The Electra Forums

What did i just find? I hope the picture is still there.. but i cant find any info.. help please.

It is a 3 pickup version of the PCM Electra Hagstrom II copy. PCM (Pacific Coast Music) provided early Electra guitars mostly to the west coast. The PCM Electras are not as well documented as the SLM Electras because we have found no catalogs produced for them. In the beginning the Japanese guitar manufacturers did not start copying the American brands, but rather started by copying their competition from Europe. PCM guitars are mostly denoted by the "moon landing" logo script font printed on an aluminum plate that was affixed to the headstock. Some of these early guitars play well, and some are not so good. The electronics on them tend to be very micro phonic, but at the price you paid you got a good deal.

Some of the details about your model: if it is the same as my Hagstrom II it has a solid mahogany slab body, and the neck is made from a great deal of laminations. One of these was claimed to have been bought in late 1967 making it seem to be the Earliest guitars that have the Electra name. It is guessed that they were produced from 1967 to about 1971. We have seen 1, 2 and 3 pickup versions of this model as well as a 12 string version. The only factory colors known are red and the black/red sunburst as you have. Value wise they are worth what you want to pay for one, but $200-250 is the top range for them. As it has been said on this forum: rare doesn't always mean expensive.

Here is a picture of 2 of my PCM Electras.

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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

Awesome! Thank you so much for all the info, and picture.. I'm loving this guitar! i figured the neck was a ply, but its good to know its probably a mahogany body. the pick ups have aged well and sing.. This is my first Electra, but I am going to keep looking for a few more.

THANK YOU!