The Electra Forums

I currently own the above guitar. I have owned gibsons in the past but this guitar has been my favorite since the 70's. I now it least has to be made 77. Does anyone know how to determine any info on this guitar?
Thanks,

Does it have the wave headstock or the open book type, that will narrow down the year. The 5 digit serial number would have me leaning towards 1976, got a picture of it you can post?

It is the wave. I will post a picture if I can figure out how to do it. Didn't they first start making them in 76?

Full production of the MPC's started in 1976 but I'm pretty sure some came out the door in late 1975. The first X330's and other MPC's Had the Gibson style headstocks. Part way through 1976 all indications are they adopted a modified "open book" Gibson like headstock with a larger gap in the middle. Late 1976 until the end of producion they had the wave headstock.

As for the serial number, I just dug up some old serial number info and my memory is wrong, it seems the 5 digit serial numbers were the norm for MPC's, especially the later wave headstocks. So the first number or first 2 should indicate the year (i.e. 1xxxxx would be 1981 or 77xxx would be 1977).

Now this is interesting. My brother bought it from a mutual friend of ours in either 79 or 80. We are not absolutely sure the exact year but my brother used it to play in a talent show in the fall of 1980, of that we are certain. I seem to remember out mutual friend having it in 79 or at the latest 80. Makes me scratch my head? Any ideas how I can pursue this further? Thanks for all your help!

Nope, those features and that serial number are consistent with 1981 from all the research I've done as well as the research Michael Wright of VG did. From what I've seen, the serial numbers seemed to be fairly accurate from 1977-1984. Most of the goofieness happened 1976 and earlier. Still, anyone I've chatted with in the know at SLM in the 70's will tell you it was a pretty loose system at best. They never would have dreamed anyone would give a darn about these guitars 3 decades down the road

Well what do we know for sure...the wave headstock puts it 1977-1982, unless...it's a late 1976 early early wave. If that were the case, this would explain the baffling serial number. Anyone else want to float a theory?

It just may be around 76. I was in the USAF from 77-81 with me getting married in 1980. This means I played this guitar anywhere from 77-79. I also found a brochure from 77 with Frampton and it had the wave headstock on the 77 models. I think you are right, they may have been very loose with their numbering system. Thanks for all your help. Maybe someone else has seen this and can offer input.

Well here's another wrench in the machinery for ya...the pix you sent me show a brass nut. The nut on 1976,77,78 was white plastic. 79 I'm not sure, 80/81 definately brass nuts. Based on the evidence presented councilor I'm thinking that suckah is 1981 vintage.

This is beginning to feel like a twilight zone episode! I just need to figure out how I went into the future in 79 and got this puppy from 81. The plot thickens! Thanks for the help. I really need to research this now.

LOL, It's going to be tough finding any more info on this one as all signs point to 1981. I can pretty much gaurantee that with that headstock, brass nut & serial number there's zero posibility it's from 1976-78. So, that leaves you a 3 year range of 79, 80, 81...pretty darn close when it comes to dating these guitars, it ain't an exact science

Is it possible you picked it up in mid to late 1980? If so that would make an early 1981 model a possibility. Jusy as an excersize, I thought back to 1979 to figure what guitar I was playing and I can't nail it down. Pretty sure my Flying V and Les Paul were sold at that point. Hadn't bought my B.C. Rich yet. Pretty sure I had a brand new Applause alluminum neck acoustic...ya see, my memory of 25 years ago is a bit sketchy

Seriously, I'm hoping your memory is just a hair off, because if you're certain this guitar is 1979 the doors have just been blown off all the dating theories we've accepted for the last decade when it comes to Electra guitars!!!

I am trying to locate the mutual friend that we bought the guitar from. This may take some work as he is no longer in Pittsburgh where I left him. What I do know for sure is that my brother played it in the fall of 80 for the talent show at his high school. Would they have put an 81 serial number if it was made late 80? I started my hunt for the original owner last night. Last anyone heard, he was in Texas. Wish me luck! I will report out my findings. Thanks for you help on this. Happy New Year!

I'm guessing it's possible a model year could come out the previous year but it's just a guess, I've never confirmed that with anyone as it's something I never considered before.

Something doesn't add up here;

I bought my X340 NEW in 1977;
SN is 1158x (I will share the first 4 numbers with you);

I bought my X330 NEW in 1979;
SN is 1119x;

Both have the WAVE headstock;

So much for research;

Check the Collections page for RCS Blues for pics -
both current and from a 1979 performance with the X340.

Thanks,
RCSBlues

_________________
RCSBlues

I've got to agree RCS, it seems everything we've been told and accepted about serial number dating is a pipe dream. Michael Wright of Vintage Guitar Magazine was the first to tell us that the first digit or first two digits of the serial number indicated the year, and most of the guitars I've owned and seen follow this convention. The exception being these rules only seemed to apply to post 1977 guitars...pre 1977 guitars did not seem to have any pattern. The 1976/77 guitars with the letter number combo, like, G77xxx, G would indicate the month, July, and 77 the year.

I just dug up an old list I had of serial numbers of guitars I owned and ones people emailed me, check it here http://home.cogeco.ca/~strat/serial.htm

Unfortunately many of these confirm that the 1st digit 1st two digit method does not seem to apply to all Electras.

I officially give up on trying to figure this out, it seems that there was no set serial number method, therefore serial numbers can not be reliable methods of dating Electras.

I found the original owner of the Electra in question. He did indeed buy it new no later than 79. The brass nut was not added afterwards, it was on the guitar when it was purchased.