The Electra Forums

My uncle bought this Electra Custom new in 1981, but I can't figure out what model it is. It has a sunburst finish, 3-way pickup selector, 2 humbuckers (the neck is covered, bridge is open and white), pearl trapezoid inlays, chrome tuners, and the Gibson headstock. The serial number is 01069. I can't seem to find another one exactly like it. I love this guitar and can't believe my uncle gave it to me. It plays like a dream! Help me identify it!







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looks to me like there was a 2245 model that needs to be added to the LP models list...

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Live Better Electra-ly
http://www.therathole.org/leia/visitors_axes/leia/leia.html

So right! Can we use pictures of yours?

I am gonna go out on a limb and say those star tuners look like the ones on a Fuji-gen built LP from 76. I'd call this a circa 74-5 example.

with that headstock, i would have to agree.... interesting "1980" serial number though ... the whole serial number thing is on shakey ground again... unless this is a japenese domestic verion that has found its way here

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Live Better Electra-ly
http://www.therathole.org/leia/visitors_axes/leia/leia.html

absolutely. it's a beautiful guitar. i just want to find out exactly what model it is.

definitely a 2245, the neck plate confirms it. hardware varied slightly year by year, but that's a 2245.

And by looking at it it doesn't appear that the serial number actually indicates a year of manufacture or am I missing something?

Just an observation.

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

No, there's no connection between serial number and date for this model as far as I know. That really only came up in the 80's. Best way is to compare to known examples of headstock shapr, detail, and hardware, but it's still guesswork.

You're right; headstock style can group by manufacture date (estimated).

Thanks,
RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

Interesting guitar. Not so much for the question posed, but for the information supplied. I'd have to agree this is not a circa 1981 guitar. That headstock shape and inlay is something from much earlier. Of course, there's always the chance that it was indeed not made for export, as leia noted. But I'd tend to think that's not the case.

Yet it was supposedly purchased new in 1981. Supports my view that these guitars often laid around for quite some time before getting sold. My supposed-Burgundy Pro was also purchased new in 1981 (not by me), but it also pretty clearly looks like a circa 75-76 guitar (tho' it is a "true" 22-fret 335 copy like the true BP, Jazz Strad, Maple Pro, and not one of the earlier 335 copies that had just 21 frets and the 3-way switch on the lower horn).

And correct me if I'm wrong, but were they using that foil sticker for serial numbers back in '74 or so? I thought those came much later. Yet this guitar has one.

Very nice guitar in any event.

The stickers were pre-76 (at least). I think they're a Fujigen thing, you see them on the teles too.

Considering SLM was a distributor, it's not at all surprising they'd have NOS stuff around that was six or seven years old. Before the days of computer inventories, that stuff happened all the time.

I think the real basis for lawsuit was shown in what they advertised- what changed hands to dealers and musicians wasn't as visible. Notice in the 77 catalog the models are all shown with the headstocks cut off in the picture- most likely covering the fact that headstocks got changed frequently in that period and you didn't want any customer thinking their new isntrument was last years' model.

The 2245 was still listed in the catalog in 77, so it was being sold- I can imagine that when Norlin got testy about headstock shapes SLM stashed a bunch of the lawsuit style away in a warehouse until it blew over, and then quietly sold them off through their dealers.

I know my uncle bought it new in 1981 because they custom made the neck to fit the size of his hand.

HULLLLOOOH!!!
I've a 2245 I scored off eBay. Inside the "original hsc" was a reciept dated 1985 from Midwestern Music, Topeka. That's in Kansas, Toto.
It sold for $195 used. No serial decal or even marks from one, though. She doesn't weigh a ton like a "real" Paulie but she's hefty at 8.5 lbs and sustains for days. The stock tuners were replaced with Pings some time ago and she stays in tune weeks at a time!
I removed my pickguard so as to more deeply admire her finish.
She's got that viscious Paulie growl when rockin' and that sweet Polly purrrrrrrrrr on ballads. I read somewhere that the '70s MIJs w/painted necks were more rare, at least in the case of my redneck Ephiphone Riviera, that is... who knows? Ennyhoo, let's do add the 2245s to the list!

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Reading can be fun, but let's jam!

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE MORE OF THIS GUITARS OUT THERE .I HAVE HAD MINE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS AND IT STILL PLAYS LIKE A DREAM !