The Electra Forums

Here's my Electra story...

Back in '76, I was 12. My dad bought me a cheap classical acoustic guitar. For the most part, I was an ok student in school, for the time being...lol. Anyway, my grade in a particular class wasn't quite up to snuff, he told me that if I can bring it up to a passing grade, he'd buy me an electric guitar. Well, that was all the motivation I needed! So I got my grade up and he bought me an Electra Custom, either '75 or '76 year model, not really sure, and with that purchase came about 3 months worth of free lessons. (Does anyone know what model Electra this is?? The serial number has been worn off the sticker on the back of the headstock) Well, anyway, I lost interest for a few years until I ran across an old classmate that knew the story and he got his dad bought him an electric guitar too. So now I had a friend that was trying to play too which re-motivated me to play again. So I really "got into" playing again! Several hours everyday I'd practice and practice...played in a couple of garage bands, etc....

Then at about 22 or 23 (around '86 or '87) I met a girl, the girl of my dreams...my soulmate (HA!!). Everything was awesome for a few months. Then I noticed that something wasn't quite right anymore. Turns out she wasn't too hip on the lifestyle of a sucky, hippie guitarist. So...for her...I cut my hair, stopped with all of the "mind altering" substances and sold all of my equipment (half Marshall stack, a couple of small Fender practice amps, handful of pedals, 2 Les Pauls, a Strat and Tele knock off, a Westone Dynasty and that Electra my dad bought, which IMHO, played better than any guitar I've ever played), got a real job and lived life on the straight & narrow. After about 6 or so months of that, she broke up with me....the reason?....because I changed. WTF?!?!?!?....thats what she wanted!! And to make matters even worse, I spent the huge majority of the money on her!

I never really regretted selling my stuff and joining the human race...hehe, except that Electra my dad bought me. I've never stopped kicking myself for that boneheaded move! My dad passed away in 2000 and around 2001-ish, I started looking for the guy I sold her to. I found many people in the states I was looking in with the same name. But everyone I called was a bust. After several months of looking I gave up. Then every couple of years I'd start looking again. Every lead I'd get turned up nothing. I felt like I was literally dying inside. Almost every day I thought of her, every waking moment I felt sick to my stomach for doing the most stupid thing I'd ever done.

Fast-forward to last year, I was on Facebook and done a search for my old best friend that I used to play with all the time, that was about 22-23 years ago (not the friend I mentioned above) and found his name with a picture that looked kind of like him. I messaged him and asked him a personal question that only he would know....as my luck would have it, it wasn't him. Then about 2 weeks ago this very same person messaged me and told me that his dad was telling some stories of his youth and that he used to jam with and room-mated with a Randy W****** and asked if I was that same Randy. It turned out that this person is his son. What a trip that was!!! Last time I saw that kid he was in diapers and had snot all over his face...lol I gave him my phone number and asked him to give it to his dad to call me.

He called and we talked for hours...until my phone's battery was about dead...lol He was there when I sold my most prized possession, the Electra Custom my father bought me. I told him the story of how I had been searching for Larry T., the guy I sold it to and told him I seached here, there and yonder...he told me, "Of course you didn't find him, because he doesn't live in any of those places.....he lives in ****, IN". As soon as our phone conversation was over I immediately got on my computer and search where he told me he lived. Low and behold, I found FINALLY found him!!! I called and we talked for a while about "the old days" and many other things. Then "Shu-baby" (my pet name for that guitar) came up. I figured after 23 or 24 years, he had already sold it but maybe he could point me in the direction to find her. To my disbelief he still had her in her case in his basement. He said that guitar hadn't seen the light of day in 2-3 years and he hardly played it. I asked if he would consider selling her back to me....(I would have paid any price because of the sentimental value alone). He agreed to sell her back to me for the price I sold it to him for plus shipping. I jumped ALL OVER that! The next day I sent a check priority mail! Finally, after 23-24 years, I have been reuninted with Shu-baby. Next to the day I got married and the kids' birth, that was by far THE best day of my entire life!

When I sold her, aside a little nick here and a little nick there and some ordinary wear of being played,
she was in GREAT shape. When the UPS guy brought the box to the door I was soooo excited to open the box. I got the box open and there she was.....in her original case.



Terrified of the condition she may be in, I took a big gulp and slowly opened the case.





She was filthy dirty and her appearance had changed a lot. No real damage to her body and her neck was as straight at it ever was. I put a set of old strings off my Strat on her and picked a little. There is a serious short somewhere. Also, the machine heads were kind of loose, but they held the strings well and she stayed in tune!! Anyway, she had 2 gold colored pickups, black pickup rings, a black pick guard and a black knob on the toggle switch. But I didn't care...I had my Shu-baby back. I was almost in tears!! There is a picture of her original appearance somewhere, I've been looking for it but can't seem find it. When I do, I will post it.

