1982 Westone Thunder 1 Bass Guitar Review. A really neat Westone Thunder 1 bass from 1982. In case you are not up to speed on Westone, here is a quick run-down on the brand. (although I keep the active circuitry switched off). They were more common in England, I think, because they were sold from a popular mail-order catalogue. Reply Delete.
Private | |
Industry | Musical Instruments |
---|---|
Founded | 1971 |
Products | Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars |
Electra guitar played by Eddie Kirkland
Electra was a brand of electric guitars and basses manufactured in Japan and distributed in the US by two companies owned by brothers: Saint Louis Music (SLM) and Pacific Coast Music in the 1970s and early 1980s. In 2013, the brand launched a successful comeback led by renowned luthiers Ben Chafin and Mick Donner.
Unlike most other brands of imported guitars which were sourced from a single manufacturer, Electra guitars were ordered from all the Japanese factories and distributors. As a result, early models especially vary in details and quality. Later, as all models came to be made by Matsumoku, Electra guitars offered high quality at competitive prices. However, the brand never entirely lost its association with inexpensive 'copy' guitars and the brand name was transitioned to Electra Westone in 1984 and Westone in 1985. The same qualities make them popular among collectors today.
In 2013 Ben Chafin, former head luthier at Dean Guitars, acquired the rights to Electra Guitars and is now producing new Electra Guitars. The first model available was a reissued and updated single cutaway Electra Omega, followed by the Omega Prime. After rave reviews and a growing roster of artist endorsements, Electra Guitars unveiled a number of new models in 2014 including the Invicta, Talon, Phoenix H & S Guitars and the Phoenix Bass. More about the current company and their guitars, basses, accessories and merchandise can be found at their official website Electra Guitars
MPC Guitars[edit]
In 1976 Electra MPC (Modular Powered Circuits) models featured a pair of cartridge slots in the guitar body, which allowed effect modules to be plugged in and controlled from the front of the guitar. Today the unusual thing is that the effects are on board, but even offering electronic effects to consumer musicians was fairly new at the time and offers an interesting alternate way to do it. There were a total of 18 guitar models which carried MPC circuits. The most notable was the Super Rock, which was a Les Paul copy. There were 12 total MPC modules offered.
Table of MPC modules[edit]
1 | Phase Shifter |
2 | Dynamic Fuzz |
3 | Treble & Bass Expander |
4 | Tank Tone |
5 | Power Overdrive |
6 | Filter Follower |
7 | Auto Wah |
8 | Tube Sound |
9 | Octave Box |
10 | Flanger |
11 | Frog Nose |
12 | Compressor |
In the assortment of modules offered was a 'Mini Amp' module, which contained no effects but was a headphone amplifier for the guitar. This mini amp was actually the number 11 Module, Frog Nose. It did nothing except send a fairly weak clean guitar signal to headphones via the jack.
Endorsers of Electra guitars and basses[edit]
- Peter Frampton - Peter Frampton's Official Site
- Allen 'Free Bird' Collins of Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Rick Derringer's brand was the X910 guitar also known as the 'Derringer' model
- Marty Friedman (uses in live performances/workshops etc.)
- Dickey Betts endorsed the X930 MPC model in the October 1981 issue of Guitar Player magazine.
Sources[edit]
- 'Electra History'. Retrieved 2003.Check date values in:
|accessdate=
(help) Article from the original Electra fan site - 'MPC (wiring diagrams)'. Retrieved 2003.Check date values in:
|accessdate=
(help) Details of MPC guitar wiring - The Electra Guitar Collection 1977. 1977 full line catalog including MPC guitars and modules
External links[edit]
- Electra Guitars Official Website of Electra Guitars
- The Electra Guitar Page- Index of Models latest known listing of guitar and bass models
- The Electra Guitar Page (original) archival mirror of original Electra fan site
- The Electra Forum fan community of collectors and players
- Matsumoku Industrial- One manufacturer of Electra guitars
- The Guitars of Matsumoku information on Matsumoku-made guitars
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electra_Guitars&oldid=854434209'
Production
Matsumoku to Jan 1987, 1981-1988
Description
There are at least 3 versions of this model, possibly 4.
As with the Thunder IA, the earliest version has variable gain for the active circuit, later versions replace that with separate active and passive tone controls.
As with the Thunder IA, the earliest version has variable gain for the active circuit, later versions replace that with separate active and passive tone controls.
Set neck resembles the joint used on the Rainbow, not the heelless set neck of later model.
Looking for an operating manual? Click Here for early Thunder guitars with controls for volume, tone and active gain
Version 1 (1981-82)
Specs (as shown in the 1981 catalogue)
- body: Canadian Ash, Maple and Walnut
- neck: 5 piece laminate of Ash, Maple and Walnut
- fingerboard: Rosewood
- brass nut
- 22 frets
- 24.75 inch scale
- steel tailpiece and bridge with brass saddles
- two Magnet-F530 pickups
- 3-way switch
- phase, coil tap and active on/off switches
- master volume, tone and equalizer volume (Active gain) controls
- available in Navy Blue or Sunset Red with a Light Oak centre stripe
- script logo on the headstock
The serial number of the guitar below dates it to 1981.
Thanks to Ronnie for the pictures. The single coil pickup and extra switch are not original.
Version 2 (1982-3)
There are technical specs of the Thunder IIA in the 1982/3 catalogue, but no pictures of it
Specs
- body: Ash and Maple
- neck: 3-ply Maple heelless set
- fingerboard: Rosewood
- brass nut
- 24.75 inch scale
- 22 frets
- two HF530C humbuckers
- 3 way switch
- controls:-master volume and tone
- equaliser (Active) tone
- switches for active on/off, coil tap and phase
- Swiftlok tailpiece
- ‘long travel’ steel bridge
- available in Midnight Blue and Pearl White (Must also have been available in Red, the one below has not been refinished)
- script logo on headstock
It is possible that the specs in the 1982/3 catalogue are wrong.
The guitar below dates from early 1983, but has the earlier version of the active circuit. (Volume, tone, active gain controls)
The guitar below dates from early 1983, but has the earlier version of the active circuit. (Volume, tone, active gain controls)
Version 3 (1983-?)
Specs (as shown in the 1983 catalogue)
- body: solid Maple
- neck: 3-ply Maple heelless set
- fingerboard: Rosewood
- 24.75 inch scale
- 22 frets
- bone nut
- two Super Twin I pickups
- 3-way switch
- coil tap
- phase and active on/off switches
- master volume
- tone
- equalizer tone controls
- Swiftlok tailpiece
- long travel steel bridge
- available in Pearl White or Midnight Blue
- W ‘Bird’ logo on headstock
Version 4? (1984)
This is an usual model (besides being lefty) and does not match any known published references, but it is apparently a factory design. Construction is the same as earlier versions except for the circuit wiring and black proprietary “upside down” plastic knobs in place of the typical brass ones.
- 3 way pick up selector switch
- volume pot is push-pull for coil tap
- master tone is push-pull for phase reverse EQ/active tone
- Mini toggle switch controls active circuitry on/off