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This original version of the Electra Page is maintained for archival reference.
For the most complete information on Electra guitars, including new user-posted pictures, visit the new
Electra Guitar Page

ELECTRA MODELS:
LP style
2242
2244
2249
2252
2254
2256
2264
2264n
X110
X210
X220
X230
X240

ES-335 style
2207
2221
2227
2229
2266
2267
2281
X410
X420
X420VS

SG style
2247
2259

Flying Vee
2236

Strat style
2263wc
2275b
2275c
2275n
2275s

Tele style
2238wc
2248wc
2253w
2253wc
2270c

F-bass style
2271
2273


G-bass style
2250
2261

R-bass style
2288
2289

MPC
Models
X120
X310
X320
X330
X340
X350
X610
X620
X710
X720
X730
X740
X810
X910
X930
X940
X950
X960

Original
designs:


Phoenix
models
X110
X130
X135
X140
X145
X149
X150
X155
X160
X165
X175
X180
X185
X189
X190
X195
X199
Phoenix
basses
X630
X635
X640
X650
X695

Pointy
models
XV2GR/
XV3GR

X1PW/
X2RD

XV1

Pointy
basses
X700

Other
original
models:
X250
X260
X270
X280
X290
X510
X935
X935CS

Electra History

These pages are dedicated to the Electra MPC line of guitars Guitars (1976-1983).

Electra guitars were imported from Japan by the Saint Louis Music (SLM)  of Saint Louis, Missouri from 1971 to 1984 (most MPC models were made by Matsumoku of  Matsumoku , Japan) .  Matsumoku has made many popular guitar brands over the years including; Aria, Westbury, Westone, Epiphone, Vantage & Vox to name but a few.   


Electra MPC Timeline

1975-76  
Tom Presley was hired as the Product Manager (also involved in marketing) to begin MPC project.  John Karpowitz was then hired to design & build Modular Powered Circuits (MPC) modules.   In 1976 The  MPC guitars debut.  
1978  
  • Outlaw MPC & Outlaw MPC Bass (both named after the band "The Outlaws" who were Electra endorsers at the time), Semi-Acoustic MPC (ES-335 style),  X910 "Derringer"  MPC (Explorer) all debut.  Gibson style headstocks are also changed this year to the more familiar wave or fan shaped ones most MPC fans are used to.
  • 1979-80  
  • The Contoured Ultima MPC Les Paul, Vulcan MPC (a Les Paul copy with a Tele curve on upper bout), Leslie West MPC (sort of a Les Paul Special) all debut in this time frame. 
  • 1981-84  
    Ties with Matsumoku are further solidified in 1981 and decision made to merge SLM Electra brand with Matsumoku's Westone brand.  At some point in the early 80's, some production is moved to Korea.     MPC Ultima X960 debuts in 1981.  In the fall of 1983, Electra brand becomes Electra-Phoenix.  By early 1984 it became Electra-Westone and by the end of 1984 it is just Westone.

    St. Louis Music Inc's reason to abandon the Electra line were; overall, the MPC were not a great marketing success (seems unbelievable with the success Electra's are now enjoying :-)
    1985-NOW  
  • Electra Westone became Crate which is still around.
  • Dating your Electra: Matsumoku made guitars have serial number in which the first one or two digits represent the year of manufacture.  A guitar with a serial number that begins in "0" or "80" would have been built in 1980 (this is just a guideline and DOES NOT apply to all Electra models but seems a safe bet for 1977-1981 guitars).

    The Electra MPC's claim to fame was, and is, on-board effects (more commonly referred to as effects modules). No stomp boxes required. If you want to use an effect (wah, phase shifter, etc) , all you have to do is flip a switch on the front of the guitar, and turn a knob (also on the front of the guitar) to adjust the intensity of the effect. Twelve different modules were available in all.


    Click for Leslie West Bio
    Leslie West with his signature MPC

    Click to go to Peter Frampton's Home page
    Peter Frampton Electra brochure

    Over the years major musicians endorsed the MPC line, such as, Peter Frampton, Leslie West (signature model), ELO, Allen "Free Bird" Collins, Chris Squire (MPC Bass), The Outlaws (signature guitar & bass), and Rick Derringer (X910 model is also known as the "Derringer" model).  Despite these endorsements, the Electra line still disappeared while the SLM went on to produce Westone & Crate products.  Today, SLM distributes Crate, Ampeg, Alvarez & Austin products. So as you can see, it's a misconception that SLM disappeared or went bankrupt...they just changed.

    The first school of thought was that the Electra MPC line were shoddily manufactured gimmick guitars. Now, twenty five plus years later, they are finally starting to be recognized for superior craftsmanship and playability.  For years many Electra's languished in pawn shops while buyers focused on vintage Fenders and Gibson's. Now, there seems to be a resurgence in both their value and reputation for quality. 

     


    Electra MPC's in Print

    • Guitar Player Febuary 1994 - Not very flattering, 1 paragraph in an article named "Treasures & Turds" written by 2 guys (snobs) who probably wouldn't know and Electra guitar if it bit them in the a** ;-)
    • Vintage Guitar Price Guide 5th Edition (1996) - Half page of text.  Not bad info, but not 100%
    • Vintage Guitar September 2001 - Here he goes again!  Incredible 4 page article by Michael Wright with tons of amazing ads and pictures. VG has sold out of this issue :-(

    Thanks to all the extremely helpful people who have provided the information and photos to make these pages possible!  Page first created Aug 1998 by Mike Cantrell, transferred to Mike H Feb 2001.  Page expanded and run Feb 2001- Jan 2005 & Nov 2005-Dec 2005 by Mike H.  Page transferred to X189player Dec 2005.Pages updated and transferred to John Thornburg Jan 2006



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    which has no affiliation or responsibility for this site. We thank SLM for bringing us some of the world's best guitars.