The Electra Forums

So...

I've been doing a bit of MPC shopping lately. As some of you know, my primary interest is in the 1981-1984 Phoenix line, so I haven't paid a lot of attention to the guitars made in the late Seventies.

A recent eBay ad for an Elvin Bishop goes on at some length about how the "Gumby headstock" is less desirable than the open-book or "cutout" headstocks. I disagree. I believe that the wave headstock is preferable because it's unique and it's readily identifiable as an Electra.

I've said this before, but I think it's true for a lot of us on here. I'm not playing Electras because I can't afford a Gibson. I have some ridiculously expensive Gibsons. I'm playing Electras because I love them, because I love the story of the guitars, and because they are personally significant to me.

What do you guys think? If you are shopping for a guitar which had multiple headstocks, which do you prefer?

(And this is another topic, but I also absolutely prefer "peace sign" headstocks to "Phoenix" or "Westone" headstocks. That's a big deal for me.)

Do you mean the fan HS on some of the LP copies? I think that's the best Electra HS--original, distinctive and the MOP logo really sets it apart from other copies.

I like the wave headstocks and the transitional(cut out with peace sign logo) but my favorite electra logo is the MOP inlay torch.

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

I love the wave - It sets Electra's apart from the masses of other LP copies out there. I think it is also an undeniable indicator of Uncle Mat's made axes.
It seems as if some of the distinctly Electra models - Workingman, Endorser etc..were only wave era guitars.

I also love the peace sign particularly on tuners.

I have always liked the open book, modded open book and the fatter strat head stocks and all of the mop inlays (thats real classy). But I look at it as the history. They started with great copys of just about all the popular guitars and you see them change into these original designs with some of the best electronics of the day.
But I think my vote will be modded open book.

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SlmGuy

Is there any way to take a pole on this forum?

I'm gonna get caned for this but I reckon the wave h/s looks unbalanced in an odd way; I'm not a huge fan of it really... but then again, I've never seen one "in the flesh", as it were!!

The Phoenix/Spectrum ones do it for me; straight pull across the nut and absolutely NO resemblance to a Fender !!

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"... and on the eighth day, God created New Zealanders.

Because even the Australians need heroes."

There are many, many headstock shapes for Electra, McB has an entire webpage of them:

http://www.indysworld.com/guitars/Electra/headstocks/

There are also quite a few Logo Variations over the years. The Wave or Fan shape headstock is very similar to a Hofner Headstock, and I've seen Fender Acoustics with a skinny 'sinewave' also. I like the wave, it is unique enough and when I walk into a Guitar store or Pawnshop, that's the first thing I do is scan the headstocks for an Electra Wave... unfortunately I rarely see one! I associate the shape with the grownup philosophy that Electra wasn't just a copy distributor anymore, that they were trying to produce quality original designs to compete with the Big Boys on the block, who for the most part took a nap in the 70's and 80's with respect to design innovations... just my two cents, Mike.

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I've seen some other early MIJ copies (Non-Electra) with a wave as well, but the opposte direction.... but the are very rarely seen.....

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I'm definitely a fan of the wave. I prefer it over every other 3+3 headstock they used.

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

I really like "the bird" Phoenix logo on my headstocks. It wont by any means make or break a sale, but I like that logo.

I like the wave well enough, though it is quite similar to the Hofner headstock shape.

http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/ ... IBBGTO.htm

Interesting, my "fat strat" headstock with a MOP peace sign inlay isn't listed on that site. Very nice info though.

I gotta say I go for the "open book"....I'm old fashioned. However....that don't bother me when a nice one comes up on the market.

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JD's Electras