The Electra Forums

Hey guys,

My name is Matthew. I play in the band Holy Hounds. I have been playing guitar for 14 years (I am 24 years old right now). I have had many guitars over the years including Fender Telecaster, Gibson SG-X (kind of like an SG Jr. with a 24-fret neck), Gibson Melody Maker Re-issue, '74 Gibson SG, Heritage Les Paul, some Tiesco's / Norma's / and Silvertone's and a bunch more. I am a vintage guitar [Foul Language Used].

Which brings me to where I am now! I had, until yesterday, a '65 Gibson/Kalamazoo KG-1 (Gibson's answer to the Mustang). I needed to sell it so I could get a little more thickness behind my playing, instead of the lipstick pick-up the K-Zoo head.

I started doing some research and instantly fell in love with the Electra models. I searched around the web and fell in love with this 'lil thing here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0397600825


i am very excited about this project! The guitar looks to be one of the best conditioned LP's that I saw on eBay and I absolutely LOVE the Led Zeppelin art on the back of it. I plan on installing a Seymour-Duncan Invader pick-up (black) in the bridge position and a RED Seymour-Duncan Distortion Classic in the neck position. I think that combo is going to look amazing with that guitar, but that is just preference.

If anyone has any ideas / tips / advice on owning and maintaining an Electra I would LOVE to hear them! I would also like some more info on the model of the guitar. From my own research, I can see that it is pre-'75 because of the headstock but nothing else really fits. I know the tuners have been replaced... but it's in black and has gold hardware. I dunno, but I am really happy to have been led here and I am excited to take in as much wisdom and knowledge as I possibly can!


- Matthew

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Record Label: SAY-10
Records & Skateboarding.
http://www.say-10.com

Band: PISSING CONTEST
Punk / Hardcore
http://www.facebook.com/pissingcontest

Looks like a possible PCM.
I was about to ask why you'd want ot change the pickups and then I realized...there are none!
If it is a PCM, though, you probably wouldn't want the originals anyhow.
Looks good all around, either way.

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Addicted to Matsumoku.

Disagree on the PCM part, the one PCM LP I've seen has a black screened logo on white and much cruder binding. This one looks just like one I have, with the round-E inlay logo. This model was the longest running Electra model, and there are three distinct versions I know - this one, the slant-E style logo, and the later (77-up) wave headstock, which is Matsumoku and excellent.

Among these two earlier variants, judging from the examples I have, the diagonal-E is much nicer trimmed, more elaborate binding, etc. But the Round-E is a better instrument, in my opinion.

My preliminary guess (without going into detail why, but this is a conversation we should have) is that the Round-E were made by Matsumoku, and the diagonal-E were made by Fujigen. Why two sources? I don't know, you'd think one was earlier and the other later, but it could have been simple accounting management of who was doing what, since both factories were producing for Hoshino. It gets easier in 76 when the Fujigen-made instruments have a MYYxxxx date coded serial number.

I think you'll like the LP. A lot will depend on what kind of neck you like, but I don't think this one will let you down.

For sure post pics when it arrives! And be sure to save (and label) the pickups you remove, it's not always easy to find correct period pickups for these things.

If you're going to swapt he pickups anyway, I'd suggest you add coil tap and phase reverse options, which are easy by replacing volume pots with pull-switch pots. Those are great options for any LP and are very true to Electra's later heritage.

Thank you so much for the advice. I have been trying to read as much as I possibly could on SLM vs. PCM and it's piece of mind to know that is, in fact, an SLM example. If the neck is anything like a Gibson than I will be in love. And the reason that I have to put the newer pick-up's in the guitar is because it was sold to me without the pick-up's, sadly. I'm hoping that these newer pick-up's will do the guitar justice.

As far as amps go, I will be running it through a '77 Holmes - Mississippi Blues Master 50w head through a '66 Vox Buckingham 2x12 cab. I normally always run a vintage Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi or Univox Fuzz pedal as we play mix of music that is reminiscent of The White Stripes, Led Zeppelin, Wolfmother, etc. So I am crossing my fingers that this combo will achieve that sound I am looking for.

_________________
Record Label: SAY-10
Records & Skateboarding.
http://www.say-10.com

Band: PISSING CONTEST
Punk / Hardcore
http://www.facebook.com/pissingcontest

Performance photos showing Electras are always especially exciting!

I will DEFINITELY be taking tons of pics when I get it in!




There is a Westone Dynasty at a pawn shop down the road from me right now too. White with some weird red 'criss-crossing' stripes on it. Insanely 80's. I thought about snagging a pic of that one. It's way to much for me to buy though seeing as I have no interest in that guitar. They are asking $599 for it.

_________________
Record Label: SAY-10
Records & Skateboarding.
http://www.say-10.com

Band: PISSING CONTEST
Punk / Hardcore
http://www.facebook.com/pissingcontest

Yeah, that's a little steep. White w/red Dynasties are uncommon, but not really rare. I'd expect $399 is more like it.

The guy I just bought this guitar from says he has another black Electra LP that he is thinking about putting on eBay as well. Might have to look into that as well.

_________________
Record Label: SAY-10
Records & Skateboarding.
http://www.say-10.com

Band: PISSING CONTEST
Punk / Hardcore
http://www.facebook.com/pissingcontest

Like this one..?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Westone-Dynasty-w-O ... 999.c0.m14

July '85 build date, the height of Hair!

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

whaha... yeah. Exactly that guitar!





Just got the tracking number. Guitar will be in my hands in 3-4 days! STOKEDDDDDDD.

_________________
Record Label: SAY-10
Records & Skateboarding.
http://www.say-10.com

Band: PISSING CONTEST
Punk / Hardcore
http://www.facebook.com/pissingcontest

Tell us what that Zeppelin Graphic is on there with... are you gonna keep the artwork? The MMK45 pickups come up on eBay every once in a while, keep an eye peeled unless you already have pickups picked-out.

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

DEFINITELY keeping the artwork. He said that it was acrylic and done by an artist named Jim Talbot.


I'm probably going to end up getting a new clearcoat put on it.

_________________
Record Label: SAY-10
Records & Skateboarding.
http://www.say-10.com

Band: PISSING CONTEST
Punk / Hardcore
http://www.facebook.com/pissingcontest

...and avoid wearing big f*ck-off belt buckles while playing it!! Why put a lovely pic like that on the back?!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

It'd be all broken up on the front, I guess.

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Addicted to Matsumoku.

That would be my guess as well. I don;t know if I would like the aesthetic of the guitar as much if it was painted on the front.

_________________
Record Label: SAY-10
Records & Skateboarding.
http://www.say-10.com

Band: PISSING CONTEST
Punk / Hardcore
http://www.facebook.com/pissingcontest