Above: an Electra ad from 1979 which seems to be suggesting that by using their sound-effects controls incorporated into the guitar itself (rather than in foot-effect-pedals), you will develop a unique style and attain success. Okey… Anyone using one of these today? Thoughts?
Electra was a brand-name for Japanese-made guitars imported by the St Louis Music Co. in the 1970s. There were also Electra-branded amps: I had a pretty rad solid-state piggyback with a 15″ driver and footswitchable phaser/reverb/overdrive (i think…) in the early 90s… pretty good sound for a solid-state amp… Anyhow, I can’t find any info on the amps online but maybe someone can send us a catalog? As far as the guitars: there is pretty good documentation on the web: start with this page. These dudes also posted the full 1977 catalog, which is one of the best I have ever seen. To wit:
Goddamn hippie cowboy space invader! Nice. Anyhow… here are some more interesting Electra ads from the mid seventies which I think no one else has bothered to upload yet… enjoy…
The Electra MPC guitar with modular electronic-effect plug-ins. Gimme TANK TONE baby.
The Electra ‘Tree of Life’ guitars, part of a larger ‘carved-top-design’ trend in the 70’s… see here for another example.
11 replies on “Electra Guitars of the 1970s”
The internal effects guitars worked great when they worked, but usually became intermittent and had other electronic issues. Relatively few of these guitars survive in stock condition because people gutted them out and rewired them with standard stuff. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago these imported guitars became cool, especially in the Midwest were a larger percentage were sold, so many were subject to crude “conversions” into fake Gibsons or Fenders too.
Hay how do i find information about my electra flying v ive just purchased
Hay how do i find information about my electra flying v ive just purchased
Have used Electra guitars since 1976; the MPC models in particular since 1977 – still using 2 today – with no problems with the MPC modules at all, also a 2267 model. Check out the Electra website at rivercityamps dot com.
RCS…. My dad’s S.N. starts with k76…. Would that be a 1976 model? Thanks! dan
My first halfway playable guitar was one of those carved Les Paul copies. I stripped it and dyed it purple.
And like the above guy I ripped out all the electrics and put in the old EMGs. It played pretty well for about ten years, needs neck work now. Maybe one of these days.
But my first GOOD guitar-a ’69 Tele that had been reworked by Dan Erlewine-was so much better it wasn’t even funny. My mother shipped it to me when I was in nuke school in the Navy and UPS made kindling out of it. After that Fender had been bought out from CBS and was making the vintage reissues that were 95% as good as the old ones so I didn’t pine over it too much- the UPS insurance bought me a Mary Kay Strat. I still have that and it’s a truly great guitar. I did put Callaham hardware on it and Waverly tuners though.
I have two Les Paul MPC clones, one with the wave headstock, and one with a Gibson style. My first electric was a “Workingman.” I have had several others over the years. Wish I stilll had them all!
i bought my workingman in 1980 as a closeout bargain. it’s a solid body mahogany stained guitar. it has 2 humbuckin pickups w/2 bass and 2 tremble pots and a 3 position sw. can anyone tell me where i can locate the s.n.
The original Electra Tree of Life with the pearl inlay neck and the Les Paul Style with the carved inlay upper had a mother of pearl peace sign inlay at the top of the neck, I purchased mine in advance in 1975 and i never have had any problem with the guitar, including feedback. I use cryogenic steel strings and have used it for everything from ACDC to ZZ TOP, My guitar was used on the cover and poster for the Doobie Brothers, it has acoupla babes on both sides of the guitar. They dont make guitars like this with a sustain without effects. When i test a electric guitar i test unplugged and go for harmonics and sustain, if its clear and a nice ping and the sustain is there , thats a deal. I dont use and only once have i ever used a bolt on neck. The one thing I can say about the Electra tree of life SG model is you better have a strong back if your going to stand and play sets over an hour, because in weight, this guitar reigns. Superior , hell , i still keep it in its original case. You wont find anything that comes close without effects, unless you cruise to the 50s and find a fender. Craftsmanship is hard to find today.
I have a X135 Anniversary model 1982 Electra kit that has never been assembled… Has anyone ever seen a kit Electra… Great workmanship….
In reference to the lead ad for Electra on this page.
There were many Electra’s used by top bands.
A good example is , The Doobie Brothers’s which is where my guitar came from.
It was used in a Electra and with the Doonies stage setup with a few babes in the pic.
The album the guitar was used on was the China Grove album cuts.
One of the greatest of all time was Peter Frampton.
Yes, Peter was playing guitar riffs for the Stones long before America heard of Frampton.
Actually, he did alot of guitar work for major bands as a studio artist.
By the way, my Electra is a custom carved as in my pic.
Although there are similar carved Electra’s this has high end for the day electronics.
It’s one of the few guitars I’ve seen without kick pedals that can play anything from ACDC to ZZTOP with some crue and Rammstein thrown in.
Still jamming.