The Electra Forums

I've had this Electra guitar for almost 20 years and always loved the feel and how easy it is to play. I thought it was just an old cheap Les Paul copy that wasn't worth much more than the $70 I paid for it at a moving sale until I started reading about Electra guitars on the internet and my son started using it for his guitar lessons. The guys at the music store kept giving it second looks and said it was a very nice instrument. I have tried to determine it's age but am not sure when it was made or which model it is. It appears to be a 2242 but it has a "pre lawsuit" headstock with a torch icon. It also has a very nice hard case. Can anyone provide any more information about this guitar?



Or is it an Omega? It doesn't seem to have the MPC electronics, just volume, treble and bass. But the pick ups appear to be the same.



Thanks.

The torch was a transitional logo used for a short time. They are cool looking logos and one of my favorites. With the open book headstock and torch it would most likely be a post 76-78 model. Looks great. I am also guessing a super Rock model as most Omega models had the 2 color switches.

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

Thanks for the info.

Any idea what the word "custom" indicates? Was this just added to make it a closer replica of a LP?

I presume that the bolt on neck makes it less desirable. Is this correct?

Also, I thought the open book headstock was only used until '76 or '77 after which only the wave headstock was used. So wouldn't it be a 76-78 or pre 76-78 model? rather than a post 76-78 model?

Thanks again.

Haven't seen many with the torch on the headstock;

"Custom" on the TRC may have been part of the transition from the 1976 to 1977 models and also to the later wave headstock;

Although I have seen "Custom" on the TRC of several of the Electra models including the LP style and SG style models.

Check out the Electra 1977 catalog:

http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/c77.php

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RCSBlues

After looking at all of the models a little more closely, I think it is a black 2254. The pick up locations and types match the 2254 but not the 2242 or the other guitars of that vintage. It has gold hardware and plastic, not metal, tuners. In the 1977 catalog (http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/2254.php) it looks like the headstock of all of the Electra LP type the guitars was the wave style with the peace sign, not the open book. This would mean it was likely a black 2254 made between 1972 and 1975.

Your guitar is a 2242. Not certain how deep you've read into the older threads on here, and if you haven't, take the time to as there is a abundance of good info to be found.

To recap and condense, St. Louis Music was using multiple suppliers, who in turn used multiple manufacturers. This resulted in wildly inconsistent features prior to 1976, after which things seemed to get more consistent.

With the openbook headstock, we can assume your example was made prior to 1976, as SLM was very serious about not using it after that time period, even going to the extent of modifying the headstocks on already made neck blanks, resulting in the 'cutout' headstock that we see show up in mid 1976 until those had been exhausted. By 1977 all Gibby style guitars would be sporting the Wave headstock.

As far as the Torch, consider that a luxury option, like Leather seats, or power windows, and is a product of the varying manufacturers that were being employed in the pre 1976 era. It's a cool look to be sure, but doesn't indicate a different model or anything.

I would not take the examples in the index here or Catalogs as gospel. It was not uncommon for the sales literature to go to print before SLM had taken delivery on what would become the production model. It is not a mistake that many guitars don't show the headstocks in the 1977 'Frampton' catalog for example. Things like tuners, hardware, size of the control cover, etc were changing constantly pre 1976 and its conceivable that guitars received by Music stores would look differently from month to month (I wasn't there personally!).

Most of the model numbers were Finish based, so if your guitar is a Black Bolt-On with gold hardware, a 2242 it is.

Do not be discouraged by the randomness of the Electra early offerings, its one of those things that adds charm and a bit of quirkiness to the line. Ultimately, some of this hit and miss supplying is what probably gave Electra its Pawn Shop reputation for decades, but that has been good for most collectors as it has kept the prices down. That trend however may be changing. Cheers, Mike.

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Good Summary!

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You wouldn't have happened to found that guitar in Louisiana,would you?? I had the exact same guitar back in '84.The torch and all.I haven't seen another one with a torch til I saw this post.I miss that thing.I don't know what ever happened to that axe.It just came up missing one day . I'm, trying to post pics of one that I just bought.Could you help me figure out how? Thanks