The Electra Forums

Hi! This is my first post and I thought I'd start it off with some questions for the experts.

I have an Electra Workingman model guitar that I got for 12 bucks many, many years ago. It needs new tuners, new bridge saddles and eventually new electronics. It is in playable condition, just not as good as it could be. I understand that japanese guitars may be sized differently than the guitars they copied.

My question/s :
1-What brand of moderatly priced tuners will fit and give me decent results?

2-What brand of bridge saddles will fit, or should I just get a new bridge alltogether?

3- when I do re-wire and replace the pots, what kind of wire is best and what pots should I use? The guitar kinda sounds like a Gibson SG right now and I like it.

I don't want to spend alot of money(naturally), but I want good results. So any comments and suggestions are gladly welcome. If you have any links or the heads up on how to do these repairs, that would help also, since I am really new to modifications and the like.

The Workingman I have appears to have been made in 79-80 from what I could find out. It has a bolt on neck, 2 humbuckers, 2 volume and 2 tone pots.

Thanks in advance,

Dan Koester

Tuners -
Use some Grover Rotomatics - they are only slightly more than the cheap ones and fit perfectly. No new holes. Maybe find some on ebay used.

Bridge -
Replace it! The original one was not that great anyway.

You can get a better than original replacement - a gotoh from www.stewmac.com for model 1511 - comes in nickel, chrome, or gold. Chrome and nickel starts at $17 something, but shipping not cheap. They have lots of parts you might use too. Also GFS on ebay sells a tuneomatic replacement that is a copy of the Gotoh - I think it is a model B04. I just bought one - perfect fit. Also, any newer tuneomatic replacement that is a standard wide post/bushing type probably works. I have one off a dean that would work fine. Use the posts included with the bridge and put them into your guitar (electra posts might be different).

I forget the other question.... Pots?

If they are original - DON'T CHANGE THEM. Use some quality pro grade cleaner on them. Caig Deoxit DN5 is the best in my opinion. You can get it from an electronics store, or radio shack might even carry it now.

Best of luck

_________________
Thorny

Thanks a lot for the info. Stew Mac has everything you mentioned so as soon as I get the time and
$ - I will get right on it. All the rotomatics on fleabay were new and the same price so I 'll just get new and save on the shipping. Now all I need is a tech in St Louis that isn't afraid to cut me a new nut! They all want ot "send it out" and are pretty evasive to where and with whom. I prefer to know where my guitars are at all times!

Thank you once again!

Dank, where about in St. Louis are you? I grew up in Berkely next to Kinloch (sp?), and also lived in St. John on the edge of Wellston, St. Ann, Bridgeton, and Woodson Terrace. I'm in New Melle now 40 miles out.

Your messin' with me, right?

I grew up in Berkely. I used to walk to school through Kenlock when I was a kid. I went to Holy Ghost and lived on (I think) Old Brown road right across from the airport. they bought us out and that whole neighborhoods gone now. I miss those days...

I am in south Saint Louis now, just off hiway 44 and Hampton.

Nope, not kidding at all. Dunno how old you are, but I lived in Berkely from the time I was 4 until about 14, during all the race riots and other silly nonsense. You're only about an hour away from me now.

You used to live in one of my old haunts. I used to practically live at the Naugles there. 1lb burrito a day almost.

I know this is off topic, so I'll split it in a day or so and move it to the endangered species forum.