El Degas Grabber Copy

[christhemusicman]

This is my first El Degas guitar, I think I'm hooked on the obscurity of the brand. http://www.flickr.com/photos/christhemusicman/

[charles]

Good score, hope you enjoy it!

Where did you buy that? I sold a Grabber like that in 2009 or so, and I think it may have been missing the same string ferrule as that one.... you never know, could be the same one!

[christhemusicman]

I bought a music/jewlery store in Portage la Prarie named Hilldebrant, got it for 200, thought it was a steal. Do you know any specs on it, like body wood? Production date? I've been telling people it's from the 70's.

[charles]

Yup, made in the 70's. Made in Japan (of course I am sure you've seen this stamped on the neck plate).
Maple body & neck.

Good score for $200.

I see you have photos of the screw holes on either side of the bridge - originally it had a bridge cover (a lot of people take those off so it's not surprising that it is missing).

I'd take a look at why the neck is so loosely screwed onto the body and stabilize that (probably just need to loosen the strings off and tighten it back up). Replacing the missing string ferrule (FYI: they are tough to find in that size) may be good to do as well.

[christhemusicman]

Thanks alot, I don't know why I didn't think of a bridge cover... the ferrule isn't missing by the way, it's just rusty. One more thing, The E string buzzes a lot. The strings aren't bouncing off the frets. I pressed the string all the way down the the pick up and it stopped buzzing. So I'm thinking that the buzzing is coming from the bridge. I'm no luthier, but I think it might have to do with that rusty ferrule. Oh, thanks for pointing out it was made in Japan. That made me laugh!

[charles]

That nut is probably a big part of the buzzing, as well.

[christhemusicman]

I took the guitar over to a friends place and we took a closer look at it, the buzzing was coming from the saddle of the E-string. Not sure if it was a factory mess up. Or just careless handling of the bass. There was a burr causing the string to vibrate against the bridge and the saddle.

[charles]

It's a 30-something year old bass - these darlings usually need some TLC and a good setup when they change hands to get them back up to snuff.