Im completely lost

[Kilgannon]

I am of course new to this message board and joined with High hopes.
I have an old El Degas dreadnaught Acoustic guitar.
The only markings on this guitar is a Model # which = F 190
I'm just trying to find possibly the year its from and
possibly what it may be worth. I know it has to be old due
to the deep tone the wood has aquired and the respectably deep sound
which is gives off. Any help would be much appreciated.
I'll have a few photos up soon, but as far as condition, it's in quite great shape
having no knicks or chips and everything appears original.
Thank you fellow guitar enthusiasts in advance.

[charles]

If I could see the headstock and sound hole label I might be able to make some sort of guess as to the age range, but nothing's ever concrete with these old El Degas guitars.

[Kilgannon]

hopefully these photos will give you a little more insight.
If you need any more just let me know.

[Kilgannon]

two more photos.

[charles]

Sorry, I cannot say definitively whether that is MIK or MIJ.

I have seen that headstock logo style on both, and while I think the style of the soundhole label suggests MIJ, I cannot say for sure.

You do not seem to see the F- models later on in the timeline, but that does not say much, as there is nothing too concrete about the history of the brand.

If I had to venture a guess, the model prefix and sound hole label would lead me to say early 70's, MIJ. But do not quote me on that

[Barry]

I'd tend to agree Charles. She has that early 70's MIJ "vibe" to her.
And even though we often equate the "F" prefix in model numbers with a Fender clone, this one appears to be more of a Martin copy to me. The machine heads are really interesting; the gear covers and buttons look typical of 70's vintage, but the shaft is more ornate than what is usually seen (smooth). Perhaps this indicates early 70's??

[charles]

I think the F prefix was just used on early Martin copies. As far as I know there are no Fender copies in the acoustics.

I agree with you, Barry, on the early 70's estimation on the date of manufacture.

[Kilgannon]

Thank you both very much for all the information you were able to present.
I know as you two have said, and I have read on this forum that some instruments
are just very hard to put a date on. I am happy to know that this guitar is rare enough
to be a mystery I will continue to research on my own and I am very
appreciative of the time you have spent just to give me the insight that
you have.

[charles]

It sure would have helped things if B&J would have ever written any of this stuff down

[the52blues]

It sure would have helped things if B&J would have ever written any of this stuff down

Hey sorry I've been away for so long. I had a stroke back in January and was bed-ridden til April then it took a while to get back to normal (?)
B&J DID write a lot of things down to try and keep track during the 70's and 80's but Tony told me they threw it all away and did not transfer any of it to computer so those records are all lost now.
My 2 cents agrees with Barry and Charles. This guitar is likely a 70's Martin copy.

[charles]

Hey, glad to see you are back on your feet. All the best and thanks for your continued info and contribution

[Barry]

Hey Freddy, I'm so sorry to hear about your health troubles; wondered where you'd disappeared to!
I hope all is well for you now.
All the best!