The Electra Forums

My 13 year old daughter purchased this Guitar, for about $50.
I have tried to do some research on this guitar and to the best that I figure it is a 198o's Avenger, the Electra name on the Head is in cursive and is inlaid "mother of pearl" with a black outline. I have not seen a head like this on your page. When I can get a good picture I will upload it.
The serial # is not on the guitar.
I have replaced the tuners but I think the tremilo is shot , it does not hold a tune well. Any suggestions on how to remedy this? can I put a non-temilo bridge on this guitar with out much work or is it just a matter of changing the springs? It looks a little abused but its in one piece
here are pictures of the guitar.

Here is the other pic

Available at Stewart MacDonald –

Not to expensive –

Gotoh Traditional Tremolo for Strat:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar_tremolos/Gotoh_Traditional_Tremolo_for_Strat.html

Tremolo parts:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar_tremolo_parts.html

_________________
RCSBlues

...... Or lock the trem down by putting all 5 springs on it, tightening the trem claw up and removing the bar!

Even cheaper!!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

Corsair's right - that would be the quickest and cheapest thing to do.

A block of wood works well too. Blocking the tremolo movement. And seems to help tone and sustain. A buddy used a Jenga block in his!

Thank you for the tips I will definitely try a block of wood.
Any ideas on the age of the Guitar, the previous owner said he purchased it in '82 I don't know if it was a "82 model or if it was older. the back of the neck is all solid maple.

We can date the neck from somewhere between 1974 and 1976, there were other logo's used before and after the 'script' example. Also, the 'leaf' truss rod cover is original, and is seen on early Fender copy models.

I'm not convinced that the body is an Electra, or even vintage. The pickguard should have eleven mounting screws, not nine like yours (your daughters) has. The bridge doesn't look correct, and the body contours seem too squared off for a Japanese offering (in my humble opinion). It is quite possible that the neck found its way onto this body, but who knows for certain.

So the neck is roughly forty years old, the body I think is much newer.

Most strat style trems (or more correctly Vibratos) are notorious for having tuning issues. That's why both locking bridges and nuts were invented. Once in a while you'll actually come across a strat that the trem doesn't mess with the tuning, but that is the exception and not the rule. I agree that blocking the tremolo off is the quickest (and least expensive) way to take it out of the equation, but if you wanted to use it, most of the string 'pinching' is probably coming from the nut, sometimes using a lubricant on the nut grooves will help. Good luck, Mike.

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

A properly set up strat style trem can work just fine but they can be a bit fiddy and take some time. If your daughter is just learning, I would block the trem.

How you set up mine. I use 10-46 gauge strings. Different gauges may require a different number of springs. I use three springs in the outer and center holes. With the guitar in tune, I adjust the screws on the spring claw until the back of the bridge is approximately 1 mm off the guitar body (thickness of an extra heavy pick). Like Pro Endorser says, a properly cut and lubricated nut is crucial. Remember, you can't expect to do heavy metal style dive bombs on any guitar that doesn't have a locking nut.

$50 is a nice score for that - well worth a few extra dollars for a good set up.

JvanderKlay your pictures are setting off my malware alarms.....

_________________
"If it ain't been in the pawnshop,it can't play the blues" R.L.Burnside

The guys are right, for the money a good set up would make the guitar more playable and it would stay in tune. That big Fender style peg head should have lots of tone. It was a good score for the money, wish I had one.

_________________
SlmGuy