I took her to a guitar shop in Austin yesterday. Told him my story, he seemed truly amazed. I bought 2 Gibson humbucker pickups (used in an attempt to make look original), a black pickguard, black pickup rings, black toggle switch knob. I left her with him to get all that installed plus he is going to re-wire her, install a new input jack, toggle switch and have his luthier set her up for me. He said I should be able to pick her up Wednesday. I can hardly wait!!! After 23/24 years, whats another week, right? When I get her back, I will post pics of her as to how she used to look.

All I can say is that I am DYING to get her back. I will NEVER...EVER part with her again. Maybe I will even be buried with her.

I'm sorry for babbling on and on and on....but I'm sure that all of you Electra fans can understand my feelings of true joy!

Here is another pic of her with my Strat.




Again, sorry for babbling on....

Randy
<><

BTW, I got the guitar itch about 6 months ago and thats when I purchased the Strat....

I think I'm doing it for the right reasons now....because it's something I now love to do. Where as, back in the day, I didn't play for the love....I played for the ladies and free drugs/booze. I'm so much more happier doing it now. I still suck, but I'm having fun sucking...LOL

Playing a guitar, I found, is NOT like riding a bike!! I can't remember hardly anything!...LOL

Love the story man, welome to the forum. Got my mpc around the same time. And it does come back to you, in bits and pieces and then it all clicks again. You will find you play some stuff totally different and get the same sound (its kinda cool when that happens).

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SlmGuy

Awesome story Randy! I'm glad you found her again!!!

Welcome aboard, good story and happy reunion! Looks like a 2242 to me, Black Super Rock with gold hardware:

http://www.rivercityamps.com/electrapag ... 414-051045

That model was in production for quite a while and as such there are variations in the headstock and the last version had the 1 and a half cutaway body like the Vulcans and Endorsers. The Electas have a small but enthusiastic group of collectors... namely Us! Enjoy, Mike.

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

Thanks Mike.

Thats kind of what I thought, but wasn't really sure because of the pickups and trussrod cover. At the index page, click on the 2245 Super Rock, then scroll to the bottom and check out the middle picture. That body looks identical to what she used to look like. Hopefully when I get her back, she'll look like that again....except for the 34-35 years of scuffs.

Welcome to the Forums and thanks for letting us in on the reunion. It is always great to see a fellow Electra lover find a long lost Axe. Congrats on the find and I can't wait to see the pics when you get her up and running again. thanks

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

What a great story! So glad that you re-connected with your Electra after all these years; it's a beauty!

I don't know what I would do if I had lost or had to sell either of mine.

Sure would like to see some pics of the refurbished product;

Please keep us posted.

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

That is an awesome story! Reunited after all those years - and to find your friend's son like that.....too cool.

Love a good story like that!

Congrats on getting yer baby back, she's a beauty.

Great story with a very happy ending.

No doubt, should you ever cross paths with the girl who came between you and your guitar so many years ago, she would most likely not be in "original condition" either. Lost beauty is much easier to restore on a guitar.

Wish I could track down my first 70's Electra MPC, not to mention a 72 blue sparkle top Gibson Les Paul Deluxe I sold for $600 in 1986 to pay for a divorce lawyer.

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Electra 2236 Flying Wedge
Electra X330 MPC

Very cool story! This story and this board shows that the internet CAN be good!

Did you get your axe back from the shop?

If so please post updated pics;

It is really great to know that you actually hooked up with your original guitar, that it wasn't butchered and is still in good playable condition.

BTW -

If your name is Randy you are supposed to be fluent in the art of babbling -

From another Randy -

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

That's a crazy round and about story. I believe you - but, It's un - believable!!!
WOW!!! I used to bite my guitars as far up the neck as I could and leave a tooth indentation - so as to identify. I figured I hardly played up there anyway. ......If anyone comes across an Ibanez Musician (MC350 ?) with tooth marks around fret 15 , let me know. Stolen out of thr trunk of my Toyota Corolla in about 1983.
Miss you baby,
Please come home.


Sorry to tread on your thread,
Jay

RCSBlues-I did get it back and have gotten as close to original as I can. Also, I am quite fluent in the fine art of babbling...LOL

I do have some pics and post them tonight.

JEAD-Thats actually a pretty good idea. I, accidently of course, put 2 small nics on it waaaay back in the day. When I opened the case, there they were....so there is no doubt, in my mind anyway, it's her. Absolutely 100% truth....even I still find it hard to believe!

Invisibleempire-If I ever do see her again, I don't think I'd even say a word to her.

This is as close to original as I could get. I need to take the pick guard off and see if I can get the white part to match the "yellowing" of the binding. I've heard that soaking it in coffee will work. Anyone else heard this? Or does anyone else have any better ideas?





Don't these two make that fireplace look nicer?!?...hehehe