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davidge1 · March 12th, 2009, 12:44 PM

I went to a guitar workshop class last night, and someone had an Electra guitar. Has anyone ever seen one of these? They were very well made Les Paul copies, made in America in the 70s. The knobs were all in a row, instead of the usual Gibson configuration, otherwise they look pretty much like a Les Paul. The real difference is that these guitars came with plug-in effects devices... little modules that plugged into the back of the guitar. Pretty interesting concept! Does anyone know anything about them?

Tim Armstrong · March 12th, 2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidge1

I went to a guitar workshop class last night, and someone had an Electra guitar. Has anyone ever seen one of these? They were very well made Les Paul copies, made in America in the 70s. The knobs were all in a row, instead of the usual Gibson configuration, otherwise they look pretty much like a Les Paul. The real difference is that these guitars came with plug-in effects devices... little modules that plugged into the back of the guitar. Pretty interesting concept! Does anyone know anything about them?

VERY cool guitars, sold by St. Louis Music back in the 70s. Not US-made, though, they were made in Japan. I've long wanted one, but not enough to ever actually pull the trigger!

Tim

Little Willie · March 12th, 2009, 01:17 PM

And if I am not mistaken, wasnt there an amp that you could also switch out the modules on? I am not sure if it was an Elecktra or not.

Little Willie

diffeecult · March 12th, 2009, 01:56 PM

I knew a guy that had one of the Les Paul copies back in the 70s. It played and sounded great.

TeleDrifter · March 12th, 2009, 01:56 PM

I got one at a swap meet for $30..It's the model that looks like a strat morphing into a SG or vice versa...Plus the previous owner put a dimarzio USA made humbucker in the bridge position..........................Fair Deal

Octave Doctor · March 12th, 2009, 02:02 PM

That sounds like an MPC, made in the Matsomoku factory. Most of the St. Louis Music Electras are very good guitars, I have an X190 Workingman's Special I bought as a basket case for $40.00.

Some of the later Electras have preamps and EQ's built in as well, and they had a couple of their own pickups that sound pretty good. Needless to say, there's a lot more to these guitars than I can go into here. Try Googling The Electra Page.

TJNY · March 12th, 2009, 02:20 PM

I was eyeing one not long ago. Unfortunately, the guy wouldn't reply with a counter offer(I didn't low ball him), wouldn't meet halfway, ship or otherwise try to sell the guitar. Just locally. I bought a Guild Songbird instead. Glad I did but it still looked like a decent guitar!

buddywayne · March 12th, 2009, 02:29 PM

I had an Electra LP and it was a nice guitar. It was very well made and as heavy as a real LP. I traded it on my first tele. Smart move.

davidge1 · March 12th, 2009, 02:31 PM

There seems to be a lot of info on them online. I haven't read all of it, but I havent seen anything yet about how the effects actually worked. Strangely, the connectors on the modules themselves look like digital technology. They were small and didn't run on batteries, but then the guitar itself must have a battery (?). I'm guessing.

This was definitely a well-made ax. It played beautifully and looked beautiful... and yes, very heavy.

davidge1 · March 12th, 2009, 02:39 PM

I found the info...

http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/anat.php

The effects connect to a battery in the guitar.

J. Hayes · March 12th, 2009, 04:07 PM

"A top 1970s "copy" brand in the US, Electra succeeded Custom Kraft and Apollo for importer St. Louis Music. Beginning in 1971 with an Ampeg Dan Armstrong copy. Primarily made in Japan by Matsumoku, these early designs made famous by Gibson and Fender quickly improved. By 1974 they had gained in quality enough to be endorsed by Nashville ace Paul Yandell. Innovations included US pickups and, in 1976, the MPC line with onboard modular effects, as endorsed by Peter Frampton. Original designs followed a 1977 lawsuit over copying, and included the Phoenix line, plus "pointy" shapes by 1983. St. Louis Music replaced the brand with Westone guitars around 1983."....................JH in Va.

Dookychase · March 12th, 2009, 05:05 PM

Back in about 71 or 72 I bought an Electra copy of a Les Paul. Played alot of gigs with it. I still have it and its still in really good condition.

I don't know about the other ones but this one didn't have any plug in modules and the knobs were in the right place.

I bought this in New Orleans at Rock World Music.

byrdbrain · March 12th, 2009, 05:09 PM

I recall a neolithic ad in Guitar Player
with the mighty Leslie West playing one.

Doug Ferguson · March 12th, 2009, 05:13 PM

Owned an Electra LP copy (a 2256) back in the day. Bought it new in 1976 and played about 15 years. Overall excellent quality in the woods, electronics, and workmanship. The hardware was good, but the gold plating wore off pretty quickly. The only mod I made to it was putting in a hotter DiMarzio p/u in the bridge.

http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/2256.php

6942 · March 12th, 2009, 05:37 PM

The MPC modules were usually in the upper tier Matsomoku guitars.
Electra guitars, became Westone guitars, in the early 80's.
I have a heavy, maple bodied 1986 Westone, that I really enjoy.

Steve

RodeoTex · March 12th, 2009, 05:53 PM

I had a white LP copy, very 'correct' looking and playing. I once removed a pickup and saw that the flat part of the body and the arched top was 'formed' and glued on, thus leaving a big gap inside.
It didn't seem to have any negative effect, just odd.

