The Electra Forums

Hi. I bought this 2281 from Jead and I LOVE IT!!! I want to make that point clear. I've played it just about every night since I got it. With and without amps. Which is why I don't have the Maple Pro 2267 I used to have(check the old thread - viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6457). Anywho, I've been trying this monster a little more playable. First, I'll admit one of the reasons I put a stop tailpiece is because I always wanted a stop tail 335. Second, well, The bridge insert for the B string was too low, causing a buzz, so I bought another bridge(Tone Pros). 3. The upper strap knob was loose so I replaced that. 4. I have not put the pickguard back on. 5. The action is too high so I decided to check the truss rod. Well, it's not a standard Gibson rod that you access with a nut driver. The truss rod is accessed with an allen wrench(5 mm), which I happened to have. 6. I've included pictures of the guitar in it's current form, the truss rod, and if you look closely the replacement strap knob. The pictures are on my MySpace site at - http://www.myspace.com/bigmansband/photos/38270447#{%22ImageId%22%3A38270447} .I've read in a couple of places that when you adjust a truss rod, you turn clockwise for less relief{space}, and turn counterclockwise for more relief. Well this truss rod was turned all the way counterclockwise and loose, and the fingerboard looked completely flat. I've begun turning it clockwise. I can feel the rod tightening. We'll see what happens. I was also going to play this thru my Crate g-60 amp, but the amp is on the fritz. I'll get the vid as soon as I can. Thanks!

Added a couple of photos with the flash actually on this time. This is why I stick to playing guitar:-)!!
Check at - http://www.myspace.com/bigmansband/photos/38270447#{%22ImageId%22%3A38270447}
Be sure to flip through all the pics.

Nice axe! I have had a 2267 for the past few years.

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RCSBlues

Hi, RCS Blues!. I'm a little jealous, I admit it. Do you have any pictures of it(the 2267)? Love to see 'em!

Original post:

http://www.rivercityamps.com/electraforum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4368

Scroll through for all the pics.

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RCSBlues

RCSBlues, them is some PURTY pitures!!!! darn, that's a fine 2267. I'm even more jealous, if that's possible. I can barely put down my 2281, I can't imagine how you could not play that axe all day! With a good case. darn!!
By the way, I've finished adjusting the truss rod. It turns out you do turn the rod counterclockwise for more relief.
Someday this guitar will need a fretjob, but for now I think I'm done messing around on this thing. I will try to take pictures of the pickups next time I change strings. Now on to the amp(which will go to the shop since I can't fix that). But before that the waterheater, and getting my missing tooth replaced and..........oh, well:-)!!

Hi again. Still having string action problems. I thought maybe that the nut slot of the B string was cut too low. What I found was the B nut slot was cut way, way too big. It was big enough too fit the low E string. No matter what I do too the bridge, the B string would always be too low. Or it would force the action so high, it would make the guitar too hard to play. As a temporary solution, I have put 2 very small pieces of aluminum foil that are rolled up and placed in the B nut slot. Doing this, I am able to lower the action to a comfortable height with no effect on the tone. I've done the same thing to the G string slot and again improved action and no effect on tone. However, once I break a string, the aluminum would pop out(the aluminum is not glued or fastened in any way.). So I plan to replace the existing nut with a Graphtech TUSQ nut made for Epiphone(Japan) guitars. It's the right width for the neck. I'll have to sand it down to make it fit in the existing nut area, but I have the sandpaper and the Xacto style blade to do this job. I'm going to measure from the back of each string to the back of the existing nut to make sure the new bridge matches the current very good intonation and tone. Wow, this might take awhile.

Okay, you can see the photos at my MySpace site(URLs included.l)
I've swapped out the old nut for a new Graphtech Tusq XL nut that I sanded down from 1 11/16 to 1 9/16, so I could match the width of this japanese made Electra Elvin Bishop model. The 1st 2 pictures are the old nut.
1 (http://a1.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... e61b/l.jpg)

2.(http://a4.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... e10a/l.jpg}

It was not made for a 1 9/16 inch neck, so the nut slots are not cut evenly from string to string. Also the
B string was way too deep(might be hard to see). The new nut(shown on the guitar) is spaced properly.

3. (http://a2.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... b94d/l.jpg )

It took a couple of hours and very coarse sandpaper(not the 400 or 600 grit mentioned by Graphtech). I shaped the nut and and glued it in only on the back surface(in case of breakage or the unknown). It's in now and sounds great. The last picture is the guitar as it is right now.(the picture might be too red, though).
4. (http://a1.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... 42b0/l.jpg)

It's taken awhile, but, ............Finally! My Elvin Bishop 2281 is ready for its video debut. And as promised, I'm playing through a Crate(SLM) G-60 60 watt transistor amp. I've had this amp since the late 80's. I've used it at rehearsals, gigs, I've recorded with it. I've used it as a PA, a monitor, a bass amp. It's been in the shop twice in all that time for dumb stuff I did to it(using it as bass amp for one!). I've put two speakers in it after the Crate Special Design original speaker died. A Peavey speaker and now a Celestion 12M70. Anyway, here's the Elvin with the Crate G-60, miked with a E/V 257 mic right into my soundcard with a USB connection.
Go to http://youtu.be/RwEFtiYZdc8
( I just put this video in so..........)
Oh, and (again) THANK YOU, JEAD!!!

Nice axe - that sounds great - and some GOOD playing; that Crate amp has some punch.

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RCSBlues

Hey, RCSBlues, thanks for the kind words. That amp always comes through for me.

Gotta love the sound of an Elvin and she sounds great with the Crate. Nice playing. Enjoy the Elvin and thanks for the video. I like the stoptail also. I still have the trapeze on mine and I like it also but the stoptail is far mor versatile in my opinion. Nice tunes, welcome and rock on.

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

The Elvin sounds great - and I like the Spinal Tap riff at the beginning !

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"This is the way that pop ends, Not with a BANG but with a box set whose fourth disc you never get around to playing” - Simon Reynolds

"My guitar wants to kill your Mama" - Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

Wow. Thanks everybody for all the kind words. To yyzrondo, I had to throw in some Nigel Tufnel. 11 forever!
To mortaman120gang11c, as told someone else on the forum, I found the trapeze tailpiece had an airier sound than the stop tail, but I made the change as a personal choice. If I wasn't a frustrated rock guy....................., oh well. Later guys.

Something like this?



or



And the best one -

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RCSBlues