The Electra Forums

Hello everyone. I found this great site while in search of some info on an Electra I had purchased recently. I think it's a 2259 "Double Solid" ??

It's got some issues...I know the tuners are changed (I have 5 of the original pearloid tuners), the Bigsby arm is gone, the nut is gone and along with it a piece of the neck binding at the first fret. Other than being a bit dirty that's the only things wrong with it. Plays good, neck is medium/thin and the electronics all work.

Can you guys take a look at the pics I've posted of the control cavity and tell me if you think the elctronics are original? Also, I wonder if there's any way to determine it's vintage?

Any help appreciated!

Here's the pics: www.loudgrinnin.com/electra.htm

Wow! what an interesting guitar! For one thing, has anyone ever seen that style lettering on the headstock?

I have two guitars that are very similar to this- one is the 'Unknown P-90 Electra' in another thread, the other is an SG also, same bridge exactly, same flimsy roller, same plastic bridges, only it's labelled 'Crown', which was a brand known to have been distributed by Hoshino. That means it was built by either Fujigen or Matsumoku, my guess is Fujigen. Also, the shapes and detail of the 'Electra' on the headstock is very similar (like, same 'font') to the lettering 'Crown'- and have a look at early Ibanez and I think you'll see the same.

My guess is the electronics are original. For one thing, the knobs are undoubtedly original, and you'd think if somebody replaced the electronics they'd replace those knobs too. Exact dates are unsure, but certainly the first half of the 70's.

Congratulations, that's a very interesting and cool instrument. If you set it up nicely and get ready to deal with the intonation variability of a Bigsby-style trem and that roller which tends to flex- what you have is a very nice, playable, and sweet-sounding instrument. The humbuckers on these old models were very sweet- my Crown tele has the same humbucker and it's really lush and beautiful- I bet this has great tone too.

that exact guitar, bigsby and all with that script logo is in the c1972 catalog that i sent you guys that you no longer have posted...

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Live Better Electra-ly
http://www.therathole.org/leia/visitors_axes/leia/leia.html

Thanks x189 and Leia...appreciate you looking. Leia, any chance of getting a copy of that catalog you mention? I'd like to see it.

hi geddins81

i would expect that the powers that be should put it up on the board again... why it was removed, i have no idea.... but sure... i will send you a copy... just pm me.. and set your mail system to receive large files.. the zipped folder is 4 meg

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Live Better Electra-ly
http://www.therathole.org/leia/visitors_axes/leia/leia.html

It just got lost in the shuffle Leia, I think I re-sent them all to Thorny a few months ago. Thorny & X, let me know if you want me to resend all the catalogs and missing bits & pieces. The computer they are on just went in for repair this morning but should be back in action early in the week.

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"Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted." - Groucho Marx

the catalogs all need to get re-oposted and organized. Guess I know what I need to get busy on!

Thanks to Leia for the catalog, cool! I have another question. There's no serial number on this one anywhere...when did they start serializing these guitars? Or is it possible they serialized the neckplate, and mine is non-original?

this was way before the standard serial numbers. I believe Hoshino (and its factories Fujigen and Matt) started using 'Ibanez-style' numbering in 75 or 76, and this was before that.

Gotcha....that makes sense!

Thanks

nice, looks alil like mine but with different writing and the word custom on it, and that it has 1 pick guard which is strange, how much u pay for it?