March 12th, 2009, 12:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
davidge1 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,243	Electra guitars I went to a guitar workshop class last night, and someone had an Electra guitar. Has anyone ever seen one of these? They were very well made Les Paul copies, made in America in the 70s. The knobs were all in a row, instead of the usual Gibson configuration, otherwise they look pretty much like a Les Paul. The real difference is that these guitars came with plug-in effects devices... little modules that plugged into the back of the guitar. Pretty interesting concept! Does anyone know anything about them?

March 12th, 2009, 01:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Little Willie TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: central tx Age: 55 Posts: 41	And if I am not mistaken, wasnt there an amp that you could also switch out the modules on? I am not sure if it was an Elecktra or not. Little Willie __________________ " Don't ask me, I just play the guitar"

March 12th, 2009, 02:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
TJNY Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Orange County, NY Posts: 1,467	I was eyeing one not long ago. Unfortunately, the guy wouldn't reply with a counter offer(I didn't low ball him), wouldn't meet halfway, ship or otherwise try to sell the guitar. Just locally. I bought a Guild Songbird instead. Glad I did but it still looked like a decent guitar! __________________ http://www.myspace.com/ocbluesxpress http://www.myspace.com/tjny

March 12th, 2009, 04:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
J. Hayes Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. Posts: 1,241	From the book "Totally Guitar...the definitive guide" "A top 1970s "copy" brand in the US, Electra succeeded Custom Kraft and Apollo for importer St. Louis Music. Beginning in 1971 with an Ampeg Dan Armstrong copy. Primarily made in Japan by Matsumoku, these early designs made famous by Gibson and Fender quickly improved. By 1974 they had gained in quality enough to be endorsed by Nashville ace Paul Yandell. Innovations included US pickups and, in 1976, the MPC line with onboard modular effects, as endorsed by Peter Frampton. Original designs followed a 1977 lawsuit over copying, and included the Phoenix line, plus "pointy" shapes by 1983. St. Louis Music replaced the brand with Westone guitars around 1983."....................JH in Va. __________________ Ralph Mooney rules!!

March 12th, 2009, 05:09 PM	#13 (permalink)
byrdbrain Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sweden Age: 51 Posts: 1,669 4 Photos	I recall a neolithic ad in Guitar Player with the mighty Leslie West playing one. __________________ In vino securitas

March 12th, 2009, 01:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
diffeecult Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hot Springs, AR Age: 49 Posts: 666	I knew a guy that had one of the Les Paul copies back in the 70s. It played and sounded great.

March 12th, 2009, 01:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
TeleDrifter Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA Age: 53 Posts: 582	I got one at a swap meet for $30..It's the model that looks like a strat morphing into a SG or vice versa...Plus the previous owner put a dimarzio USA made humbucker in the bridge position..........................Fair Deal

March 12th, 2009, 02:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Octave Doctor Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Morgantown, WV. Posts: 282	That sounds like an MPC, made in the Matsomoku factory. Most of the St. Louis Music Electras are very good guitars, I have an X190 Workingman's Special I bought as a basket case for $40.00. Some of the later Electras have preamps and EQ's built in as well, and they had a couple of their own pickups that sound pretty good. Needless to say, there's a lot more to these guitars than I can go into here. Try Googling The Electra Page.

March 12th, 2009, 02:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
buddywayne Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: missouri Age: 63 Posts: 1,132 10 Photos	I had an Electra LP and it was a nice guitar. It was very well made and as heavy as a real LP. I traded it on my first tele. Smart move.

March 12th, 2009, 02:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
davidge1 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,243	There seems to be a lot of info on them online. I haven't read all of it, but I havent seen anything yet about how the effects actually worked. Strangely, the connectors on the modules themselves look like digital technology. They were small and didn't run on batteries, but then the guitar itself must have a battery (?). I'm guessing. This was definitely a well-made ax. It played beautifully and looked beautiful... and yes, very heavy.

March 12th, 2009, 02:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
davidge1 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,243	I found the info... http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/anat.php The effects connect to a battery in the guitar.

March 12th, 2009, 05:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
Dookychase Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2005 Location: Near New Orleans Posts: 287	Back in about 71 or 72 I bought an Electra copy of a Les Paul. Played alot of gigs with it. I still have it and its still in really good condition. I don't know about the other ones but this one didn't have any plug in modules and the knobs were in the right place. I bought this in New Orleans at Rock World Music.

March 12th, 2009, 05:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
Doug Ferguson Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 56 Posts: 2,215	Owned an Electra LP copy (a 2256) back in the day. Bought it new in 1976 and played about 15 years. Overall excellent quality in the woods, electronics, and workmanship. The hardware was good, but the gold plating wore off pretty quickly. The only mod I made to it was putting in a hotter DiMarzio p/u in the bridge. http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/2256.php __________________ "If I don't like the way the times are moving I shall refuse to accompany them." -Horace Rumpole

March 12th, 2009, 05:37 PM	#15 (permalink)
6942 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,938	The MPC modules were usually in the upper tier Matsomoku guitars. Electra guitars, became Westone guitars, in the early 80's. I have a heavy, maple bodied 1986 Westone, that I really enjoy. Steve

March 12th, 2009, 05:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
RodeoTex Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,923	I had a white LP copy, very 'correct' looking and playing. I once removed a pickup and saw that the flat part of the body and the arched top was 'formed' and glued on, thus leaving a big gap inside. It didn't seem to have any negative effect, just odd. __________________ Turn it on, turn it up, turn me loose.

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