The Electra Forums

WOW, WOW, WOW.............. X infinity !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great score indeed Jimmy. How about spilling the beans and filling us in with the backstory?

To respond to your question about "Ibanez lawsuit factory"... **Edit below is in bold, Thanks Warrn**

Electra guitars were manufactured at the now defunct Matsumoku factory during the later 1970's and up until 1987 when it was closed. Other Japanese plants made Electra as well before and during the same timeframe. Other brands made at Matsumoku were Aria, Vantage, Univox, Westone, Skylark, Ventura, Westbury, and many other minor labels you would find mostly in Europe. More recognizable names that also were built there were Epiphone, Vox, Washburn. Not sure about Ibanez off the top of my head (but someone will correct me I'm sure) as Hoshino was known to outsource some lines if production required it.

As you have already learned with your x910, Matsumoku builds (also called Uncle Mats or just Mats) are top shelf quality that compare as favorable to superior to the other Japanese lawsuit builders such as Shiro Arai, Hoshino Gakki (parent company of Ibanez), FujiGen Gakki (builder of Strats back then, Squier, etc) and so on.

Congrats and welcome!!

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

Your facts aren't quite all straight there, Ice. In the 70s not all Electras were made by Matsumoku. SLM slowly shifted to having all guitars made by Matsumoku by the end of the 70s, while PCM never did. Matsumoku was in operation until 1987; the Electra brand name is what ceased in 1984, as it was merged into Matsumoku's Westone line. Before SLM had Matsumoku making all Westones, they had a variety of factories making different models. I'm not knowledgeable on who made what, though.

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

I seem to recall that Outlaws were made sowehere else too.

Holy Smokes!! You are correct Warrn. Thanks for the corrections. I'd forgotten all about PCM completely and Mats closing in 1987..... D'OH !!

I had not heard that the Outlaws were made elsewhere before as well. Thank goodness you guys are keeping tabs on me, you know what they say about a little knowledge being dangerous.

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

Terada I believe.

If I am not mistaken I believe the Outlaw models were manufactured by Terada.

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

Oh, and the Ibanez' were (and still are for higher end, like Prestige) made by Fujigen Gakki - any Ibanez with "Made in Japan" and/or a serial number starting with "F" is Fuji

Interesting. My mid-80's Squier Strat was born there as well. Any idea how long Ibanez has been produced at FujiGen, Dave?

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

I believe since at least the mid to late 1970's for their electrics -- FujiGen was making them when Norlin/Gibson sued Eiger/Hoshino/Ibanez in 1977 --- and Fuji made all "Made in Japan" Fenders and Squiers from about 1982 until the change ca 1996 to "Crafted in Japan when production went to (I think) Terada -- the early 1982/82 JV serial number Squiers and Fenders are really climbing in value !!

I can only hope my E-series will follow suit someday.... not that I am in any hurry to move it.

I have had a very hard time finding an American made one from that same year that really justifies the jump in price they were back then.

jead has a really exceptional E-series model as well, rich and creamy.... mmmmmmm!

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

The E series Fenders and Squiers are generally awesome !! Of course I love MIJ stuff !! Looked at a really cool Hondo II MIJ ca 1978 Gibson L-5 copy today, hope to get it this week -

L-5 copy; now that I would like to see.

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RCSBlues

RCS, Hope to get the L-5 tomorrow, it's very rare, only found one like it on net - in Poland !! I'll start a new thread and post pix -- if it's not to icy to drive to the lake tomorrow !! Amarillo should be worse, no ??

The forecast here is for ice and snow for the next 3 days ..........

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RCSBlues

RCS - yeah, I'm in Lubbock - freezing rain & snow - if the roads aren't too bad tomorrow I'm going after the Hondo L-5CES -- oops, a bit off topic aren't I !!