EL-980(?) Solid Body MIJ -circa 1972 (CAN)

[Barry]

Here's an MIJ beauty in natural woods typically popular in the 70's and early 80's. Pictures could be sharper but it appears to be in good shape.
Good price too: CAD$225
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell ... 203404628#

[charles]

Never heard of the model # but I am a big fan of that style - I used to have a bolt-on version and sold it when I got my neck-through version .
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=198

[Barry]

I knew you had a bass in this style Charles but I forgot about this beautiful neck-thru guitar version! Gorgeous!

[680-686]

Based on a Harmony Central review from an original owner, I think the EL-980 model number for the neck-through guitar is correct. The cheapest version of that model, which is a mahogany body bolt-on without the semi-circles on the headstock and without the added narrow rosewood stripe in the middle of the body is an EL-680. The next step up had the narrow rosewood stripe on the body and the semi-circles on the headstock (maybe EL-780 or EL-880?) and the top of the line cadillac neck-through was the EL-980. Since the lower-scale bass version was the 686, maybe the same logic applies to the corresponding bass models?

[charles]

The bass model I have is actually a set neck - I would guess a true neck-thru model exists somewhere, but I've never come across one.



But the neck-thru 6-string guitar I have is a true neck-thru.

[680-686]

Interesting... There seems to be (at least) 3 models of the guitar:

The 680 has the bolt-on neck and the stripe is just painted. Then there's the next one up, like the one you sold, still bolt-on, but the stripe on the body is different wood with the narrow dark stripe in the middle, and the semi-circle inlay on the headstock (but not onthe fretboard). Then finally there's the top-of-the-line 980 neck-through with brass nut and semi-circle fretboard inlays.

I assumed the basses had the same grades and features, so I find in interesting that your bass above has the brass nut and semi-circular fretboard inlays but with a set-neck and not neck through. The Matao with the vine inlay on this site is a neck-through, so I suppose it's possible ED made may have made a neck-through. About 10 years ago I saw a bass identical to yours above in a pawn shop for $180, and regretted not picking it up (it wasn't my guitar's "exact" twin). I didn't notice if it was set neck or neck-through, however Flashman said his was neck-through...

[charles]

I sure wish I'd been able to pay only $180 for my set-neck bass.... that's a steal

Then again, mine is the only one I've actually seen in the wild and had the chance to buy, so I definitely do not regret paying more. It's a really excellent quality instrument - in fact, its former owner called it the "Super-Bass" .