The Electra Forums

I have been offered a Futura for a late 80's APii that I basically never use. The APii has a fairly rare 'crackle' finish, HSS setup with a licensed Floyd Rose and coilcut built into the tone knob, looks to be totally stock. I never really bonded with it because its got a pretty chunky neck (with the shark tooth inlays!).

The Good:
Futura is said to be nearly unused, with zero chips in the finish and perfect frets.
Has Original fitted Hard Case!
Made the same month as one of my Endorsers (June of 1983)
Bird Logo with "Electra" in block letters only

The Bad: Missing pickups and all the wiring

The Ugly: It's the Red version, with the horn on the wrong side!

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna take the plunge, Mike.



P.S. anyone have a pair of MMK45's for less than $80 out there?

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

If you do not like it and never play it then I would trade it for the futura. I also prefer the white model but red would work also. Go for it.

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

You never use the APii and the Futura has a perfect body and original fitted case? Go for it. You can get the electronics later.

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Who needs a Fender Jazz when you can get a perfectly good Spectrum bass for $50?

Do these inlays make it more rare than the other guitar? Just something to consider.

Well I made the trade, not quite as clean as I was told, but overall pretty nice, here it is being totally crushed by another Forum Members Dynasty:


The Futura is missing all three backplates (has the output jack cover though!) both pickups and the wiring, so I've got some work ahead of me. I've got a matched pair of 'Magnaflux' pickups out of a Omega or Super Rock, but those have only a single lead (so you can't use the coilcut option) and they probably wouldn't look right on this guitar anyway. I'm not a huge fan of the 'Vintage' vibratos, but it is the correct for this model, and the neck while needing a shim is in really nice condition.

I was telling the guy that you're getting a totally playable (gig-able) Guitar, and the Futura is kind of a fixer-upper and he responds "Well, thats the difference between a Japanese and a Korean guitar man.." and I had to agree with him. He's happy, and I'll make this one whole eventually, everybody wins.

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

I finally gathered up all the Electronics (special thanks to Ozark!) I needed to complete the Red Futura and have sent it off to the garage to be finished. The MMK45's I got only had a single lead, so I'm having the leads replaced, pickups waxed and having it wired with separate coilcut switches for each pickup rather than a single switch for both pickups. I'm having my tech block off the vibrato because I really don't like the 'vintage vibratos' that much.

I had forgot how clean and playable this puppy was since I hadn't really played it that much since I traded for it about eight months ago. The neck is in surprisingly good shape with little wear on it, nice and thin, looks like it wasn't played much in its former life.

Not sure how long it will be, but I'll post pics and maybe a video when it gets back... can't wait!! Cheers, Mike.

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

Always great to see any electra brought back to life. I like the looks and playability of both the futura models as well as the Bass. The body contours and shape are very comfortable to play when seated or standing and the necks are outstanding. The necks are just the right balance for speed and also for chord play. I think you will be very happy with it when it returns alive and ready to rock. I really appreciate the videos that you do as they give all an opportunity to see and hear how great the Electra guitars really are. I hope you can make it to the fest this year. PM me when you get a chance as I have a few electrafest questions to pick your knowledge base with. Thanks Arthur W. Herin aka mortarman120gang11c

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

Are you having the Pickups rewound as well?

I'm not having them rewound, just dipped in wax and the multi-wire leads put on. Both of the pickups had resistance so they seemed to be ok, although I haven't heard them through an amp or anything yet.

The MMK's came wired with two, three or four leads depending on what guitar/position they were in. This set was probably out of a workingman or something else that didn't need the coilcut function. You can clearly see the four leads coming off the two coils, so its just a matter of putting on a new lead and wiring 'em up.

Haven't heard from my tech yet, maybe I'll give him a nudge... Mike.

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

Around how much did the pick up potting cost you? I'm thinking of having my X310 potted.

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SlmGuy

Haven't got the bill yet, but in the past he's charged like $15 a pickup to wax. He uses a blend of Paraffin and Bees Wax. If you want to play loud, or significantly overdriven, this is a must with these Japanese pickups.

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

Finally back from the shop:



The Pickup waxing turned out great, lead channel cranked and zero feedback from the pickups! The pickups don't sound quite as sweet in Single Coil as some of my other MMK45's, so maybe there is some truth to that Unbalanced Coil legend. However, they do howl nicely, thanks Ozark! I've got about $220 into this now with that APii trade plus the parts and labor, not too shabby, and it's always nice to bring one back from the undead...

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

Looks nice.

I have a set of MMK45's with four leads. I don't remember the numbers but each one coil was a fair bit hotter than the other. So no myth; they exist.

Looks great indeed. Bet she plays great to.

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

Looks straight from the factory,excellent work Mike! Ah,the '80s-pointy guitars,chicks with big hair,dudes with big hair.........
Joe

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"If it ain't been in the pawnshop,it can't play the blues" R.L.Burnside