Electra guitars, like Alvarez, was a brand name used by the St. Louis Music Supply company. The Electra and Apollo brands were introduced in 1971 as a replacement for the U.S.-built Custom Kraft instruments (Apollo was the budget brand line). Many models were bolt-neck versions of popular American instruments.
Tom Presley was hired by St. Louis Music in 1975 to work on the Modular Powered Circuits (MPC) program. The MPC line of guitars (mostly a Les Paul-ish style) featured cavities in the back of the instrument where 2 battery-powered effects modules could be plugged in. Thus, the guitaristsĀ“ effects would be mounted in the instrument instead of located on the floor like stomp box effects. The effect modules had controls that could be preset after being plugged in; the guitar face had on/off toggle switches. The MPC idea is actually pretty clever! The distortion MPC modules also led to the development of SLMĀ“s Crate guitar amplifiers.
In 1983, St. Louis Music noticed that a west coast dealer had begun selling low-end imported guitars using the Electra trademark. Although prior use belonged to St. Louis Music, it was felt that there would be some confusion with dealers and the public sorting out the differing levels of quality. Right off, the trademark switched to Electra/Phoenix. Then, in 1984, St. Louis Music announced that the Electra trademark would be merged with another Japanese-built brand, Westone. Models were sold under the Electra/Westone imprint for a year, then finally Westone only as the Electra aspect was disc (early trademark history courtesy Michael Wright, Vintage Guitar Magazine).
Instruments previously built in Japan circa 1971 to 1983/1984. Distributed by the St. Louis Music Supply Company of St. Louis, MO.

ELECTRA Electric Guitars Models

ELECTRA AVENGER Image

ELECTRA AVENGER

- offset double cutaway hardwood body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlays, tremolo bridge, chrome hardware, 6-on-a-side tuners, white pickguard, 3 single coil pickups, volume/tone controls, available in Crea...

ELECTRA MPC Image

ELECTRA MPC

- single cutaway mahogany body, maple top, set-in maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone block inlays, chrome hardware, 3-per-side headstock, bridge/stop tailpiece, white raised pickguard, 2 covered Magnaflux humbucker pickup...

ELECTRA PEARL CLOUD (MODEL X155) Image

ELECTRA PEARL CLOUD (MODEL X155)

- offset double cutaway body, bolt-on rock maple neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, 6-on-a-side headstock, chrome hardware, fixed bridge/through-body stringing, blackface peghead, 2 Magnaflux humbuckers, 2 volume/2 ton...

ELECTRA MPC OUTLAW BASS Image

ELECTRA MPC OUTLAW BASS

- dual cutaway body, neck-through-body construction, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with bowtie abalone inlays, brass nut, chrome hardware, 2-on-a-side headstock, fixed bridge, black pickguard, covered Magnaflux humbucker (neck position)/P-st...

ELECTRA ELECTRA ROCK Image

ELECTRA ELECTRA ROCK

- single cutaway bound mahogany body, bird's-eye maple (or jacaranda) top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black trapezoidal inlays, chrome or gold hardware, 3-per-side headstock, bridge/stop tailpiece, white raised p...

ELECTRA MPC STANDARD Image

ELECTRA MPC STANDARD

- similar to the MPC, except has redesigned headstock, available in Antique Sunburst, Jet Black, Trans. Apple Red, Satin Jacaranda, or Sunburst Curly Maple finish, mfg. 1978-1984.

ELECTRA SUPER ROCK (MODEL 2245) Image

ELECTRA SUPER ROCK (MODEL 2245)

- single cutaway bound mahogany body, maple top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl crown inlays, chrome or gold hardware, 3-per-side headstock, bridge/stop tailpiece, white raised pickguard, 2 humbucker pickups, 2...

ELECTRA MPC OUTLAW Image

ELECTRA MPC OUTLAW

- similar to the MPC Standard, except had a dual cutaway body, mahogany neck-through design, black pickguard, available in Charcoal Grey Sunburst, Natural Mahogany, or Tobacco Sunburst finish, mfg. 1978-1984.

ELECTRA Magnum II Image

ELECTRA Magnum II

- similar to the Super Rock, except has black body binding, black bound maple fingerboard with black crown inlay, clear pickguard, available in Natural finish only, mfg. 1974-77.

ELECTRA Omega Image

ELECTRA Omega

- similar to the Super Rock, except has Tone Spectrum Circuit: 5-way rotary pickup selector switch on upper bass bout, mfg. 1976-78.

ELECTRA TREE OF LIFE Image

ELECTRA TREE OF LIFE

- single cutaway bound mahogany body, leaf-design carved maple top, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with vine design inlay, chrome hardware, 3-per-side headstock, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, raised transparent pickguar...