The Electra Forums

Love that guitar! The sculpted top is very sexy. I'm OK with just a volume knob.

Latest email from Ben Chafin received Friday 8/06/2010 @ 5:22 pm CDT -

"Hi Randy,

I am having some real web issues. I am moving my site (and the Electra coming soon page) from another host to GoDaddy and so all of my email has been down.
I have been down for 5 days but I hope to resolve it all soon. Thanks for posting the picture for me!
I had to build that one real fast (2.5 weeks!). The body and neck are Black Korina, don't worry, since it was going to be white it wasn't that great looking of a piece. I put a hard maple top on it for some bite.
The neck shape is thin with a slight V to it. The body thickness is about 2" in the middle but it is only about 1.25" on the side, so it seems really thin. The black binding makes it look even thinner. I don't know if I told you the body size. It's 1.5" wider than a Les Paul and 1.5" smaller than a 335. It is a 25.5" scale and has 24 frets on an Ebony fret board. The switch on the upper bout is the pickup selector.
Matt likes EMG's. Touring in Europe he carries a processor and uses what ever he gets on the back line. The EMG's give him a consistent and strong output signal. He likes one volume on his guitars and the mini toggle is just a kill switch for the guitar when running through the big PA's. He throws it at the end of the song, then mutes his pedals to tune, then flips it back on for the next song.
This was a custom build for him, for regular production, I would probably put 4 knobs on it without the kill switch. Maybe an Alnico II in the neck and an Alnico V in the bridge I have a double cutaway version that is almost ready for paint. I don't have the picture on this computer but I will send it later.

Thanks,
Ben"

RCSBlues

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RCSBlues

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All my effects go through a volume pedal that is set to '0' (zero) volume return in the off position; the v-pedal off position also activates on the tuner "automagically".

RCSBlues

I like volume pedals too. It's a good habit to set them to zero any time you put your bass or guitar down. I like them for volume swells and removing the attack on a note. Kill switches are usualy intermitent (only work when pressed and held). They can give a stacato effect that is popular with some and dificult to achieve with a volume pedal. Though a a-b pedal with nothing attached to the "b" will give the same effect.

I always was a fan of the Aria Pro II neck joint. It just made a lot of sense to me. No heel and it doesn't seem to affect the tone of the guitar. I put it on the Dean EVO.
I do plan to do a limited run of reissues each year. One model a year. Hopefully I can have them made in Japan.
It's funny you mention the volume pedal. I used one a lot back in the day before I knew about the treble bleed mod. The volume pedal allowed me to keep the guitar wide open without losing the highs when I backed it off for the rhythms. Boy. do I miss that JMP 100 watt head!

So... no-one but me violins away on the volume knob for swells etc.: I feel so.... inadequate!!

Yep, that neck join is spectacular; like it a lot!!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

>>>The volume pedal allowed me to keep the guitar wide open without losing the highs when I backed it off for the rhythms.<<<

That's how I do it.

Never could quite place the familiarity of that neck joint. Now I know.

Edited to add: Dean EVO60

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Free Your Mind and Your A$$ Will Follow......

I just Found out that Matt Laporte has passed away.
Great guitar player.

Yes he was;

That white Electra prototype (made by Ben Chafin ) that he played in the past few years or so was a good looking guitar.

From his mypace website: http://www.myspace.com/mattlaportemusic



And a black Chafin custom:





RCSBlues

I finally got signed on here.
Here are 2 of the USA Electra's Ben had at 2009 NAMM, sorry for the fingerprints and light flash.

Awesome - thanks for the update.

Are these yours?

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RCSBlues

No....

Ben needed to use them for Import Prototypes.....but I'm sure a USA Electra is in my future...got 2 Chafin USA's on the
list first

Please keep us posted.

Good to know.

Thanks,

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RCSBlues