The Electra Forums

We know that several japanese guitar distributors subcontracted part or whole bodies to other factories. Who built for who?

The two distributors I can think of are Hoshino and Arai. Hoshino sold guitars to Crown, Ibanez, Greco, and Electra, among others, and in the 80s to Fender Japan. Arai sold Aria Pro and also sourced guitars for Electra, Conrad, Univox, etc.

Who was making these guitars? Fujigen was the major maker for Hoshino, but we know Matsumoku made for them too. Matsumoku made for Arai, but so did Terada, and I guess Arai was a maker too. Any others I'm forgetting? Kasuga?

in my research of my early Electra pbass, I found a Ventura pbass that was identical in *almost* every way to my Electra P (est. 1971)
bridge, tuning pegs, truss rod cover, pickup, body shape/size.
I also had a Matao bass that had the same bridge bass and pickups, but slightly different tuning pegs, and the same chrome truss rod cover

it almost looked like a price progression, with the Electra being the entry level, progressing up to the Ventura, then to the Matao...

Venturas were dist. by C Bruno and Sons. But not sure it Matt made all the Venturas.....

C Bruno currently has ties to Takamine, but not sure if they did back then...

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My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

Okay, more info maybe on some late 60/s/early 70's stuff....

the Apollo Beatle Bass had the same wave headstock as the Electras...
my local shop has a Mark Twain Beatle Bass with the same wave headstock, and some very istinctive tuning pegs on it... which are identical to this early Ibanez

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 7416404900

and there's some nice close up pics there...

_________________
My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

I found tons of other links and such that I've discussed over PM's with xman... I'll try to gather it all up and post it here for more thoughts on them....

_________________
My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

yes, we've had quite a conversation on this, i was hoping we could start to gather it together- I appreciate your considerable thought and effort on this!