The Electra Forums

Is anyone out there collecting PCM Electras? (I know someone is, I see people bid on them in ebay auctions). I have several of the later ones, including strat, Vee, Explorer, and SG versions. But there are also earlier models, including those with the infamous 'X' on the headstock.

I'm gathering information to include these 'other' models in the site. If you have one, we'd love to get photos and details.

thanks!

hey,

someone recently has offered to sell me an electra 335 copy for $80. the guy sent me a picture, and it appears like it is one of those 'PCM' guitars. he'll be coming in to town in a couple of weeks to bring it by my apartment...so i won't have much information till then, but for now here is the picture he sent me of it:



there is apparently also a black pickguard that he has removed but still has with it. it sure looks great, but i have no idea about the playability. if anyone can tell me anything more about this thing, that would be very much appreciated!

i'll let you all know more once i get ahold of it!

p.

Wow, that's a beauty!

Early MIJ hollowbodies sometimes suffer poor action because of mild warping of neck pocket or neck or both, and a little neck shim often works wonders. Or it might be no problem at all!

Anyone recognize any similarities to other known brands?

yes, this is one of my main concerns, but if i am unable to make the proper adjustments myself, i am sure that a competent tech can do a good job. or, the action could be set relatively well when i receive it...who knows! either way, for $80 (canadian at that) i doubt that i can go wrong.

i'm really curious to see how those pickups sound!

p.

Many of those old pickups sound really really good, with a vintage honk you just can't get today.

Keep us posted!

I recently purchased a similar Electra. Mine is a sunburst w/o trem, lightweight trapeze (might be replacement, chrome is not corroded like the other parts and screws not installed properly), otherwise identical to the photo. The pick guard is still on, is wood with the same binding as the guitar. It has the X logo on the pick guard, appears to be abalone, but might be mother of pearl.

Mine plays very well, nice fast neck. Controls are scratchy but it sounds very good through my Valve Junior. Sounded even better in the store through a vintage Fender. It has a bolt on neck. The body wraps around it so it is difficult to play above the fifteenth fret. The neck and body appear to be maple. Woodwork and binding are excellent, the hardware is not.

I watched it for quite a while, finally bought it when the price was reduced to $200.00. I looked a a lot of hollow bodies before I bought it. The only two that compared were an Epi Sheridan and a seventeen hundred dollar Samic.

It's great to hear that these oft-maligned instruments are capable of real quality! (not surprising somehow)

So what we need is to figure out what models there were. And pictures of all of them!

Somehow we got to pool the info on these hollow bodies

so, i just received the PCM 335 copy about a half hour ago. so far, this thing is awesome. the action is fantastic, the intonation is really close, and some of the things that other people have complained about (such as the tuning machines) are actually of quite good quality on this model.

the guitar itself is in practically mint condition, except for a couple small knicks on the back. considering the amount of dust that is on this thing, it looks like it has been sitting in the back of someones closet for the last 30 years.

i haven't yet had the chance to plug this thing into an amp, so i will report back with whatever else i can learn about this guitar. i will also take a bunch of pictures once i get the chance to restring and clean the thing.

p.

cool! we can't wait!