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Hey everybody I found a store here in town that is selling an Elektra made copy of a Gibson Howard Roberts, not the HR Fusion but the HR with an oval soundhole and a mini HB floating over the soundhole.
I wanted to ask if anyone had any experience with these guitars? I am a big HR fan so it obviously has some "vibe" points for me. The store is asking $995 for it but I'm sure they would probably come down a little bit. Houston is not a hot market for jazz guitars, and I doubt that anybody that would go into this store would look twice at it, because mostly rocker types go there.
Any input would be appreciated.
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10-06-2011 04:36 PM
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You can probably find a Korean Epi HR for less than $995. I bought one this summer for $499, there's one on eBay right now with an opening bid of under $400. Where is the Electra made? If it's in Japan, it might be slightly better than the Epi, but I've always felt that Samick (the Korean HR manufacturer) made guitars that often rival their Japanese competitors.
Brad
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It is a Japanese model.
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Many years ago I had an Electra HR in a light cherry sunburst. They're interesting guitars, laminate tops so they won't feedback. I am surprised yours has a MINI hum bucker on it as most copies also copied the large floating hum bucker of the original. Are you able to try it out in person, some of the HR necks are a little large...
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I believe the original HR (Epiphone) had the smaller pickup and it wasn't until after the HR became a Gibson that the larger pickup was supplied.
Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
But I've only seen one HR Epiphone and that was 40 years ago and my memory might be off...
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Sorry folks it is a full size HB. I will be checking it out this weekend, but it is about an hour drive, so if everybody had negative feedback about it, I probably wouldn't burn the gas ya know?
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You know you really want to go look at it, so go do it! Originally Posted by jmstritt
Odds are, it's a decent guitar but the only way you'll know is by actually examining it and playing it for a while. Nobody here can tell you what a contract built guitar (from any of several possible manufacturers) will amount to -- particularly after a few decades of use and possible abuse.
It probably could use a fret dressing...or some other bit of work like that...but so too will most of the "real" Gibson HRs you will encounter.
Like most Asian guitars it would probably benefit from a pickup upgrade too...but this might be an opportunity to put together the functional equivalent (or better) of a Gibson HR for a whole lot less money.
Besides, it will be fun to check it out, you'll see.
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Hi gang,
I'm looking at an Electra HR locally, and I'm curious if they were all laminate tops? I thought so, but take a look at this one. They describe it as "hand-carved solid (likely spruce) top". I'm far from an expert, but from the pic's on that site, it does look like a spruce top. Don't know about the solid part. It's also curious that the promo material for this model list it as "full acoustic".
The one I'm looking at appears to have a maple top, so I'm guessing it really is laminate. Do solid maple-top archtops even exist?
Thanks for any further info anyone might have.
CG
Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
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I own a 1979 MIJ Aria Pro II PE-185 HR copy that was built during Howard's (very) brief association with the company. The guitar is very well built and it's likely that the Electra you're looking at was built at the same shop.
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how did you date that guitar monk?
I have a PE-180 that I really like, even the pickups sound great.
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Thanks for the advice monk. I will be taking a look at it in person tomorrow. For now this is the best pic I've got
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I bought the guitar new in early 1980. Originally Posted by wintermoon
In a recent attempt to discover more information about that model, I corresponded with Taku Kawauchi at Arai & Company. He told me that the PE-185 was manufactured in small numbers from 1977-1979. He referred to it as a "rare" guitar.
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Just for anyone following along.
I tried the Electra HR model in the photo today. It is a very nice guitar and seems very well made. This particular model has a replacement mini-humbucker (different from the originals), and it was a bit weird dialing in a tone with the bass cut pot because I've never had that option before. Eventually I did find a tone I liked a lot though.
In the end I decided not to purchase it because (except for the cut-away) it doesn't seem to offer anything that I don't already have in my '59 ES-125. If It was a screaming good deal I probably would have bought it anyway just because it's so cool. I would certainly recommend this guitar (in any of the names they were built under) for anyone interested in a good quality, lowish cost electric archtop.
Cheers, Chris
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Newbie here -
Electra guitar fan for years -
The Howard Roberts Electra is known as an Electra X510 model -
I am a member of the Electra Forum website -
The Electra Page
My Electra guitars (which I still own and play) are here
RCSBlues's X330 and X340
Your Howard Roberts Electra X510 guitars are really nice - would love to have one myself.
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One of the most painful gear related things I deal with was selling my 1967 Epiphone Howard Roberts. Now they're getting impossible to find and have generally risen into the $4500 and up price range.
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That's a beauty Brian. I feel your pain in letting it go.
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Hi All,
Just to follow up again. I had non-buyer remorse and convinced myself that the Electra HR model actually does give me something that I don't have (cut away and humbucker). That was all the justification that I needed so tonight I went and bought the 1977 Electra X510 Concert professional (aka HR model). It's a really great guitar.
Cheers, Chris
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