Comments on: Electra Guitars of the 1970s

By: Charles

Charles — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 22:30:39 +0000

Started with the x2880 in 91 as a gift. Played scales and got fast on it but pawned it to pay the rent. From there a few years go by and I bought a 77 Gibson Paul in perfect shape. Thought that it had to be better than the old Electra Workingman X280 Mahogany but it wasn’t better, The X280 could make any amp sound good. These were neat guitars. Years go by sold the Paul and finally got an X290 Workingman about 10 years back that’s the black one from the same series about 1981 or so. They have aged well and have gone up in value. They are as mean as they were new with what became a vintage rock sound. The old tuners are slowly being relaced on most of them. Also bought a #2145 this year for a more full bodied earlier SLM Electra sound. They are great guitars even for the money the top end Electras are not light years better than the players models. An early Electra is an early Japanese Electra and they are awesome guitars for Pro or home use. They record well. The pods were well made. Most if not all I believe were made at the Matsumoku factory but was curious if some were made at the Fuji Gen factory. Not sure about this. The are suberb instruments had a hollowbody version for awhile in the early 2000s wish I would have kept that one. Never sell these guitars cheap they are appreciating more rapidly than anyone could have imagined. They are every bit as good as the Les Pauls made by Gibson. Possibly they are even better in that they are more attainable but maybe not for long huh. Long live the first CNC guitars of Matsumoku

By: Sonny Tassone

Sonny Tassone — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 14:47:21 +0000

I’ve just hit 67 and I’m shredding daily!

By: Sonny Tassone

Sonny Tassone — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 17:19:09 +0000

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.

By: Greg Hamilton

Greg Hamilton — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 03:22:21 +0000

I have a X135 Anniversary model 1982 Electra kit that has never been assembled… Has anyone ever seen a kit Electra… Great workmanship….

By: Sonny Tassone

Sonny Tassone — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 08:41:11 +0000

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.

By: alfred g goodman

alfred g goodman — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 15:48:56 +0000

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.

By: steveray

steveray — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 08:58:14 +0000

In reply to Bafflegab. Hay how do i find information about my electra flying v ive just purchased

By: steve

steve — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 08:56:11 +0000

In reply to Bafflegab. Hay how do i find information about my electra flying v ive just purchased

By: David Loudenback

David Loudenback — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 14:55:15 +0000

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!

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 19:58:59 +0000

In reply to RCSBlues.

RCS…. My dad’s S.N. starts with k76…. Would that be a 1976 model? Thanks! dan