Astra EMG Type Soundbox on UK ebay

[Watanabehi]

This Astra soundbox looks a bit strange. It looks like an EMG 4-spring soundbox due to the shape, but the needle socket doesn't have a triangular needle socket, which usually EMGs have. Also there are two holes on the back. It seems a Franken soundbox mixed with EMG front body and other parts on the back.

[Watanabehi]

This Astra soundbox looks a bit strange. It looks like an EMG 4-spring soundbox due to the shape, but the needle socket doesn't have a triangular needle socket, which usually EMGs have. Also there are two holes on the back. It seems a Franken soundbox mixed with EMG front body and other parts on the back.

This EMGinn Expert soundbox with 4 springs has a round needle socket, which I am wondering it is for thorn needles, since it is very heavy.

[poodling around]

This Astra soundbox looks a bit strange. It looks like an EMG 4-spring soundbox due to the shape, but the needle socket doesn't have a triangular needle socket, which usually EMGs have. Also there are two holes on the back. It seems a Franken soundbox mixed with EMG front body and other parts on the back.

Very interesting observations indeed.

[epigramophone]

The needle in the chuck looks like one of those black IM thorn needles which came in a "Top Hat" box.
I am sure that, if asked, EMG would have supplied a soundbox with a round needle socket.

[leels1]

Check this site out... comprehensive I think, but the eBay one does look different to these. https://www.gramophonemuseum.com/astra.html

The back and front are different colours for a start.

[poodling around]

Could this have been some kind of proto-type sound-box ?

Created in the ASTRA Laboratories maybe ?

[Steve]

Check this site out... comprehensive I think, but the eBay one does look different to these. https://www.gramophonemuseum.com/astra.html

The back and front are different colours for a start.

That's not unusual at all.

[chunnybh]

To me it looks like an all original EMG nickle 4-spring usually found on later large EMG's. Interesting that it is in an Astra box. It's obviously based on the Astra design with flat angled springs rather than the curved springs. All the EMG soundboxes like the horseshoe with "pegs / legs" have flat angled springs. The questions for me are, which came first and were they made by the same manufacturer as the Astra ones ?

[Steve]

To me it looks like an all original EMG nickle 4-spring usually found on later large EMG's. Interesting that it is in an Astra box. It's obviously based on the Astra design with flat angled springs rather than the curved springs. All the EMG soundboxes like the horseshoe with "pegs / legs" have flat angled springs. The questions for me are, which came first and were they made by the same manufacturer as the Astra ones ?

It IS an original EMG!

[chunnybh]

Perhaps the heavier EMG brass 4-springs were just too expensive to make and were replaced by the nickled ones with the "brown" back.