The Electra Forums

Gold covered, stamped16803, bridge is a two wire, rings are stamped LS, USA. Bridge is a stamped chrome made in Japan, saddles are BRASS, two adjustment screws are missing, all springs are there! The tail piece is also chrome, stamped made in Japan, so this was probably a change out on another guitar or parts sold to enhance value of the pick-ups being worth (?????) 250.00-up, apiece!! What a shame, not for me but someone knew what they where doing, hard to find parts are worth more than a complete guitar, I,ve learned a big lesson, 450+shipping to any member, if not sold by Sunday it will go on e-bay with the reserve at that price and no mentioning of details other than I dont know a thing about guitars! I do know where a MMK45 two wire is though!!! (creme, I,m Bidding, ) I will answer all if interested Late tonight, Thanks< Tim Sr.

Hard to be certain without seeing the back of the pickups, but Maxon (Japan) used a 5 digit numerical system back in the day, I believe 13xxx was from 1973, so it is conceivable that 16xxx is from 1976, which would have been about seven years before your Endorser was built, so take the above with a grain of salt.

Again, the originals would have been Creme bobbin Matsumoku pickups (MMK45 or MMK53, I've seen both). There are two different schools of thought with respect to changing of parts, one would say any changes to make the guitar more usable is acceptable, the other would say any non-stock parts (regardless of quality or cost) has lessened the desirability for collectors. Not my rules, just the general feelings of most players/collectors.

I'm surprised no one has made an offer on your Cherry Endorser, they are nice guitars, and yours looks to be in great shape. Did you ever get your Semi out of hock? Good luck, Mike.

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

hey Mike, I had some trouble with my camera, I have pics of the pick-ups, How do I get them to you or on here? I have purchased a creme MMk45 for possible replacement in the bridge, I didnt mean to sound so cynical about the guitar but the old man I bought it from said he had it many years and never mentioned a change out of parts, now this has me wondering about the wiring also. Are Maxons really worth the 300.00 range that some one has on e-bay? Just asking! LOL Let me know! Tim Sr.

On a real good day, Maxons will bring a hundred each if there is someone looking a specific matching pair or production year for a restoration underway. Much the same as someday someone will be lookin the original MMKs for your CS. I became familiar with Maxons through collecting vintage Ibanez guitars.

Here's some good info to hang onto:

Pickups:
Pickup Serial Numbers

Ibanez and Greco Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) used a pickup serial number format consisting of 5 numbers up to and including those made through 1977. Ibanez Super 70 pickups have the same serial number format.

* First number = Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) pickup code (1, 2, etc)
* Second number = Year (7=1977)
* Third number = Month (0=Jan ... 9=Oct then .=Nov, X=Dec)
* Fourth and Fifth number = Day of Month (01-31)

Ibanez and Greco Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) used a pickup serial number format consisting of 6 numbers from 1977 to 1982.

* First number = Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) pickup code (1, 2, etc)
* Second number = Year (9=1979)
* Third and Fourth number = Month (01=Jan ... 12=Dec)
* Fifth and sixth number = Day of Month (01-31)

Ibanez "Super 70" pickups made by Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) had a alnico 8 magnet. Ibanez "Super 58" pickups made by Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) had a alnico 3 magnet. Ibanez "Super 80" pickups made by Nisshin Onpa (Maxon) had a ceramic magnet. All of the above pickups DC resistance is approximately 7.5-8.0 kilohms.

Lead Pickup:
"15X27"
1 - Factory) Nisshin Onpa (Maxon)
5 - (Year) 1975
X - (Month) DECEMBER
27 - (Day of the Month) 27th

Rhythm Pickup:
"180123"
1 - (Factory) Nisshin Onpa (Maxon)
8 - (Year) 1978
01 - (Month) JANUARY
23 - (Day of The Month) 23rd

_________________
JD's Electras

Nice lesson JD. That's great info. As for price, It seems the Super 58's and Super 80 "Flying Fingers" are getting pretty hard to find (for good reason) and can get somewhat expensive if they're in good shape all around.

ok guys! Now I,ve got a brain storm on all this pick-up business, How about I do a swap out on the Endorser to the 420 w/the creme 45s, and the push pulls, my pro has that white binding along with the pick guard that is actually very white in direct sunlight but hones down to an almost smokey hue in darker stage lighting. Just kidding! Would it be a one of a kind? Just a thought, as I would then reset the Endorser with all that JP set-up! But I wont, the pro is to sweet just as she is. But offer still stands for the endorser. By the way, I,m if anyone thinks I,m a nut I do know the Pro is semi- acoustic and I would never get all that electrics from the endorser up inside her, I had a look up inside a while back to see for myself on the SOLID BLOCK! The BLOCK ran down to the neck pick-up then ran from the bridge pick-up to outer edge, bottom of guitar? Open space between pick-ups, just some info for those that have ever wondered about the Solid block thing!

Here's a set of Cream MMK-45's:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MMK-45-Pickup-S ... 500wt_1141

A little pricey, and strictly speaking not quite right because they have the flathead adjustable pole pieces as opposed to the allen head type... probably a couple years older, and probably out of an Aria Pro. Basically any dual cream bobbin MMK is pretty rare.

It is not uncommon for the binding to yellow more than the other plastic parts. A stock X935cs just sold on eBay, it did have some weirdness at the neck seam, but overall pretty decent, went for $425 plus shipping, don't know if it came with a case.

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

I did see the Endorser on e-bay, also the pickups, I have been scouring the web and my search is still void so far, not giving up though. LOL I need a good laugh every now and then. With the push-pulls, are the pups 4- wire? I am at the time back to light duty at work so the Pro will be free this Friday! YEA! I will give the CS some time as for the pick-ups. I wish I still had my 4 Ibanez M-340 acoustics to sell for a tube amp. If I hold up with work for a couple more weeks! I need to thank all for your input and teaching lessons on all things Electra! I was thinking on the line of some older Duncans on the Endorser, I have spotted a few double creme bobbin but they were very pricey. I,m going to keep to the drawing board on tone and look to get her back sharp! I will keep a tread going as to progress, Tim Sr.