The Electra Forums

Some of you may have seen my oddball Alvarez/Jazz Strad on the Uknown Model area on the forum - if not check it out for the pics.
I'd like to clean this guitar up as much as possible, starting with the bridge and tailpiece which both are probably beyond polish to make look new. So I would like to replace with new pieces but am not sure if the standard stew mac type stuff will fit. I can measure the string and pole spacing, but I see that there is also a thread measure in standard and metric. Although I cannot be sure if the current bridge is original or a replacement (a trap type was on a some point), what did Electra use originally - standard or metric? And is there any way I can measure the threads easily?

Next is cleaning the fretboard which I can handle (frets are like new - just gunked up)

The tuners may be a bit past polishing, so any help on getting them up to par would be helpful to. Are they hard to find used? I've been looking forever for 2 sets of black Westone tuners, and it seems the only way to obtain them is but 2 guitars

Lastly I will replace the pickup covers so all is nice and gold. not sure what the PUPS are in it currently, or what it 'should' have in it, but I have ideas for what i 'think' will sound best, but in the long run, I want this guitar to look as good as it plays.

I'll post photos of the cleanup as it occurs if anyone is interested, but may be delays as I have some other projects going on simultaniously.

All these things are cosmetic... You have a 34 year old guitar which has survived pretty much intact (I think the trapeze was a mod, by the time the wave headstocks came out these had stop tails on them, like it does now). And its a unique curiosity with that Alvarez Logo, a possible marketing prototype there, seems a shame to go changing stuff out.

Obviously you can do as you like, but man, changing parts out for looks... at least keep the originals in the case. Sorry to preach, it's not my style, but have another heart to heart with yourself before you get the tools out. All of us collectors have come across modded Electra's, probably because they've been so inexpensive for so long, and its a real treat to find one that hasn't been altered. Best of luck, Mike.

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

I would keep all the original parts _ I'm just looking to make this one pretty. I usually hack up all my guitars to suit my needs, but this one sounds nice on its own so, I'm only looking for the looks on this one. Nothing that would alter the guitar.

and just to add... I do appreciate it is 34 years old, and I do appreciate it's uniqueness, and on this particular I would not 'alter' it. Swapping PUP covers or bridge pieces (if they fit) are not alterations if they fit and the originals are available. So for the collectors out there - feel better...I'm not hurting her, just putting makeup on for my own selfish reasons.

A simple tool for checking thread pitch is here, Sarc.....

http://www.irwin.com/tools/taps-dies-se ... tch-gauges

You should be able to pick one up at most any hardware store and certainly at a machine shop supply house.

Another old trick also is to have a selection of machine screws on hand and simply lay one up against the mystery thread until it matches "tongue and groove" fashion. Of course you need to know what your sizing screw pitch is for that to work.

A pretty reliable rule is American built almost always is Imperial thread and most all "other country" built will be usually metric.

_________________
...throw me a frickin' bone here, people...