What model El Degas is this?

[tenplay]

I found this old electric solid-body guitar in my family's closet. I cannot locate a model number. Can you tell from the attached 4 photos? Does it have any value as a collector's item? Thanks for your help. Mike

[charles]

Appears to be a 70's MIJ (made in Japan) SG copy.

My opinion for these has always been that they are valued at $150-250 depending on condition and other factors (motivation of buyer, etc).

[Barry]

Hi tenplay. You have a really good little rock and roll tone machine there!
These are appreciated by El Degas collectors but probably won't fetch a lot of money in the open market. ED guitars from this era are generally very well made with good quality materials and hardware, and the pickups are top notch. It's certainly not junk and will easily out perform most new instruments available today.
If you're a player, my advice is to hang on to it, clean her up, and enjoy!

[charles]

will easily out perform most new instruments available today

As much as I love my El Degas instruments... I don't agree with this statement.

When I set out to make this site I wanted to always be careful not to make these instruments to be more than they were... products that rode the wave of flooding the North American market with copies of Gibson & Fender products while Gibson & Fender fans saw their beloved brands' (arguably) darkest days under Norlin & CBS ownership, respectively. They have just as many failings as the guitars they emulate. There are some real gems, and some real dogs. They were still production guitars with the same problems associated with that; and some models had more or less features, better or worse electronics, better or worse fit & finish, etc. There was no magic at work here - it's still just wood & wire.

While I agree that there are some truly great instruments under the El Degas moniker, I have also owned and played some real junkers from the brand. The links to exactly where, when, and how they were made have never been made - so, while some instruments seem to have come out of factories from Fuji Gen or Uncle Mats on their best days and play as well as anything they might release today, others seem destined for the wood pile if not for the intervention of a caring and persistent owner.

I see truly amazing instruments coming out of all sorts of makers today, including the big guys who went through such sad times in the 70s (and custom makers... fugedaboudit! They are doing amazing things, albeit usually for big prices). A top-end copy that's got all the magical components to come together can be as good or better as an off-the-shelf production guitar from Gibson or Fender... but I'd say that saying a lower end (i.e. bolt-on) copy is better than today's Gibsons and Fenders is a stretch, in my opinion.

My soap-box rant for April 26th Sorry. Standard dislaimers: IMO, YMMV...