The Electra Forums

I've been trying to find out what model my guitar is. My father bought it for $40 back in the 80s. I'm happy to say it's much better than the Charvel Strat that he also got.

It looks like the x935, but it's got a bolt on neck. It also doesn't have all the switches, and the backplate is different. There's no serial number on the headstock. On the neckplate it says "Steel adjustable neck. Made in Japan. 050000."

Pictures (click for larger images...):






I can't get better pictures at the moment; my mother took it on vacation.

I believe this to be the final incarnation of the venerable 2244, (black super rock) Model. Originally this guitar was basically a LP copy, but it is my suspicion that they got the 1 and a half cutaway 'update' in the early 80's. That's my guess. Welcome to the forum.

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Electra Guitar Videos ===> http://www.youtube.com/user/mjm33mjm?feature=watch

That makes sense - it seems like a combination between it and the x935. Also, thanks for the warm welcome.

agreed on the ID- and on the welcome!

Nice Guitar, Welcome to the Electra Forums.

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Always give thanks for everyday, It may be your last so Rock On Semper Fi!!

Thanks guys.
Out of curiosity, would it be possible to find out what kind of wood it's made of?

I don't know what kind of wood they used on these, possibly someone else could chime in? I have found many inconsistencies in Electra literature, and find myself not trusting it as 'gospel' anymore. Example: Outlaw literature states proudly Ebony Fingerboard... mine isn't ebony, and frankly I can't recall seeing any pictures of an Outlaw with a black Ebony fretboard. Example 2: Price list states Workingman has a Mahogany body... There may be some Mahogany workingman out there, but the vast majority of the ones I've seen pictures of are Ash planks with a walnut stain. And there are other errors in the Catalogs.

As much as builders and even some players will 'sing the praises' of different woods for their sonic qualities, we're talking about a solid electric guitar, it's been my experience that the real effect of different woods is in the weight on your shoulder, not how cosmically excellent it sounds through an amp. I think the newness of your strings has more to do with sustain than what your guitar is made of, and your pickups have more to do with tone than the wood, but you know what they say about opinions!

That Charvel looks like a quality piece too, probably mid 80's build, much nicer than the 90's 'Lipstick' logo Charvels. Put a set of .009 strings on there and give it a fair shake. I've never yearned for a Fender Strat since owning three different Charvels. The locking nut and vibrato may be daunting to the uninitiated, but stretch the bajezus out of the strings before you lock it down, and beat on her for a while, you may be surprised. I'll say this about the Charvel, I'd wager that those pickups can be played louder before they squeal than the Electra (difference between a waxed and unwaxed pickup!) Mike.

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Electra Guitar Videos ===> http://www.youtube.com/user/mjm33mjm?feature=watch

The Charvel fell a few years ago... there's a crack straight through the Low E tuning peg hole, and the wood is only held in place by the thin plastic layer on the headstock. My dad refuses to get fixed as well. I'd do it myself but I'm still a student, and don't have a job yet so I can't pay for it. I don't trust myself with super glue.

The Electra has fallen quite a bit as well, but it's been much better at surviving. Granted, the headstock isn't like the Charvel, so it doesn't really have protrusions to break.

If you have 5 bucks, a buisness, and a clamp, you're good to go.

Five bucks for Gorilla brand wood glue (at least where I am), a buisness card to put the glue in the crack, and a clamp so it dries tight.
Once you use that glue it ain't never comin' apart.
I mean it. My Futura survived one smash and with the glue I think it'd survive a semi.

Besides, if it's only seen on the back of the headstock, you can just leave the glue or file it off, whatever.

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Addicted to Matsumoku.

My workingman is mahogany and it is a black one so go figure. i suspect they used what they had on hand for these as they were the low price line for Electra. I would put it up against many a high price axe though.

I know mine is ash, but still it makes no difference against any other guitar, the Workingman doesn't have an issue blowing them away.

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Addicted to Matsumoku.

You can probably tell us what wood it is, jsut remove the corner screws and lift out a pickup to get a view underneath. I'd guess based on earlier models that it's a mahogany body and neck with a laminated maple top. Don't think ill of the laminated top, either, this isn't korean plywood. Matsumoku was superb with resonant lamination, and the result can be better than a fancy carved maple top.

(side note: in the old days the best resonating wood for instruments was rightly ecognized to be straight, even grain. That was the good stuff, and knotty wood that would produce flames was junk.)