco,aria,westone, vantage,cort etc) but I believe that the Electra brand still offers the best bang for the least bucks and will endure. Thanks for listening to my humble opinion. Rock On and Semper Fi

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

When I bought my brand new X110VW in 1981 I was most impressed by the innovative features of the guitar--single pup with a coil splitter. The tone was much hotter than anything else I'd played and was what I was looking for at the time. It didn't hurt that the body style was distinctive and I'm still a big fan of white/cream w/a maple fb. The price was $220--not exactly cheap for me as I was earning minimum wage. I had no idea the body was solid tone wood. I'd still like to pick up another X110 in original condition. I have so many guitars I actually have to sell a few to make room for more--lol.

When I bought my X310, the sales guy hit on all those notes and said he thought the idea was going to catch on Pointing to the Frampton endorsement photo on the cover of the catalog. The set neck alone made it stand out from all the other LP copys I had saw and then there were the MPC Mods in back and 5 way switch that made it more than a Les Paul. I too was making minimum wage and paid around $500.00 for mine in 76'.

If you were lucky enough to see one up close new and play one with out all the battle scares and bent tuners we see so much of today, These were and still are fine looking and sounding guitars. Then, you didnt see the electronics these babies have under the hood on a Gibson or Fender. There are more new members all the time on the site who just got theirs and cant say enough about them.

Electra made copys of every thing out there, then made their own designs. The only thing I havent saw is a copy of is Pages double neck.

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SlmGuy

Pretty much everything that Mike said, in the same order!!

Matsumoku made a twin neck; the Aria Pro ST1504 and the APII ST1512, and there examples of each on the 'bay last week; I'm hanging out for a Vantage VA912 or 696/12... And I have recently seen a picture of a Westone Spectrum 12 string as well...

http://blogs.guitarworld.com/covers/cov ... ame=75.jpg

... makes you wanna go out and hit the pawn shops, eh!!!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Well..... The whole package is a winner. Hardware, fit, finish.INNOVATION, ....... The way I see it there is NO better value out there for your buck. I would like to buy every single Electra in the world because IMHO they are RIDICULOUSLY underpriced and way undervalued. My hands end up on the Electra's before my Strat, Gibby or Rick. Go figure. Whoda Thunk?

...

I play the pheonix line. I like that the design is mainstreem enough to not be weird, but yet unique. I have shown up at gigs before and pulled one out of the case and people tend to say oh, he plays some off brand guitar. Then when you pull out a second one, they start to ask questions because it becomes more obvious that you carefully chose these guitars and play them because you prefer them to, not because it was cheap etc. But that is second place to the build and sound quality. The quality / cost ratio is a nice little bonus.

Paul

I think there have always been a healthy number of affordable options to the Gibson/Fender world domination. Electra had the good fortune to have sold a heck of a lot of guitars in the 70's and 80's and they stuck around and floated from one good home to another b/c players picked them up and didn't want to put them down.
It seems to me they had to be the most successful smaller company out there in those days.
I think the most enduring quality is the quality of product. I think we can all agree that more often than not when we pick up an Electra at a pawn shop or get one in the mail from Ebay we are 99% sure it's going to be a keeper. Consistency of quality.

I've been trying to figure out what a new Electra would cost, made the same way as the old ones... closest I can figure is that a new, Japanese-made Ibanez Prestige is about as labor-intensive as an Electra Phoenix. They sell for anywhere between $999 and $1599. It's possible to buy a good Phoenix on eBay for $150, so let's say that it's a 90% discount.

If you could get a 90% discount on Eighties Fenders and Gibsons... you know, buy a 1982 Les Paul Standard for $250... that would be worth doing regardless of the problems those two manufacturers had during those times. Since you can't, and since the Electra of the early Eighties was probably better-made than the equivalent American guitar, that just makes it better.

Bang-for-the-buck, and general wackiness. Of course I'm talking as an MPC guy. I really get a kick out of blowing someone's mind showing them the whole MPC concept. If they've never seen one, it comes off as crazy. If they have seen it, it's more of a nostalgia trip.

Either way, it's a lot of fun.

In the studio, there is significant value in being able to jolt someone's mood. If I can whip out the MPC system and crank up the interest level, or trigger an unusual creative response, then these tools earn their slot in my guitar rack.