My Stable of El Degas guitars & basses (56K Beware)

Post by **charles** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:22 am

I should take my own photography tips from the sticky, I know...
But here are some shots for people looking for El Degas models.

ACOUSTICS:

Post by **charles** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:22 am

BASSES:

Post by **charles** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:24 am

ELECTRICS:

bfeickson · Post by **bfeickson** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:42 pm

Hi,
I'd like to know what you could tell me about the second guitar in your showcase, the Martin style dreadnought. I have one that looks much the same, though It has a two part back were your looks to have three. It's a F218 from around '72/'73, A really fine guitar. I can't say that the Martins' that it was meant to copy sound or play any better. I'm particularly curious about the wood that the sides are made of. the rest seem to be; spruce top, rosewood back, mahogany neck and ebony bridge, but the sides I don't know. I thought maybe you could help me there and with any thing else that might seem interesting
Thanks
Brad
PS. I like the cat, have one like that as well.

Post by **charles** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:53 pm

Unfortunately the interior label was removed from my Martin-copy sometime before I acquired it, so I do not know the model #.

There seem to have been a fair number of Martin replicas made for El Degas. My info on acoustics lags behind the electrics, so I don't have a lot of other info.

Not sure what the back wood is - looks nicely figured, like a rosewood or walnut. Sides on mine looks the same, but could vary between models. Wish I could be definitive on the subject!

Please feel free to send me photos of the guitar so I can add it to my files for the complete site where I'll try to showcase all the models of El Degas that I can, both electric and acoustic.

Here's a back shot of mine:

And the side:

nsv · Post by **nsv** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:22 pm

can i get more info on the guitar between the orange sunburst and the white sg? 9th electric down. it looks almost black, but is dark brown. it has white pick-ups. what is the model or year it waqs made. i own one and love it. it is heavy as hell, but sounds really great. i've had it forever, and would like some insight on it.

~nick st. vincent

Post by **charles** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:37 pm

nsv wrote:can i get more info on the guitar between the orange sunburst and the white sg? 9th electric down. it looks almost black, but is dark brown. it has white pick-ups. what is the model or year it waqs made. i own one and love it. it is heavy as hell, but sounds really great. i've had it forever, and would like some insight on it.

~nick st. vincent

Sure thing, Nick.

I believe it's a replica of the Les Paul "The Paul" with a sandwich mahogany body (perhaps a thin piece of maple in the middle?) and Dimarzio Super Distortion pickups (stock, I believe).

Mine has a headstock repair from some point in its history but it's solid as a rock and a blast to play. Yup, pretty solid and heavy!

Unfortnately I cannot give you a specific date of manufacture. Sometime in the 70's, I believe; and the headstock log on mine seems to correspond with the higher-end MIJ (Made in Japan) El Degas guitars. hope this helps somewhat.

Feel free to start a thread to show off your El Degas! I'd love to see it.

acdc126 · Post by **acdc126** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:08 pm

if i could buy some el degas guitar it would be the sg set neck, the les paul double cutaway and finaly the telecaster but i prefer natural finish, anyway its always possible to remove the paint...

also the rickin bass is another thing to find. i saw one 2 years ago but missed, that model sold too fast. i think the 4000 mean the price of a ricken thats why people buy very fast the low cost replicas.

awesome collection!

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:31 am

charles wrote:I should take my own photography tips from the sticky, I know...
But here are some shots for people looking for El Degas models.

ACOUSTICS:

Hi Charles,
I was struck by the differences between your 'Dove' and mine (see my post under the Showcase topic "Model GB25 -circa 1975").

Yours appears to be a later edition, maybe post lawsuit? The headstock is the first noticeable change. Mine is an exact copy of the Gibson "open book" design, while yours has a quite different profile.

It's hard to tell from your picture but the general finish and colouring appears quite different also. I'm curious to know what the model number is on the sticker. Any idea of its age?
Cheers!

Addendum Feb 8:
I just found this Gibson "Acoustic Modern Classic" reissue site. Kind of spooky to compare the two. No wonder Gibson got nervous!
http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Divisions/G ... ught/Dove/

Addendum Feb 27 to the Feb 8:
Well Gibson has mysteriously removed the cherry red version of the Dove from its site. I guess the reissue period is over?? You can still see a Dove at the above URL but it's the Ebony version that "The King" played.

p.s. I was at the Twelfth Fret in Toronto recently and played a real vintage Gibson Dove. Wow! (Also the same exclamation for the selling price) I'm keeping my El Degas.

Hard to keep up with it all some days (sigh)

-Barry

Post by **charles** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:49 am

Barry wrote: Hi Charles,
I was struck by the differences between your 'Dove' and mine (see my post under the Showcase topic "Model GB25 -circa 1975").
Yours appears to be a later edition, maybe post lawsuit? The headstock is the first noticeable change. Mine is an exact copy of the Gibson "open book" design, while yours has a quite different profile.

It's hard to tell from your picture but the general finish and colouring appears quite different also. I'm curious to know what the model number is on the sticker. Any idea of its age?
Cheers!

There was no actual lawsuit against B&J / El Degas that I know of (though no doubt other lawsuits during the era changed the way business was handled by the manufacturers and importers alike!)... but mine is from a different "era" - a later MIK (Made in Korea) GB-22 model. Not sure on the date of manufacture - probably more of the late 70's or even early 80's.

That's a gorgeous guitar you have - I know I really enjoy my Dove copy as a nice player. If you decide to sell that puppy let me know!

acdc126 · Post by **acdc126** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:02 pm

Hi Barry,

if you look the 345 copy it have the same neck. it seems to have more difference from the korean version than only the neck but its the first thing i see.

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:17 pm

Hi again Charles,
I'm just thinking that it might be helpful if you could edit the above pictures and add the El Degas model number and manufacturing date if possible. There's so damn little info out there it might be a boost to those of us considering an online or other purchase.

It's also easier for viewers to refer to a specific guitar of interest if they have a question or comment.

And, by the way...you really ARE a sick puppy collector and obviously not married. Or if you are, she couldn't care less. Or worse..plays the piano!!

Cheers,
Barry

Post by **charles** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 6:50 pm

I will be adding model info to the main site once I find the time

plus I plan to add expanded threads on each of my El Degas guitars and basses.

Just have to get to it.

I am married and yes she does play the piano!

acdc126 · Post by **acdc126** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:11 pm

hahahaha that make me laugh! my girlfriend want to be married and she play piano

sirtonski · Post by **sirtonski** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:06 pm

I posted pics in my story but I couldn't help but post mine here too, I noticed you have one too, man its nice and when that estate sales goes up I'll be there like a vulture to scoop up that Rickenbacker copy, man they are impossible to come by.

eldegas.com

My Stable of El Degas guitars & basses (56K Beware)

My Stable of El Degas guitars & basses (56K Beware)

Re: My Stable of El Degas guitars & basses (56K Beware)

Re: My Stable of El Degas guitars & basses (56K Beware)

A little more info might be helpful

My P-Bass