The Electra Forums

I have an old Electra 2245 Super Rock that I would like to repair. There are some issues with the electronics mainly, the 3-way pickup toggle switch seems to cause everything to cut out occasionally, the pickups and adjustment screws seem to be damaged and floating, and the knobs seem to cause everything to cut out occasionally. There is also some minor body damage, which I am less concerned about right now.

I'm interested in any advice as to where to take it to get it repaired. Is it tough to find parts and do the repairs myself? There is a Guitar Center not too far from me, but I don't know if taking my guitar to a box store is the best place to get it repaired. Should I seek out someone that specializes in restorations?

Hello, Welcome to the site. Those are pretty hot guitars. We love pic's here if you can post them. It sounds like the cutting out may just need a good cleaning of deoxit spray on the toggle and the pots. Wont know till you look at it, could have a loose wire in the floating pick up. The other stuff could be found at Stewert Mcdonald or any place like it. It really is how comfortable you are getting in to it. I havent used any repair shops so I dont know what they charge. There are a lot of how to videos on stew mac and the net if you want to check it out before diving in. Just remember when buying parts this is a Japanese made guitar (of good quailty ) and not all parts on the market fit. The guys here can tell you more.

Oh yea, keep any parts you change. The original stuff keeps the value up if you sell it later.

_________________
SlmGuy

Fixing the electrics and other hardware issues isn't generally that difficult if you take your time and get good advice; hardware replacement - the soldering in of new parts is not difficult and exchanging machine heads etc. even easier!

The bodywork can be a little more involved, but once again, taking your time, understanding what it exactly is that you are doing and getting advice is ever helpful!

OK, all that said, I think a couple of bursts of De-oxit into the pots and switch would be a very good start!

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

Because even the Australians need heroes."

I'm not sure I'm completely understanding your description, but if a former owner had unscrewed the pickup height adjustment screw too far the springs would cause the pickup to 'fall off' the mounting screw. I'd take the strings off, carefully remove the pickups and take a peek under there, could be a quick fix.

The selector switches and output jacks often need to be cleaned or replaced after 30+ years, not rocket science, get a decent soldering iron and make diagrams before you start disconnecting things. Best of luck.

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

what they said. But buy a can of caig deoxit D5 or DN5 cleaner (red and black can). It is relatively expensive, probably $15 for a can. Radio Shacks around here used to carry it, but all of our local Radio Shack stores just closed. You can find it online too - antique electronics has it and other places. Fry's electronics may have it if you out west. But a can will last a typical guitar guy for the rest of his life! You can use it on all your guitars and amps. You spray into the underside of the switch and work it back and forth a bunch of times and this will usually clean it right up. For the pots and switches, you spray it with the little red tube into the body of the pot (the hole is usually behind the 3 terminal posts on the pot). Spray that in there and move the pot back and forth a bunch of times.

And also what they said about the pickups. They may have just been unscrewed from the tabs or feet of the pickup, and if they did the pickup may have a spring or two inside the cavity or stuck to the back of the pickup (since there is a magnet). Then it would be just use the screws if they are there, put on the spring, and re-attach each pickup. It is really easy.

When you look inside there, you can make sure the wires are connected.

I have had several old electras of that particular age to have their pots completely frozen - so dirty they would not move. I shot cleaner in them and gently worked them back and forth little by little and in fairly short order they were completely clean and functional again. This happens all the time. Occasionally you find a broken wire or a control that moved and touched something it shouldn't - if that case you just move it around to where it should be and tighten it back down again. No big deal.

Don't worry - we all STARTED where you are now. It is just for some of us that has been a long time ago and we can't remember that far back

_________________
Thorny

Thanks everyone for the input.

Here are some photos of the guitar. I'll open up the back and take some pictures of the electronics and post some updates.

http://s1164.photobucket.com/user/mille ... a%20Guitar

that looks really nice!

_________________
Thorny

Quick update. The electronics were beyond cleaning. I've bought a new switch, knobs, and jack and new wiring. I've saved all of the original parts for future "potential" sales.

Thanks for the tips.