GB22 Circa 1977

[meswbl]

Great job on the web site. I couldn't find any other info on El Degas.

I have photos of a GB22 and of a banjo that I can find no model # for. I purchased both instruments brand new. Here are the details:

GB22
I purchased this in July of 1977, in Thompson Manitoba. I don't recall exactly how much I paid for it but I am guessing that it was $200-300. Being that far north it was likely that the cost would have been higher then what retail down south would be. I did not know much about guitars at the time; still don't, but I knew it was a great improvement from the $40 Sears mail order guitar that I learned to play on. It has given me years of enjoyment and still sounds great. It suffered some damage during a flight to BC back in the 80's. The back edge came away from the side but I put some glue to it and clamped it up and it turned out fine.
It was made in Japan and appears to have a spruce front and mahogany sides. The head stock is the open book style but it differs from the GB25 posted by Barry in that it has block inlays on the fret board and has no inlays on the back. (This would make one think that the GB22 was a cheaper version than the GB25 perhaps?) It likely was produced in 1976 or so. The label shows no serial # and none was ever on there. The model # shows very clear in the photo.

Banjo
I purchased the banjo in October of 1980, in Winnipeg. I am guessing that it was about $250, although I can't be sure. There are no model #'s on it, unless there is something under the resonator, I don't recall. This was made in Korea and I have also been very satisfied with it.

[Barry]

Hi meswbl. Welcome and thanks for the post!
Sounds like you're in the same boat as the rest of us, trying to figure out what El Degas is/was!
Sometimes the product is unbelievable top quality, and other times it's just plain unbelievable! Sometimes you sit and wonder what the hell was going on in their fool heads. Were they trying to make good replica instruments or just making any old thing to sell?

I'm really amazed to see the differences between your GB22 and my GB25, especially since they're both MIJ and roughly the same vintage. We've come to expect variations in the MIK versions but this is kinda weird. I notice also that the bridge is missing the pearl inlays, and the tuners are quite different (open gear).

And as you'll see looking around the site, model numbers are pretty much meaningless, at least to most of us. Maybe there's someone out there who knows why these are numbered the way they are. If so, help!

Anyway, the important thing is that you like it and the way she sounds.

I know diddly about banjos, but there's a bit more info here, for what it's worth:
http://www.eldegas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=65

Cheers!

[charles]

Well you've got yourself a Made in Japan Gibson Dove copy there... that's about all the concrete info I can give you
As you and Barry noted, there are some details that are different than other models in the Dove copy line... compare it to my Korean Dove copy in my "El Degas Stable" thread and you'll see another set of differences.

As you'll notice from the sound hole label, El Degas did not use a serial numbering system. The company that imported (B&J) them is now defunct. As far as I know, there really aren't any existing records.

Looks like a real beauty - how does she play?

[mr haney]

small world!!i was in thompson in 77 with my el degas and now i live in bc go figure!!obviously worked for inco?

[Mal167]

That's pretty cool. I also have the El Degas GB22. I'm only just now trying to figure out the history of it haha. All I know is that my dad owned the guitar for over 30 years and it was then passed down to me. Mine is pretty much the exact copy of the one you have except I've had to replace the tuning keys. I would post a picture, but I don't have a working camera.

[charles]

That's pretty cool. I also have the El Degas GB22. I'm only just now trying to figure out the history of it haha. All I know is that my dad owned the guitar for over 30 years and it was then passed down to me. Mine is pretty much the exact copy of the one you have except I've had to replace the tuning keys. I would post a picture, but I don't have a working camera.

Send me the guitar, and I'll post some pretty pictures... only thing is... you might not see the guitar again