ELECTRA model
2258
Super Magnum
Study/comparison
NOTE: I haven’t disassembled either of
these guitars as yet, so thus far…this is a visual comparison only.
These are my current two SMs. I’ll make a short
comparison of these. The one on the left is a bolt neck of the style seen most
often. On the right is a set neck of a style build rarely seen, if ever before.
There are certain attributes here seen on the Electra model 2257 (the Magnum
II) that are shared by these two 2258s.
HEADSTOCK
The headstock shape stands out immediately. Notice the differences in the logo,
the nut design and set, and 1st fret inlay. The logo on the left is
inlaid abalone, on the right…a bit more involved here: The word “Electra” and
the “Peace” logo are decal, the maple leaf is inlaid. The TRC is an obvious later substitution. I
believe the original was like the other pictured here. These TRCs tend to curl up on themselves over time.
I have also seen the wave style and notched style headstocks on these guitars.
Notice the inset/trenched nut on the guitar at right.
HEADSTOCK
rear
Other than the shape of the headstock itself, the Grover machines appear to be
original to the 2258 on the right as opposed to the Electra badged
Gotohs most often seen on these (shown left side).
LEFT: three piece neck, five piece open book-style
headstock
RIGHT: one piece maple neck with single piece joined
crown-style headstock….notice how the grains match at the joint,
this one also sports a volute
Fretboard and inlays
Hardrock maple with true abalone.
Again, seen most often is that pictured on the left with inlaid leaves kinda willy-nilly. On the 2258 to the right, the leaves are
actually positioned as fret markers. Notice also the difference in design of
inlay at the 1st fret and the last fret as the vine actually runs to
the end of the board, to it’s binding. The nut width
on both is 1 inch and 5/8 and their fretboard length
is 18 inches. Scale on both is 24 ¾ inches.
BODY
FRONT
Here we have more major differences: On the left, full sized humbuckers….and the right, Electra’s mini humbuckers (these could be single coils in the P90 style, I’m not sure as yet). In these pics
you can more clearly see the inlay at the fretboard
end.
The carved design on the left side is more detailed and less precisely done
than that of the right side guitar (shows more tooling marks). The relief of
the carving on the right is greater (deeper), also….the arch
of the top of this guitar is more pronounced. Notice the slant and placement of
the bridge in relation to the bridge pups and tailpieces.
The pickguard bracket on the right is bent on a radius, the left side has two bends on angles. The knobs on
the right side are that type seen on some Electra LP copies produced in
1973/74….and for a short period afterwards on some of the 335 copies. Left side are the white speed-style knobs most commonly seen on
these guitars as well as the model 2257.
LEFT:
body size: length is 17
3/16” lower bout is 13” upper bout is 9” body depth at output jack is 1 9/16”
RIGHT:
body size: length 17.25” lower bout 12 7/8” upper bout 9 1/8” body depth 1 9/16”
Tailpiece to bottom of guitar is 5.25” both.
BODY REAR
Not much to note here other than one being a bolt and the other a set neck.
Both have a two-piece back on a sandwiched maple body with a belly cut of the
same size and shape. The one on the left has a replacement metal controls
cover.
There is no serial number or “Made in
REAR full
view
And the
ELECTRA model 2257 Magnum II
This is an apparently rare version with full sized humbuckers.
This next guitar belongs to Arthur Herrin and is pictured here for model 2257
reference.
If you have any additional information of the ELECTRA model 2258 that you would
share, please email and I’ll update this page. I would also like to have a full
frontal picture of your guitar and a headstock front photo if yours is a
different style than these 2258s pictured here on this page.
NOTES:
ELECTRA and Peace logo 1st seen in the 1975 catalog
mini humbuckers seen in the 1974 catalog
I’ve never seen the “leaf” logo used on an ELECTRA guitar. ***See below.
Assumtions: My 2258 pictured on the right side
throughout this page is either one of the prototypes for this type guitar…..or
part of a seemingly very short run of production guitars manufactured by
another builder under contract for Saint Louis Music. The nearest headstock
shape I could find similar to this one is found on the mid 1970’s CIMAR branded
Les Paul copies. Who knows? Do you?
*** Through my research on this subject, I’ve come to the conclusion that the
Electra 2258 Super Magnum AND the
Electra 2247 Electric Oak among many other offerings were manufactured by KASUGA of
See this link for photos.
MAY 2011
Return to my ELECTRA PAGE
T H A N K S
JD Whealton