The Electra Forums

i was just wondering if anybody has any experience with the "other" electra line from the west coast.
electraman's site indicates that the west coast line popped up around the early 70s but the models i've seen seem more early 70s. here's one on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 3737355371
that can't be any later than mid 70s can it?

oh, yeah. apollo. i always forget about those. they do look hot but i'm a sucker for 60s oddball guitars.
when i saw yr resonse i did a quick check for apollo on ebay and found THREE up for grabs!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW
according to one seller these were made by kawai. he doesn't source the info though.
anyhow, i had a bolt neck SG with the same logo plate as the "other" electra. i'm not sure what the pre-matsumoku quality was like for "real" electras but my SG was good for garage rock or punk but not enough soul for clean stuff. laminated body, fret inlays made of aluminum or something. glad i had it though cuz then i looked for info and found yr site and now i own nothing but uncle matts!

so have you had any contact with the 2 "electra brothers" or their family. seems like that would clear up a lot of guess work if they're still around.

well...
i just found this:

http://store.bluebookinc.com/downloads/ ... Heading=36

so aparently kawai made apollos as well as teiscos. i wonder if the electras are from the same factory.

ELECTRA=TEISCO?!?!?!

you're right. the apollos do look different than the electra line from the same time. they're more similar to wild 60's-early 70's japanese guitars like teisco or ibanez in style but look like they're maybe a bit better in quality than a run of the mill teisco.
i emailed the seller of the electra "bison" above and he said that the blue book was his source--but also he knows a couple of dealers who sold apollos back in the day in st. louis.
so what's the word on build quality on the pre-matsumoku SLM electra guitars? is there any indication as to where they were built?

In 1970 I used to have a Teisco Del Ray - a Strat look alike with 4 pickups! I had no idea that they might be in the Electra life line????

This thing was completely unplayable!

It was originally a sunburst; I had it sanded and repainted red; it came out beautiful but it still wouldn't stay in tune and was a bear to play; I eventually got rid of it at a pawn shop. I wonder if it would be worth anything today?

_________________
RCSBlues

well, apollos are the guitars that seem to be made by kawai/teisco and they're not electras per se. notice that they kept them in the back, separate from regular electras. so it's more of a SLM line than electra. and definitely pre-matsumoku.
in any case teiscos usually go for $150 or less--unless it's a late '60's model like the spectrum, which apparently has better build quality and electronics and may fetch up to $300.

the plot thickens...
(or does the thought plicken?)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 55151&rd=1

Hmmmm. That's a new one on me.

If I were to guess I would say it was more in line with a Crown or Tiesco. Doesn't look much like any of the early Arias we have been able to document here. Oh well, for once it's not a "Lawsuit" or "Rare".

yeah, i didn't remember seeing an aria like that either but i'm no expert. the body does look a lot like the electra linked above though.
of course, there's no marking in the pics of the guitar to ID it as an aria.